In answer to the question I'll say a resounding, "Probably."
Here are the pix - you be the judge:
OK - Get comfy, 'cause here come the stats (this will take awhile.....)
Pattern - Spiderweb Cardigan from the latest IK Crochet.
Yarn - 6 1/2 skeins Cotton Ease in "Stone"
Hook - H
Modifications - Everything.
I'll say up front that the pattern isn't wrong it's just poorly thought out. I had to change the length, the armhole size (and thus the sleeve size) and the width. Oh yeah - I also changed how much was sewn up on the neckline too. So....here's what I did in detail.....
The fronts & back are crocheted from side to side. When I finished the first side as per the directions for a 45" finished size, I knew that something was terribly wrong. Remember this pic?
The pattern calls for 5 pattern repeats - obviously way too many especially when you think that the OTHER side would have 5 also! Sheesh. So - I changed it to 4 pattern repeats which cut 3 1/4" from each front. Then, when I got to the back, I crocheted to the design specs - 6 pattern repeats. I measured my shoulders & that fit just fine. Then I crocheted another 4 repeats for the other front - after agonizing a bit over matching them or having them be asymmetrical. The way I ended up wearing the sweater, I'm glad I made them matching!
Now - during all this modifying I also had to make the armholes bigger. The armhole size is the same in the pattern whether you're making the 32 1/2" size or the 52". We all know that's a crock! So, when I got to the armholes, I ended 6 stitches short of the count shown in the pattern for the front, then added six stitches to my count for the back. That gave me the equivalent of one spiderweb pattern (although I had to do some additional fudging when I got to the actual sleeve part.) That full pattern rectangle added a little over 4" to the armhole, which ended up being 20" around - plenty of room!
The sleeves are crocheted down from the armhole. Because I didn't want a seam going down the top of the sleeve, I started the sleeve in the middle of the armhole section (at the bottom of the V where you split for front & back) and crocheted up & around, joining the edges at the top of the sleeve. The fudging came when I had to add some stitches at the bottom of the V to make sure the spiderweb design came out evenly, and at the top of the sleeve to decrease the 6 DC between the spiderwebs down to 3. Here are the two pix of that:
I added 4 stitches at the bottom (two on each side of the seam) and decreased 3 at the top. I did all of that over the space of two rounds so it's barely noticeable.
When I finally got all this done and tried it on, I realized that just sewing up one spiderweb rectangle on the neckline wasn't enough. The thing was literally falling off my shoulders. I sewed up one more and, while I lost much of the "carefree, fall open front" feel that I liked about the original, I gained a fold-back type collar that I like even better. :) I think it adds interest to a plain front - the big pin definitely gives it a focal point too.
Sooooo...I'm happy with it. I didn't do anything terribly hard when I revamped the pattern. I guarantee that anyone - even beginners - could do what I just did. It just took patience and some determination. Although I'll admit that by the time I was weaving in ends I was officially SICK of this pattern! LOL
Note: If you want the "fall open" type front, that pins across the chest, definitely leave out another pattern repeat on each front. Part of the reason I did the fold back is that I ended up with too much fabric on MY front. (I was afraid of that happening!)
I have a 42" chest and I'd suggest 3 pattern row repeats per side for the pinned straight across look.
Trust me. ::wink::: I know this stuff. I learned it the hard way.....
Bron, I have to admit I'm not a big fan of the crocheted cardi, but this looks really nice. I like the neat finish to the closing and yes, the big pin looks great. You could use lots of different ones depending on your mood and I think the cardi would take it well. I think you're very clever being able to make all those modifications. I would probably have frogged and given up long ago. Good for you!! It looks great.
Posted by: Terri | May 21, 2007 at 06:40 PM
Bron, I really like it. I also like the collar. I like the arms, too how they are baggy. I bet you will get a lot of wear out of this!
Posted by: Wendy | May 21, 2007 at 08:21 PM
I really like how it turned out. I'm not much of a fan of crocheted cardis either, but it looks really nice and I love that pin too. It definitely looks worth the effort.
Posted by: Wanda | May 21, 2007 at 10:14 PM
Yes, definitely worth the effort, it looks very good like this!
Posted by: julia | May 22, 2007 at 02:25 AM
Great sweater and lovely pin. It seems as if you had to design it nearly from sratch, though.
Good job by you as always.
Posted by: Vera | May 22, 2007 at 02:59 AM
Despite all the hassle it came out beautifully. I really like the collar and pin closure.
Posted by: Kristen | May 22, 2007 at 03:45 AM
It looks great!!
Posted by: adrienne | May 22, 2007 at 04:41 AM
The Cardi is beautiful. It makes me want to make one for myself.
Posted by: Amy Boogie | May 22, 2007 at 05:44 AM
I'm going to have to study your modifications quite a bit to decide if I'm going to tackle this after all. I don't quite have your clothing skills and know it. I'm still willing to give it a go though, I can't help but think it's lovely and looks great on you!
Posted by: Julie | May 22, 2007 at 06:05 AM
It looks wonderful! Amazing how poor a pattern it was. All the more amazing that you were able to make it just right!
Posted by: jillian | May 22, 2007 at 07:53 AM
It looks wonderful! Amazing how poor a pattern it was.
Posted by: jillian | May 22, 2007 at 07:54 AM
The collar and the pin add so much interest to the cardi, and your instructions are great. I doubt, though, that I could do this pattern. I hate that because I love that spiderweb design.
Posted by: Linda | May 22, 2007 at 08:24 AM
Terri - Most crocheted cardis, unless made from DK yarn & finer, are more like crocheted coats. :) As long as you're prepared for that, it's OK. I'm afraid that many designers don't take that into consideration & what results are lumpy masses of yarn!
Wendy - I really hope so! I just love that pin with it. :)
Wanda & Julie - I was so afraid this would be another failure! I'm glad it was worth the time it took. :)
Vera - It really wasn't too hard to change since the pattern was basically modular. As I said, it wasn't really *wrong*, just funky. ::grin::
Thanks, Adrienne & Kristen!
Amy - It's certainly very warm, so be prepared for that aspect if you do!
Thanks, Jillian, but the mods weren't really that difficult. Just time consuming. I guess I was really dedicated to this one!
Linda - yes, you could make it. Honest!
Posted by: Bron | May 22, 2007 at 09:41 AM
Bron, it came out really nicely. I am a bit in shock over all the modifications you made in order for it to work for you, though---that seems pretty discouraging. I think I will put this pattern in the back of my head for a while and see how I feel about it when I have more experience under my belt. Though I keep thinking it would look really great in black, I'm just not ready for such an undertaking!
Posted by: April | May 22, 2007 at 12:50 PM
That turned out so nice! And the fact that you're *so* happy wearing it makes it look even better!! Way to go!
Posted by: tifffany | May 22, 2007 at 04:33 PM
it's so totally worth it! AND it's CE. you look great wearing it.
Posted by: lynette | May 22, 2007 at 05:41 PM
Bron, the cardigan came out beautiful thanks completely to all your modifications. I swear you should be a pattern editor so the patterns can be right the first time :) Again, great job!
Posted by: Karen Carter | May 22, 2007 at 07:05 PM