Help - sweater too short!

EllenG wrote

on Mar 20, 2009 7:39 PM

 I was making an Aran sweater for my husband and he insisted that I don't make it too long.  Well, it's too short!!  Any suggestions besides ripping it apart and starting over?

Thanks!

AndreaW wrote

on Mar 20, 2009 8:09 PM

 Hi Ellen...

I think I might be tempted to find a shorter husband since it's "his fault" !!!   Just kidding...although you must be feeling a bit upset w/ all the work you put into it.

This will be guessing a bit since I can't see the sweater...but in general I don't think any knitter could take apart an Aran midway + "stretch it".  Ripping will probably be your best bet unfortunately.  However...I don't see why you go so far as to start over??? 

If this sweater was started @ the bottom + worked up...could you not rip back to just where you started to decrease @ the armholes? Basically remove the yoke. I know...this idea is still sickening but not a sickening as taking it all out. Then you could knit to the longer length needed before starting the armholes. Before doing any ripping...make your husband try on the sweater + have him tell you how much longer he wants it to be. I would then tie a bit of waste yarn @ the point you will start to re-knit so you can add the amount he wants fr there. Make sure the armholes are deep enough. If not you could divide the extra length between body + armhole as needed. If you did need more armhole depth...you will need a wider sleeve @ the top. Don't forget to factor in shrinkage either. A wool sweater is going to shrink a bit in length when washed. What did your swatch say?

I wish I knew what style of sleeves you made. I'm hoping you made set-in + they are the right length?!?!   If so...then you only have to un-sew them fr the sweater body + put them aside till you re-knit the top of the body. If the sleeves aren't quite long enough...that will be the time to add a bit...hopefully no ripping required...just adding!!!  Again...don't forget about shrinkage. If this sweater is a raglan...then when you ravel back to the present beginnings of the armholes...put the sleeve sts on holders till you need them again. if you need some extra sleeve length...do it before re-joining to work the yoke.

From past experience re-doing...the worst part is the ripping out. Once you pick up all the sts + start re-knitting...it never seems so bad. if you don't fix it...you will always regret it.  If something I've said isn't clear....or I forgot something...post back + ask.

Last of all...I truly hope someone else posts + says "she's wrong....you can fix it w/o ripping"...I would love to be wrong about this for your sake!!!  Not holding my breath though......

    Take Care + let us know how you make out..... Andrea

EllenG wrote

on Mar 20, 2009 8:31 PM

 Andrea,

First...it will be difficult to find a shorter husband!  LOL!  Secondly, thanks for all of your great advice!  I thought it would be all or nothing and I never thought about only ripping out to the armholes.  At this point, I think the trick will be matching the yarn.  The sleeves are set in and the right length.  Thankful for that!  This sweater is actually a few years old and it breaks my heart to see it in the closet, not being worn.  This might be my next project!

Thanks!

AndreaW wrote

on Mar 20, 2009 10:06 PM

Hi again...

Based on what you said about yarn matching/ age...I have another suggestion. If you know someone that this does fit well...ask if they would buy you new yarn to knit your husband a new one in exchange for the first sweater. I know...it's so much work...but the truth is you probably can't get more yarn in the same dye lot @ this point. If you still have a yarn label...why not try posting here/ Ravelry/ etc + ask...maybe someone does have some???  I've heard of people getting lucky!!!

In your position...I'de rather reknit fr new yarn if possible. The ripping out would be hard on the heart. Unless this sweater has some sort of dividing line in the stitch pattern that can land @ the armhole (?)  then you might be able to change dye lots right @ that point + get away w/ it. I have done similar stuff. I once made my brother a Lopi sweater w/ a total of 7 different dye lots of Natural color!!! They were VERY cheap!!!  I added extra bands of color pattern @ strategic spots + changed dye lots there. It was a beautiful/ unique sweater when done + no one was the wiser. It was a lot of work...but my brother loved it.

Like you...I would hate to see it being unused...all that work wasted.  Maybe take your husband shopping + get him to try on a few sweaters. When you hit the perfect fit...measure it...even if you have to take it home overnite to do so!!!  Sure you don't want a repeat!!!

   Take care ... Andrea

FionaC wrote

on Mar 22, 2009 7:53 AM

 I've done the same thing - more than once, believe it or not.  I couldn't bring myself to rip. Here's what I did:

One sweater was about 3 inches too short, so I cut off the origianl ribbing, picked up the stitches on a circular, and knit the ribbing again, now going in the opposite direction. Surprisingly, it looked A-OK, when it was all done. The natural fit  and drape of the sweater made the ribbing ride just below belt level, so the body of the pattern was AT belt level, and looked normal. 

Not so lucky on the other one - it was for someone who is almost 7 feet tall and it needed to be quite a bit longer. Still couldn't bear taking out the yoke and the tops of the sleeves, so it became an Aran/Gansey hybrid.  Cut off the bottom ribbing and picked up the stitches on a circ. Did a few rounds in plain stockinette in the same natural wool color, did one round in navy blue, a few rounds in natural and then began a gansey pattern  or two in natural for a few more inches. Didn't do a ribbing, finished off with a seed stitch border and then a roll bottom that looked good with the gansey patterns. Did the same thing for the sleeves.  It came out looking very good - better than the original pattern, I think.  He has had many compliments on it - I think it was the spare but somehow very effective use of a line of navy that sets it off.

Of course, if you want it to be what you originally intended, then Andrea is right - no choice but to rip. Resign yourself to it, put on a good movie and don't spill the wine on your knitting.

FionaC

EllenG wrote

on Mar 22, 2009 8:43 PM

 This is very interesting...I'm glad I'm not the only one out there!  I'm nervous about cutting...any special tips?

JoeR wrote

on Mar 22, 2009 10:45 PM

 I'm afraid there's not much to offer when it comes to tips.  The good thing is that you can get by with just snipping the yarn of one (maybe two) stitches at the point you decide on, then gently ravel out the yarn aroung the body, picking up the stitches as you go.  (Andrea mentioned using a smaller needle for this in a different post and it is excellent advice.)  After you get the excess out of the way, you can always transfer the stitches to the appropriately sized needle to begin reknitting.  This way, you have a clean, straight line of stitches to work with.  If you try to just cut off the section - similar to a steek - you would probably run into problems.  Best of luck.      

FionaC wrote

on Mar 26, 2009 6:04 PM

 Joe's approach is very sensible and works well. I've done it this way and it works.

But having the patience of a flea, I usually do the following if I want to knit in the opposite direction of the original piece: take a sharp pair of scissors, pick my line of stitches and cut right 'round. Done in about 45 seconds. Now pick out the bits and pieces of yarn for a round or so and pick up the stitches on a circ. The stitches do no unravel easily going backwards, so I don't worry about losing them to runs.  

It's easier than you think.  I'm practiced at it b/c one of my family members wears out the toes in socks quickly, well before the rest of the socks are worn. I chop those toes off heedlessly, pick up the stitches and have the toes re-knit before Boston Legal is over.

FionaC