Awww yeah, you gotta love my argyle mini-dress:
After 42 hours of blocking the vest is ready for pictures…but not for the public. Turns out, after all my mistakes, fears, miscalculations and close-to-frogging moments, I was right. I should have started over when I first got worried. You know the funny thing? What I was most worried about was the length…it is long, but I kind of like that part of it. I am 5 ‘10 and the length looks good. So what is wrong you ask? Perhaps you can’t tell from the above picture�??it is kind.
Meet…the wings:
Some people might call them armholes but they have a very distinctive aero-dynamic feel to me. I really don’t know what happened. Did I make the wrong size? Was it my longer row gauge? I just don’t know. I still highly recommend the pattern. It is incredibly well written, full of useful information and very easy to decipher. Just make sure you know your gauge and make correct adjustments. Mine didn’t turn out because of my own folly.
Here are the specs:
Pattern: Eunny’s Deep-V Argyle Vest
Yarn: Knit Picks Merino Style, Storm (6 skeins) and Tide Pool (4 skeins)
Needles: 29 inch circular US 4’s
Modifications: I didn’t make any intentional modifications but due to not understanding the implications of row gauge I accidentally made it about 5 inches longer then it is supposed to be (it measures in at 29 inches). Read all the details of this experience here.
I am sad because I love it. I love the pattern, the argyle, the colors, the style…oh well. I am going to have to re-knit, I just don’t know when or how I will avoid the wings in the future. I don’t think I can bear to unravel this vest so if anyone knows a broad shouldered, long torso-ed lady who wants to tempt it away from me…I could be convinced to do a trade.
The following 13 comments were originally left at blogspirit:
That looks almost exactly like mine does when I try it on!! Oh, I’m so glad I’m not the only one. I used the same yarn and the same needle size as well. Damn row gauge!
What a shame it didn’t turn out exactly as you wanted! Still, it really is a beautiful vest, and if you wear a long-sleeved shirt perhaps that will help to diminish the appearance of the too-large armholes? I haven’t knitted it myself yet, but I have a feeling the row gauge discrepancy is at fault for the sleeves…in the pictures Eunny shows, the armholes seem to be much smaller, and therefore more form-fitting. But it makes sense that if your row gauge is off, the armhole openings are larger than intended, which would make it look baggy. I’ll know for sure once I modify the pattern for my row gauge and actually knit it up, but that’s my best guess.
Oh man, it looks so awesome except for the wings. I can completely understand your disappointment but totally believe it is worth re-knitting the top portion if that is at all possible. I know you had steeks to contend with and I am unsure how to fix garmets with steeks. But good luck.
Maybe you can wear a blazer/jacket on top, so the wings don’t show, but the rest of the vest is visible?
I’m in the knitalong and keeping a close eye on how everyone’s vests are turning out. I’m way off on row gauge myself and per Eunny’s advice, I’m going to do whatever i need to do to get row gauge and then block the hell out of the thing to get stitch gauge. God, i hope that works…
I agree with some of the above advice – can you wear a blazer over it? Or maybe pick up stitches and add little cap sleeves so the “wings” look more intentional?
Hana hou, for the try! I think it looks fab, granted the armholes. But the blazer idea might work or a cute denim jacket?
Many Fair Isles have the same problem as there isn’t enough shaping in the armscye area. You would have to take more stitches out under the arm and then decrease as you would for a sleeve to make it fit better. You might redo the armbands and pick up fewer stitches to make the wings smaller. That way they will be less noticeable and it might salvage the sweater just enough you can wear it.
Hi- in the argyle knitalong too… if any of us sees a slender 6 1/2 foot tall woman, we should immediately ask her if she wants about a half dozen argyle vests! I’m 5′11″ and made the 36 size, and I had the same problem as you- too long and too bulgy in the top/ sleeve area! I, too, want to make it again so that it fits!
Amanda
Did you follow her suggestion and make a size with no ease?
I think the problem is that the top is too loose. Did you adjust for your row gauge when doing the sleeve parts? If you did, then maybe you can redo the neck ribbing to tighten it up a big?
I totally agree that this fall me, you, and Amanda (who commented with the same exact issues!) should have a re-argyle-along since we all had the same problem. There’s no way I’m starting a new one right away, especially since summer is about to begin.
unfortunately i have no tips or helpful advice on the ‘wings’ except to say that i didn’t notice until you pointed them out as the vest is just so beautiful they missed my attention. hope you can learn to live with them :0) as you look gorgeous in it. x
wow, you made a steeked vest! Ok, it doesn’t fit so well and that’s sad, but you should still be proud for trying and learning something new
Why don’t you just sew (with a machine) around the armhole where you would ideally like it to end, then cut off excess fabric, and pick up stitches and re-knit the ribbing?
Ah! So, I’m just about to start mine and I’m using the same yarn as you. What do you recommend? I just made a gauge swatch which had the same off row gauge problem as you did. I was thinking about moving down to 3’s…