I ripped out an entire sweater. No, it wasn’t a spur of the moment choice. I thought about it for a while, but when I went back on Ravelry and looked how along ago I had finished the sweater and had only worn it once, it was time to go.
I was recently cleaning out my finished items, looking for things to gift, sell or donate when I came across a sweater that I finished in early 2022. It was a sweater of my own making and design. I love the idea of it and the finished sweater. What I didn’t like was the fit of the finished sweater. Which is why it has sat for the last four years.
When I came across it in the cabinet, I decided to put it on and see what the issue is. In the last four years I have learned a few things about garment fit, grading and why things don’t fit as they should. This one is tighter in the upper arm than I like. I didn’t do well following the gauge or I didn’t use blocked gauge to make the length I want. Without my hands in my pockets the sweater isn’t long enough and won’t keep it’s shape. I didn’t take the time to find out if that is because of the stitching or the fiber choice, super wash wool, before ripping it out.
I’m thinking that because of how super wash behaves, stretch forever when wet, that I figured I could ball park my desired length and then block to the actual length. I don’t remember doing a swatch for this project nor have I found one.
As for the fit in the arms, that is more about my choice of pick up and how few stitches were picked up compared to how many rows were available.
With everything I have learned about garment construction in the last four years, I now know that you have to go through the process to get a good design and fit. More on that in May. Part of that is being willing to take the time, rip and try again. I plan to make a version of this sweater again, probably closer to the inspirational piece than this one was, next year.
Sort of like this, but I will use different colors. The sweater that Lana Lang wears in Smallville Season 1 Episode 3 is the inspiration piece, still different colors than those. White is not a good idea in my life. It will get dirty fast. Maybe I’ll use my high school colors…
I go through all of my current projects on a regular basis and decide what to do with each one. You can read more about that HERE. This was only the second or third time I went through my finished items to get rid of things and I’ve never had the thought of ripping something out. It felt good in the end and the yarn went to a good home.
Have you ever ripped out a completed project? Please share your story in the comments!
Happy making!
Azariahs Fibre Arts 