Frequently I end up having to re-work something because I failed to fully think it through beforehand. That’s exactly what happened on the cuff of the cardigan I showed you a few days ago. My plan was to incorporate the motif of two leaves from the left front into the ribbing on the cuffs. The leaves would be placed so they’d be on the outside edge of the cuff and a little visible from the front. Something like this.
So I logically placed my motif quarter of the way around from the beginning of the round (positioned where a seam in a seamed sleeve would be). For some reason, about halfway through knitting the motif I decided to try it on, bound off so the needles wouldn’t get in the way and slipped it over my hand.
It looked good, but then, just in case I actually put the whole cardigan on. I couldn’t see the motif at all, not without a great deal of contorting. It wasn’t on the outside edge of my wrist at all, but on the underside, and no amount of twisting would position it anywhere else unless I turned my palm right away from my body, not exactly the most natural of positions, nor one that’s easy to photograph. You really can’t tell from this, but trust me that it was all wrong.
I have hundreds of stitch markers, many of them rather pretty, but sometimes a scrap of yarn is the handiest.
And then, finally, I actually started thinking. I looked at the shirt I was wearing, I remembered the fitting notes in my dressmaking books, I felt rather stupid.
The thing is: if you make a garment with a seam from underarm to wrist, that seam runs from the centre of the underarm to the inside of the thumb. At least it does when the hands are hanging naturally by the sides, because the wrist moves inside the sleeve. The sleeve, unless it’s very tight fitting, doesn’t move with the wrist.
Glad I’d tried it on at that point and not say, after the twisted ribbing or even after both cuffs, I ripped. So, so pleased that I did. The resulting cuff is just as awkward to photograph while holding the camera in my left hand, but at least the work can be seen. I don’t imagine you’re very into putting work into details that no one will be able to see!
{ 42 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh that is beautiful, I can ‘t visualise things or draw in 3D – yet I have a degree in Three Dimensional Design! -I can throw ceramic pots in 3D!
I find I have much try and see, frog, and try again when I’m designing.
Really looking forward to seeing this completed. Looks lovely so far!
This was such a fantastic post! I was running into the exact same problem, with the little nupp and roositud hollyberries I’m adding to the wrist of my cardigan, so it’s really good to read about how you thought through it and fixed it.
Actually, come to think of it, I had the same issue with the maple leaf cardigan I knit and wore to Rhinebeck…it has a tiny little nupp cluster at the wrist that no one ever, ever sees, because of how it rotates around my wrist when I’m actually wearing it. Something to fix when I write that pattern up!
It looks so nice…
Oh, it’s lovely. Thanks for sharing your sketch for it, too!
Pretty! Must say the sketch is my favorite though, I wish my project sketches were that neat and detailed
Love it, love it, love it! I can’t wait to see this finished. Also, congratulations on your lovely article!!
That cuff is so cute! Love it.
And oh yes, the trial & error. At least you got to have that great feeling of realization when you all at once understand why something went wrong, and how to fix it. Even when it means re-doing a lot of work, I always find that moment a little thrilling.
Funny the way things make perfect sense until you get them on the needles. Thank goodness you caught it before the ribbing!
Seeing all the bits and pieces really does make me eager to see the completed project. What a lovely yarn, by the way!
Oh, I remember that from my dressmaking classes, glad to know some of the information I gleaned in those classes will be useful again. Can’t wait to see the finished project.
looks great; i’m excited to see the finished product! and i second that comment about the yarn; it looks lovely.
Wow, I asked to see design sketches and here one is. So neat. And kind of fun that even the most experienced designers have these lapses sometimes. I mean, not fun that you had to rip, but fun in the sense that we all understand what that’s like.
It’s truely lovely.
I’ve just taken up knitting and wonder whether I’ll ever be able to knit something as beautiful as this.
Love your blog.
it looks amazing…
love the owls shirt that you’re wearing too!
It looks great.
It might be worth getting hold of a remote for your camera. I bought one for my Nikon a few months ago and it was only about £15. Really handy!
This never would have ocurred to me naturally! Sometimes I really need to think and think and think about the construction of things, even though I’m not designing. When I was making Paper Dolls, it took me forever to figure out how to join the sleeves to the body, even though it was explained in the pattern :) My brain just doesn’t work in 3D… Congrats on solving the problem! :)
The sleeve looks really lovely. I know it will take some time until we get to see the project in all its glory, but I’m looking forward to it – the colour, the lace, so pretty!
Also, congratulations on that newspaper article, how exciting! Makes me wish I’d been able to knit during my literature seminars. :D
What a beautiful garment this is going to be. As always, it’s your attention to detail that wins the day. Looking forward to the pattern!
Many congratulations on that excellent article in The Times last week. My friend brought it to my attention and was most impressed when he realised that my beret (Rose Red, but in whita angora) is one of yours. I love your patterns as they are so beautiful to make, and so clever in how the article grows.
May you continue to go from strength to strength!
very best wishes
Jo
I love that sleeve. I am excited to see the whole project! :)
Looks great, as usual!
Thanks for sharing your process! I really enjoy seeing your work in progress, and it helps my knitting immensely to understand what goes on in your mind as you work, and how you fix things in your design you’re unhappy with. I’m nowhere near being able to design my own patterns yet, but it’s something I hope to learn in the future. These posts are really inspiring! Plus, it’s a *lovely* cardigan.
That is one of the prettiest sleeves I have ever seen!
Totally absorbing watching you work. Looking forward to the next installment
the cuff looks awesome now, you definitely did the right thing. I love the twisted ribbing!
How beautiful! Such exquisite detail. I can’t say anything to better that really………….! Love Vanessa xxx
I can’t wait to see it all put together :) I love your twisted stitch ribbing…it’s been an embellishment I’ve been into lately.
I love this new jumper – can’t wait to knit one for myself. Thank you so much for sharing your progress. I love all the details that make a Ysolda creation so special.
That it so very pretty:-)
That’s a lovely color. And I like the idea of the motif being repeated (minimally) at the wrists. It’s something that I’ve been playing with (in my head) for a design or two.
Of course, one of these days I should actually: 1. get this stuff on paper and 2. knit it.
But you know, who really goes for logical progressions these days?
(spoze that would be just about everybody. Heh)
I love to read on how you work on your designs, and that you, too, need to rip back and redo! Really like the look of that cardigan.
Can’t wait to see it finished. Yet another wonderful design. It was great to see your patterns for sale at my LYS here in Alabama, USA!
Very smart. I love those moments of clarity. A bit of a rarity in these parts, unfortunately.
Oh my gosh that sweater is looking so cute!
p.s. I usually use a scrap of yarn as a stitch marker too.
Thank you for showing that to us!! The sweater is gorgeous! Its so comforting to know as I’m ripping something out (and being haunted by voice of self-doubt) that it happens to even the very best designers! You’re awesome :)
I read about you in The Times & cut out the article as I have recently picked up knitting again (2 laborious pairs of fingerless gloves for my children!)
I LOVE your patterns and will definitely be back for a pattern sometime…just can’t decide what to knit!!
How intricate! I enjoy learning about the design process — very impressive. I am very excited to see the final product!
Shelly
That looks so lovely! What a clever idea. I’m looking forward to seeing it all finished :)
I thoroughly enjoy your blog! Thank you for showing us this “inside” view. I am an average knitter. I usually follow patterns, but love to play around, as well. I’m abysmal at math and have a lot to learn about pattern making, but I’ve realized that is something I’m intrigued by. It is very encouraging to see that even at your level of knitting, you don’t create something new without a lot of trial and error. It helps me to press on, knowing that.
I love your attention to the little details. It makes the knitting far more enjoyable!
I was in Avignon (France) last weekend and at the yarn store I encountered a lady with her printed Ishbel and Damson patterns, looking for the perfect yarn with which to knit. She picked some lovely Phildar colors.
That wrist detail is so lovely and the cardigan looks undoubtedly like something worth waiting for…
Lovely detail on the cardigan–what yarn is it in? It looks like madelinetosh merino…maybe mourning dove?