Small changes for a big success

How often do you see a pattern that looks appealing if it weren’t for that one aspect … wrong sleeve length, wrong neckline, should be a cardigan, or a pullover?  There are dozens of tiny aspects that can shift a design from almost perfect to custom made.We modify patterns all the time.  And we wanted to share a story about a successful pattern modification that Amy brought in to the shop last week.  Sometimes seeing how someone else changed a pattern can make it easier to imagine how we could better make it our own. She fell in love with Rayures.  We all did, really.  Julie knit up this fun stripey cowl earlier this spring designed by ­­Amy Miller of the Quince & Co. design team.  Julie found that the pattern perfectly suited the wonderful palette of brights and neutrals available in the Shibui spectrum.  She paired Cima with Pebble for a fingering weight blend that would be soft to the touch and slightly heathered in texture.Amy decided to make her Spring version of the cowl a bit less bulky.  She cast on about two thirds of the recommended stitch count, so her scarf is less wide.  This gave her more yarn yardage to work with, so she was able to work more stripes of fewer colors. Instead of the 7 colors that the pattern calls for, Amy used just four.  She chose a couple of soft neutrals to highlight her two pop colors of teal and coral. Amy’s cowl was created with 4 skeins of Shibui Staccato at $13.50 each.  The Merino and Silk blend of this yarn makes her stitches crisp and distinct, and the colors suit her perfectly.Well done Amy!  Thank you for sharing with us.Small changes can make a big difference, and we would love to help you tweak a pattern that you are eager to knit and make it the perfect project.  Let us know how we can help.