Airy Wrap Around Lace Sweater
Pattern: Airy Wrap Around Lace Sweater from Fitted Knits
Yarn: Lang Thema, 9 balls and some change
The Airy has-long-name is finished. Actually, it’s been finished for almost two months now – I wore it to MDSW way back when, then shoved it into my sweater drawer as the Houston summer approached. It doesn’t look half bad in the photo, but I think I’m going to frog most of it.
The main issue I have is with the ties – they are very wide, and create a lot of bulk when wrapped around you. I used a different yarn and slightly smaller needle size than the pattern calls for (US 10.5 vs US 11), so my sweater isn’t quite as airy and the ties tend to roll. Rolling, bulky ties aren’t exactly slimming, ya know? I love both the concept of this sweater and the idea of knitting this yarn on larger needles, but the end product just isn’t working for me.
I made a number of extremely nitpicky, anal modifications to the pattern:
- Used kfb rather than yo for the raglan increases.
- Worked the body decreases at the sides rather than the center back.
- Decreased along the arms so that they would be fitted.
- Changed the weird cable chart to a normal cable chart that transitioned into 2×2 rib at the edges (I’m convinced that the sweater in the book photo used a regular 3×3 cable, not the ribbed cable that’s in the chart).
- Replaced the wonky reverse-stockinette stripes with a single purl row.
- Worked a purl stitch between lace portions on the ties because it looks pretty.
All in all, I’m glad I used cheap yarn for this. Sigh!
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Really?? I guess it must look better in the photo than in person, like you said, cause I love it!! If you won’t wear it, though, frog it. Maybe you can even reuse the yarn. :)
sorry to read that! I missed you wearing it at MD since we both had taken off our sweaters due to the heat :)
It does look really cute in that picture, but I know what you mean about all of that extra bulk — those ties are long!
I was wondering if you frogged back the ties so they just tied… and made it an airy-no-wrap-around-just-tie sweater if that would work?
[I almost bought some Brooks Farm mohair for this sweater, but resisted.]
It’s too bad the sweater is destined for the frog pond, because it really does look great in the photo. If you won’t be happy wearing it, though, it’s probably best not to have to look at it at all.
Sorry it’s not making you happy :( I’ve never had any luck with sweaters that tie like that — I always feel really silly wearing them!
If you know that you’ll never be perfectly comfortable wearing it, frog it. The yarn can be used for something that you’ll truly enjoy. :)
It looks great in the picture, but I can imagine that it would be rather irritating to have so much fabric all wrapped around me. Are you planning to frog the whole thing or just the ties, to be reknit narrower?
Tell the gals hi for me on Thurs. The future mister and I are heading to his hometown for the weekend.
It looks nice but I can see what you mean about the ties, Jess’s suggestion was good, get rid of the long te bits!. I like it in the non-fluffy yarn though, much better than fluff!.
that’s really a shame. i agree with Pam — it must be a really good photo because it doesn’t look bad. i can understand how the thickness of the ties would be a problem though. *sigh*
that is really neat – I did see another one out there (Flickr or Ravelry maybe?) that was done in a very “airy” gauge so the wraps collapsed a bit more (if that makes any sense) – you could see exactly what she was wearing under it. That is a lot of wrap though! Very cute! Glad I have this book on loan at the library!
i can sympathize with your issues re:this sweater, but it looks pretty darn great in this picture! but alas, if you are not satisfied with the end product, RIBBIT! turn it into something you love! :o) i must say though, that the sweater compliments ‘the girls’ very nicely! ek.
just frog the ties! you could always try to refinish it so that instead of having really long ties, the two parts come together at the body of the sweater to a button? i think that would look cute and way less bulky.
Chiming in with the others, I think it looks cute but I know I hate having guilt over never wearing something if I don’t like it. Yarn’s too pretty of a color to not put to good use! ;)
I agree with everyone’s comments (I think it looks great in the picture, but can understand about the bulkiness of the ties bugging you, and think you should modify it or use the yarn for another project)!
It looks great on you! Great color too. I especially like the design on the cuffs.
I think it looks nice, but I can imagine it would work better with a lighter yarn so that the ties aren’t so bulky. But at least you used up some stash, right?
As you say, the picture makes it look fine. But if you don’t like it, I say rip away!
I really like it. but I can understand if you want to frog it. I’ve been thinking about knitting this sweater too. Because of my mid-driff insecurities, I light airy yarn would be necessary to minimize bulk around the middle.
I tried googling the yarn you used, but couldn’t find it (am unfamiliar with it). What is made of, what its gauge, etc? sorry for all the questions.
The upper portion is SO DARN CUTE! The only problem I see is that the ties are just a little too long. Well, knit and learn, I suppose. At least you’ve perfected the pattern for yourself for the next go ’round.
I am currently knitting that sweater, took the wrap parts off cause even during the knitting process I hate the way they look. Someone had warned me against making the sweater because of the bulkiness of it, but did I listen? NO! Like you, I fell in love with the picture and had to try it. So Now Im kicking around the idea of making a cardigan out of the back and the arms cause I like them, just adding two front panels to it. Maybe you can do the same? the color you chose is really pretty and the cabling on the sleeves turned out really good!