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Teresa
Dot and Sade
 
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Wednesday, November 17, 2004
 My beloved Roscalie...that is way to big for either C or I. Too big for me to wear, even under something else - which is a little unrealistic given it's wooly makeup. When I decided what size to make, I made the biggest size thinking that everything is sized for those much more lean and tight than me. I thought the skinny model on the Virtual Yarns Website was probably wearing a medium, so if I wanted it to fit me I'd need to go large. Ok. I was wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. But I want to wear it SO BAD I'm willing to take desperate measures.
So...here's what I've been thinking: Felt it. Just enough that it shrinks to a reasonable fit. I'm just a little scared 'cause It's my very first Fair Isle.
It's my very first Alice Starmore.
It was damn expensive.
But it's sitting in the closet and I'm not getting any joy out of it, other than when I open the closet door.
See the poll in my side bar?
Tell me what you think...
Posted at 11/17/2004 by Teresa
 | | | Hilary
November 19, 2004 09:44 AM PST
I just ordered my first VY kit, and the measurements on the site seemed very *off* (picture a woman tangled in a tape measure). Do the patterns come with all the sizes (I ordered a M, but may take a S), or do I need to panic now? Any advice?? Many thanks :) The vest is beautiful - I vote steeking too...not felting! | |
| | | Lisa Mike Jack Della
November 19, 2004 07:50 AM PST
No T NO!!! Use Bonne Marie's already mentioned TekTalk about downsizing (http://www.chicknits.com/ttdownsizing.shtml) You've got a new machine and everything :-) And Roscalie is so crisp and lovely--if you like, I'll try and felt the Celtic KeyKnot cushion this weekend that the pups nibbled on and will send you a photo of results. You're quite right; the kits are too expensive to take too many chances on. Now that I think of it, my Flora is also too big. I'll try the downsizing thing too.
happy weekend! | |
| | | Alexa
November 18, 2004 05:50 PM PST
I don't have a solution for you, but I made Roscalie and the exact same thing happened to me! I did a gauge, too. I am scrawny in my upper body, so I made the x-small. It is so big it fits my 6'2" brother, who now owns it. The weird thing is, I had plenty of yarn, which makes me think it just runs REALLY HUGE. I have made several other VY kits and they worked to gauge perfectly! Sorry this happened to you, too. | |
| | | Audrey
November 18, 2004 03:44 PM PST
Hope I'm not rehashing, I didn't read all the comments- You could take in the sides, and cut away the armhole, picking up your live stitches, similar to what you would do if you were steeking, thereby taking the sweater in, and reducing the armhole size. DO NOT felt it, it will be short, wide, and inflexible, and all your Fair Isle work wasted. | |
| | | Allana
November 18, 2004 12:43 PM PST
Roscalie is gorgeous. Definitely DO NOT felt her. You are likely to get a totally wonky shape. I would see what you can do in terms of sewing the side seams and then cutting away the excess. But from the picture, it looks like this may impact the armhole (you don't want to cut away the whole curve into the armhole at the bottom)... It may be possible to sew a seam in the back (i.e, to taking out one or more pattern repeats, sewing the seam to matching up the sides of the design, and then clipping). Sewn carefully you would not see anything from the back, but it would leave a seam against your back... | |
| | | karen
November 18, 2004 12:05 PM PST
!!!I read your post yesterday afternoon and was perplexed with the problem of your oversized (yet beautiful!) rosecalie. ...thought I'd lurk around your blog to watch and learn from your experiences, then this morning, I find this: http://www.chicknits.com/ttdownsizing.shtml
That's an article from bonne marie (at chicknits) on downsizing over-sized garments.
i hope that it helps you in some way. --may the Knitting Goddess be with you on this one. ;) | |
| | | Teresa
November 18, 2004 09:00 AM PST
I had a Duh?!? moment when you all reminded me that it will probably shrink in length instead of width. I love the length so it's looking more and more like felting is out of the question.
Now if I just have the guts to cut it - YIKES!!! | |
| | | Cindy
November 18, 2004 07:24 AM PST
I have to concur, I would seriously consider steeking and sewing up the sides to take it in. Felting it may not bring the sides in as much as the length so you may end up with a shorter vest, but maybe not "smaller". | |
| | | Maxbrown
November 18, 2004 07:04 AM PST
Well, I was thinking you could always steek the sides and take it in a bit as if it were a piece of Cloth clothing. I know that is sacrilidge but it would make it more wearable for you. felting seems like a dratic measure. Or you could just use it as a wall hanging. It is s work of art! | |
| | | Aarlene
November 17, 2004 08:16 PM PST
Ummm I guess frogging is out of the question?
It sure is beautiful.
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| | | Sarah
November 17, 2004 02:12 PM PST
Machine sew up the sides AND around the new armholes -- in essence, cutting out two new vest pieces (leaving the shoulders attached). Sew up the sides, put on new armhole edging, and no one but you (okay, and us) will ever know. | |
| | | Teresa Stetler-Clear
November 17, 2004 01:31 PM PST
I've thought about machine stitching new seams but Felicia is right - it's the over all width which includes the shoulders.
Right now they flare out over my shoulders which isn't very flattering.
She's also right about the stich definition and it makes me feel really sad to think I might lose that. | |
| | | Felicia
November 17, 2004 12:16 PM PST
Oh! But if you felt it, you'll lose the stitch definition that is the meaning of fair isle... But I think it may be more complicated than just stitching new seams down the sides (might make your armholes too small). It looks like the part that is too big is the center... it's a wide looking vest... What if you steek the centre front and make it a button up vest? I guess it all depends on how much excess you want to remove... | |
| | | Emma.
November 17, 2004 12:04 PM PST
Machine stitch new seams then cut off the excess.Much easier and safer,and you don't alter the fabric texture. | |
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