Cutting Into Lace: The Save of the Century
Two years has passed since I started this cardigan. It has been the most painful project I have ever undertaken. It lay in some area of my house until I decided I really wanted to wear it this spring. Early on, I knew that the pattern was not going to work out. It had me wringing my hands and cursing the designer, whose creations I happen to love. I was not happy with the way the lace pattern looked as I increased for the sleeves. I felt that it compromised the integrity of the sleeve seams, given the fact that I was using a cotton yarn which is rather heavy and splits like mad. I thought it would over stretch the seams to have the lace right at the edges. After many starts and stops, I decided to incorporate the increases into the lace after I had enough stitches for one full repeat. There.
But that was nothing. Midstream, I decided to change the size from a large to a medium. I fearlessly forged ahead, not giving a whit about how I was going to change things when it came time to seam. And then it was time to seam. I had extra fabric at the sides. There was no way I was going to rip back for the fortieth time. Wait! I know! In a flash of brilliance, I decided to add a couple of lines of stitching with a sewing machine, cut into the lace, and then seam it together. I grappled with the prospect of that task for two years. Finally, I became brave. Shade your eyes and read no further if you are faint of heart.
I placed a line of slip stitch crochet near the place I wanted to cut off. I pinned it with tissue paper, and reinforced the area with three lines of machine stitching. Then I slept on it, waited a few days, had a drink, and used my Razor Fiskars to cut right into the lace. It was either that, or be faced with the reality that I would never wear this cardigan.
Done. Suddenly, I had energy. I didn't even care that there were a million minute pieces of yarn scattered all over the house, or that I would have to pick out the tissue paper from the seams with tweezers for months afterward. The seams didn't look that bad. It looks like ready to wear. And I am ready to wear it!
Pattern: Victoria by Mags Kandis from Mission Falls Quinte Scrapbook
Yarn: Gedifra Korfu (50% cotton, 50% microfiber), color 88, peach
Amount Used: 1057 yards / 970 meters / 21-1/4 ounces / 606 grams
Needles: Addi Turbo size 6 and 7, and KnitPicks Options size 6 and 7
You are a steely-eyed missile man. GENIUS! I could never do it! But it looks fantastic, great job. I love airy cardigans in the springtime!!!
Posted by: Minnie | April 09, 2008 at 07:09 PM
What a story! You were so brave, and yet very careful before you took cutting objects to your lovely cardi. Beautiful! Now, be sure to get DH or someone to take a picture of you wearing it. ;-)
Posted by: CatBookMom | April 09, 2008 at 08:27 PM
GREAT job Trish. I'm impressed with your courage at cutting lace and figuring out how to make it work. I made a vine lace cardi for DD#2, loved the finished product,but those increases on the sleeves were a bear to figure out without messing up the lace too much. Didn't keep notes, and don't remember how I did it, but there are definitely some odd areas which I eventually decided to ignore since I didn't think she would ever notice.
Posted by: Daryl | April 09, 2008 at 09:28 PM
Well it was worth it all because it's GORGEOUS!!
Posted by: Jean | April 10, 2008 at 07:35 AM
Love the sweater! And boy, are you brave.
Posted by: Miss T | April 10, 2008 at 10:00 AM
Your sweater is gorgeous! When are you going to model it for us? OMG, I can't believe you went SNIP. That's just too scary for me to think about, and you did it!!!
Posted by: Marie Kahn | April 10, 2008 at 12:30 PM
That is one beautiful cardigan! Love the colour.
I concur with the other commenters' opinions - you have nerves of steel ... cutting lace indeed! You should be extremely proud of yourself.
Posted by: Ghislaine | April 10, 2008 at 03:12 PM
Trish, your cardigan came out great!! I'm impressed by your nerves of steel to cut the lace cardi!
When do we get to see a picture?
Libby
Posted by: Libby Grant | April 10, 2008 at 03:28 PM
Ulp! That is seriously impressive! WOW! This is *real* surgery. Great job! :)
Posted by: Romi | April 10, 2008 at 04:03 PM
Gosh you are brave. I think I was sweating when I read about the (gasp) CUTTING! Lovely sweater though, and I am sure the terror has paid off for you.
Posted by: Lisa | April 12, 2008 at 10:56 AM
Oh, you did a nice job! Way to go!
I did a similar thing to my Vogue knitting lace sweater and it turned out great too:-)
Diane
Posted by: Diane | April 12, 2008 at 11:02 AM
There she hangs, so pretty and innocent looking. Who knew the demon the lurked inside.
You are one brave lady, Trish. But the finished sweater is beautiful. Now that you have cut the devil out of her, I am sure you will have a long and happy relationship together :-}
Suzann
Posted by: Suzann | April 12, 2008 at 09:27 PM
That is knitting nirvana, a work of art!
Posted by: Joan Santamassino | April 14, 2008 at 04:08 PM
You got a big set, girly! WTG!
Posted by: bets | April 16, 2008 at 01:05 AM
Wow. Until I read your post I thought this was a safe manoeuver only with wool garments. My oversize v-neck in Rowan Summer Tweed may just escape frogging after all.
Posted by: Laura | May 01, 2008 at 07:09 PM
Woweee! You really are a brave knitter, quite honestly you put me to shame! At least the thing I hacked up was supposed to be steeked, so I didn't think it'd unravel... cutting lace? That much lace? Wow! That's all I can say... wow!
Posted by: Lucy Hague | May 08, 2008 at 05:15 PM
Woweee! You really are a brave knitter, quite honestly you put me to shame! At least the thing I hacked up was supposed to be steeked, so I didn't think it'd unravel... cutting lace? That much lace? Wow! That's all I can say... wow!
Posted by: Lucy Hague | May 08, 2008 at 05:16 PM