Cowichan Corrected

This warm,  'Oh-so-Canadian'  Cowichan sweater arrived at the store a couple of weeks ago.  

 

Much cherished by it's owner, it nonetheless has  had   a couple of flaws she hoped I could correct.


By it's slightly matted, fuzzy appearance, it would appear the sweater was improperly laundered at one time in it's past.  Lucky for the current owner,  as that  probably explains why she was able to purchase it cheaply at a second-hand store  in Nanaimo B.C  - the heart of Cowichan country.   For this  owner, the sleeves were a bit short  and she wanted pockets.    Could I do that?    I thought I could. 

It was decided  to insert storm cuffs rather than lengthen the actual sleeve.   To lengthen the sleeve itself,  would require cutting   above the cuff and knitting the sleeve  down. Not that difficult, but throw   matching three different colours plus matching gauge into the repair  and I thought it a process more likely to look 'corrected'  than  original.  A  storm cuff seemed a better idea.  They were easily accomplished by picking up stitches on the inside of the sleeve and ribbing down for a few inches.

 

Looks great.  The yarn used here was a double strand of Eco Wool.  Not a perfect match but darn close. 

The pocket was a little more complicated.  So as not to disturb the front pattern and because I could match the white yarn perfectly with Briggs & Little Roving,  I  cut the sweater just below a white band, picked up those stitches and ribbed up for an inch to create  pocket trim directly in line with the white band of the sweater. 

On the inside I picked up the upper  stitches and knit down, again using a double strand of the Eco Wool,   to create a pocket lining which I tacked to the  inside of the sweater. 

Barely noticeable which pleases me immensely. 

 One would think they were part of the original design.

My arm has been sorely stretched by my own   'atta boy'   'atta knitter'  pats on the back.  I am happy with the results.  I feel certain the customer will be too. The only decision left is what to charge her for the repairs.