Ripping the collar.
I consider myself a pretty decent knitter, by no means an expert, but consistently capable of putting out fairly good pieces. I started the Larch Cardigan last February or early March in the final days of winter. Then it got warm and I promptly put it in a drawer in favor of more weather-appropriate pieces. When I unearthed this beauty to finish, I was excited. A nearly finished sweater. All I had to finish was the lovely shawl collar in 1×1 twisted rib. I ripped back the collar a bit to a spot that was recognizable. I reknit, this time taking careful notes since I knew our time together would be interrupted by my NaKniSweMo project.
After NaKniSweMo I merrily returned to Larch to knit, thinking I had full understanding of the instructions. I was nearly finished with this lovely collar, a 1×1 twisted rib (twisting both the knit and purl stitches=an arduous task), and then I counted my stitches. Why hadn’t I counted earlier?! Sheer confidence (or stupidity). I was about 55 stitches over what the instructions said I should have! I misread things. The instructions had one part that said “pick up 6 along right neck edge, then 6 along left neck edge, then repeat last two rows x times more” then “Pick up 4 stitches at end of each row x times,” and I doubled the picking up 4 stitches and the picking up 2 after that misunderstanding that a repeat was a single row, rather than both the right and left sides. ARGH!
So, I ripped back. Then started at a new place. Knitted again. Went over again because I was confident that I remembered correctly. I don’t have an explanation. I can do simple math. I promise. It just eluded me temporarily. Really, the instructions aren’t unclear. I think I have a different row gauge and I’m also sticking more stitches in than there are supposed to be because I have more rows to begin with. I think the most important thing to do now is to get the right number of rows in, so my collar doesn’t grow to crazy heights, and just do however many stitches at the end of each row that it takes to get there. Here I go again. I won’t let this get me down and I really want to finish. It’s getting very cold and the sweater has a lot of alpaca in it. Besides, I already have the yarn for this and this waiting…
Does anyone else make a fake seam when there is none? Larch is seamless, but I put in a purl stitch in the midst of the stockinette to look like a seam. I don’t know if it helps keep things in place, but I like it.
I also got a lovely yarn bowl in a recent holiday sale with local artists. I love the color.
Back to ripping…
Your yarn bowl is gorgeous! And so is your Larch! Don’t let it get to you, you’re almost there!
I’ve never seen a yarn bowl- that’s such a good idea! And I’ve never done a ‘fake’ seam before, but I might in the future. That might make counting easier! Good luck, I’m sure it will come out beautifully (and the color is awesome, too).
i had the same issues with my collar, which i knit 3 times. there’s some errata on the rav page which has never made it to the pdf. but, like you, my row gauge was off, so i ended up with way too many stitches and a collar that was out of control. i ended up picking up 4 more sts or so on every row instead of 2, and i could never get the sides to match up exactly, so sometimes i had to pick up more sts on one side than the other to get to the end point at the same time on both sides …
That makes me feel so much better! I thought I was crazy for awhile. I saw the errata, but it didn’t seem to help my issue. I’m also picking up more repeats of 4 than the pattern calls for. I managed to make it so that I don’t have to do more rows than the pattern intends, so the collar doesn’t go sky high, so I’m just picking up more stitches each time. I think this will be the last time I have to do it, thank goodness. Glad to know I’m not the only one with collar issues. 🙂 Cassy
Oh, the colour of that yarn bowl…
The fake seem looks great. I’ve never done it before, but I’ve wished several times I had.
I hate those “not again” moments. Keep at that collar and I’m sure it will come out well!
there is at least one of two instances in each thing I make where I am over confident and fly by a part without re-reading the instructions. I don’t know why I do it!! and it always ends with rippage. I have Larch on the knit list! I am looking forward to seeing yours 🙂
I love the “fake” seam idea. I haven’t done a top down sweater in a while but it’s something I’ll keep in mind.