Pure new wool and perfect stitches

[venta]

I've just excavated the box on top of the wardrobe in which Eyeore, Bagpuss, Bartholomew Flockless and a gorilla whose antecedents I don't currently remember live.The poor dears were very dusty, so I've just been standing in the garden smacking Eyeore on the arse. I don't know how I'm going to live with myself for the rest of the day.

However, also in the box was a problem which has been in search of a solution for some years. My New Model Army jumper.

While a student, I persuaded the lady who knitted the jumpers which used to be sold in The Celtic Shop to knit me a black jersey with the red-and-white knot from the front of Thunder and Consolation on it. Apparently this was something of a challenge, because when knitting on a machine it isn't usual to put more than two colours on one row - several people had told me it couldn't be done.

She measured me, and asked me how long the jumper should be. I gestured to somewhere just below the hips. And here came the problem of poor specification: to me, it was obvious that a jumper of that length would be big and baggy. She, however, had been planning a reasonably fitted jumper, and just extended it.

Gravity did its work once I started wearing the jumper, and I now have a close fitting jumper which is nearly down to my knees. If you can't imagine that - well, it looks, frankly, ridiculous. Before you ask yes, I have considered wearing it as a dress; I feel that would look even more ridiculolus.

I've tried washing it and drying it in such a way that it ought to stretch horizontally - but it just doesn't make enough difference. Maybe I should find a fat bastard and ask them to wear it for a week or two :)

Ideally, I'd like to make it wider, and shorter. I'm not sure that it's at all possible to shorten jumpers. Or how to stretch them effectively.

Any (sensible) suggestions gratefully appreciated.

Comments

[sushidog.livejournal.com]

Hm. I've never tried this, and therefore abdicate all responsibility if it doesn't work, but you could try putting several pillows/cushions inside it, thus making it as wide as possible, and then going over it (still stuffed) with a steam iron on a wool setting?Also, when you wash it, try pegging it to the line with several pegs along one side, and attach seveal more pegs to the other side, with weights on them?

[venta.livejournal.com]

I have tried the pegging with weights thing; the jumper appears to be made of terribly stern stuff :( Not sure about the steaming, I might give that a try.

(Since I think I'm unlikely to ever wear it again as it is, I don't have a lot to lose by experimenting.)