Although I did talk about finishing my silky vintage cardigan a week or so ago there have been a few problems.
Firstly the button band was floppy. Well of course silk is floppy but the pattern called for knitting the button band at the same time as the main body of the work. This meant that although the ribbing was mainly knitted in 3mm needles and the body in 3.75mm the button band had also to be knitted with 3.75mm. So it flopped and the button holes sagged. I solved that one with backing the band with grosgrain ribbon. But there is a bigger problem. I just can't get the neck to sit elegantly.
it quickly flops back to version 1. It's not that I dislike the contrast, although I am willing to admit to there being other opinions on contrasting colours for linings, I quite like it. No its the way the neck sits and the way it shows a not-very-elegant-inside.
So what should I do? As I see it there are four options
1. Wear it as it is, never button it up and readjust constantly (I think that is a bit of a shame after dressing and a quick check in the mirror, I like to forget about my clothes and it is so silky soft it is one of the few cardigans I actually could wear without a shell top underneath)
2. Frog the fronts to midway between the second and third buttons and knit a new lower neck line (too sad, could I bear it?)
3. Steek it, machine the neckline profile I want, cut and knit a new neck band (too risky)
4. Unpick the i-cord bind off on the neck, knit on a double thickness neck band and rever facings. This would cover the back-stage elements and have it as a collarless rever opening (may be too bulky)
I'd love to know what you think.
When I have solved the problem I will write up a modern set of instructions and post a pdf on ravelry
Firstly the button band was floppy. Well of course silk is floppy but the pattern called for knitting the button band at the same time as the main body of the work. This meant that although the ribbing was mainly knitted in 3mm needles and the body in 3.75mm the button band had also to be knitted with 3.75mm. So it flopped and the button holes sagged. I solved that one with backing the band with grosgrain ribbon. But there is a bigger problem. I just can't get the neck to sit elegantly.
Either it shows too much of the workings
Or it is too high for comfort (and style)
And while I like it sitting just like this...
So what should I do? As I see it there are four options
1. Wear it as it is, never button it up and readjust constantly (I think that is a bit of a shame after dressing and a quick check in the mirror, I like to forget about my clothes and it is so silky soft it is one of the few cardigans I actually could wear without a shell top underneath)
2. Frog the fronts to midway between the second and third buttons and knit a new lower neck line (too sad, could I bear it?)
3. Steek it, machine the neckline profile I want, cut and knit a new neck band (too risky)
4. Unpick the i-cord bind off on the neck, knit on a double thickness neck band and rever facings. This would cover the back-stage elements and have it as a collarless rever opening (may be too bulky)
I'd love to know what you think.
When I have solved the problem I will write up a modern set of instructions and post a pdf on ravelry
xx
c
I would probably go with the last one; the rest just seem too depressing. Though steeking is the 'lazy' way out, and that seems tempting too.
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