Sweater Blocking Conundrum: Grey Tweed Pullover, Episode 2

Last March I started knitting my dark grey Donegal tweed yarn into a simple pullover, and then the weather got pretty warm, so I put it away. Then during the hottest part of July, I ran into a decision-requiring situation with my attempt at the February Lady Sweater (don’t ask why I thought worsted weight wool-mohair was cooler than worsted weight tweed, I don’t know), so I put that sweater aside while I mulled. But I wanted to knit on a sweater. So, even though it was July, I took up the tweed again. Now I finally have all the pieces knit. But how to block to rolled edges?
Grey Tweed Pullover-body
The front and back are already joined at the shoulder seam with a 3-needle bind-off. I did that so I could figure out how long to make the sleeves. Anyway the bottom edge of the sleeves and body are rolled. So do I pin the rolls out while blocking? Or do I just pin down to the roll (the bottom-most garter ridge) and let it roll up as it drys? What to do? Suggestions welcome!

The neckband is supposed to be rolled too, but I don’t think that’s what I want to do. I think a few rounds of garter stitch will be better. My thinking is that with the purled ridge details above the rolled edges will keep a garter neckband from looking out of place. Any thoughts?

The sweater, which I want to wear primarily as outerwear, is going to be too big.  I measured my bust in March and it was 40.5 inches, so I thought a 44 inch outerwear sweater would be fine.  When I realized this summer that certain of my undergarments were unacceptably roomy, I measured again: 38 inches.  This sweater is going to be HUGE.  sigh.

I will have 3.5 skeins of yarn left over, so I can make some tweed accessories that will fit!



12 thoughts on “Sweater Blocking Conundrum: Grey Tweed Pullover, Episode 2”

  • I love the way the yarn has knit up, it looks great, pattern and color-wise. I’m assuming the loss in inches was a good thing (outside of sweater-sizing) so congratulations. Whoo! I’m still a blocking novice so I’m no help there but I am sure good advice will arrive soon.

  • I think that the garter neckband will be fine – the purl rows have a similar look, and it’s just spaced out garter (sort of).

    I’ve been pouring through WIPs lately, and it feels great to make progress on them.

  • So does that mean congratulations are in order for a weight loss?
    Whoohoo!
    I have no comment on the blocking issue – as I’ve never knit a sweater, much less blocked one!
    (((hugs)))

  • You can’t go wrong with tweed! If you don’t want too much of a roll, soak it in warm water, dry flat, and smooth out the roll. Then, lay something heavy-ish on the bottom roll section, or even something the will prevent it from rolling too much. I just lay a few straight needles across the bottom. Pining it may give it some funky looking stretched areas!

    Anyway, don’t know how helpful that was!

  • Hmm, for outerwear you wouldn’t want to tight, right? As for the rolling, it sounds like laying something heavy on it is the best option. I think the neckline sounds like it will look nice. You wouldn’t want it to roll up too much and expose your neck if its outerwear.

  • Hooray for tweed! I don’t do anything in particular to block a rolled-edge garment. The only thing I *wouldn’t* do is pin–you’ll get points.

    (And while a sweater that doesn’t fit is very sad, a shrinking body is a great reason for it! Congrats to you!)

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