Sweater front placket-help please!

Hi guys! I'm still working through my fair isle doll sweater. The pattern is gorgeous but unfortunately, the directions leave EVERYTHING to be desired. It calls for a placket in the front center of the sweater at the neckline. I guess oftentimes there are buttons there on real "people sweaters".

I can't tell from the directions how this is supposed to be. The top of the front is split into two pieces that work separately up to the shoulder. It just says pick up stitches with a crochet hook 2-3 stitches from the edge and knit in the pattern as pictured. I will put a link here for how the sweater will look when it's done, because it's hard to explain. I can't tell if the placket is supposed to be knitted so it can be folded over to the right side and tacked down, or if it is to be knitted right-side out, starting from the edge and thereby overlapping the two placket sides in the front, or what. I am SO confused! Can anyone help me here, please? I have frogged this thing a million times, but I must say, it finally is looking pretty good. I am pleased with the Kitchener stitching I put in to connect the front and back shoulders.

formatting link
you all!

Wendy A Knitting Fool in Connecticut

Reply to
myswendy
Loading thread data ...

Hmmmmm..... Is it possible to just make the two sides of the placket meet in the middle? That's what it looks like to me in the photo -- and if I recall correctly, that's how this type of sweater placket is made when it's full-sized. I'd think trying to make the edges overlap would be awfully bulky. HTH!

Happy trails....

Sue ============ "myswendy" wrote:

Reply to
Cliff & Sue Drake

It looks to me like you should pick up the row of stitches either to the left or right of the front opening and knit it wide enough to be centered over the opening. I think you'd want to tack it down at the lower edge and then use a pin as shown to keep it closed. I hope this is clear.

Reply to
Jan

The gap was made by binding off just one stitch between the left and right sides, so it's not like it's very wide. I guess they want the two sides to overlap?

Reply to
myswendy

Yah, it would be bulky...sheesh.........

Reply to
myswendy

Actually, the pattern has you picking up stitches on BOTH sides and making 2 plackets....

Reply to
myswendy

Here's a quote from the directions, if that helps. I found it confusing:

Mock Placket With crochet hook & black yarn, evenly pick up 13 stitches for first side of mock placket (2-3 stitches away from the center line) and put on size 000 needles. Work two rows in black, one blue/white, and bind off with one black row. On the opposite side, pick up 13 stitches again, matching the first side. Again, work 2 rows in black, one blue/white, and bind off with a black row. Work in ends-sew the two edges together if you wish.

Reply to
myswendy

Could it be that you are knitting 2 sides as mirror images and no overlapping is indicated? Maybe the pin is used to close the gap? I think you are to knit within 2 or 3 stitches from the bottom, creating a gap that is filled in by the 3 rows you knit on either side. The picture seems pretty symmetrical.

Hesira

Reply to
hesira

Hmmm...Each placket is about 6 rows wide.

Reply to
myswendy

OH FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just realized that I was knitting the COLLAR as the placket@! SHEESH!!!!!!!! Duh. Duh. Duh. The placket is only 4 rows wide and much shorter. On the graph, it is only

8 stitches long. So why do they want me to pick up 13 stitches?

I'm sorry for so many questions. I really look like a dope. This crazy pattern has me nuts. It's beautiful but badly written.

Reply to
myswendy

LOL. I've done things like that before. DId you figure it out? What about the 13 stitches?

You don't look like a dope. I know if a pattern is driving me nuts, I make mistakes I wouldn't have it I was relaxed and enjoying it.

Hesira

On Aug 5, 8:18 pm, myswendy wrote

OH FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just realized that I was knitting the COLLAR as the placket@! SHEESH!!!!!!!! Duh. Duh. Duh. The placket is only 4 rows wide and much shorter. On the graph, it is only 8 stitches long. So why do they want me to pick up 13 stitches?

I'm sorry for so many questions. I really look like a dope. This crazy pattern has me nuts. It's beautiful but badly written.

Reply to
hesira

Thanks for being understanding! No, I still can't figure out why I need to pick up 13 stitches. The graph is the only thing I REALLY have to go by since the text is so poor, and it shows 2 little rectangles for plackets that are 7 x 4 stitches in size each.

Reply to
myswendy

I've had a close look at an enlargement of the picture you posted Wendy and read these instructions in conjunction with it. On the enlargement you can clearly see the blue/white row of placket stitches on either side of the opening mentioned above. There are definitely 13 stitches up each side of the opening. It seems they mean you to work 1 stitch in white wool and one stitch in blue wool across that row, (as it seems to have been worked on the collar also) then use black wool to bind off on the next row. You do need to cast on 13 stitches.

The last line of instruction also says "sew the two edges together if you wish". On closer inspection it looks as though that is what they've done on the pattern in the picture, though how they get the jumper on and off the dolls when they do that I cannot guess! I hope this makes sense :-)

Bernadette

Reply to
Bernadette

I too had a close look and used a magnifier , the plackets do not over lap the meet each other mirjam

Reply to
Mirjam Bruck-Cohen

You could pull the dolls' heads off to remove the sweaters. Back when I had Barbies, the heads were easily removable. Don't know if they still are.

Hesira

The last line of instruction also says "sew the two edges together if you wish". On closer inspection it looks as though that is what they've done on the pattern in the picture, though how they get the jumper on and off the dolls when they do that I cannot guess! I hope this makes sense :-)

Bernadette

Reply to
hesira

I agree Mirjam. The edges of the plackets look as though they lie adjacent to each other, just touching on the two bind off rows. They certainly do not overlap.

On something as small as a doll's top I believe if they overlapped they would be too bulky and pull the rest of the garment out of shape.

Bernadette

Reply to
Bernadette

That's handy to know, thanks! :-) (Having only had boys I never learned about "modern" dolls - lol)

Bernadette

Reply to
Bernadette

It seems to me that you have to pick up the stitches about 2 or 3 stitches away from the edge , not on the edge itself that way the 4 row border will meet over the split. That is how I would try it. That is why it probably says to use a crochet hook, which you would not need if you picked them up directly off the edge. Shirley

Reply to
Shirley Shone

You guys are amazing!~ My doll is actually a Sofia doll by Madam Alexander. The sweater snaps up the back. ;)

I am starting to think that the writer of this pattern messed up here in the graph. Jeez. Here's a close-up of the placket in the graph. No

13 stitches! GRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is exhausting! Shows what a mess poor directions can make of the loveliest pattern.

formatting link
A Knitting Fool in Connecticut

Reply to
myswendy

Well, I'm impressed with you! To stick it out and figure out what the problems are and go forward.

I've heard of Madame Alexander dolls. How does the size compare to that of a Barbie? I ask, because the stitches in that sweater (if she's Barbie sized) are incredibly small. I guess a better question is, what size yarn are you using. I know you stated you put the placket stitches on triple zero needles. Whew! For that alone, you get my kudos!

Hesira

Reply to
hesira

InspirePoint website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.