So remember I mentioned the cardigan thing I wasn’t sure about? I am now sure – it’s hideous.
I snaffled up 14 balls of Rowan Silk Twist in the sales to make the Blankey Jacket from Rowan Silk Twist Classics.
This pattern…
 |
| From Blanket Jacket |
from his book…
 |
| From Blanket Jacket |
I was a little surprised when coming to look properly at the pattern (after the euphoria of snapping up yarn and pattern in the sales had worn off) that the body of the jacket was one huge oblong with holes for the sleeves. That meant it was shorter at the back and kinda waterfallish. Hmmm… My Flag cardigan is like that and it works really well…but Flag is in fine drapey yarn and loosely knit – this is aran… Hmmmm…
Hmmm – it looks nice on the model – I’ll start and see how I go…
It was an easy knit . The yarn is lovely, warm and soft. It’s Essentially a rib, followed by a giant basket weave pattern, a couple of holes for the arms and a rib at the top.
I ended up with this
 |
| From Blanket Jacket |
So what’s wrong?
When I try it on it doesn’t look like the Rowan picture! When will I learn to avoid Martin Storey’s patterns? His designs just don’t work for me. Ok – I’ve not blocked it but I can see -the front won’t hang straight and if I bully it into shape, all the bulk will bunch up in great folds at the sides making my look at least as wide as I am tall.
See what I mean?
 |
| From Blanket Jacket |
And the back doesn’t come past my waist which means I won’t even reach for this when it’s freezing cold – “Oh, you mean mid-summer in England, Susan??” 😳
Wanna see the front? The edges not hanging straight would really bother me…
 |
| From Blanket Jacket |
I asked my fellow Guilty Knitters – varying views but they didn’t think it was “me”…I don’t think it would get worn either – This one is going to get frogged…Bah!
How infuriating! I looks like the model has had the jacket pinned at the back. Its the only way it could look as neat as that in the photo!
The yarn sounds scrummy and is a lovely colour. Any ideas what you’ll make with it now, or will you just stash it?
Hi Mairead
I’m kinda sick of looking at the yarn, lovely though it is. I’ll frog it and skein it and wash it and ball it then worry about what to make. I really like the colour so it’ll probably come out when the weather turns colder (assuming it’ll ever turn warmer before autumn!)
Susan
No offense to the designer, but the sweater doesn’t look good on the model either. Frankly, it looks too big. It may be that the yarn is too bulky for the drap you seek.
Hey, you won’t be the first one of us who ripped out a project that, though knit perfectly, just didn’t look right. My worst (or at least the one I remember most vividly) was a long cabled and lace vest I knit – a very complicated pattern out of Chelsea Silk. The first time my daughter saw it, she burst out laughing and said, “You’re not really planning on wearing that, are you?” Off it came and that night I ripped it all out!
Unless you are doing something with the sides in the picture, I think it looks better than in the picture. It is unique and just needs a little finishing off.
What a shame! It looks ok from the front, but not the sides or back – sorry! Maybe you’ve picked the wrong Martin Storey patterns? Some of his designs would look lovely on you, though this one drowns your petite frame, lovely wool though x
What a shame, but you are right to just frog it and have done. If you don’t like something, you are really unlikely to fall in love with it after it sits in your wardrobe for 2 years while you wait to stop hating it.
Ah well, I’m sure something better will come along, soon enough, so you can knit something gorgeous.
I think you’re fab and generous to share a not so successful project because we all do it and I have to admit to have hidden mine – especially the ones that cost £70+ and I’ve been knitting for 25 years.
I’ve just knitted some of my own very basic patterns and have stressed about getting them perfect as you would expect if you were buying them. It really wind me up when high quality expensive brands with experienced well known designers don’t do the same. We spend a lot of money on the equipment to do this usually on the strength of their reputation.
I’ve done a few patterns in the recent past which I am positive have not been written properly and it makes me lose my confidence for a while.
I’m more than happy to learn by MY mistakes as long as I can establish where the mistake was made. difficult if it is down to the pattern.
The wool looks lovely by the way – hopefully you’ll find another use for it.
Hi Susan
I like your work, I wanted to propose an idea to you. Do you hold a knitting club? I am the manager of Leon in Bluewater, do you know the place? We are a lovely Resturant, at the weekend we are very busy, during the week days we have the perfect relaxed meeting place with amazing coffee, food and great service. Please email me or call the Resturant if this is something that would appeal to you. If not come in for a coffee your self, best in BLuewater.
Thanks
Lysette
This is sooooooooooo annoying! I’ve also just frogged a sweater that I’d sewn up and completely finished. Put it on and YUCK of the highest order! Have just started reworking the wool so here’s hoping…..! Good luck with yours! xxx
Hi Susan. I’ve been a knitter for over 40 years and this is the first time I’ve run a search to find comments on a pattern. I started this jacket for my daughter who loved it in the book. I had already finished the cover pattern for myself and it is really lovely and the wool was a joy to work with. This one I was having severe doubts about and I just couldn’t see how it would hang right. Your pictures have confirmed my doubts and I now have a dilemma. I do hate ripping out. Bah!
Am I right that there is an error in the pattern? After joining the sections following the armhole shaping I had 5 bands of blocks and I have checked and checked and this looks right but the pattern says 4th band of blocks. Did you find this too? Very annoying as I do love the wool and I liked this book very much and indeed have had one success from it. Glad to have found your pages and thanks for the help.