
Getting to know you...
Hi
there...Sandi here again! There were quite a few questions regarding
schematics and measuring, so I thought we’d take a little stroll into
Measurement Land today. We have a few more galleries to share with you,
but I think the galleries will be more helpful if we are all speaking
the same language. So let’s start with some critical measurements which
correspond to those either found directly on the schematic, or those
which can easily be figured out from what is given in the schematic.
Finished Bust Size: This is used as the benchmark measurement
for most knitting patterns. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT YOUR BRA BAND
SIZE. Mixing up the two measurements is the single most common mistake
knitters make. (The bra band size is a formula used by the lingerie
industry, not an actual body measurement.) To find your finished bust size: Take a flexible tape measure and measure around the fullest part of your bust.
Waist: This is often described as “the narrowest part of your
torso,” a phrase which isn’t much help for the voluptuous goddesses and
the very petite pixies amongst us. Find your hip bones, then wiggle
your fingers up your sides until you find the natural indentation just
above the bones. That’s your natural waist.

Tricia finding her full bust measurement
Center Back Length: This is a measurement that is sometimes mentioned in sewing books, but beware: there are several different measurements with similar names! Here on Knitting Daily, Center Back Length refers to the distance between your most prominent neckbone and your tailbone.
Why this dimension? Because your tailbone often is at the same level of
your hip measurement, so it can provide a useful guide to determining
garment length vis-a-vis your torso length. Although Center Back Length
is often not shown directly on a schematic, you can usually add
together some of the schematic numbers to come up with a neck-to-hem
number which you can compare to your own measurements.

Don't forget to include L'Belly!
Hips:
Find your leg joint, and your tailbone. Wrap the tape measure around
yourself at that level, and look down. Is this the widest part of your
lower half? Wiggle the tape measure around until it is around your
widest bits. That’s your hip measurement. NOTE: Many sweaters are
designed to fall at your high-hip point, which is about halfway between
your waist and your hips. Where you want your garment to fall is YOUR
choice, so measure yourself carefully, compare to the schematic
measurements, and adjust accordingly.
If you are gifted with Bellyliciousness: Realize that the
widest part of you may be a bit above your actual hips, closer to the
widest part of Lady Belly. Since the point is to determine how the
bottom of your sweater will fit, you need the widest part of you
nearest your hips, curvy belly included.
You'll get the best knit-to-fit results if you swatch
carefully, measure yourself accurately (and often!), and study the
schematics provided. (A willingness to rip back and re-knit when
something isn't turning out right helps, too.)
Be a fearless knitter.
Knit for the real you, not for the model in the magazine or for some distorted image of the woman you think you are.
More Galleries!
We have four more galleries for you, some of them with customization suggestions by Katie Himmelberg, everyone's favorite assistant editor of Interweave Knits magazine! By popular demand, Katie has reviewed the Refined Aran Jacket, and you can read her comments on the gallery page itself. You can also find a listing of all the Interweave Sweater Galleries by clicking our new Galleries button!

NEW! The Galleries Index Page
The Refined Aran Jacket Gallery
The El Sol Pullover Gallery
The Sweater Girl Gallery
The Rosemary's Swing Jacket Gallery
Those are all the galleries we have left for the Winter 2007 issue,
at least until my Gathered Pullover is done. (The sample sweaters are
no longer available, as they are winging their way across the U.S. for
their starring roles in the Interweave Knits Trunk Shows.) I hope you
enjoyed them—let us know what you think!

Nominate your favorite patterns!
Don’t forget to nominate your favorites!
Next Saturday, December 15, is the LAST DAY we are accepting
nominations for the Interweave Knits Reader’s Choice Awards. We’ll
announce the top ten finalists right here on Knitting Daily in January,
after which you’ll all get to vote for your all-time top five favorite
patterns, which will be released together as a free ebook in Spring
2008.

The CPH returns!
Next week, join me in welcoming back Lisa Shroyer, editor of
Knitscene magazine, for a week-long adventure in modifiying the Central
Park Hoodie for larger sizes. An extended, enhanced version of the
original pattern—including an extended range of sizing—will be
available for sale on Knitting Daily starting Monday. As if that
weren't enough, Lisa and I are cooking up a little surprise along the
CPH theme for y'all.

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.
What's on Sandi's needles? Seven inches of the Gathered
Pullover; a pair of socks on two circulars with partial heel flaps, and
eight inches of the hood of my husband's cabled hoodie.