Sunday evening I went back to work on my Oxbow cardigan and yesterday I made it to the next shaping point. I had the lower body done and I needed to start decreasing for “neck and yoke shaping”. Y’all, this pattern is messed the heck up. I mean, not literally messed up, but it’s written very poorly. I noticed it first on the sleeves, when you’re working with 4-stitch repeats over a 4-row pattern, and when you need to start increasing, very little guidance is given about how to maintain the pattern as you increase. I figured that out and thought it was the worst of it. HA.
Now I’m working flat with a 4-stitch/4-row pattern and I’m decreasing two stitches every five rows, eleven times. No biggie, except zero guidance is given about how to maintain the stitch pattern as you decrease. The first couple of decreases were okay, but now I’m losing track. I printed out charts and blank charts last night and tried to chart it out and got lost. So now I’m just at the “winging it” stage. I can read the stitches better on the wrong side of the sweater, so I’m just checking that often to make sure it stays on track. But it’s gonna get worse, because after I attach the sleeves, I also have to start doing raglan decreases at a different rate than the yoke/neck shaping. And even all of that would be doable, if she had just done a better job of explaining how to maintain the pattern during increases and decreases.
When I pay $9 for a pattern and it’s from fancy famous Andrea Mowry, I expected a lot better than this. (Side note: it’s cheaper on Ravelry than it is on LoveCrafts. Only by 84 cents though.) I’m not sure I’ll buy another pattern from her. The only reason I’m pushing through with this one is because I’m halfway done, the look is exactly what I want, and I know it can be done because Sarah has made it twice. So damn it, I’m gonna finish this sweater!
I hope your knitting is going better than mine this week!
bonnyknits 
That’s rough. It annoys me when a pattern doesn’t give good instructions—or at the least make it clear you’ll need to be really experienced at doing a thing. If there’s no pattern skill level I get really annoyed at vague instructions.
Love the bag!
Yeah. I think I’m at least an intermediate knitter but my brain just doesn’t work the way it needs to for that.
I find that I can only successfully deduce decreases in pattern when I have just done a pattern where I’ve been coached through it. So I totally get it.
On the upside you’ll probably be able to read your stitches really well by the end. It’s frustrating though, I haven’t tried any of hers.
Very true, good point! I’m already getting better at reading them.
How disappointing. I give you credit for sticking with it. It reminds me of that person who passes along a recipe, but when they write it out they are a bit vague about technique. They want to withhold a little something-something.
Then you have designers charge $6, and provide tutorial videos and email support. Just keep what you are doing consistent and it will fit in.
Thanks! Here’s hoping!
Now I’m really glad I didn’t try to make one.
Or maybe you’d be able to work through it easier! Apparently some people do it just fine so who knows.
That does sound disappointing! Good for you for sticking with it, and I know it is going to look great 🙂
If it doesn’t I will probably scream.
Oh gosh, that’s frustrating…best of luck!
It definitely turned into a beautiful sweater, but you aren’t the first I’ve heard about her patterns being hard to follow.
Hi,
I have found your post while searching for help with the Neck and Yoke Shaping of the Oxbow Cardigan. I personally do not have the brains to work out the pattern and have chosen to just knit! But, I now find myself just as dumbfounded as with the oxbow pattern!
Do you follow page 6, Neck Decrease Row then do the Underarm Bind-Off Row and Add the Sleeves on the Sleeve Joining Row all the while knitting the Neck Decrease Rows?
Thanking you in advance for your help!!! Please 🙂
Regards,
Carolyn McGillivray
Also, does the Sleeve Joining Row count as Row 15 of the Neck Shaping Rows? Or do you only restart the Counting of the Neck Shaping Rows After this section? My Neck Shaping Row Decreases are Every 6th Row for 9 Rounds.
Thank you again!
Regards,
Carolyn McGillivray
Hi,
I was wondering if you could help me with the Neck and Yoke Shaping!
My Neck Decrease is every 6th Row 9 more times. On the 14th Row I knit the Underarm Bind-Off Row. Do I then knit the Sleeve Joining Row? Join the Sleeves? Do I count this as 1 of my Neck Decrease Rows? Or am I supposed to finish all my Neck Decrease Rows before the Underarm Bind-Off Row?
Thanking you in advance for your much needed help! Please 🙂
Regards,
Carolyn McGillivray
Hi Carolyn – I’m so sorry, I knit this four years ago and I have no memory of what I might have done. I’d recommend reaching out to the designer for her help!