Man, I have been slogging away on this sweater for what seems like forever. It is the Leap Year Cardigan by Suvi Simola. It was a lot of knitting, and re-knitting. Sally bought me the yarn last year on my birthday, so I really wanted to make good on such a wonderful and generous gift. The yarn is Cumbria Fingering from the Fibre Company (60% Merino, 30% Masham, 10% Mohair, 328 yards/100 grams) in Hadrian’s Wall (charcoal) and Buttermere (acid yellow). The mohair and masham made me keep thinking that my sweater was full of dog hair, but I think it was just part of the yarn!
So, it’s done and cute and it fits. But that is the end of the story. It was a long road to get here. The pattern had “issues.” When you look at the pattern’s main picture, you can see that the shoulders fit funny:
Several people mentioned that the sweater feels like it is falling off the shoulders toward the back. I started the sweater and the front raglan line went across the top of my shoulders, almost in the position of a shoulder seam! I almost threw in the towel…but Sally had given me the yarn and I liked the design.
Basically I reworked the cardigan by lowering the position of the front raglans. In the original pattern, the front raglan line originates at the point of the color change from yellow to gray. I lengthened my collar a bit in the revised version, so it would have been back even farther on my first go around.
All my mods are written out HERE to help others!!
This picture is the original attempt – shown on top of a raglan sweater that fits me well. See where the raglan is (red marker) compared to the blue sweater underneath??
This is the final result:
The other major mod was to the collar. I did not want the visible lines along the center back neck.
I believe the lines are there to mask the change in knitting direction. However, by simply knitting the collar in one piece, the change in knitting direction occurs where the MC starts and is virtually invisible — see right side of the sweater below (left side of picture) where the gray starts. I think it is much less noticeable than having the lines in the back, but some may like them as a design feature.
Several people added little pockets at the hemline and I thought they were cute! Not sure how practical mine are!!
I am really pleased with the final outcome and glad to put it to rest. Thanks, Surly!!! 🙂
PS: I do like the yarn quite a bit! Nancy thought this would be cute with a denim shirt. I bought some fabric already to make a shirt in anticipation of finishing the sweater! It is not matchy matchy, but I think it goes well! Now, I just have to do the sewing! 😉
You are welcome! And thanks for doing all the work to figure it out before I knit mine.
Comment by Surly — January 25, 2017 @ 9:25 pm
beautiful knitting – every stitch is perfect! Thx for sharing
Comment by Pkett — January 25, 2017 @ 11:08 pm
Wow! You do have perseverance, and to a fabulous end! How do you like the yarn?
Comment by Susan — January 26, 2017 @ 9:01 am
Your changes are such an improvement. I didn’t care for the original, but yours makes me want to start it today!
Comment by Joyce — January 26, 2017 @ 11:29 am
Beautiful remake of the pattern, and thanks for sharing. This sweater would look great with a denim shirt.
Comment by Nancy — January 27, 2017 @ 11:50 am
Have seen it in person – it is STUNNING!!
Comment by Mary M — January 27, 2017 @ 2:45 pm
Wow it’s like a whole different sweater.
Thanks for sharing your steps – I am sure it will help someone else in future.
Great colours!
Comment by LisaRR — January 27, 2017 @ 8:19 pm
It is Beautiful. Thank you so much for the notes and helpful close-ups.. It’s like a whole new sweater in many ways. And I am sure quite flattering now. We would love to see it on you, even if only in a casual snapshot where you are not the only focus. I know I’m like that.
Comment by Chloe — January 28, 2017 @ 9:55 am
So beautiful, Susan! It’s so much more beautiful than the original. It was a long journey to get this done but you are a “GRITTY” knitter and you persevered and look what you have now! So worth it! Hope to see you next week!
Comment by Kathy W. — January 28, 2017 @ 3:09 pm
What talent and skill you have! Thank you for sharing and providing inspiration to remake and reknit when the original doesn’t work. Beautiful sweater and love the fabric for the shirt.
Comment by Ruth — January 30, 2017 @ 7:35 am