Crocheting disaster

A few months ago I started a crocheted cardigan which wasn't a Chevron Lace Cardi. I know - I was taking a big risk. And because I'm not used to making crochet garments (beyond shawls, socks, hats and scarves) I really didn't think hard enough about it.

I decided to make a cardigan called the Summer Breeze Cardi from Crochet Today magazine. My first mistake was deciding to make a cardigan which was originally made in 100% acrylic in a much heavier 100% merino wool. My second mistake was ignoring the fact that this was a bottom-up cardi, and not a top-down, and therefore much harder to fit as you go. My third, most serious, mistake was ignoring the very obvious armpit droopiness on the much-skinnier-than-I model in the pattern photo . Can you see it?



I ignored all the warning signs as I was making it. The fact that this was a bloody heavy cardi, that the arms were tight, and that I was going to run into strife with the length of the yoke. The smaller sizes only have 3 repeats of the yoke pattern, whereas the larger sizes were 5 repeats. This just wasn't going to make sense.

So I finished it in late May, and I tried it on before deciding to wet block it. I knew it would grow with the blocking, but I wasn't happy with the lumpiness of the fabric as it was. I blocked it. It grew. The fabric was great though.



In this photo you can see that it fits great on the shoulder, but uh-oh. There's that armpit droopiness. All 4 inches of it. The weight of the sleeve makes it droop even more, and the sleeve is supposed to be sitting on the elbow.



And here's what happened when I pulled the underarm up within the vicinity of my armpit. Too much shoulder, and it doesn't sit as nicely around the chest.



And the back is way too baggy for comfort (and good style).

This cardigan is beautifully warm. I love the colour. I love the yarn (Cleckheaton Country Naturals). I love the fit from the shoulder up. But I can't wear it. The way it is - with the armpit droopiness - it's too uncomfortable.

I think it's worth saving though. Krafty Kuka and I have been discussing this cardigan in terms of dressmaking this afternoon (why I didn't think along those lines before is completely beyond me). I'll be ripping it back to 4 inches below the bobbles, and starting the yoke again from there. I'll see how it fits, and if it does I'll crochet a button band to the front sections.

Wish me luck!