Finish It or Frog It: Dawn Cardigan

Ok, let’s dive into my stash of UFO’s. First up is the Dawn Cardigan which I started in October of 2012. It is all done except for the neckband and has been living in a knitting bag in a drawer. Here is the original sweater.
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And here is what mine looks like.

Finish It or Frog It: Dawn Cardigan
I did one modification to the pattern and made it long sleeved instead of 3/4. I just knew I would get more use out of long sleeves. It is not awful, but I don’t love it. I think the sleeves look a little big. Also the cabled bottom really pulls away from the center, perhaps blocking would help this. You can see in the original the bottom isn’t supposed to close, but on me is that just going to look like it is too small?

Finish It or Frog It: Dawn Cardigan
I stopped working on this because I was struggling with picking up the stitches for the collar. Some of the stitches are provisional cast-on while others are bound off. It just looks awful when I pick them up.

I’m not sure there is anything I can do to make me love this sweater. I do like the idea of it still. I think perhaps it needs to be done in a different, lighter yarn. Something with more drape. What do you all think? Frog it? Finish it?

If you are joining us in Finish It or Frog It 2015, feel free to put your photos in our Flickr group. Tell us your plans or ask for advice.

 

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9 years ago by in Challenges , Finish It or Frog It , Knitting , Needlecraft | You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
11 Comments to Finish It or Frog It: Dawn Cardigan
    • Jenny K
    • I think you Frog it- to me it looks too big. When you started that you had not lost all the weight you have lost. It might be the red that I don’t like- not sure. I am sure you can come up with something else to use that yarn for that you will like a lot better.

    • Manisha
    • I agree with Jenny that it looks too big for your slim figure. But before frogging and only if you have the energy, I would suggest going back to the 3/4 sleeves. I’ve come to love the 3/4 sleeves on the sweater I made for my daughter which keeps her plenty warm. Her sweater looks really nice with a long sleeve shirt hanging out below the sweater cuffs. I bet it will drape on your arms better with the shorter sleeves.

    • Ros
    • I would maybe try doing a light block of it now, before deciding whether to continue. That would give you a better idea of how well the fronts will drape. I like it, but if you don’t think you like it enough to wear it, it would be better to frog it and use the yarn for something else.

      • Susi
      • I’m in favor of a blocking too. Especially the front cable part. See if those panels will sit flat, and how the sweater strikes you then.

    • Kat
    • My other big concern is the collar. The picked up stitches and the provisional stitches look very different and not neat at all.

    • Cat B
    • Oh dear! Seems like the sweater’s proportions are just off. The 3/4 sleeves are impotant to the look, but the waist length probably is too. It’s a bit short on the original and seems to work well for the style. Well, this sort of thing is why I don’t knit (lol!). Mainly I do beading and, even then, I probably lay out 3-4 designs to every one I actually string up. (My husband teases me that my hobby is really “bead sorting”!!! lol)

    • Ros
    • I finished my first finish it or frog it project! There will be pictures tomorrow but I am wearing it right now and I LOVE it. It’s a knitted skirt using the free Lanesplitter pattern. I started knitting it in September, from 4 skeins of handspun yarn and 1 skein of bought yarn. And I nearly gave up, but I am so glad I didn’t. It’s the most comfortable garment I’ve ever worn, and so warm, and yet smart. Perfect! I just hope we have a few more days/weeks cold enough to wear it this winter.

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