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April 26, 2009

From Susan — Q: When is a Sweater NOT a Sweater??

Filed under: Susan's Ode to Joy Vest — lv2knit @ 10:22 am

A: When it turns into a vest! 

As already mentioned, my Ode to Joy was a total flop as a sweater.  I believe we can attribute it to a) a gauge problem (?), and/or b) an “I’ve-gotten-bigger-and-have-no-idea-why” problem .  But let’s not dwell on the negative!! 

Anyhoo, the sweater was a disaster, but I was unwilling to let the sweater beat me.  I was also unwilling to re-knit any part of it.  I’ve played way too many rounds of THAT game!  So I removed the offending sleeve and converted it into a cropped vest.  It turned out okay…still tiny but kind of cute:

Ode to Joy Vest by you.

It is still quite damp — when it dries I’ll put it on Lettie for a test drive.  It gained some size with blocking.  When wet, this was the softest, limpest thing I have ever seen!  I really didn’t know if I could shape it properly, but it seems to be okay.  I plan on taking it with me next weekend to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival to look for closures.  I did not make buttonholes — I will do something with clasps or maybe frog closures (?) and have the front bands simply meet in the center.

Finally finished.

10 Comments »

  1. I love the revision! Your Ode to Joy is beautiful.

    Comment by Nancy — April 26, 2009 @ 11:29 am

  2. I’ve been admiring your “Lucy” for quite awhile. Can you tell me where she was purchased and/or the brandname. I am on the hunt for a good mannequin.

    Thanks. Love your blog.

    Comment by Linda Maddox — April 26, 2009 @ 2:51 pm

  3. For a failure, it certainly is beautiful. It will be a wonderful vest. Vests have lots of flexibility size-wise. I have one that is way too small, but I wear it open and it is just right.

    Comment by Joanna Ryn — April 26, 2009 @ 3:40 pm

  4. My mannequin is Lucy; Susan’s is Lettie. They were gifts, though, so I don’t know where to tell you to find one.

    Comment by surly — April 26, 2009 @ 4:04 pm

  5. It’s easily just as beautiful as a vest. You don’t really need closures from it. It could be just worn open (for an easier fit). Ya’ know, I think I like it better as a vest. It looks less busy. Wear with pride!

    Comment by Lani — April 26, 2009 @ 5:28 pm

  6. It is a dynamite vest. I love the idea of clasps – I’ve used that one to get a little extra ease in close fitting garments before, and it works great.

    Comment by twinsetellen — April 26, 2009 @ 5:50 pm

  7. Looks like a good save! I’m betting you’ll get more use out of it as a vest.

    Comment by Maria — April 26, 2009 @ 6:38 pm

  8. Triumph!!! Woot woot!

    Comment by kerry — April 26, 2009 @ 7:29 pm

  9. I wish my disasters looked so beautiful…It is quite stunning.

    Comment by Jane — April 27, 2009 @ 8:32 am

  10. I love your vest! That’s a great way to make it work.

    A note about the limpness of the yarn: it’s superwash. I made the Ode, too, and it fit perfectly until I washed it to block… boy did I get frantic! I sent Candice an email and she confirmed that it’s
    superwash. A quick trip through the dryer until it was almost all dry got mine back in
    shape.

    Comment by Anne C. — April 28, 2009 @ 8:40 pm

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