Um … Help!
So, remember how I’ve never been satisfied with my Autumn Rose sweater and decided I needed to do something drastic if it was ever going to have a chance of being worn?
Well, surprise! It’s now a vest.
There’s just one problem…
I kind of (don’t ask me how) took a wrong turn while cutting the sleeve out. This was a one-piece sweater, remember, so cutting was the only way to get them out. I stitched around the armhole first and then pulled out the scissors.
How I cut OUT of the armhole and into the back of the sweater, under the neckband, I have no idea.
But … if I’m not mistaken, this pretty much kills this sweater, doesn’t it?
Or … do you have suggestions? Is this remotely fixable??
Anyone? Please??
I mean, sure, this is Shetland wool, so it’s not going to immediately go running off into Unravel World, but … a horizontal cut straight through the armhole and into the back of the sweater, right at the shoulder?
The only think I can THINK to do would be to kind of darn it together, which would probably hold, even if it might not look perfect. I can’t think of anything I could use to patch it. I certainly can’t reknit it …
Help!
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Does the cut go just through one row? Or are several rows affected? If it’s just one row, I think I would carefully try to “sew” in a new knit row. You may have to do it all one color instead of matching the colorwork, but it’s better than nothing, right? If it’s more than one row, you’ll need a better expert than I. Ugh. I know you’re just sick after doing that. All that work…
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You have not killed your sweater. Nanette of Knitting in Color told a story years ago about accidentally cutting through the back of a sweater while steeking for a cardigan. This story has gotten me through my worst knitting goof ups. You can do it. It’s possible to repair and you will be a much more experienced and confident knitter when you fix it.
It’s more than one row, because I didn’t cut in a perfectly straight line … but it’s hard to say for sure, since the colorwork makes counting rows tricky.
Thank you. I’ve actually tried doing that on a pair of socks and ended up with a lumpy mess (grin). Mending is NOT one of my strong suits! I’ve come too far to give up on this sweater, now, though!
Ok, I followed the link in Jessica’s comment, and that sounds like the thing to do. This sweater is taunting you. You cannot let it triumph!
Of course, it doesn’t help that I don’t have the chart handy, have run out of some of the colors, and cut across several rows … plus the “little patience for mending” thing.
All your advice has been helpful! I also asked this question in the “Stranded” group ( http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/stranded/459938/1-25#3 ), and got this reply back:
“Since the yarn is feltable, it should not unravel too easily (if at all) after it has been knitted / worn. If all else fails miserably, you could try getting some indistinct shade of felt, needle felting tool and place the felt patch on the wrong side of the sweater. Back it up with something semi-solid (cork or whatnot) and punch through the knitting and the felt patch – hopefully you will end up with with a still wearable vest!”
I thought that was pretty interesting … especially when you consider that I’ve got the sleeve tops with the exact, charted portion of the sweater that I accidentally cut … If I had a felting needle, I could just FELT the cut ends together. I rather like that idea.
Meanwhile … What I’ve done so far? I took some leftover yarn and stitched around the cut to prevent unravelling. Then I kind of sort of sewed Duplicate Stitch from top to bottom across the cut … it doesn’t remotely resemble the stitch pattern that I demolished, but it does kind of tack it down. And keeps it safe until I make further decisions on its behalf.
If this were in a more obvious place, I’d be freaking out more, but since it’s right at the shoulder, in the back, it’s mostly going to be hidden by my hair. As long as it doesn’t actually *unravel*, I almost don’t care what it looks like. (Almost!)
And, really … my darning skills on Fair Isle color work? There’s just no way (grin). I’ve tried the knitted patch thing, too (see? http://chappysmom.com/2006/02/15/mending/ ).
I WISH I were better at mending, but it never seems to come out right, no matter how hard I try. Sewing a hem, replacing a button … those I can do … but patching and darning? Not even a little.
My grandmother would be so ashamed of me….
–Deb
good luck! i’m still a wimp at actually cutting my knitting, lol….someday!
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Oh my god!!!! That stinks! Could you put a cloth patch on the back and sew it. Being Shetland yarn it won’t unravle a lot. Probably a half-assed suggestion, but I can’t think of anything else. Good luck!
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[...] so the little … mishap … the other day was my fault. I entirely admit it. I made a wrong turn with the scissors as I rounded the shoulder, [...]