Yesterday I was feeling inspired by all of the “finish or frog” talk on ravelry, so I dug out my brompton cardigan and took some pictures. (I have to be honest: these are the good, hopeful ones. I have other pictures where it looks way too big.) See, I love this sweater. I cast on in January 2008 in Rowan Felted Tweed, imagining that this would be a cardigan I’d reach for often when I was in grad school. Fast forward two years: I am in grad school, I do wear cardigans, but this one isn’t done yet.
The trouble is, I really didn’t understand ease and sizing as well as I thought I did when I cast this on. Bottom line? This is essentially a 42″ sweater, with the body finished and the button bands both knit and seamed onto the sweater. (This would have been big on a 2008 rooster, and I am smaller now.)
I LOVE this pattern, love the yarn, and I don’t want to frog this, so here’s what I’m thinking: decrease as I knit the sleeves so that they are slim and fitted, and maybe only 3/4 length. The cardigan itself is light and drapey. I’ll never wear this all buttoned up because of how big it is, but I could see it as a layering cardigan. I may be able to sew closed some of the button holes discretely (because of the basketweave stitch) and either give it an asymmetrical closure or one bigger button in the upper half of the sweater.
Thoughts? (Are you with me? It’s okay if you’re not. I could really use some advice on this one.)
barefoot rooster 
It does look too big. Maybe if you did it as a crossover front and had a button up on your shoulder…..
I vote “frog it” which probably puts me in the minority of voters but…. this is beautiful yarn and you deserve to wear it in a shape that you really love! I just don’t think that any edits from this point onward will change the overall piece’s fit much.
I love my Brompton. Love, love, love it. But I made it in a VERY stretchy yarn and thus made it smaller than it should have been, and it fits perfectly (or at least it did before I washed it, and now it’s bigger than in my photos…but still decent).
see it here: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Infinity0/brompton
I would vote to frog it. You can always reknit. No point in having a sweater that really is too big.
I like the idea of a big button on the shoulder or something, like Jennmoles wrote. It does look way too big, though, so it’s up to you. I don’t think it’s worth it if you’ll only be sort of pleased with it to continue on; frogging and starting over with something you’ll really love is why we do this in the first place, right?
Ok, so this may sound slightly terrifying, but I think that before starting the sleeves, you should steek the sides and seam them up a couple of inches in (or however much you need to take them in to your measurements). The felted tweed will be grabby enough not to unravel, and you can sew down the flaps after you’ve seamed to make sure they never unravel. Steeking and seaming will also make the arm holes smaller. You could also do the seam first (fold the sides in however much you’d like, then pin and seam) and if the fold of fabric on the inside isn’t too bulky, just leave it.
I have to agree with jennmoles and foxflat. It IS such a completely gorgeous yarn, and you really do deserve to love it when you wear it, instead of glance at yourself sideways and wonder every time you pass a reflective object. Perhaps since frogging can be time consuming and depressing, do a little pattern search first and allow yourself to fall in love with a different cardigan all together…frog this one and be ready to start fresh with a new design! :)
Hmm. It does look mighty big, but if you’re up for an extra-roomy cardigan, your mods could be just the ticket. Unfortunately, it could also be a case of wait and see … the seaming idea might be worth a try if you don’t want to frog. I don’t know about you, but I find I just don’t end up wearing stuff that is too giant. And the yarn (and pattern) are both so pretty …
Oh, being brutally honest? Frog it! You will always know you jiggered the fit and it will always seem not what you had initially wanted. It’s a yarn you like, it’s a pattern you love and one that you envisaged wearing with affection. Grit your teeth, frog it, and knit the cardi you wanted at the start in the right size. I’ve been there myself once or twice and always regret not starting again. Sorry! Let us know what you decide.