It's been wonderful seeing everyone's sweaters grow and to share this experience with you all. Everyone's put in so much work, even if some are the wrong size in the end, they all look amazing!
Mine is one of the sweaters that turned out too big in the end. It's not the sweater's fault. In the few months it took to knit this sweater, I went from a size 14 to a size 6 (through no fault or intention of my own), so when I put the sweater on, after what seemed a long, long time of knitting it, it just sort of hung there in an "I'm way too big for you" kind of way. It was especially gaping at the neck and around the shoulders.
So I took it to my spinning group for advice (and to show it off, after all, it is an amazing design). They suggested that I do this simple kind of sewing stitch to help take up the slack around the neck and maybe even sew in a bit of bias tape to make the shoulders sag a little bit less. Both good ideas, only I don't know how to sew. I managed to re-block the sweater into a more appropriate shape and size (thank goodness for blocking, it's surprisingly useful), but I think I will have to learn how to do their recommendations. I'm also tempted to felt/full the upper part of the sweater to make it a little bit smaller.
Any thoughts?
Congratulations, Raven! You finished it. Now about the size problem. I would try hand stitching a pretty complementary ribbon along the shoulder seam, and also bring it along the back neckline all in one piece. Pin it in place, carefully adjusting the ease, baste it in and try it on to see how much of a difference that would make. If you don't feel up to the challenge of catch-stitching or hemstitching the ribbon in permenantly, take it to a local alterations shop or a fabric store and see if they can help you. If the neck is too big in front, try using some matching elastic thread and running several rows of running stitch (like basting, only finer) along the inside of the ribbing. Leave the ends loose and wind them around a pin at the end of each row with a figure 8.(Think of tying off a boat's line). Here's the magic! Try the sweater on again and start adjusting the wool against the elastic and see where it lays the best. When you have all the lines adjusted, then fasten them off in the inside. I would hesitate to full or felt the sweater. It would be irretrievably damaged. Good luck and let me know how it's coming along. One picture is worth a 1,000 words.
Posted by: Elizabeth Risch | December 17, 2007 at 10:30 PM
I'm sorry for your sudden size lose. Contact me privately for suggestions.
Posted by: janamoore | December 21, 2007 at 06:13 PM
Raven -
terrific being done!
Sewing is not that hard. We can talk you through it!
Are you looking for ways to make it smaller without sacrificing the front bands?
Posted by: Holly | January 31, 2008 at 07:40 AM