As you can see I have been moving right along with Acer. I spent any free moment I had working on it over the weekend and had just reached the point where I was to start the waist increases. I love how Kirsten added some shaping to what would be a very square looking sweater without it.
So…..last night as I sat down ready to start increasing, I noticed something……oh hell! If you click on the picture, can you see it?
If you look at the markers in the front, you will see that the markers on the right are much closer to each other than the markers on the left….and sadly I know exactly how that happened, but why I didn't notice it until all of the decrease rows were finished is beyond me.
I just wanted to cry as that translates into about 30 rows and on a top down sweater, that is a lot of work. So here is my dilemma. Do I pull back the 30 rows …or…is there a way to just pull back between the markers?
If I only rework that portion of the sweater will there be enough distortion of stitches to make it sloppy? I am very bummed out about this as I was hoping to have it finished for SPA….sigh. What would you do? Ken's suggestion…..Just push against your boob with your shoulder when you are wearing it so no notices the dart is in the wrong place. Hmm……..NOT helpful!
Distractions………..
One of the reasons for making such a beginner's mistake on my sweater is I am completely swamped right now.
My days have been filled with stirring the dyepotand my evenings have been full with paperwork for my real job, so by the time I sit down at night I am pretty tired……….thus the error.
.
I am so fortunate that I get to do the things that I love for work, so I don't like to complain about workloads. Getting ready for a big show is a workout, but getting to spend time with some of my favorite people always makes it so worth it!
On the near horizon………
Yep….some of that pinky goodness is for me to use on Anne's newest shawl pattern. Anne designed this and the Autumn Arbor shawls using my yarns, which I am thrilled about and will have for you to see at SPA. The pattern will be available soon and I will be offering it as a kit as well once the pattern is ready.
The Woolen Rabbit 
What a bummer on the sweater mistake. I think you’ve got to rip it all out but maybe someone with more sweater experience has a different idea.
I’m seaming my Everyday Cardigan so I can wear it at SPA. And I WANT one of those new shawl kits!!
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Awww, so sorry for your mistake. Knitting likes to remind us that we are just human!
I always rip back sections to correct mistakes. The more you do it, the better you get at it. I am not 100% clear on your mistake here? That you put the decreases in the wrong place? So you would have to rip back the decreases, and also the section where they should be too.
I would get a another needle out and start ripping back. When you get past the mistake, put the live stitches on the other needle and start reworking them with the loose strands, be careful to get every row in order. It will go so fast in only stockinette (except purling is more of a pain). Your strands will be the right length because they take into account the decreases (wouldn’t work if you didn’t decrease at all).
It’s worth a try. If you don’t like it, you can always do the big rip out, but I am betting you will have success! Usually, there is no trace of a difference as long as you don’t twist stitches.
Good luck!
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I have seen people rip back between the markers but that skill is beyond me at this point. So take someone’s advice who is a much better knitter. What is your real job? I thought you just dyed beautiful yarn for us to purchase. Is that shawl yarn color Mama Mia? I have some of that in sock yarn. I LOVE the color of the Acer. My is in Tahki Donegal purple tweed which I am not liking.
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Oh Kim, I am so sorry! I am just in the yoke of the sweater and such a visual learner…I’m not sure what I would do. As a consolation – the colorway you have chosen is GORGEOUS! I love purple, and the yarn looks like a dream to knit.:) And that new shawl – omg.
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Sadly, I would say to frog it back to the mistake. You won’t be happy looking at that mistake every time you wear the sweater. It would drive me nuts and I am not a perfectionist. I am about to frog two lace socks that I started over a year ago because they aren’t right. ugh! But I will love my socks that much more when I finish them correctly. I love the shawl. I don’t know anyone who wears them but I love knitting them. I have two thrown over the both corners of my chair.
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Frog back. I know some people just drop sections and use a crochet hook or needle to re-knit the section back up, but I know I would be off on gauge and it would drive me nuts.
Speaking of SPA, I will be there (going early this year – Thursday late afternoon), and will definitely drop by to see you (and your offerings).
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I agree w/ Mary Beth — if the decreases ARE there, just in the wrong place, you should be able to just do the section. (If they aren’t there, that’s more of an issue….)
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hahaha, i have to admit, my first instinct was the same as ken’s. i’m just a guy at heart, i guess . . .
on a more helpful note (i AM a girl after all . . .), jocelyn recently undid sections of her own top-down sweater to adjust the shaping and showed it on her blog (http://knittinglinguist.blogspot.com/)
(or you could email her!)
the yarn porn is making me drool; what colorway is that you’re using for the shawl; it’s pretty! (and not green; in fact, i see a little pink in it, wink!)
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It’s probably worth trying to rework the section before you rip out all thirty rows. I think you’ll know pretty quickly if you can fix it that way or not. I recently tried to correct a mistake like that and realized it was beyond my ability, but you may have better luck than me.
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Kim- Sorry to say, but this requires frogging because of gauge issues- and let’s face it, it is worth it because you’ll never be happy unless it’s perfect.
It was a learning experience.
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I’m in the frog camp. Too much work to not get it right. It will look weird otherwise.
Gads. I don’t have a SPA sweater. I guess I’m not in the groove. I can’t wait to see what the dyepots have yielded!
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My gut tells me you should rip it all and go back. The 30 rows really won’t take you that long and in the end you’ll be happier. Just doing that section could look bad in a yarn as soft as Beaverslide. Wish I could be a SPA to touch all your gorgeous yarns and fibers.
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Oh and to give you a hug, too!
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Wow, that pinky yarn is fabulous! I am trying REALLY hard not to buy any new yarn, unless it is needed for a specific project. One that I will cast on for right away! My husband requested a hat with ear flaps, so I ran right out to get the yarn. I am about 1/2 way done. Perhaps it will stay cold a little longer?? (I am in Maryland.)
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Kim, when I try to do something in a tricky fashion, I always end up messing it up and having to rip it back anyway. The choice is between that and a “What the heck happened there?” look forever after. So, sad to say, just go for it, rip it out, and do it over. You’ll be happier. At least I know I would.
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Sorry about the sweater. It is such a lovely color…all your beautiful yarns are!
IMHO I have found that the yarn it takes to make a decrease is many times less then it would take to make two stitches. So to turn two stitches into a decrease is usually doable but to take the yarn from an unwanted decrease and turn it into two stitches can pucker the stitch. You might want to try a row before ripping the whole section back and see if it is possible with your gauge and your yarn to keep your lines smooth.
Good luck. hugs
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If you didn’t do decreases that you should have, then I’d definitely say it will be best to rip. Boo-hoo!
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Oh no! I would have been weeping into my tea. I made the same mistake racing on a top down and had to riiiip it all out- yup about 6 inches worth. I’m on the rip-it side of the fence. If you accept that you won’t have it for SPA it’ll be an easier pill to swallow. And I mean that kindly- hugs. Can’t wait to see you!
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Count me in the rip camp. Not the answer you wanted, I know, but I think reworking all of those stitches and keeping them neat if you just rip back the section might take you almost as long.
On the bright side, those fibers and yarns that you dyed are gorgeous!!!
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I’m in the frog camp too. Sorry A successful “fix” is probably more consuming than a frog and reknit.
On the bright side – that yarn is scrumptious!!!! As is the pattern!
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I agree with Mary Beth 🙂 – but do a test run for a row or two.
Since you are just re-positioning the decreases/increases than you should have enough yarn for the section and not have to tug to much.
If you have an interchangeable needle set – they come in handy for these fixes. I put all the stitches not to be worked on a long cable with the ‘dead’end stoppers. It takes a bit of the stress out of the whole thing when you know the perfectly fine stitches won’t be going any where unless you let them. You might want to put a piece of waste yarn in to tell you when the naughty section has stopped irritating the sweater grin. Good luck!
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Oh, sincere condolences! While it is possible to do the surgery and just rework the “off” section, in the long run it’s probably more work than just ripping it out and starting over.
Want to hear a real horror story? I was knitting my first Rogue, and was in such a hurry to get to the cables on the hood that I didn’t sew the shoulder seams before picking up the neckline stitches for the hood – just figured I could go back and sew them later. After knitting the hood, grafting the top, and weaving in the ends, I discovered that I had twisted one of the front sections when I picked up the stitches. Had to ungraft and rip the whole hood. sigh
That shawl pattern looks fabulous – especially with your yarn!
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I hate to say this, but I’d frog. ouch, I feel your pain.
Your fibres look lovely. Anne’s patterns are so nice. 🙂
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I’d rip.
…sorry, but I’m pretty picky and it’s on the front of the sweater – if it were under your arm or something you might be able to fudge it but since it’ll be staring us all in the face when you wear it… ;o)
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I’m not experienced enough to give you a better suggestion except to just rip it back. I hope you have someone give you much better advice!
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If it were my project, I would have to rip it back. I can’t stand an error like that, but that’s just how I am. If someone has an idea how to fix it, without ripping it back, that would be great. Good luck. I know how awful it is when that happens.
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I’d probably frog back as well
I find the fixing can often take as long or longer than just reknitting the whole and the result is certainly at least a little bit cleaner. I think we can all feel your pain and sympathize though. Best of luck!
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You and Anne are a good pair! 🙂 I don’t have an idea for your sweater, but I did find Ken’s suggestion amusing. 🙂
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Personal experience has taught me, rip it out. No matter how you try to “fix it”, you will know where the mistake is and it will never look right to you. Plus think of all the time you will waste trying to fix it. You will probably not like the way it looks and will end up ripping it out anyways. So ripping will save you a lot of time and trouble.
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