Just wing it, Vivian…

I’m afraid I will be looking suspiciously upon Ysolda Teague patterns forever after this. Or perhaps I need to discover who the tech editor was, and avoid them instead, for Ysolda’s designs are always stunning, even though her patterns leave something to desire. After having decided to work the decreases as I see fit, I’ve reached the shoulder point where the saddle begins. Actually, I wish to discuss what happens in the pattern just before. The chart for the cables ends on row 150. This is suitable for the smallest size, as the instructions go only so far. There is no word, however, on how to handle the larger sizes. Despite the fact that my decreasing ended long before those of even the smallest size, and the larger size supposedly had more decreases, I am to continue an additional six rows before beginning the shoulder. I have not, admittedly, investigated exactly the result of continuing from the beginning of the cable repeat and following the rest of the pattern verbatim, but I have a feeling it would cause a visual interruption. I have decided, in the long run, and after trying on the jacket, that I do not need an extra six rows in the shoulder. Indeed, it’s already beyond the top of my shoulder and six rows would be excessive. I have, therefore, followed the instructions of the smallest size, and continued on to the shoulder saddles.

I have more to complain about here. Once again, the design does not hold in the larger sizes. One of my favorite things about this jacket was that the side-back cables were taken up by the shoulder-saddles. The larger you go, the more of the side-back cables end inelegantly at the neck. Not only that, but when I finished the first shoulder saddle according to the pattern, the stitch count given in order to reach the other shoulder saddle is incorrect. Yes, I may have changed the pattern at center back, but I returned to the original stitch count long before I ever got to this point. I’ve continued decreasing the first shoulder-saddle until the side-back cables were absorbed by the saddle-shaping, and worked across to do the same to the other shoulder in the same manner.

It seems to me that now I need to make this up as I go along, and only use the pattern as a vague guide. How very disappointing.

Update later on the same day: I’ve finished both shoulder saddles and did the two shaping rows. I’ve decided to bind off as the pattern dictates, between the shoulder saddles, because that bind-off serves as good support for the neckline. Now that the hood is started, I am back on track with the pattern. My only deviation on starting the hood was to pick up one stitch for every stitch I bound off, and over the following rows increased the center seed-stitch panel to the necessary 12 stitches.

I’m going to have to go get a zipper soon! Pictures forthcoming.