Petal Halter

MirakoO wrote

on Mar 30, 2009 3:49 PM

 I finished the project, but the straps are not centered on the garment.  I ended up with live stitches for one strap in the front and live stitches in the back for the other strap.  I picked up the live stitches in the front, completed the strap and stitched it to the back and did the same for the held stitches in the back, which I sewed to the front, adjacent to the other strap.  However, the straps are twisted, and the body of the sweater does not hang straight.

I hope I'm making myself understood.  I am disgusted with this project.  Where have I gone wrong?

AndreaW wrote

on Mar 31, 2009 6:06 PM

 Hi MirakoO...

I haven't made this item but I do have the pattern + just read it over. I "hear" your frustration...so will try to help if I can.

My first guess is that your problems are in the way you sewed this together....not trying to be insulting...I promise!!!  Going w/ that theory I'll ask some ???'s that may help you sort this out.

# 1: When you sewed each petal into a tube in the beginning...measure to see if each section of "held sts" is sewn to the same length of the matching garter st edge. In other words: do the short seams that create the tubes...all measure the same? If they are all different lengths it will mess up the way this "hangs". The same thing goes for when you join the 3 tubes tog....the sections of garter st sewn to "held sts" should all be the same length as the orig seams to make the tubes.

# 2: Did you line up the original cast ons (all 3) down each "side seam" ?   If they are not lined up...it will definately skew how the garment hangs.

# 3: If your straps are twisted...then somehow they must have twisted before you attached them to the garment @ the finished end of each. When you finish knitting each strap...before you attach it...you should lay the garment out flat to make sure the strap is not twisted before joining.

# 4: Just had another thought...will try to describe it?!?!  You know how the top petal in the pic: the model's left side (not our view left side)...that petal sits on top of the other petal of the same tube. The held sts on the model's right side tuck under the garter st of the left side of the same tube. Are we still on the same page?!?!  Well in the back...the petal that was on top in the front...I think should be under in the back. Like I said...I haven't made this sweater...but that makes sense to me. if you sewed them tog NOT this way...that would definately make your straps off center. Basically...your system of "overlapping" should look the same both front + back sides. Check w/ the diagram in the pattern when looking @ both sides.

I really wish I could see this or better yet touch it!!!  If this were mine...I'de go along + do some measuring to see if things are "matched" fr side to side/ etc.

One of my first thoughts when this issue came out + I saw this pattern....was that it looked like it could be a big headache to sew tog for some people. I know...I'm really picky about matching things perfectly...but it makes stuff LOOK BETTER!!!

I hope some of this made sense? If you need clarifying or more help...please post back. I've been having some health troubles last few days but will try to check back as soon as possible.

    Take Care.... Andrea

MirakoO wrote

on Apr 1, 2009 1:54 PM

 Thanks for your thoughts.  I did line up the side seams, so that is not the problem.  The only thing I can think of to center the straps is to sew the right end with the live sts under the left end and knit those sts for the right strap to the stockenette sts on top of the tube (I'm looking at the sweater from the front).  Do you see what I mean?  However, this would make the top too thick.

Mirako

AndreaW wrote

on Apr 3, 2009 2:32 PM

Hi MirakoO....

Sorry that none of that solved your problem. Is there any way that you could post 2-3 pics here? I know that I am not set up to (no account w/ Flickr etc)...but hoping maybe you can? One of the front/ one of the back/ + a closeup of where the straps meet/ sew on?  Even if you wanted to email the pics to me @ home thru here...OK w/ me...I have a hi-sp connection. I promise I will not share your email w/ anyone...I never do!!!

I don't quite get what you are describing but do understand things could get too thick easily there.

Does your front + back layout look like the diagrams in the pattern? No mirror reversals?

If you can figure out a way to give me more info/ pics I will be glad to try + help. Maybe you already figured it out???

    Take Care .... Andrea

MirakoO wrote

on Apr 5, 2009 11:51 AM

 Hi, Andrea,

I sewed the back identical to the front.  That might be the problem, as the straps are twisted. Before sewing the three layers, I considered reversing the back petals, but decided not to, as the pattern did not mention anything about a mirror image.  I'm so frustrated right now that maybe in the near future, I will be motivated to take the back apart and resew in a mirror image.  I took a pic but couldn't attach it. 

Thanks again for your help.

Mirako