theraineysisters knitting and so much more

Michelle asked, “Now, how did you get so good at gauging your size?”  This is always an issue, Michelle!  It is art, science, trial and error.  I have it down a bit better after decades of knitting.  For years, Sally was the recipient of Trial #1 — my sweaters were always too small/short etc.  She is 7″ shorter than me so anything too small would usually fit her.  When I’d make it again, I would figure what went wrong and fix it.  I do not recommend knitting everything twice to get it to fit!  I can barely finish things the first time around. 

Over the years I’ve learned a few things:

Do a gauge swatch — it really does help to at least get in the ball park.  AND check it again once you actually start the project — gauge can change.  You can block something a tad bigger, but not smaller.

Take your initial measurements from a sweater that fits the way you want the new one to fit (similar styling and weight of yarn)

Learn how to adjust after the fact — don’t be afraid to rip it out and reknit.  If the sleeve is too long/short, fix it.  It takes some time to get it right, but you’ll enjoy it for a lifetime.  Baste the sweater together first so the adjustments can be done before it is totally finished.

I had a friend years ago who was knitting a sweater in the round.  It looked awfully small, so I measured it: 36″ total circumference for a worsted weight sweater.  I told her it was way too small, but she thought since she wore a size 36 bra, it would fit.  I was wearing a sweater that was 40″ around (as I said, this was years ago!) so I let her try it on — it was skin tight.  I told her she had two options: rip it out and start over or finish it as is and never wear it.  Would you rather spend all that time and have something or spend the time and not have anything to show for it?

Don’t be afraid of cutting and grafting — yes it is scary at first, but I have saved many projects this way (right, Surly?). — some styles need to be shorter and you don’t know it until it is finished.

I made Sally’s husband a sweater a few years ago.  Sally measured multiple sweaters that he wore often to estimate the size.  It was my design and I made it exactly to her specifications.  It was 3″ too long.  It just didn’t look right.  So, I performed one of my surgical procedures and removed the excess.  I don’t think the the length problem could have been avoided.

I have had my share of disasters along the way, but fewer and fewer as I have come to know the fit and style that work for me — though there are some sweaters I made for the sheer joy of the knitting [the thrill of the hunt, so to speak], knowing that I would never wear them because the style is not “me.” 

It’s tough to spend so much time, effort and money on something and not have it turn out as expected — anyone else have tips or stories to share?