Monday 23 Mar 2009

Neck and Neck ( . . . and neck)

I believe it’s beyond debate that I now hold the sad and pathetic record for the category: How many times can you reknit the neckband of a sweater and still not be satisfied.

Behold . . . my Slinky Ribs sweater with neckband #6:

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I really like the look of the rolled collar but I’ve come to grips with the realization that it’s a poor design choice for my modified version of the sweater. The ribbing stretches across the chest when the sweater is worn, causing the otherwise lovely rolled edge to stretch too.

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Hmmmm . . . not so much.

I tried a number of different fixes, including several variations of a short row technique but all for naught. Honestly, I think the yarn has been reknit so many times it’s close to shredding. I’m half inclined to leave it the way it is–stretching be damned–but I will most likely set it aside for a day or two before pulling it out and knitting an applied i-cord edging. Well, unless one of you talks me down first.

In the meantime, I’ll just sit back and admire the lovely skeins of Ball and Skein yarn that I received today from Judy.

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18 comments | knitting, sweaters

18 Responses to “Neck and Neck ( . . . and neck)”

  1. # Robin on 23 Mar 2009 at 4:53 pm

    Applied i-cord might be just the trick! The sweater looks great, though. Love the flecks of color.

  2. # Cheryl S. on 23 Mar 2009 at 5:03 pm

    I think the I-cord is a good solution, but definitely give it a time-out for a couple of days.

  3. # Nancy on 23 Mar 2009 at 5:49 pm

    I am a big fan of applied I-cord. But, I’m wondering if the applied I-cord wouldn’t pull unappealingly, also? My first thought upon seeing the rolled edge has been that perhaps the rolled edge is too short;or, perhaps there should have been some increases at the corners of the neckline?

  4. # Joy on 23 Mar 2009 at 6:40 pm

    I’m about 3 rip-outs behind you on my current sweater, but mine’s still too loose! I like the rolled edge, but I wonder if a collar that would look “right” when worn wouldn’t look a bit sloppy when the ribbing’s not spread out – maybe more stitches?

  5. # Manise on 23 Mar 2009 at 7:04 pm

    I think an I-cord neckline will look wonderful too! The yarn from Judy looks yummy.

  6. # Penny on 23 Mar 2009 at 7:59 pm

    I’d try a short ribbed band. Pick up with an eye to being able to keep the K2, P2 of the front in sequence.

  7. # Judy on 23 Mar 2009 at 8:15 pm

    I vote the i cord. I used it on a summer sweater a few years back and really liked the way it held up.

  8. # Betsy on 24 Mar 2009 at 1:00 am

    Just to be different — what about a crochet picot edge? It would stabilize the neckline.
    http://www.woolcrafting.com/crochet-picot-edging.html

  9. # Jennifer on 24 Mar 2009 at 3:19 am

    Is it just me or did anyone else think you were going somewhere else with that title.

    ; O

  10. # Carolec on 24 Mar 2009 at 3:51 am

    Go for the i-cord, I think it will do the trick. Lovely yarn from Judy!

  11. # margene on 24 Mar 2009 at 4:41 am

    Love Judy’s yarn! Whacha gonna make?
    I’d like to see what the neck looks like on a body.

  12. # Laurie on 24 Mar 2009 at 4:42 am

    I cord sounds more robust. Do that and stop.

    Those are colorways that just sing to me. I think I have a couple of them :)

  13. # Heather Joins The Round on 24 Mar 2009 at 8:04 am

    But applied I-cord is very unstretchy, would it be too stressed out? I do love applied I-cord…

    After the ornery-pants neckline gets a time-out you will know what to do.

  14. # Mercuria on 24 Mar 2009 at 1:58 pm

    I think you can still do the rolled collar. You’ll just have to pick up extra stitches up front so that, when the front panel is stretched out, the roll itself will not be.

    Alternatively, you could pick up the same number of stitches, and then immediately increase.

    It will probably look strange “on the rack,” but it should give you the look you’re envisioning when you wear it.

    Hope that helps!

  15. # Betsy on 24 Mar 2009 at 4:33 pm

    Maybe just a plain old K1P1 ribbed neckline? I have the 1983 edition of The Sweater Workshop. It shows a “reversible sweater” with a scooped neckline, where the neck ribbing is smaller rib than the body. (The body is K1P7 rib, and the neckline is a K2P2 rib.)

  16. # Erica on 24 Mar 2009 at 11:17 pm

    Maybe a crochet stabilization would work? It’s done wonders for the necks and shoulders of my sweaters. It’s just a chain stitch along the inside of the fabric, so you can control how tight you make it, and it does a great job of keeping the knitting from stretching (without showing from the front).

    I sympathize on the neck fussing; I have a sweater waiting for version 4 right now…

  17. # Norma on 29 Mar 2009 at 12:19 pm

    Hmmmm. I’m thinking you should have put in the button placket after all. I’m trying to think of any ribbed sweater I own that doesn’t have a v-neck or is a cardigan, and can’t think of a scoop-necked one, and don’t think I’ve ever seen one. Applied i-cord is, I’m thinking, too inelastic for a ribbed sweater.

  18. # batty on 01 Apr 2009 at 6:49 pm

    I second icord bindoff. Maybe that won’t stretch like crazy? I just hope it would stretch enough to get your head through…