Hi All,
A bit of an unexpected post; however I need your help! I am currently working on a baby sweater for my niece Brittany’s new baby boy (to match the hat and booties) and I’ve come upon quite a dilemma. I think I know what I’m going to do; however wanted to get some advice because this is my first time making a real sweater. I haven’t gotten far on the Folded Squares Cardigan that I started way back in September of last year, so that doesn’t count. Neither does the Raglan Sweater Christmas Ornament I made in October of last year.
First, the pattern is free and is called Quick Stitch Cardigan by Bernat Design Studio and I am making the 3 month size. I was knitting along, following the pattern and all was well. I finished up the first Shape Sleeves section and was starting the section to Divide for Fronts, when all of a sudden, I realized that I had cast on too few stitches at the beginning part of the Shape sleeves section. I was supposed to cast on 8 stitches at the beginning of the next 6 rows, and instead I cast on 6 stitches at the beginning of the next 6 rows.
To my credit, I did have difficulty at first with the instructions at the beginning of the Shape Sleeve section. Only because I’ve never cast on in the middle of a project with seed stitch and got thoroughly confused and overthought the whole thing. I finally figured that out. But, how in the world did I read the instructions as 6 additional stitches for 6 rows? Argh!!!!
So, here’s my question for you. I’ve already gone through the pattern and made the changes I would need to accommodate for this mistake. However, I don’t know if the arms would be too small/short? Should I rip back and start over again? Or should I continue on? Anyone’s advice would be most helpful! BTW, I will be heartbroken if I have to knit all that seed stitch again. Although I love the look of it, I do not enjoy knitting it.
Until next time, Happy Knitting!
Spin A Yarn 
I have some thoughts…I’ll get back to you in a bit 🙂
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I’m waiting with bated breath 🙂
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I’d think you’d be good. If it really bothers you, though, you could always do an applied edging, like an applied i-cord or something like that. I look forward to seeing what you end up doing! 🙂
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Thank you for your feedback! I can’t wait to see what I do too 🙂
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I say continue on!
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I’m sorry. I am probably of no help but how many stitches make up the sleeve tube? Divide that by your gauge and check a body measurements chart for babies like one the Craft Council site to see if they give you an arm circumference for that age range.
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Thank you for your feedback! I’m not really worried about the sleeve tube because that is the correct size. Maybe I should have clarified that a little better. I’m concerned about the length of the sleeve and am unsure if a shorter sleeve on a baby sweater would be proper. I looked online and it said a sleeve should be 6 inches for 3 months. Mine is only 5 inches.
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Shorter sleeves are probably ok for a baby – less chance the sleeve will end up being chewed on. I would keep going with it.
Good luck!
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Thank you for your feedback! I will keep that in mind.
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Okay, I finally got a chance to look at the pattern. I didn’t really get the construction until I read through it. I was thinking initially that the sleeve wasn’t going to be deep enough, but I see now that’s not the case! So, having sleeves that are too short is a pretty easy thing to fix.
You just might be okay leaving it as-is, as some other people have posted. When my daughter was that size, I remember rolling sleeves up all the time. I’d say keep going, all the way through seaming everything up. Then, if it looks like the sleeve length is too out of proportion, you can pick up stitches around the cuff and knit them a bit longer.
The trick with that is to figure out a stitch pattern to use that would work well with the rest of the piece. I wouldn’t do seed stitch because the direction of knitting would be perpendicular to the sleeve seed stitch. Stockinette is the other stitch pattern in the cardi, but that would roll (unless you did your magic steam blocking…that’s an idea). Beyond that, I would say maybe garter stitch. I think ribbing would probably look a little weird.
Whatever you end up doing, it looks super cute already!
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I read your other response first! Thank you for the thorough explanation and help!
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You know, the more I think about it, the more I think it will be just fine the way it is. A sweater like that would be worn over a top or a onesie anyway, and I think the sleeves would look cute even if they end up as 3/4 length!
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Thank you for your feedback! I knew you would probably be my go to person since you make so many baby/little kid knits 🙂
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I’m with the others who say it’ll be fine to leave it as it is. It always seems to me that baby and kid sleeves need to be shorter than sleeves for grown-ups because of all the things little hands and arms get into. Plus, Alex’s point about the chewing is a good one too!
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Thank you for your feedback! I love all of the responses 🙂
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I definitely say leave it too. Arms are such different lengths anyway. And, as others have said, you could always add an edging later if needed. 🙂
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Thank you for your feedback! I am going to keep going!
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I think it’s a good plan, but even if it wasn’t I’d go a long way to avoid frogging.
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I can’t wait to see it completed. I agree with the 3/4 sleeve look; that it will be cute.
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