Plexus

I saw this in the spring Norah Gaughan booklet and I just absolutely HAD to have it. So perfect for transitional weather and a lovely bit of lace sprucing up the stockinette, as well as a flowy shape that is really in right now and I have to admit, I just adore it.

Unfortunately, if you follow the pattern, you will have a garment that looks only a bit like the garment in the pattern picture.  Your sleeves would be above the elbow and the lace pattern on the front would disappear rather than follow the v-neck so attractively along the edge.  I made notes of my mods on the project page on Rav.

Eh - all I can say is that I'm glad I'm experienced enough to be able to figure out how to make it look like the garment in the picture.  We have all been that inexperienced knitter blindly following directions and frustrated to the point of tears trying to understand what we did wrong to cause such extreme deviation from the lovely garment in the picture...it's a shame that commercial pattern writers/editors/test knitters allow such glaring errors - such errors are rarely found in an independent designer's patterns.

It's a shame, but I still love the finished object.

Comments

[Jo]

i love beimg the first commenter--mature attitude, no? The Plexus sweater looks terrific on you. i agree that these mistakes are beyond annoying, but also I wonder what kind of strictures the publishers are working under. I still see too many knitters offer to copy a pattern and violate copyright laws. In an ideal world, each pattern would be test knit by a number of knitters with a range of skills. (Ok, Jo, shut up!). Love it when generous souls, like yourself, help the rest pf us out on Ravelry. Happy Sunday!

[Connie]

That is a beautiful sweater. I'm also relieved that you mentioned the troubles you had. I am one of those knitters new knitters that would have blindly followed directions and then decided to never knit a sweater again because it didn't turn out.

[Jodi]

It's absolutely gorgeous! The sweater is very spring-y, and I love that you used a natural, light color. The neckline is especially nice.

Too bad about the pattern -- that's pretty maddening. As much as I lament that Ravelry has contributed to the decline in knitting blogs, it's so helpful to have a central, well-organized place to benefit from knitter's notes, esp. when a pattern is less than ideal.

[Jocelyn]

I can see why you love it - it's beautiful, and it fits perfectly! It's a pity about the pattern, but I have found the same thing again and again. I can never decide whether it's a mistake in the pattern, or whether the sample knitter found a way to make it better and just went with it. Either way, you are right that it's great to be at that stage of experience that lets you make it what you want.

[Jennygirl]

It is such a beautiful sweater, but I agree with you on the pattern vs. picture thingy. It's annoying and not right.

[Jo]

I don't get it--there was a whole series of posts that I just missed between your move and Plexus. Such an array of beautiful knitting--you must be fast! Very impressive. By the way, the bright blue of the lightweight sweater is totally your color--it brings out your eyes beautifully!