what to do?
The only thing left to do is weave in all those ends on the Ruffled Surplice and maybe block it again. But I don't know if it's worth it. I decided that I like the color. I remember now why I chose it in the first place. And I really like the length and how it's longer in the back. Although it's got some cuteness, I swear this thing feels like a damp beach towel when I pick it up! It's adding bulk where I don't need it to, the shoulders are way too big, and I feel like the ruffles (especially on the sleeves) are crossing the line from "cute" to "cutesy." The shoulders are the worst part, I guess. If anyone has suggestions on what to do about the shoulders and sleeves, I'd love to hear all about it.
posted by jenna at 8:09 PM
12 Comments:
I have narrow shoulders so what I sometimes do is to thread very narrow elastic through the should seam and use it to pull up the shoulder, then I tack it really tightly at each end. If that's the only problem, then the elastic can solve it. it won't solve other fit problems. Good luck.
Gillian
Oh man, I agree. Not the best look. :( How disappointing!
Re the sleeves: Could you take the ruffle off and do a cap sleeve that is maybe slightly gathered at the arm opening? Or perhaps take the sleeves off altogether and then use the extra fabric on the shoulder to make a gathered strap?
Man! I hate it when cute knits go bad. I love the color too, but have to admit that this pictures is not the most flattering and half the purpose of the knit is to FEEL good.
No advice on the sleeves though. Good luck on that.
o.k., so sorry to say it, but i agree with the ruffle on the sleeve. could you just take it completly off?
I do LOVE the color....and the design as well, longer in the back......
Look forward to how it turns out!
I agree with what's already been said! It has a lot going for it, but the ruffles are a bit frou-frou (not that that's always a bad thing, but streamlining might be a good thing here!). Everything you make is way too cute to let a little ruffle stand in the way of another good knit!
On, it is so cute - I have to say, I'm not the biggest fan of the ruffly sleeve edges - what about just taking those off? other than that, I think with a good blocking it would look great!
can you somehow alter the belt and wrap it around tighter? i love the design and color, but it's too bulky for your frame!
Jenna, my friend just completed this sweater and ran into the same problem at the shoulder. She sewed twill tape in at the shoulders. She marked it the length it needed to be, started at one end, stuck a couple pins in the middle to help her get the distribution right, and hand sewed it, bunching in the extra length of the sweater bit by bit to the tape. It really looked fine when it was done and vastly improved the look.
I like the ruffles, but it's either you or it's not. Those are easily removed. The bulk around the middle is much more difficult to solve, though. The ruffle on the underlay is very unfortunate. I think the yarn gauge and stitch pattern are simply to bulky for the style.
Dear friend, I agree with Carrie's comment. Its not a very flattering design. unfortunately that's the extend of my contribution. sorry, i don't have good suggestions to remedy the shoulder and ruffles.
i think the problem with the ruffles generally is that they don't have enough "length" to them so that instead of "flowing" they appear bunched up, and not proportional to the piece. the edging wouldn't be so bad if the piece weren't so wide.
either removing the sleeve altogether or converting to a slightly flared cap sleeve (without the ruffle) might work, but you'd still need to take a few inches off each shoulder. it's generally is just too wide all over, and i think you need to take a few inches off each side since it needs to be more fitted where it currently isn't, especially given the length. my guess though is that you'd have to go back and re-work each panel. a seamstress may have some other thoughts on how to tweak it without all that frogging ... so the question becomes, how badly do you want it?
I was going to suggest you find a way to bring up the shoulders so that it sits in the right position and is not so dropped shoulders. But you have several great suggestions here. I especially like the one smuddpie suggested. I am looking at from a sewing poit of view. Fitting my shoulders has been so important in sewing that I used that method on the last sweater I made and I was not dissappointed. If you can get it so sit further up on your shoulders it will change the whole look of the sweater.
Let me join everyone in saying that it needs more length. Here is some inspiration I think you can make the sleeves a tad longer so that the ruffles were just below the elbow and that might look great with a longer length. Maybe even a thicker tie? Can't wait to see what you decide.
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