Within a knitting pattern there are many different sections that all help you in different ways create the knitting project of your dreams and make it come out exactly as it should.
When you can follow each part correctly, your garment should fit perfectly, be nice and soft and be exactly what you want.
Pattern Title and Designer's Name The pattern should start out with the title and the name of the designer, usually with a link to the designer's web page so that you can check out their other designs.
Sizes Available It will then tell you what sizes are available for that garment, especially for sweaters.
You need know whether they are telling you the size of the garment, for example a sweater, or the size of the person.
That is does this sweater fit a medium person, or is it a medium-sized sweater.
So make sure that you check and see and read this section very carefully so that you know exactly what they are saying about the size of the garment.
Something that's really important to know about sizing is the concept of ease.
Ease is how loose or tight a sweater is on you.
Now ease is a matter of preference.
If you like your sweaters really tight, you can make them with no ease which means the sweater is exactly the same circumference as you are.
You can make it with negative ease, which means that the sweater is smaller than you are and when you put it on it's going to stretch on you.
Alternatively, you can make it with positive ease, one or two or even five inches of ease if you want a big, comfy, loose, boyfriend-type sweater.
Many patterns won't mention ease but you can factor in ease on your own if you know how you like your sweaters to fit.
Measuring Yourself Correctly So, get out your favorite sweater, the one that's most comfortable and fits you the best and measure that.
Just measure straight across the bust and if you double that measurement, you will get the bust circumference.
That's the most important measurement when you are measuring yourself for a sweater.
So you will know how big around your favorite sweater is.
Now if the sweater pattern comes in that size, that's great.
You could just use that size.
If not, you'll need to make some adjustments using the next concept, "gauge.
" Gauge Another thing to take into account is your gauge.
The gauge is the number of stitches that are contained in each inch using the yarn that you choose and the needles that you choose when you get started for your project.
If your gauge matches the gauge specified by the pattern designer, then your sweater is going to come out the same size as the sweater in the pattern.
If your gauge is smaller, your sweater is going to come out smaller, and vice-versa.
Remember, if you are knitting your sweater in the round using Magic Loop, make sure to make your gauge swatch using Magic Loop as well.
When you can follow each part correctly, your garment should fit perfectly, be nice and soft and be exactly what you want.
Pattern Title and Designer's Name The pattern should start out with the title and the name of the designer, usually with a link to the designer's web page so that you can check out their other designs.
Sizes Available It will then tell you what sizes are available for that garment, especially for sweaters.
You need know whether they are telling you the size of the garment, for example a sweater, or the size of the person.
That is does this sweater fit a medium person, or is it a medium-sized sweater.
So make sure that you check and see and read this section very carefully so that you know exactly what they are saying about the size of the garment.
Something that's really important to know about sizing is the concept of ease.
Ease is how loose or tight a sweater is on you.
Now ease is a matter of preference.
If you like your sweaters really tight, you can make them with no ease which means the sweater is exactly the same circumference as you are.
You can make it with negative ease, which means that the sweater is smaller than you are and when you put it on it's going to stretch on you.
Alternatively, you can make it with positive ease, one or two or even five inches of ease if you want a big, comfy, loose, boyfriend-type sweater.
Many patterns won't mention ease but you can factor in ease on your own if you know how you like your sweaters to fit.
Measuring Yourself Correctly So, get out your favorite sweater, the one that's most comfortable and fits you the best and measure that.
Just measure straight across the bust and if you double that measurement, you will get the bust circumference.
That's the most important measurement when you are measuring yourself for a sweater.
So you will know how big around your favorite sweater is.
Now if the sweater pattern comes in that size, that's great.
You could just use that size.
If not, you'll need to make some adjustments using the next concept, "gauge.
" Gauge Another thing to take into account is your gauge.
The gauge is the number of stitches that are contained in each inch using the yarn that you choose and the needles that you choose when you get started for your project.
If your gauge matches the gauge specified by the pattern designer, then your sweater is going to come out the same size as the sweater in the pattern.
If your gauge is smaller, your sweater is going to come out smaller, and vice-versa.
Remember, if you are knitting your sweater in the round using Magic Loop, make sure to make your gauge swatch using Magic Loop as well.
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