The Liesl Dilemma

It's a little difficult to blog about something you've made but don't like very much.  The difficulty isn't the pattern, it's the knitter and the choices made.  With Liesl, what you see is what you get.  The neck determines the size and fit...what you have in the end is determined at the starting point.  If you want a larger sweater, one that buttons in the front, you must make a wide neck. If you make a smaller neck you'll end up with an open front.  That's what the pattern pictures show and that's what you get. 

Liesl is cute, I'll give her that, but I'm not cute, not into cute and because of the way she fits, I'm constantly pulling, adjusting and just feel funny wearing her.
You can see in the back view how the sleeves are small, tight and pull uncomfortably across my back when I move or lift my arms.  This style isn't suited to someone with square shoulders and it was a poor choice of pattern for me on many levels, even if it is cute.

This is the classic case of "knitter, know thy pattern, thy limits and thy style".  Liesl was quickly knit, fun to knit and certainly has charm.  Its charm is suited to someone younger with a different body type.  I do like the way LIesl looks from the back if I'm not moving around. 

 

A knitter has several choices to consider with Liesl when determining fit and style. Make your choices based on use and body type, think through what you want from this sweater, and you'll be much happier with the end result.

Pattern: Liesl by Ysolda

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Eco Cotton – 7 balls 613 Red

Size: 37 Low Neckline

Time to Knit: April 10-16, 2009
Sweater #5 for NaKniSweMoDo

Comments

[Barb]

At least she was fun to knit.

[Debbie]

It looks nice on you Margene and the color is so cheery! I am sorry that Liesl didn't work out but you wrote that the process was fun and a quick knit...That's half the battle isn't it!? I also enjoyed knitting Liesl and found that If I wore it over a sleeveless top or dress the fit was better. I thought the pattern was unique and loved that it was knit from the neck down with no seaming!!

Oh, how I hope that Liesl is gifted and not unraveled back into a ball :-S

[Teyani]

Liesl... she is a stunner, but I tend to agree with you about how she fits. Such a shame. And it calls to mind a post that BitterPurl just did about having a sweater in her closet that she can offer to friends who are visiting (heh heh, I think that we all have at least one of these hanging around that was a disappointing fit). The shame is that she is a beauty.

[claudia]

Oh, have I been there. That is a sweater for a teenage girl, methinks.

And although we both are probably both mentally young enough for this sweater, it probably needs to move on.

[bdelloura (on ravelry)]

i just finished my liesl this week, and all i can say is that you have completely summed up my thoughts about the experience. it is nice knowing that others have had the same problems. i'm not completely crushed by my experience, because i know the friend i'm gifting it to loves it :)