Total utter knitting disaster

[CardiffUniversityNetballTeam]

I've spent weeks making a raglan sleeved, v-necked cardigan for a friends baby.
Obviously, as I'm giving it to her tomorrow I thought I should crack on tonight and finish it!!
So the sewing up is nearly complete. I only have to sew up the sleeve seams and the side seams and sew on the buttons.
Then I discover to my dismay that the left front is about four rows longer than the right front and the back!! How did it not notice this before? It's fucked. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Passes tissues and .
And another .

Does it look better yet?
No? Have another .
Repeat as required

Thanks starfish. Perhaps it will look better after a few wines.

It is a shame you can't give wine to breast feeding mothers of two week old PFBs. Otherwise I could get her hammered and then give her the worlds wonkiest cardigan.

Okay. Are the extra 4 rows really that noticeable or can only you see it? Can they be disguised with some nifty sewing?

If not and you really think these rows ruin the cardigan, it is not a total disaster (but it is a pain in the behind).

Assuming the extra 4 rows are in the main body of the cardigan, before the raglan decreases, frog the cardigan back to a few rows before the mistake. Pick stitches up (easier to use smaller needle then knitting with and crochet hook) and re knit. Shouldn't take too long.

Bring it over here and I'll take out the offending rows and graft it back together while you sob into your tea. Seeing as that's not an option I'll drink the tea while you read this article.

www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer04/FEATtheresasum04.html

Imagine the top of the front on one needle, the bottom of the front on the other and the gap in the middle is where you took out the extra rows (you need to take out one more than the extra because when you sew it back together it adds a row)

Yes, it really is visible. I thought I could get away with some nifty sewing up and kind of absorb the extra length into the seam. But there is a good half inch of extra length and if I try and sew it in the seam will be all bunched up and it will look even worse than it would with one side longer than the other!

I have currently put it in my ever growing pile of half finished, partially botched knitting projects! I can't face trying to fix it today but I might come back to it in a couple of days and look at it then. I wouldn't mind but I had already joined the the raglan seams and also attached the button border, so there will be a good deal of unpicking before I can even start frogging it.

You shouldn't need to unpick the whole thing. That Knitty link from ISBWeaving should get you on the right track. Basically you pick up the row below and above the extras, graft them together (not as tricky as it sounds), snip out the extra rows and knot the yarn ends together.

Alternatively, can you take it to a local yarn shop for some help? I'm sure someone would be happy to sit down with you.

I've just sat down and read that link properly. I think it might be possible, even with my limited skill. And if it's not, then it can't look any worse than it does now!

When my DS was 3 months old, the boiler died. autumn / winter 4 years ago was bloody freezing and I wrapped that child up in as many of the hat, mittens, socks and cardigans that my work colleagues has knitted for him because he was sleeping in a bedroom that was 11 degrees.

Take it to your friend, show her. Sleep deprivation may make her laugh hysterically, but the baby won't give a toss. Someone has taken the time to make a cardigan to keep her newborn warm. That is what matters.

Walk in bearing chocolates, a frozen lasagne and the cardi and say "I know it's shit but I did my best and can't fix it before the baby starts school. Maybe s/he could wear it under their grobag / swaddling blanket so no-one else can see it?" then put the kettle on.

The mother will love it because she is your friend and you have shown you care about her baby.

Absolutely agree with PPS.

I would be tempted to sew the whole thing together then sew on a couple of lace frills? Or even pick up stitches and knit some frills?

But even if it is wonky, still give it to her. I would have loved a wonky cardigan for my baby just as much as a perfect one if someone I knew had knitted it!