My finished sweater which fits perfectly!
Then I remembered that in Elizabeth Zimmerman’s book “Knitting without tears” (ironic title for this post – I should have read the book again before starting on this sweater!) she details a technique of using a sewing machine and a pair of scissors to turn sweaters into cardigans. This allows you to work more quickly in the round, but still have a cardigan. If it works for that, surely I can use the same technique to take my sweater in to my size!
I think some people would not agree with this post and the hybrid of sewing and knitting. It’s true I should have washed my test swatch, tested my gauge, tried it on as I went and done it properly the first time. But I didn’t; and I do not have the patience to unravel the sweater and start again!
So I took the plunge and sewed in some seams, taking in the excess to make it fit me. It has worked a treat, and here’s how I did it:
Measure and baste
Work out how much you will need to take in. In my case I had to take in 1cm for each seam – 4cm around the whole body. Baste the seam in a contrasting thread, don’t just pin it as pins fall out of knit wear and will make your sewing slip. Try it on after basting to check the fit.
Sew and sew
Set the sewing machine to the smallest stitch, and sew down the basting line, ensuring that you’re sewing down a column of the knitting. If you have a lace pattern like I did, take care to make the pattern match up. Sew a second line parallel, and close to, the first.
Be brave
Take out the scissors, be brave, and cut the excess knitting away, leaving about 1cm for a seam allowance. Then go and have a cup of tea – or a stronger drink! – to recover. It’s pretty scary cutting your own knitting away. I was then extra nervous and hand stitched a normal mattress stitch seam in the wool as extra reassurance. I have done this twice now, and the joins have lasted fine.
Remove the basting thread. Wash & block your knitting and wear it in style knowing it fits perfectly!
This post is featured in Made by you Monday on Skip to my Lou »
Very Very Brave! It looks beautiful. Aah the frustrations of knitting, but I think those of us that knit and sew are fortunate . We don’t give up quite so easily. Good job!
Too bad about all the headaches with trying to get it finished, but the end result looks great!!!!!! I’ve been trying to learn how to knit lately but with all my other projects going on it’s slow going! Knitting takes so much time and patience – neither of which I have much of lately! lol
Your sweater is beautiful! I’m so glad you were able to find a way to make it work despite the size challenge. I’m not a huge fan of the gauge swatch process so I hope to learn from your experience.
Beautiful sweater! I’ve never, ever swatched, so no judgement from me! What ever works, right?