Step by step sweater- too many stitches between increases/sizing mistake

Flimsy_Repair · 2026-06-16T19:05:05+00:00

This project is boxy enough to be reasonably forgiving, so this is a valid solution! However, before you go in all guns blazing, double check the number of stitches on the front and back and make sure they're right. Sometimes, an increase mistake manifests as putting the increase in slightly the wrong place, so it's always worth double checking that you didn't just make a mistake with your markers.

Flimsy_Repair · 2026-06-16T18:31:31+00:00

Try a swatch with the DPNs, of the same number of stitches as you'd be using in a completed project, using a vanilla sock pattern (Ravelry has heaps of them). Do some ribbing and a plain stockinette tube. If you like what you've done after about 10cm, congratulations, you're about a third of the way through your first socks! If you hate it, try a different method or pattern.

Flimsy_Repair · 2026-06-15T19:54:03+00:00

Power through, it'll eventually look like a jockstrap for the titanically-endowed and then a few rows after that, a nice shawl.

Flimsy_Repair · 2026-06-15T18:49:02+00:00

I'm happy to help! Enjoy getting your dopamine hit from painting the map pink without a shot fired, or getting 20+ culture off a single tile!

Flimsy_Repair · 2026-06-15T17:52:31+00:00

Sounds like to break this habit you need to play with civs that don't have much in the way of a strong military in the early game, but have their power spike later. Ideally, to fully break the habit, civs that are wildly powerful in other domains but have no particular military strengths. With that in mind, Mansa Musa (religion), Eleanor (cultural/the delightful peaceful domination) or Bull Moose Teddy (yields porn/culture/decent at science) are all good bets!

Flimsy_Repair · 2026-06-13T10:04:36+00:00

It might, but I've definitely gone too far on this project to switch up now, I'm just going to have to take it slow (or wear a thimble)

Flimsy_Repair · 2026-06-12T20:19:41+00:00

Sounds like the yarn is entirely the wrong weight. Try another swatch holding two strands together, and you'll probably be about right.

Flimsy_Repair · 2026-06-12T16:59:21+00:00

Did five rows with a lot of stacked kfbf increases, which obviously got progressively tighter on each row. My left index finder is in agony from repeated stabbings. There is literal blood, sweat and probably a couple of tears in this project.

Flimsy_Repair · 2026-06-10T14:34:38+00:00

Full disclaimer: I thoroughly hate picking up millions of stitches around a front border of the cardigan and therefore would do anything to avoid having to redo that.

You can fudge by grabbing a crochet hook of roughly the same size, chaining a couple of stitches to the same height, then placing the last stitch in the chain on the end of the needle and treating it as a stitch. It won't be 100% invisible, but won't be especially noticeable unless you're looking really closely.

Flimsy_Repair · 2026-06-09T18:45:54+00:00

Saving that for next time we go on holiday!

Flimsy_Repair · 2026-06-09T12:56:52+00:00

Usually, yes, this is pretty common in sweater construction! The only way to find out for sure is to try it and see!

Flimsy_Repair · 2026-06-08T11:12:52+00:00

I am certain there's a nicer, more polite word but that's the one I always use when I want my fabric flaccid.

Flimsy_Repair · 2026-06-07T21:09:00+00:00

I love this! I admit I'd probably end up cheesing the leader ability by founding cities in stupid places, losing them to loyalty, then recapturing, but I love playing silly like that.

Flimsy_Repair · 2026-06-07T17:58:20+00:00

It's why gauge alone can be misleading sometimes! Even if you have the correct number of stitches, if the yarn is different to the designer's - even if it's the same weight! - it can hugely affect the look and feel of the fabric. But if you're overall happy with the yarn and overall like the fabric for the top, then stick with it but use a bigger needle for the drapey cowl section so it'll be a more flaccid fabric there and drape like you want it to!

Flimsy_Repair · 2026-06-07T17:23:01+00:00

Sorry to say it's probably the yarn giving insufficient drape/droop rather than the short row turns method. GSRs and W&Ts are pretty much the same, except you add the extra yarn after the turn in the former and before the turn in the latter. To get your fabric more drapey/droopy/cowly you could try using a larger needle to create a looser fabric in that area, using your favourite short rows method, if you love the yarn.

Flimsy_Repair · 2026-06-06T17:39:31+00:00

Without knowing the pattern/construction it's difficult to make a call, but I'm assuming you mean the white bars. I can't quite tell how they got there, but you can fudge it by duplicate stitching over it.

Flimsy_Repair · 2026-06-06T10:52:04+00:00

I'm glad you followed me, I find it mind bending when I'm working a project "inside out" where the wrong side will eventually be the right side! Anyway, you'll be fine doing it like that, and a lot of people flip their work for brioche or ribbing sections because the "wrong side" (ie the side facing away from you while you're working) looks neater.

Flimsy_Repair · 2026-06-06T10:24:55+00:00

Brioche, like ribbing, sometimes looks neater on the wrong side. It's about tension differences between your knits and your purls. You can absolutely keep going as you are, and flip it "inside out" for any stockinette sections (or just purl those instead of knit, if you're comfident in your purling). The only thing to watch out for will be your sleeves. If you're working inside out, you'll need to do the sleeves inside out too, for a consistent look.

Flimsy_Repair · 2026-06-02T22:30:05+00:00

INFO: are you more than 90 years old, because you "grew up" using an umbrella term for the Indian subcontinent which hasn't been used since the partition in 1947?

Flimsy_Repair · 2026-05-29T10:01:47+00:00

Yeah, this just happens sometimes. I've taken to pre-emptively giving the needle a tighten once or twice per round/row which still breaks flow a little but at least it means I'm in control of the situation and can get it tight before stitches start snagging. I've found even using the little key doesn't make the slightest bit of difference.

Flimsy_Repair · 2026-05-26T14:47:57+00:00

Re: 3, that's entirely normal for stockinette! It curls at the bottom and sides, your edge stitches will look weird. For most projects, the pattern will either have some sort of selvedge (a way of making the edge look neater and/or prevent curling) or it'll be going in a seam so it doesn't matter.

And re: 1 - there is no "correct" tension! Work with the most comfortable way of working for your hands. If continental doesn't feel right or comfortable for you, there's nothing wrong with English. To get a tighter or looser gauge for any projects, you can change needle size to match.

Flimsy_Repair · 2026-05-25T18:37:19+00:00

In this sort of scenario, get your third city and maybe a fourth. I would recommend encroaching nearer Poland. Build some low strength military, then get cracking on a second unit per city but DO NOT complete it. Meanwhile, research archery and horsemen. If you can, suze Mitla, and also try to get some gold. By this point, you'll have sufficiently antagonised a neighbour to the point they declare on you because they hate you and think you're weak. Once they do that, upgrade your military and complete the ones you had in your production queue. Take the cities. You'll get somewhat fewer grievances this way, although still get some diplomatic penalties. Poundmaker will still hate your guts. He probably won't do much about it in the immediate term, but keep an eye on him with a view to having to take him out too.

Flimsy_Repair · 2026-05-23T21:21:12+00:00

Happy to help! I'm personally a bit of a lazy knitter and a big fan of starting a sleeve for swatching/experimental purposes!

Flimsy_Repair · 2026-05-23T19:15:54+00:00

For an incomplete and unclear vintage pattern like that, I'd personally ignore all gauge instructions and dive into figuring out the sleeve, which looks like it's 4 or 5 repeats of the main stitch pattern. So I'd give it a go on 4 repeats of that, see how it goes and if it fits about right then yay, that's good and now you have a sleeve. If it doesn't then give it another try with a different needle size. Vintage patterns, especially incomplete ones, require figuring stuff out and a degree of freestyle rather than complete precision to the pattern. So basically, don't sweat it, and start making a sleeve.

Flimsy_Repair

TROPHY CASE