Step Away ?? from the pattern

Following a pattern exactly is comforting. But can you do it? Right to the end – no deviations?

Following exactly gives you a very good chance of success after many hours of knitting. You know what it’s going to look like from the beginning. Learning something new can make it exciting. Admiring clever construction is fun. But can you do it?

Do you step away from the pattern? If you don’t make modifications do you wish you could? What’s stopping you?

I seem unable to stay the course to the end. “What if I just …” runs through my head constantly. And I mean CONSTANTLY!

I am knitting Climb Every Mountain by Heidi Kirrmaier. I really like how she writes her patterns and this one was up to her usual standard. I started out fine. It’s an oversized, poncho style, Top Down pullover in DK weight yarn. I thought my daughter would like it.

I worked it a size smaller since I thought it would fit my daughter better. I worked to script to the Great Divide where I did the cuffs for the sleeves. This was great. No sleeves to knit. I loved this part.img_20200108_112310

Then I started thinking.
I had quite a lot of knitting left and the interesting part was done. This is always a most dangerous place. I was taking a good look at the schematic and thinking about the recipient of this sweater and … made some changes.

Longer and wider seemed to make sense for the person I was knitting for. I’ll tell you why in a minute.20200117_100515I just finished steaming it with my leaky steamer and am pretty happy with the result. It’s 6.5″ longer for a tunic length. To make it wider I didn’t work the decreases on every Round 7 which added 4 sts to the width.She likes it and there is room for a baby bump under there.20200118_130943Thanks for reading, Deb

Any Gauge patterns by Deb

Cabin Fever No-Sew patterns on ravelry

Catch Deb on instagram

Author: debgemmellmods

I'm a Knitter. The capital K means every day, everywhere. I'm co-owner of Cabin Fever with my sister Lyn. We have published over 100 patterns and 11 books. I'm also working on a new set of patterns for Any Gauge knitting. Dive into your stash and cast on for a Top Down sweater that fits, or an accessory to use up those odd balls of yarn.

27 thoughts on “Step Away ?? from the pattern”

  5. There’s nothing in the world like being a grandparent. It’s a special kind of love. And in answer to your question, I invariably make changes to written patterns. Sometimes it is to adjust the fit, but often to avoid long boring sections of stockinette stitch.

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  7. So exciting , congratulations to Grandma and to the Mom to be .
    And yes I quite often change a pattern , even just a bit . I try to knit as stated but usually need to make longer or shorter and if shorter have to adjust any colour work …..etc…etc.

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  11. Hi Deb,
    First off Congrats to daughter and you. The top is lovely and I shall be looking on Ravelry to find the pattern. It looks very comfy for the baby bump and I’m thinking, some of us mature women who have lost our smaller waistlines over the years would like this fit as well. It looks good layered with a long sleeve tee and that would suit the weather over here. I really enjoy your posts❤️.
    Canadian Gal in Wales

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    1. I think the looseness and the drape make it a great sweater. I tried on the sweater I made even though it was smaller than I would knit for myself and it looked pretty good. It would look great in my proper size.

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  12. Congratulations to you and your family. Being a grandmother is the best…says a three time gramma!
    I love that pattern and immediately bought it, cast on with some yarn that has been lingering for a while since I frogged it from a sweater that didn’t work out.
    Now at the decrease section. Being , ahem, somewhat wider in the hips I will try your mod to decrease section and also make the sweater longer.

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