I have not been knitting since January 2026 as I have been having some health issues. That said, my last project was completed in January. I am sure some of you will be familiar with it from the picture I post. It is too large for me, especially around the shoulders and neck area. It is a top down pattern from Drops design called Queen Bee.
I would like to make another top down pattern from Drops (I haven’t picked it yet), but knitted with unbleached tussah silk (I have quite a lot of yardage of this on hand). It looks like the weight called for on my last sweater.
My question is this. How do I make the adjustments to make the cardigan work? I believe the sweater picture was ann extrs extra large for the sweater in the pic.
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You may want to follow the measurements for a smaller size especially at the neck and shoulders. For a stitch pattern like the one you’re modeling it can be a challenge to then widen the lower part of the sweater if that’s what you’re thinking. Not impossible to do but more complicated. For a simpler pattern that kind of change is easier to plan out.
You can adjust the size of the neck band by working on smaller needles than the pattern calls for or by working fewer sts in the neckband. The stitch count for a top down would then be increased after the collar to whatever the pattern calls for. For a bottom up you would make more decreases before or in the first row of the collar.
The tussah silk is beautiful yarn but it isn’t very elastic and it tends to grow with blocking and wearing. That may not make it ideal for a sweater but this may depend on the pattern you choose too.
The wide neck reminds me of a sweater i made for my son, he wouldn’t wear it as he said it hurt his shoulders, I think the loose neck made the weight of the sweater sit incorrectly on him although it looked fine. Eventually I had enough knitting experience and courage to tackle a new neckband. It was quite scary but as he didn’t wear it anyway I didn’t have anything to lose.
Before
During
And after
You can see what a huge difference it made just altering the neckband. I didn’t change any other part of the sweater. The neckband made a massive difference, it was comfortable to wear and also looked much nicer. Still wide enough and stretchy enough to go comfortably over his head (because the actual hole in the sweater did not get smaller, only the band drew it in better) but the fit was massively improved.
I quite like to work the rib separately now, if i can. I am more likely to work a sweater ribless then go back to add rib later (either picking up and knitting with the knowledge that if I don’t like the result i can just redo it, or making a seperate rib and seaming it on). I no longer leave live stitches on a bottom up neckband. I bind off so i know i can pull the neckband out without losing my sweater stitches. I’m not saying this is right or better, but it works for me, i have more chance of getting a cuff or neckband that I am happy with even if it means making several!
I have made a top down sweater where the neckband was done last (i redid that a few times too). The cardigan in your pic (which is beautiful) might be possible to work top down skipping the initial rib, going back later to pick up and work the rib or seam one on, that way it could be made firmer, smaller, tighter, deeper or whatever was needed, and also with the chance of redoing it more than once without ruining or risking anything in the body.
I got the courage to do the neckband sweater surgery on my son’s sweater after watching roxanne richardson change a neckband on one of her knits. I was amazed that the neckband alone could have such a big impact on the fit of the rest of the sweater.
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I just need to say @Creations that I your knitting is absolutely beautiful. The stitches are flawlessly even, in my opinion. I always enjoy looking at your pics of your projects. Thanks for sharing.
Aw, thanks Gigi, your knitting is beautiful too! It’s a joy to see your stunning red cardigan.
Sorry can’t take credit for the red cardigan. I think @Liltylady did that. And I agree she did a great job.
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Thank you for the compliment.
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Oh dear I think I must have nodded off!
Thanks for the correction!
Hi - I dug out the yarn. It is fingering weight 4/16 NM a Wool/Silk yarn. What do you think about doing a top-down cardigan with this yarn?
Also, on another topic, if you don’t mind. I have lost a pattern for a project that I have been working on, or and on since 1998. It is in a Paton’s booklet #598 on Decorator Throws to Knit. It is a 16 page pattern booklet. The pattern I am looking for is called Leafy Squares Counterpane. Do you know where I might be able to find it? I have quite a bit knitted but was making it large to fit a queen size bed. Somehow my photocopy that I carried around with the work went missing when I moved in May. When I down-sized several moves ago, I donated all my books and paper patterns to charity. Perhaps you can tell me where I might find this pattern.
See if this is a possibility.
Very kind of you to donate all your books and patterns to charity.
A yarn similar to this maybe:
Do you have a particular pattern in mind for the fingering weight yarn and can you tell us the name and designer? That particular blend would be a lovely yarn to work with and make a beautiful sweater.
This is the pattern. Great of you to find it. I use a 3.5 needle and cotton.
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I’ve saved a version of this pattern stitch. I love the central motif. It’s well worth getting back to finish this one!
I don’t have a specific pattern as yet, but I am hoping to find a longish lace top-down cardigan pattern to make. All in good time. I can’t knit much as my hands are numb most of the time, but I really need to do something to keep my self doing things. Thank you again for finding the other pattern. I will contact the store on Monday.
I’m sorry to hear about the problem with your hands. That certainly makes it difficult to knit but maybe knitting is helpful when you do. Your work is beautiful and this next sweater will be another wonderful project I’m sure. Good luck with your search for a pattern and let us know what pattern you choose.
I was able to buy a digital copy of the pattern from a seller in Australia from Etsy.ca for Cdn $3.21., so happy not to have to buy a hard copy. I am now knitting the first square and am on Row 7 of 80 rows. Again thanks for your assistance.
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Excellent! I’m happy to hear you’ve got it.
