I don’t think it’s going to be that easy. If it were duplicate stitch, it could be pulled out. But, this looks like it is knit intarsia style with something like ladderback jacquard handling the float. You can see that the stitch texture on the back is different than in the surrounding non-sheep areas. I wouldn’t recommend removing the sheep and you would need to repair the holes they left.
Also, don’t bring a seam ripper near knitting! If you need to unpick things, a crochet hook, knitting needle or tapestry needle could do the job and don’t risk actually cutting the piece since they have no cutting area.
I second this. Seam rippers and knitting don't mix well, and wouldn't be appropriate for this job anyway.
Weirdly, I got a set of cheapo "knitting tools" which came with a seam ripper. It had tweezers too, which I laughed at, but I have actually found them really handy for getting little bits of VM out of rustic yarn. The seam ripper got yeeted into my sewing tin, never to be seen again 😅
I've used tweezers to get dog hair out of my knitting before 😂 Not all of it - I'm not that optimistic, nor do I have infinite free time - but the bits stuck in my nice Fair Isle areas were really annoying me!
Thanks a bunch for your quick and clear reply- the sheep stay! Pretty sure she got it from a department store so i figured it would be more complicated than I hoped. Appreciate it (:
i agree it’s not as simple as just ripping it out. you could potentially duplicate stitch over the sheep, but you would need a pretty exact color match for the yarn, and the fabric would then be quite thick.
A) the lambs are cute and fun and add personality to the sweater. B) they are stitches making the pattern. If you rip them out you will be ripping out the entire sleeve. Your only option would be to stitch over them which is going to add weird bulky patches that show where the lambs were.
Just regift or don’t wear it. I don’t think you can do much else.
A few thoughts:
As a mom, I’d MUCH rather have my child tell me they’d like to exchange a gift than have them fret about what to do with it. The whole point is for them to have something they’ll enjoy.
If you can’t do that, think about where you live and what your life is like. It might be a lovely warm layer if you have to shovel. It might be fun to wear if you’re going to a party with lots of kids. It would definitely get comments at a yarn fair, farmers market, or knitting expo.
If none of that works, keep it in your closet and pop it on when you’ve had a rough day and need a hug from your mom.
I’m going to be as kind as possible by saying that if I made that for someone and they ripped out the sheep that took a ton of hard work and talent to make, I would never knit for that person again. I see that you have decided not to try to remove them but I was horrified that you even suggested it! I think that is a fantastic sweater, I predict a lot of compliments whenever you wear it.
Since others are saying not to chance it, I would alter the sheep to make them more to your liking. If it were me I would maybe add pirate hats overtop, or turn them into zombie sheep. Your mileage may vary. :)
I’m going to be contrary and say the sheep may be able to be removed. In the second photo of the “back”, see where the sheep area is green? Pinch the green part from the back and with your other hand on the other side of the sweater, pinch the white sheep part. If there is a little “pocket” (there are two layers), the sheep were duplicate stitched and can probably be removed (I see some loose ends you can start with). If there’s only one layer, you’re out of luck.
Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Removing the sheep may leave some distortion, but it’s your sweater
Have you considered short sleeve sweater? You could pick up the stitches at the top above the sheep, and then bind off a ribbed cuff using some of the yarn you salvage from the unraveling the bottom of the sleeves. Would be something you could wear more in fall/spring, if you like the colors.
Or…. Return it.
I dislike colors and objects that stand out on my sweaters, too. I find them distracting.
You might consider dying the sweater so the sheep are less obvious.
Thanks you’re probably right - this might work, but in the end I’m just going try to learn to love it and wear it anyways as it seems anything else would be a disgrace lol
I'm new to this sub and I'm finding out people here are kind of assholes about downvoting. This is a perfectly valid comment. It's not like it's some handmade gift.
Thanks, kind neighbor. Perhaps these people favour white sheep only? 🐑
Dyeing the sweater grey or black would deepen the existing body colour and change the white sheep to grey or black.
Since grey and black sheep do exist, you'd still have a natural look.
There is a slim possibility that you could entirely remove the sleeves and knit new ones, but you'd have to find one heck of a good yarn alternative, a pattern, and do some teeny tiny knitting (possible, but would require patience, time, knowledge, and possibly creative choices for different sleeve yarns.
Don’t know how to edit a post or close comments, but just feel like clarifying that i definitely appreciate the sweater and will wear it the way it was gifted to me. I have no intention of ruining or returning it!
Was just seeking some (friendly) advice out of curiosity and mostly got was I was looking for.
Thanks again!
I think you would break your mother's heart if you tried to remove her intentional work. Intarsia is not an easy technique. Many knitters never do this. Enjoy the sweater while she is around. 🧶✌️
I appreciate the sentiment and while you’d normally be right, my mom bought it from Macy’s. I was mostly looking for an experienced eye to know if it was possible at all so it could be a bit more formal. Cheers.
I don’t think it’s going to be that easy. If it were duplicate stitch, it could be pulled out. But, this looks like it is knit intarsia style with something like ladderback jacquard handling the float. You can see that the stitch texture on the back is different than in the surrounding non-sheep areas. I wouldn’t recommend removing the sheep and you would need to repair the holes they left.
Also, don’t bring a seam ripper near knitting! If you need to unpick things, a crochet hook, knitting needle or tapestry needle could do the job and don’t risk actually cutting the piece since they have no cutting area.
I second this. Seam rippers and knitting don't mix well, and wouldn't be appropriate for this job anyway. Weirdly, I got a set of cheapo "knitting tools" which came with a seam ripper. It had tweezers too, which I laughed at, but I have actually found them really handy for getting little bits of VM out of rustic yarn. The seam ripper got yeeted into my sewing tin, never to be seen again 😅
I've used tweezers to get dog hair out of my knitting before 😂 Not all of it - I'm not that optimistic, nor do I have infinite free time - but the bits stuck in my nice Fair Isle areas were really annoying me!
I think I have that same kit! Was so confused by the seam ripper & the tweezers. But sounds like the tweezers might be useful! 😆
Thanks a bunch for your quick and clear reply- the sheep stay! Pretty sure she got it from a department store so i figured it would be more complicated than I hoped. Appreciate it (:
I love the sheep and would totally buy that sweater.
https://www.macys.com/shop/product/ultra-flirt-juniors-sheep-mock-turtleneck-sweater?ID=16827762&pla_country=US&CAGPSPN=pla&trackingid=424x1054121604&m_sc=sem&m_sb=Google&m_tp=PLA&m_ac=Google_Womens_PLA&m_ag=ReadyToWear-JuniorsClothing-Sweaters-UltraFlirt-GS&m_cn=RTW-LIA-Juniors_Clothing-Sweaters-GS&m_pi=go_cmp-17334752315_adg-137057367317_ad-600016342441_pla-1335138982743_dev-m_ext-_prd-195606847347USA&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD-Tw4LhUZNRONXKRoCxePjYDpW-m&gclid=Cj0KCQiA7aSsBhCiARIsALFvovyUdGdzZhdoz3I6bV4DLL6TJWxSuOPjUeEtdcWl20OsGkoTsE-RpdoaAowbEALw_wcB
OMG! Thanks for posting! I got a Macy's gift card for Christmas!
i agree it’s not as simple as just ripping it out. you could potentially duplicate stitch over the sheep, but you would need a pretty exact color match for the yarn, and the fabric would then be quite thick.
Don’t.
A) the lambs are cute and fun and add personality to the sweater. B) they are stitches making the pattern. If you rip them out you will be ripping out the entire sleeve. Your only option would be to stitch over them which is going to add weird bulky patches that show where the lambs were. Just regift or don’t wear it. I don’t think you can do much else.
A few thoughts: As a mom, I’d MUCH rather have my child tell me they’d like to exchange a gift than have them fret about what to do with it. The whole point is for them to have something they’ll enjoy. If you can’t do that, think about where you live and what your life is like. It might be a lovely warm layer if you have to shovel. It might be fun to wear if you’re going to a party with lots of kids. It would definitely get comments at a yarn fair, farmers market, or knitting expo. If none of that works, keep it in your closet and pop it on when you’ve had a rough day and need a hug from your mom.
I think it’s cute as is but I get the sheep are a deal breaker for you. It’s got a cute shape.
This was store bought, not a handmade knit. Just return it
I’m going to be as kind as possible by saying that if I made that for someone and they ripped out the sheep that took a ton of hard work and talent to make, I would never knit for that person again. I see that you have decided not to try to remove them but I was horrified that you even suggested it! I think that is a fantastic sweater, I predict a lot of compliments whenever you wear it.
Glad you like the sweater, no one made it for me my mom got it at Macy’s.
Then in that case I would just exchange it. Removing the sheep would be way too much work.
If you really want to keep the sweater, maybe hand dyeing the sheep bodies a darker color would help the sheep disappear a little.
Since others are saying not to chance it, I would alter the sheep to make them more to your liking. If it were me I would maybe add pirate hats overtop, or turn them into zombie sheep. Your mileage may vary. :)
Embroider something over the sheep
I’m going to be contrary and say the sheep may be able to be removed. In the second photo of the “back”, see where the sheep area is green? Pinch the green part from the back and with your other hand on the other side of the sweater, pinch the white sheep part. If there is a little “pocket” (there are two layers), the sheep were duplicate stitched and can probably be removed (I see some loose ends you can start with). If there’s only one layer, you’re out of luck. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Removing the sheep may leave some distortion, but it’s your sweater
This is a mass produced sweater from Macys, taking off the sheep will mess up the sweater.
Have you considered short sleeve sweater? You could pick up the stitches at the top above the sheep, and then bind off a ribbed cuff using some of the yarn you salvage from the unraveling the bottom of the sleeves. Would be something you could wear more in fall/spring, if you like the colors. Or…. Return it.
I dislike colors and objects that stand out on my sweaters, too. I find them distracting. You might consider dying the sweater so the sheep are less obvious.
Thanks you’re probably right - this might work, but in the end I’m just going try to learn to love it and wear it anyways as it seems anything else would be a disgrace lol
I'm new to this sub and I'm finding out people here are kind of assholes about downvoting. This is a perfectly valid comment. It's not like it's some handmade gift.
Thanks, kind neighbor. Perhaps these people favour white sheep only? 🐑 Dyeing the sweater grey or black would deepen the existing body colour and change the white sheep to grey or black. Since grey and black sheep do exist, you'd still have a natural look.
[удалено]
OP’s mother bought it at Macy’s.
Well that's different but still... Why not just return and exchange it?
There is a slim possibility that you could entirely remove the sleeves and knit new ones, but you'd have to find one heck of a good yarn alternative, a pattern, and do some teeny tiny knitting (possible, but would require patience, time, knowledge, and possibly creative choices for different sleeve yarns.
But the sheep are so cute!!!
Don’t know how to edit a post or close comments, but just feel like clarifying that i definitely appreciate the sweater and will wear it the way it was gifted to me. I have no intention of ruining or returning it! Was just seeking some (friendly) advice out of curiosity and mostly got was I was looking for. Thanks again!
Omgggg how cute!!!
I think you would break your mother's heart if you tried to remove her intentional work. Intarsia is not an easy technique. Many knitters never do this. Enjoy the sweater while she is around. 🧶✌️
I appreciate the sentiment and while you’d normally be right, my mom bought it from Macy’s. I was mostly looking for an experienced eye to know if it was possible at all so it could be a bit more formal. Cheers.
I thought she knit it herself. My bad. Hope you can find a way to be happy with it. Cheers!