Cool Knitting Tools to Make Getting the Right Size Easier

September 29, 2015 by Sarah White

I 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.]

Comments

Dot says
September 29, 2015 at 6:36 pm
This is not a new resource, but it’s one that I use over and over. David MacKay’s Heels by Number chart gives instructions for turning six different sock heels, on socks that range from 40 to 80 stitches around. It’s now on Ravelry:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/heels-by-number

Have you read?

Apple Knitting Patterns for Fall and Back to School

It feels like it’s too early to be thinking about back to school, but as I write this my daughter has just a couple of weeks of summer left! So let’s get in that school and fall knitting spirit by looking at some apple knitting projects.

If you have a 22 needle circular knitting machine, knitting an apple is one of the easiest things you can do. I have an apple pattern over at Our Daily Craft that will take you just a few minutes to knit and they’re a great addition to your fall decor.

Apple hats are a classic, and whether you want to knit a hat that looks like an apple or one with apples on it, we’ve got you covered. For hats that look like apples check out the rolled brim version from Emma Crochet Design 4 U, which uses worsted weight yarn and comes in sizes for kids of all ages; and the ribbed brim version from Hand Knit Hugs. This one also calls for worsted weight yarn and comes in four kids sizes. Both include a stem and leaf.

If you’d rather have apples on your hat, try the Red Apple Hat from Little Red Window. This one is sized from newborn to 2T and calls for four colors of worsted weight yarn.

How about apple socks? You’ll find Ariel Chang’s Apple Picnic Socks as a free download on Ravelry. These use three colors of sock yarn and come in three sizes. Stone Knits also a pair of stripey apple socks that show the inside of the apple. These also have three sizes but they use six colors total, with the main color being a self-striping yarn.

If you want a little apple accessory for the house, the apple potholder from Nifty Knitter Designs is cute and a great way to practice double knitting. It uses two colors and you’ll find the colors in the reverse on the other side. The pattern only uses about 50 yards of each color of worsted weight yarn, so it’s a great use for odd balls, too.

Once you’ve got your double knitting skills sorted you can also try the double knit apple scarf from Crow and Chai Shop. The Winter Apples scarf is shown in red and gold, but you can use whatever colors you like. There are apples, stars and random stitches in the design, which calls for DK weight yarn. There’s also a matching fingerless glove pattern.