I spent about three months on and off knitting my Veronika Cardigan, all the while picturing myself wearing it everywhere and being cozy, warm, and stylish.
When I was finished, I tried it on, all excited about my life-changing finished object, and nope, nope, nope! It was absolutely hideous on me. HIDEOUS! No one believed me, and when I tried it on for my knitting group at our holiday party, one of my favorite people said, “Yeah, it’s not good.” I love her.
So I gave it to my friend Edie, who’s also in my knitting group. She is taller and slimmer than I am, and it looked great on her. She hesitated to accept it, until I told her that I wanted it out of the house, and if she didn’t take it, I’d give it to someone else. She put it on and didn’t take it off.
Now I don’t want you all to think I’m trashing the pattern, because I’m definitely not. It’s just terrible for my body. Because this was a knit-along, I’ve seen it on several people, and it looked great on them all. I do have to say, however, that it looks best on people who are taller, like 5′ 6″ or more. Although now that I think about it, my friend Terry is about my height, and her’s looks great. So . . . maybe it’s not for chubettes. Or just my brand of chubette, because it looks fine on the Ravelry folks.
Anyway, lesson learned: don’t go for oversized, boxy items!
Honestly, though, I was pretty upset. I had spent so much time knitting this beast, and I loved my yarn choice. I felt bad about my body, and I had a thought that I’d just knit accessories from now on, because sweaters in my size take FOREVER, and it’s such a crap-shoot on fit. At least for me it is.
But then I had a stern conversation with myself, and thought about the successful knits I’ve made, including another cardigan I just finished; blog to come after I take some decent pictures.
This Veronika process also helped me realize that I need to make better choices (in many things, but I’m talking about knitting here). Why on earth would I think an over-sized sweater would look good on me? I am already over-sized, and I need to flatter my shape, not expand it! Total fail on the pattern choice. I just loved the look of it on the model and in The Studio, where I saw a finished sample and joined the KAL. So, again, lesson learned.
My next sweater will be a well-thought-out project, with much consideration of how the sweater will look on me, not how it looks on other people, especially the model. Kris from The Studio is a master of fitting knits, so I’m going to be asking her for advice.
Leave a comment and give me your advice,and tell me about your fails. I need some company here!
Cheers,
The Craftermath 
Kathleen, I’m so sorry you had this experience with Veronika but you are not alone. I’m a different body type from you and I don’t really like the one I made either. I haven’t given it away yet but I also haven’t worn it. I’m 5’2″ and it just isn’t great for short people. I do want to re block it and maybe lengthen it because right now it’s just too wide and too short. A word of warning…don’t make any of the boxy pullovers that are popular on Ravalry right now either, they aren’t good for short people either!
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Ah Kathleen, thank you soooo much for your post!
I love knitting clothes for myself but always end up really disappointed with the results. Every pattern I’ve knitted for anyone else always looks brilliant on them but the ones I make for myself make me look just frumpy. There has only ever been one jumper I knitted that i was happy with, and happily that was the last one I made for myself (which gives me the hope that I’m learning and growing!).
Reading your post I found myself exclaiming oh no! And me too!
Thank goodness for the honest friend! It really is a nightmare when you know something isn’t right but everyone else, in a misguided attempt to not hurt your feelings say, oh it’s fiiiiine!
I’m so looking forward to your next post with the pics of your winning cardie! Happy New Year! I hope 2018 is a brill year for you.
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Finally took pictures of my winning cardi—blog to come very soon!
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I first learned about Veronika while reading your blog, and cast on immediately. I share a similar shape to yours, but I am 5’8″. It doesn’t look good at all. If I pull it around, my boobs stick out the arm holes. I can’t wear it. It is put away in my closet. I need to find someone it would look good on. I’m also looking forward to your new cardi. I am considering the Portal that I found on Ravelry. Any thoughts on that one?
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I’m so sorry I led you down a rocky path! I couldn’t find the Portal on Ravelry. Are you sure that’s the name?
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I was close. It is Portage. Thats what I get for relying on my memory!!
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I think that’s really nice. The only issue I would have, for my body, is that there’s so much room between the fronts. I like my cardigans to close in front.
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Yep, we’ve all been there! I’ll be taking Kris’s basic sweater class in February to learn how to properly measure and fit to my size.
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Hi Kathleen,
I have a feeling Veronika would’ve looked lovely on you in another color (something light/bright)and possibly other fiber( more luxe or tonal ?). OR, In these cases sometimes I embellish edges with a simple crochet finish in contrast color like reverse single crochet(crab stitch) in turquoise, or applied I-chord edging (same color or maybe tangerine tango?). Possibly even a crocheted loop on one corner with a big statement button on the other corner just waiting to be lassoed!
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Thanks Sophia. The yarn is a really pretty green tweed—lots of bright colors in the tweed—the pictures are dark. I think the color was secondary to the fit, though. It’s a lipstick on a pig issue! 🙂
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need to rethink knitting this after reading your post….got the yarn, but I am of the larger size….
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If you’re tall, give it a go!
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Are you tall? If so, go for it. If not, use your yarn for something else!
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