Knitting

Patterns, projects and techniques

Cool Knitting Tools to Make Getting the Right Size Easier

by

knit hat design size chartsI collect a lot of links to a lot of different things so I always have lots of options for things to share with you. Sometimes a theme emerges from the things I have found, and lately it seems I’ve found quite a few things that will help you with measurements and the math of knitting.

First, Knitting Daily has a free (with free subscription) ebook full of tips for how to measure yourself. If you’ve ever wondered exactly where a hip measurement is supposed to be take from or what sort of ease you should choose in a pattern, this is a great resource. It also includes four free sweater patterns you can try these principles on and be sure to get a great fit.

Sometimes a knitting pattern doesn’t give you quite all the information you would like when it comes to shaping. All too often patterns will say something like “decrease 10 stitches evenly across the row.” That’s because the designer didn’t want to do the math to figure out how to do that in every size offered. But the good news is there are online tools that can help you figure it out for your size, such as Eskimimi’s Knitulator, which I just recently found. You can figure out how to increase or decrease evenly by putting in how many stitches you have to start with and how many stitches you need to end up with, and it will give you options for how to do it. Easy!

Hats are common projects in the fall and winter and make great gifts, but it can sometimes be difficult to know what size to make, especially if you’re making up a pattern as you go. These great infographics from Cyndi Byars via Petals to Picots are super handy, and show all the measurements you would need to make a hat for anyone, preemie to adult male. You’ll see how big around the hat should be, how tall the body should be before shaping, even how big the circumference of the top should be if you want to knit a hat from the top down. Such great stuff!

Have you come across any great knitting resources lately? I’d love to know what you’re learning!

[Image via Petals to Picots.]

Next Pattern:

Comments

Have you read?

Stitch Some Seagulls on Your Sweater

It’s been well documented that I love a knitting pattern with a bit of whimsy, so when I saw the Mine! Pullover from Sarah L. Kelly recently I knew I had to share it with you.

I mean, who wouldn’t want to knit a sweater with a yoke full of seagulls? And another seagull at the waist? Chasing little crabs?

The story behind the sweater (and you knew there had to be one, right?) is that while Sarah was traveling around Europe there were a lot of cheeky seagulls about. They reminded her of the scene in Finding Nemo where the seagulls say “mine, mine, mine” and thus the Mine! series of patterns was born. 

Oh yes, there’s a whole set. It was the sweater I saw first but there’s also a pair of socks (and the pattern says there’s a cowl, too, but I couldn’t find it as of this writing. If you see it let me know and I’ll add the link here!) so you can totally deck yourself out in pesky seabirds if you want.

But back to the sweater for now. This is worked in DK weight yarn from the top down in the round. The yoke and a section at the bottom are worked in stranded colorwork, with stripes on the body, though you could make the body a single color if you wanted. Details like the beaks and eyes are added with duplicate stitch to make the knitting a little easier.

The colorwork sections are charted. The pattern comes in 10 sizes, with a finished chest circumference ranging from 32 to 68 inches, or 80 to 170 cm.

The socks are worked in sock yarn and come in three sizes. There worked from the cuff down and change needle sizes to accommodate the less stretchy nature of stranded colorwork. You can choose from a side profile or a seagull that’s looking out from the sock. Make a matching pair or mix it up.

Both patterns are available on Ravelry: sweater and socks. If you make them I’d love to hear about it!

[Photo: Sarah L. Kelly]