My Fashionable Life

Oh, that's a bummer. I wish I had the experience to give an authoritative answer. hugs, nikki

Wishing you and your family and happy and healthy new year.

Happy New Year Anna. I haven't any experience of machine stitching hand knits but I can't see why it wouldn't work, especially with a 100% wool yarn.

That sounds like a question for Eunny! I don't think you would have a problem - maybe you could do a crochet chain and see how things felt and steek that way? I would be inclined to try that before machine stitching...

know anyone with a serger?

The very first sweater I ever knit came out very wide in the shoulders. It didn't occur to me to rip back to the armholes and reknit it narrower. A knitting friend assured me that Norwegians sewed and cut sweaters all the time. I didn't have an overlock stitch, but made two or three rows of straight stitching with a fairly long stitch before I cut away the excess fabric. Once seamed you would never have known this had been done, and I loved and wore that sweater until the elbows were transparent.

I say go for it.

I wonder if the Aran weight yarn is too "hefty" for satisfactory machine sewing. You might be even less happy with it than you are now! Sorry this has happened.

What a shame! But yes, I've done that. I just did two rows of straight stitches and then cut off the excess. I suppose you could do an overlock or zigzag as well, but you probably won't need it - I didn't. It was scary, I must admit! But I haven't had any problems with it, and I'm much happier with the new size. Best of luck to you.

thats a huge bummer. i'm experiancing the same problem with a sweater for my hubby - so i'll be interested in what the more experianced knitters advise you to do.

I don't know what you should do with your dad's cardigan, but I want to wish you a happy new year, Anna!

a couple of years ago i had an incident with elfin by kim hargreaves. when i finished knitting it...attached all those miles and miles of kid silk haze ruffles and started to put it together - i realise that the sleeves were way too large and there was all this excess fabric under the arms.

i reknit the sleeves (because like you i could cope with that). but to disengage the body of the cardigan from the ruffles and to reknit the entire body was way too much for this girl to even contemplate.

so what i did, using mattress stitch is to redo the body seams but to slowly inch in as i approached the underarms. this section then ended up having more like a sewing seam rather than a single stitch knitting seam. i am not sure whether i am explaining it correctly - however the results were fabulous and it definitely saved my cardigan from an attack of the scissors. however - elfin is made with felted tweed. rowanspun aran may be too thick for this treatment. why don't you knit a couple of swatches, seam them...give it a press and see how it goes.

http://www.chicknits.com/ttdownsizing.shtml

Here is a link from Chicknits on how to downsize a garment. I've never tried her method myself, but others swear by it!

There is an article in the current issue of Interweave Press Spin-Off which addresses this very problem. A woman spent 3 1/2 years designing and knitting a sweater for her husband, who had lost a lot of weight. Her solution was to "machine stitch two lines up each side, and cut between them. I trimmed away the excdess and overcast the cut edges." I can't tell you more, since I've never done this, but it seems possible! Good luck.

There is a science to exactly where to sew, and there's also the option of a crocheted steek. But I'd say do some research, then go for it!

Be careful if you're going to cut away excess fabric in the side seam because you'll remove the armhole bind off space. It works if you can take the same amount of fabric out of the sleeves and make the armhole shallower, but if you're just cutting off the body at the side you totally screw up your armhole. What I did in this situation before is cut away fabric in the *center back* to keep the side/armhole shape the same but make the body narrower, but that was a pullover that had a very wide neck so I did the same on the front and it ended up ok (not the most beautiful thing ever). What I did for that one was mattress stitch a seam like normal then cut way the excess leaving about half an inch, and then had it sergered to keep it from unraveling. Good luck!

Hi Anna, Happy New Year. Here is a link to a post on my blog with photos of an alteration in the same vein. Hope it is useful!

http://www.knitsonya.com/mt/2007/01/lucky_post_number_13.html

You can always find a tailor who's good with knitwear and have them take it in for you. I did that with my ribby cardi--I was way too chicken to sew in the zipper myself. Alternatively? Put your dad on a cake-and-Cadbury's diet :)

Happy New Year!!

oooh, i say test whichever machine stitch you want to use on a swatch first. i think it's important to make sure your tension is balanced, and that your seam doesn't wave at all. i think i would stitch first, and cut last. i don't think i would just sew & cut (serge) in one fell swoop. serging is the fastest way to mess something up.
and since i've never done this, i would just past this up as *theoretical knitting*. i'm great at wondering "what if"? ;)
happy new year, and good luck with the alteration.

I have to confess that I have paid a tailor to do this very thing to my knitting once. I believe she may have used a serger. I was completely satisfied with the job she did. The knit looks fine from the outside and there has been no fraying or anything on the inside. It was a vest.

I hope you can sort it with all those suggestions - they all sound like they will work. :)

I just wanted to say Happy New Year! :-)

Happy New Year, Anna!!

I believe Bonne Marie @ ChicKnits did a little sew & trim job a while back on a top she'd knit. She may have a post in her archives or a tutorial, otherwise it would be worth an email to ask her.

I went and found it -- it's on her "Tips" page and is about downsizing a garment. Here's the link: http://www.chicknits.com/ttdownsizing.shtml

Good luck! Let us know what you decide to do and how it turns out.

Machine sew that puppy and kiss your dad.

Happy new year

Yes, that's exactly what I'd do, and I did do it once for exactly the same reason: the vest I'd knit my dad was a bit too big around the middle. I used my regular sewing machine and a very dense zigzag stitch, and it worked out fine. Go for it!

Really, I'd give the machine sewing a try! It seems here in Europe we do this all the time when knitted things don't fit the way they should - the results are usually very even and neat, and definitely a lot better than ripping the whole thing. If you haven't tried machine sewing before, it might take you a couple of tries, but if you stick to it, the result will be perfect! I'd say: Go for it!
Happy New Year!

That sounds so unfair, after all that work you have put in, I wouldn't even know where to start, but Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

Happy New Year and the very best of wishes for 2007

Tracy x

I'd go for the sewing machine option too, but using stretch stitch or zigzag to avoid any problems with the stretchiness of the knitted fabric. Good luck and Happy New Year!

I've knitted two Norwegian sweaters (poetry in stitches) with machine steeked armholes. They have been washed several times and have held up to the job with no problems at all. I'd say go for it, I'd have no worries. I only used a simple running stitch, nothing fancy, although the pattern I was using did have a hem as such, which was folded over the stitching so that any "nasties" were hidden from view. I'm sure you'll be able to do it.

I don't know if I'd use an interlock machine for a delicate yarn but if it robust there will be no issue. I have seen it used to good effect for this sort of problem on Jo Sharp aran wool. The seams looked a little wrinkled for a bit but they did settle down. So my friend has a jumper she now lives in whereas before she had some bits she couldn't bear to undo in order to fix up.

When I first started knitting, I was famous for making things way too big! I hate guage swatches, and even when I did them, they were never accurate once I started the actual garment. Since then, I have actually cut down 3 sweaters and 4 sleeveless tops, using a machine. It has made these items wearable. I would suggest that you run a seam up the sides, before you do your actual seam and overcast. This seems to hold the seams tighter and doesn't allow for "give" when you are doing the actual sewing. Good luck, it's scary at first, but it does work.

That sucks.

I'm no expert, but I'd leave the seam that you have and re-seam over that, then cut away the old seam. (Does the sewing come before or after that?)

If it doesn't create too much bulk, you might get away with leaving the excess alone and not cutting away. You could also split the old seam open after you've put the new one in, and spread the excess away from the new seam, and do some sort of internal reinforcement.

I'm having a similar issue with Fleur from Rowan Vintage Knits. If you have any ideas, let me know. . .

I'm a very experienced sewer, as it were, and a fairly experienced knitter and I would say a zig-zag stitch is essential; otherwise the thread could snap any time the seam was stretched. I don't think you should use a woollen yarn as your thread in a sewing meachine as I'm pretty sure the tension for the top and bottom threads wouldn't work: my understanding is that they both need to be unstretchy. It's the seam that should be stretchy, not the yarn: hence the zig-zag stitch. It should be a short, wide one. You may well not have to trim the seams at all, unless you're really taking it in by miles: as 'jaws' says, you could just open up the existing seam. And you could do two lines of zig-zag stitch side by side before you cut, if you have to.

You can probably do quite a lot before you have to take that step of wielding the scissors.

Do get back to me if you have any more specific questions. And Happy New Year :)

Yes you can do it - I have just done something similar myself after thinking about doing it for ages and am pleased with the result. Use a sewing machine, and to be sure sew 3 seperate rows, 1 being a zig zag. I just used regular sewing machine thread in a matching colour. I believe it is also possible - not that I have tried, but am planning to on an old baggy syle sweater of mine - is to undo the seams ie detatch back from front, take out sleeves etc and then re cut each piece like a flat dressmakers pattern, sewing over as detailed above the edges that you are then going to cut off. This method reduces bulk and would probably then allow you to reknit some areas - the neckband for instance. I personally would not even think of using a serger on something like this because sergers cut and finish in one move, therefor allowing no room for error, whereas on a regular sewing machine if a mistake was made it is possible - although of course difficult to undo and start again. Good luck and let us know how you get on.

I've used the "Silky Wool" yarn in a sweater that stretched a lot when blocked. Among other fixes, I resewed the side seams so that there was nearly an inch of "seam allowance" tucked on the inside in some places (no machine sewing, just did hand seaming several columns of stitches away from the edge). I may tack down the seam allowance on either side so that it doesn't flap one way or the other, if I ever decide that the sweater fits and can be finished (I'm still shortening the back). I can't say yet for sure but I think the seam allowance will create a more structured cardigan seam which will be a good thing for this otherwise floppy yarn.

Good luck.

How frustrating! From my limited experience I think machine or hand sewing new seams would work fine, but I would recommend hand basting so you follow along a column of stitches front and back, and then oversewing--after all that work to knit it, you want a nice straight seam.
(Happy New Year!)

No advice, just sympathy. My dad did a similar thing to me recently (I refuse to admit that my knitting could have been wrong!).

I say go for it as well. You could always add a ribbon or binding on the hem (this must have a name, but it creates the same aesthetic as a French seam) as a finsihing touch, and it would also doubly ensure no unraveling.

I wish you health and happyness in the new year!
-kate

Hi there and happy new year
yes you can machine stitch the side seams, I have done so in the past. I would only use zig zag stitching as it has a bit of elasticity. If you of course have access to a chain stitch that is the best stich for knitwear. Do at least 2 or better still 3 rows of small zigzag and then cut away the seam allowance to about 1cm. Then you can overlock the seam allowances, best with an overlocker, or if you do not have that with another few rows of zigzag stitching.
Good luck!
Martina

oooh i'd be scared that the knit would get snagged on.. but then I haven't any experience machine sewing. I wish you luck with it, and also a very happy new year!

I just cut and machine knit 4 different sweaters for stockings this year and it was surprisingly simple. I was worried about the feed dogs getting stuck on the wool, but it ran through my machine like any other fabric, very nicely. Here's what I did:

Pinned the bajeezus out of them before cutting, and after cutting to make sure they were perfectly lined up and going no where. (You could do this with your sweater before sewing, and cut after sewing as well.)

I loosened my tension on my machine slightly to compensate for the loft of the garment. I didn't want the stitches getting lost in the knit.

And then I lengthened the stitch by one and a half of my normal cotton setting, also so the stitches wouldn't get lost in the loftiness of the knit. (I adjusted stitch length from 2 to 3 and a half).

I hope that helps! You're knitting is impeccable, as I'm sure your adjustments will be too. =)

Pip

Happy New Year, Amelia!

So much good advice! It is kind of reassuring to hear from people who really have used the "sew and then cut" method, as that would have been my suggestion except that I have never actually had to do it. Maybe the garment you were using as a pattern was too stretched... good luck, and post pictures and tips once you decide what to do.

Just thought I'd add my little say - absolutely go for it! I do this all the time with sweaters I've bought - OK so they are slightly different and maybe lighter etc but the process is the same. In the last few months i've saved quite a few sweaters that never fit quite right and now are wonerful - yesterday I bought a fab cashmere and silk wrap in a sale and plan to do this treatment (as well as dyeing, adding lace etc - major project!!).
It's very easy, the top tips are to swatch first to get a feel for the right stitch length, zig zag or straight etc, tack first to make sure you're happy with the fit, then sew and overlock. I really do recommend an overlocker as they give a much neater and 'flatter' finish than a zig zag edge. I would offer to loan you mine but I live in Yorkshire - sorry!
Good luck, just go steady and it will be perfect.
By the way, just want to say how much i love your blog, it's a real inspiration.

Er, I can't help at all I'm afraid, but I wanted to join in with the love and best wishes for this year! I'll keep my needles crossed for your dad's cardigan and look forward to seeing how it goes.

I've taken in a couple of knitted items using a sewing machine - set the stitch to "stretch", sew the seam where you want it, then sew it again. Then do a line of zig-zag stitching next to your double seam, then cut off the excess fabric - works a treat.
Happy New Year

Not that I've actually done this, but I'm thinking you could do a handstitched seam at the proper place, so it has some give to it, like a normal hand-sewn sweater seam, then run machine stitching about a 1/2 inch to one inch away from the seam, in the excess fabric, then cut away just outside the machine stitching, leaving a knitted-but-stabilized seam allowance?? I'd be a little worried about stretching the seam itself if it's done by machine, but this way the machine stitching won't show or affect finished size. Hope that helps!

I have a question about the cable pattern for the Cherry sweater. After changing to the larger needles and working row 1 of the cable stitch pattern is row 1 on the wrong side or right side?

Amelia,

I have a question about Jemima. I'm about to cast on, but I noticed the gauge is 18 stitches over 4 inches. But the yarn is Cashsoft DK, which is suggested as 5.5 stitches. Is this an error? If not, I'm wondering if the sweater will be too loose a knit for me.

Hope to hear from you soon!

Thanks,

Stacia
www.pipandtom.com

I suppose it depends on what you're willing to risk. If you hand it off as is will you flinch every time you see the annoying thing? My advice is to go ahead and steek. It's true, bad things might happen but I believe it is better to take the chance. Otherwise the thing will sit in your house mocking you until you get fed up and unravel it all. After all, in spite of all the time and effort and love it is in the end only a thing. And even if it goes wrong you will have learned something new. Good luck and let us know how it works out.

i'm not a knitter.. but i'd say... dad, is it too awful to wear as-is?

i doubt it is!