I absolutely love this sweater!
It took me a little longer to get it put together than planned. It seems there were a couple of errors in the pattern.
The first pattern error I caught right away, while knitting as it was rather obvious. The instructions had you cast on for the front and then work about half the stitches in K1, P1 rib, the middle section in stockinette and 5 or 6 stitches in garter stitch. The diagram and the illustration show the ribbing only going up 7 inches from the bottom before the sweater becomes all stockinette. But the instructions for the front just say "Work even until piece measures 11 (or more) inches", whereas it should say to discontinue the ribbing after 7 inches and continue in stockinette, except for the button band, until the pieces measures 11 (or whatever) inches. That correction was on the Tahki/Stacy Charles website.
But there was another error.
On the body of the sweater you do the initial decreases at the armhole, then work even for 2 to 3 inches, depending on size, then begin the garter stitch section at the top of the sweater.
On the sleeves, you do the initial decreases at the bottom of the sleeve cap, then immediately start the garter stitch. I obviously was not thinking because I blithely knit both sleeves exactly as the directions were written. Now I did notice that the sleeve caps looked oddly short, but I did not really think about it.
***Mistake***
The short, squat sleeve caps were far too short to fit in the armhole openings of the sweater. After they were missing 2 to 3 inches of stitches on either side.
In this photo you can see the sleeve cap as originally written on the right and the reknit sleeve cap on the left. I probably could have altered the shaping a little more elegantly, and I could have done short row shaping at the top rather than binding off. But for various reasons, I did not.
Big difference.
But it all worked out in the end and I think the sweater is just fabulous. I even think it would knit it again in another yarn someday. The ribbed shaping is elegant. It is easy enough for a beginner, but interesting enough not to be totally boring. the sections of ribbing or stockinette seem to end just as my attention is beginning to falter. Although the original was knit using two yarns held together the pattern works out to a gauge of 4 1/2 stitches to the inch in stockinette yielding many possibilities.
Details:
Filatura Di Crosa Spring/Summer 2007
Pattern # 10 Crew Cardigan
Yarn used: Artful Yarns Serenade
Color: 6003 Sunrise, Sunset.
I used about 7 1/2 skeins, or more or less 820 yards for a size 38 bust.
I lengthened the sweater 2 inches to 25" in length dividing that between the ribbed section and the stockinette. I also did not rib the lower sections of the sleeves as shown in the pattern, although I might do that if and when I make this sweater again. It is quite possible that I will make it again.
I think it worked out quite well. The sweater is still a little snug through the bust, but I am losing weight. It would not have fit a month ago, so I think the gamble at making a smaller size is going to work out. For some odd reason the bust, which was the last place I put on weight, is also the last place it is falling off. Even so, several of my sweaters from last year are a bit lose on me now, and if I weren't so frustrated at having newly knit sweaters no longer fit I wouldn't have taken the gamble at knitting a smaller size.
The bad news is that some of the UFO's are too big and therefore will not be finished. I also do not think I will rip them out and reknit them, but I could change my mind. It is also possible that some of the older UFO's now fit again.