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february 17, 2003
call for help Elizabeth is all sewn up and the neckband is finished, but she still has some minor problems. Before I get into that though, let me say that the sweater fits incredibly well, feels absolutely wonderful on and I totally love it! I've washed it and it's blocking now, so you'll have to wait until tomorrow for pictures. I must thank Melissa, who was also finishing up a frogged and reknitted sweater this weekend, for her encouragement. I am so proud that I had the courage to rip this sweater out and reknit it and then that I got all the math right when readjusting for gauge and size! So, now that the self-congratulation moment is over, on to the problems. And I really, really need your help here, since I'm going to have to venture into unchartered territory to fix 'em! First, the neck is still a bit large. The sweater sits nicely on my shoulders and isn't falling off me or anything. Unless I move my arms around a lot. Then I get that Flashdance off-the-shoulder look, which isn't really what this sweater is about. I think that the yarn I used has a certain amount of elasticity and is also very smooth and drapey so that it's a little too happy to slip off a shoulder every now then. Is it possible, oh wise and experienced readers, to sew in some sort of ribbon or band around the inside of the neck to stabilize this area? If so, what sort of ribbon/band and how should I attach it? The second problem is probably a result of having ripped this sweater apart so many times. There are some small stains on the yarn that simply will not wash out. I hadn't noticed them when knitting the yarn and they aren't too visible in daylight. But they are noticable under indoor lighting and are unfortunately right across the middle of the sweater. I still don't know what I was thinking buying white yarn for this sweater! Now, to my question. The last time I mentioned this, Leigh suggested that maybe I could dye the sweater. What do you all think about that? Could it work (the yarn is Orkide by Marks & Kattens and is 20% silk, 40% merino wool, and 40% acrylic microfiber)? Could I do it, never having done any dyeing before? I don't want to ruin the sweater trying to fix it! I'm looking forward to your feedback. I hope you all can help. I love this sweater so much, I want to be able to make it something that I can really wear and really enjoy wearing. Thanks! posted by alison at 9:29 am | in
elizabeth III
Comments
What color were you thinking of dyeing it? Do you have any spinning/weaving stores near you? They could give you good advice about the fiber mix and if it would work. I definitely recommend the dye the swatch first trial. Posted by: Leigh at February 17, 2003 10:50 AMYou can use seam binding (not bias tape) slip stitched across the back and the shoulder seams to add stability. I used to knit for a local designer and she almost always added a stay ribbon across the shoulders and back. I've also seen, somewhere, a reference to adding a row of crochet slip stitches around the neck (or just acroos the back) as a means of restricting the stretch. Not sure if that would add too much bulk but maybe worth a try. Posted by: Larry at February 17, 2003 11:28 AMThe acrylic won't take the acid dye you need for this[so it'll make the colour paler ,and maybe tweedy ,depending on how well the fibres are blended ] - Gaywool dyes are brilliant .No mixing etc. Wool and silk take dyes differently. I once dyed some 50%/50% Tussah Silk /Merino that I'd spun .I used a ready mixed dark purple. The blue in the dye exhausted first,dyeing the silk,the merino dyed red. A tweedy ,purpleish at a distance ,yarn is what I got - luckily I liked it. Posted by: Emma at February 17, 2003 11:45 AMForgot to mention that the stains may dye darker than the rest. How about getting a little advice from a * really good * dry cleaner . This sounds like a good time to ask Lucy Lee at A Mind's Eye, since she does so much dyeing. I agree with Larry--stay stitch or bias tape would do the trick (you can usually see it sewn into quality knit tops). I think it is such a HUGE accomplishment that you reknit this! Posted by: Dava at February 17, 2003 12:35 PMI used to sew a lot and noticed you said it is the neck that seems a little too big. do you still have your gauge swatch? (i usually frog them so i usually don't) or do you have enough yarn to make another? then you could do a dye experiment (or two depending how much yarn you have) and wouldn't have to test it out on the whole precious sweater. :) Posted by: carolyn at February 17, 2003 1:01 PMI might suggest bra holders to help keep it in place. This is an old sewing technique to keep boat neck openings in place (used commonly in the 50's for that odd neckline that was so popular). just take a ribbon and attach it to the shoulder area where your bra is going to hit and add snaps to the ends of the ribbon. The ribbon then wraps around your bra and viola, the neckline will stay exactly in place (thanks to your bra). Let me know if you need more info on how to do it. Posted by: Cindy at February 17, 2003 1:03 PMOne more thought - how about taking out the bind off row for the neck and redoing the bind off with smaller needles and tighter tension? I just reread Larry's comments which I thought were very good. I realized his crochet slip stitches is a lot like my embroidered chain stitch idea. I'm wondering if handsewing the chain stitches with spliced yarn would give you more control over how much fabric you ease in with each stitch? I'm going to remember Larry's tip for the normal sweaters I make - this would really improve them. Mary Posted by: Mary at February 17, 2003 1:04 PMAlison, I don't have anything new to add here. I like the idea of the chain stitch. Is your motivation for dyeing the sweater to cover up the existing stains or the realization that you will get more? I would definitely call Mind's Eye Yarns in Cambridge. How much do you have leftover? I think the key would be to swatch and do a test-dye first. Posted by: Melissa at February 17, 2003 2:20 PMI'd go with making a swatch and practicing. Or have you got other stain-fighting options? It's such a pretty sweater, I can't wait to see how it looks "fitted". Good job with the sewing too! Posted by: rebecca at February 17, 2003 5:34 PMI think everyone else has great suggestions. I was wondering if you know what kind of stains you've got going, and what you've tried to get them out with. My mom has gotten impossible-to-remove stains out by laying the item, stain-up, in soapy water in the sun for a few hours. (Of course living in south america makes this method more effective) Just a thought. Posted by: ivete at February 17, 2003 6:02 PMThanks for all the feedback, everyone! I really like the idea of using some seam tape to give the neck some hold. And if that won't work, I definitely want to try Cindy's funny bra holder idea! I do have some extra yarn with which I can make a test swatch for dyeing. If I ever finish the actual sweater, I'll knit up a new swatch and take it over to Mind's Eye and see if Lucy can suggest the appropriate dye to try. Thanks again. I hope to be able to report some success in the near future. Posted by: alison at February 18, 2003 11:44 AM
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