It's about the process, it's about the process...

Butterfly is still in her cocoon.  I started seaming last night and the sleeves are too long.  I shortened them by about an inch but apparently that wasn't enough.

I understand that to be "fashionable" they should cover the knuckles like the model, but I got stuff to do with these hands (that doesn't involve lounging and looking vacuous) and they need to be free. 

In an attempt to avoid any reknitting, I took Claudia's advice and a crochet hook and did a slip stitch seam at the back where it met the collar to try to pull in the back a bit (she did it on the shoulders, but the effect is the same).  I did take her other advice and tightly mattress stitched the shoulders so they wouldn't stretch, but didn't take Theresa's advice and bind of the back stitches and pick up instead of leaving them live for the collar.  It helped a tiny bit, but not enough.  So I decided to sleep on it.  Instead of throw it out the window to teach it a lesson (it was really cold last night).

Then, I was woken up at 2:30 am by a sick Alexander (yes, again--the flu this time--high fever, runny nose, cough) and we're home together today.  Poor little guy, seems that he's run down with all the demands of school and daycare and he's catching everything.  We sat together on the couch this morning watching kiddie shows while I undid the sewing and the sleeve cap and reknit the sleeve.  I'm in the process of sewing it on now and it will be much better. 

I'm proud of myself for not living with it, but a bit pissed about all the little things in this pattern that seem to need to be tweaked.  Here's a list of suggestions from my experience and those I've found in other blogs:

1. Bind off the back neck stitches and pick up those stitches for the collar--the firm edge will add stability.

2. Do NOT use a three-needle bind off for the shoulders--again for stability a firm backstitch or mattress stitch is required.

3. Unless you have very long arms, shorten the sleeves by at least an inch (mine are 19 inches from the armpit to the longest point which matches the length of my favourite sweaters).

4. Bind off the collar stitches really loosely or else the back of the collar will curl.  I redid mine 3 times (something else I did this morning), finally achieveing success by using a 6.5 mm needle.  The collar has to cover your shoulders and run along most of your back and needs a rather loose edge.

5. Cast on all pieces loosely or your points will curl.  They did block out, but the looser ones look the best.

6. Check the errata because the collar instructions are incorrect in the pattern.

That's a fair number of hints.  I really do like the sweater, but we're having some issues since there have been so many little problems.  I concede some are of my own making (I suspect my gauge on the zigzag bits was too tight which is why I needed the required 13 balls even though I shortened everything), but many are the fault of sacrificing good finishing details for expediency or some other reasons that I don't understand. 

I think I'll cast on some nice, boring, easy, familiar socks tonight. 

Comments

[Margene]

It really looks good and will be worth the extra effort you put into it. You'll enjoy wearing Butterfly for a long time to come.

[Jessica]

I shortened my sleeves by about four inches. I took some off the body and then did the cap decreases a little steeper. The sleeves as written are insane.

[LeAnne]

Too bad about Alexander! I'm sorry. Some good mommy time will make him all better soon, I'm sure.

[Jenna]

I hope that one of the things that you need to do with your hands ISN'T cutting your hair into a mullet like the model's. Your butterfly looks great, keep that in mind while you're doing all this nasty work on it.

[Katherine]

My kids got sick all the time from when they started day care until they were about 6-1/2 at which point they became disgustingly healthy and never got sick.

No consolation while they're little and still developing their immunities, but you can look forward to the healthy years.

The butterfly is beautiful and worth the effort!

[Samina]

One of the other Butterflyers I came across had the same problem as you do, in term of the sleeves being too long. She just folded them over a la a cuff. Looked rather nice, actually. Of course, if I could remember who that was, I'd include the link.

[helen]

hmmm, i have loved looking at butterfly as various bloggers made it, but it's not for me at my skill level with all of those changes and errata! i may keep it in mind for the future though...let other people work out more bugs. looks great though!!

[claudia]

At least the long sleeve thing hit everyone. It helps a little being not-alone, hmmm?

[Susan]

Okay, *there's* my problem. Your arms are proportioned normally. I usually knit a medium sweater for width and customize the length because my arms are 21". (No, my knuckles don't drag on the ground when I walk!)

I wanted to thank you for sending me all the information on the Mission Falls sweater that I admired on your blog recently. I went crazy trying to find the pattern book, thinking that I owned it and just hadn't realized how nice the sweater looked. Then I realized I have Wee Knits, Too and the pattern is in Wee Knits! Thanks to you, I know where I can get WK if I can't find it locally. I appreciate your taking the time.

[Pubah]

I hate to be blunt, but the length of sleeves in most patterns really pisses me off. Beautiful garments and gorilla sleeves. I just don't get it.

In spite of it all, kudos to you for fixing it and it already looks wonderful.