Understanding Those Pesky Measurements (And More Galleries!)

The Knitting Tools That Lurk In Your Closet

Knitting Daily — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 10:41:55 GMT

(This is not MY closet, Mom!) Did you know? Inside your closet are some great tools to help you knit

re: Understanding Those Pesky Measurements (And More Galleries!)

EmilyQ — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 19:24:22 GMT

I really enjoyed this newsletter. I've been struggling with patterns. I'm not always sure which size to make. I feel better now after viewing the galleries. I am a visual person and seeing the same outfit on differnt people helped me understand better what will work for me. ALthough I do not kint the schematics and sizing is the same for Crochet. Thank you! for the lesson. Keep them coming!!

Emily

re: Understanding Those Pesky Measurements (And More Galleries!)

JodyM@3 — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:20:35 GMT

Thank you for that information.... I am a SMALL sized knitter.... know I know...jmmm

re: Understanding Those Pesky Measurements (And More Galleries!)

HattieH — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 15:28:50 GMT

Would IK consider a note in their patterns regarding ease or fit envisioned by the designer? Relaxed fit, slim fit, etc. Gallery is fantastic.

re: Understanding Those Pesky Measurements (And More Galleries!)

BarbieM — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 22:35:52 GMT

The galleries are wonderful. Thank you!

re: Understanding Those Pesky Measurements (And More Galleries!)

knittingbox — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:20:16 GMT

I was one of the many who wrote you at the start of Knitting Daily, about the impossibility of determining which size to make and what would look good on me. When Sandi first told us that you all at IK thought you had been giving us sizing info, I just laughed. So, now I'd like to say, thank you so much for taking these comments seriously. I am really impressed with the effort made to show us the model sweater on different people. One thing I think is clear from the pics is that Debbie looks fantastic no matter what she wears! And, that I'm still in a quandry over what I should wear, but you measurments info, should start to help me figure it out.

Thanks so much for listening to your readers.

Oh, and if you could cut down of the "posts" that are just a big ad for Interweave Press, that would be nice too. Com'on folks, if we are reading IK and reading KD, we KNOW about your books, too. Please don't try to be sly about it and pretend that you are giving us info when you're just giving us an ad.

Happy Holidays!

re: Understanding Those Pesky Measurements (And More Galleries!)

JuliaK — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 18:48:40 GMT

Aha... the light dawns on finished bust size. I assumed it referred to the garment because, hey, my bust was "finished" about 25 years ago! Thanks for clearing that up. BTW, before the more svelte of our sisters out there get upset--yes, you're "real women" too! Just please understand that for most of us who are not slender or flat-chested, it's as if we didn't exist to the fashion world. The galleries are wonderfully helpful in letting us know that funky styles can look good us on us too! Thank you Sandi and everyone else on the list for helping me take my measuring tape out of hiding. Happy knitting all! :)

re: Understanding Those Pesky Measurements (And More Galleries!)

Elizabeth — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 22:42:30 GMT

Thanks for this WONDERFUL post. It's so helpful to learn how to make the patterns fit YOU.

I would like more info on arm lengths ( since I am 5'9" I always have to lengthen) and back widths too.

I, too, am confused about finished width. I understand what you say to mean that IF YOU ARE KNITTING A SWEATER WITH NO EASE (the same width as your measured bust size), the finished width and the measured bust width would be the same. I have always thought the finished bust width was the finished width of the finished ITEM. I then begin wondering how much ease to allow when I knit it. I agree with the others who wish to see designer's recommended ease in the pattern. Sally Melville does this with her patterns and it is such a help.

Thanks for the gallery. Fit is the hardest thing to learn about knitting!

re: Understanding Those Pesky Measurements (And More Galleries!)

JessicaG — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 19:47:35 GMT

Sandi: As usual, delighted with your charts and with the galleries. I am going to add a suggestion though. Looking at many of the galleries, I would say that shoulder width is clearly a critical fit issue. Looking at the galleries, the shoulder fit looks like a bigger deal than waist and length measurement in the overall feel of most of the garments (depending on arm construction). Can we add that next?

re: Understanding Those Pesky Measurements (And More Galleries!)

JodiW@2 — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 12:30:45 GMT

Thanks for this you have cleared up the wear to measure hips, it's what I was doing anyway but it's nice to confirm. I always wondered about the Bra sizes in America, here in Australia bra's are sold by clothing and cup size here. I do find all these little hints you send out very useful as I'm a small busted plus size lady. The negative ease thing especially thanks for explaining ease.

re: Understanding Those Pesky Measurements (And More Galleries!)

Victoria S — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 04:08:47 GMT

Thank you so much for the galleries and the info on measurements! I've been dissatisfied with many of my sweaters because I've been making them too big! Being rather "voluptuous," I've been cautious about not wanting things to be too tight and so I've gone too far the other way, which has led me to knit mostly socks, hats, bags, and shawls for myself, since with them I don't have to worry about fit. Thank you for showing me the error of my ways and giving me the courage to try again, a size smaller! Sandi, you look wonderful! It's such a revelation to realize that negative ease can be a good thing!

re: Understanding Those Pesky Measurements (And More Galleries!)

SusanH — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 02:05:01 GMT

That swing jacket is another sweater that looked terrific on every one. It goes into my mental musings on just what is so universal about it. I am really amassing a ton of information through Knitting Daily.

re: Understanding Those Pesky Measurements (And More Galleries!)

LindaM@5 — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 00:50:55 GMT

Thanks for showing the sweaters on women who actually have breasts! I thought I was cursed because I was a 40 inch chest, but I can see from the pictures, that alot of women have breasts too! I never would have guessed from the pics that show sweaters on breastless women! After reading all the positive input from women who have viewed the sweaters on real women, it would seem that magazine editors would use more real women to model their sweaters! I always thought I was too large to look good on any sweater in magazines because the models were so nice and skinny. I thought that I would look horrible in the sweaters if I didn't look breastless also! Thankyou for the boast in my selfesteem, that I am OK, and for renewing my interest in knitting for myself! We can take control of our knitting!

re: Understanding Those Pesky Measurements (And More Galleries!)

AudreyD — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 23:23:59 GMT

I've always hated seeing skinny boobless models (apologies for you skinny boobless models, you look fabulous, but I don't look like you and no sweater's gonna change that!) looking fabulous in an outfit that would look good on a) skinny boobless models and b) prepubescent boys, and I've taken a solemn oath NEVER to knit anything that is shown merely on a hanger and not on a human being, but it was total news to me that the two same bust measurement sweaters could have one look adorable and 'must have' on 'my' model but the other look...well, not the way I want to look (dumpy, lumpy, stuffed-in).

The waist and hip measurements of the models have helped immensely. I'm realizing that my 'potato sack' sweaters could use a bit of negative ease, but also a good bit of waist shaping! Please please PLEASE keep the galleries idea for future issues of IK?! Sweaters I wrote off from the pictures in the issue I am now seriously considering adding to my must knit list (yeah, like that isn't long enough yet...)

re: Understanding Those Pesky Measurements (And More Galleries!)

AnnaM — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 22:52:14 GMT

! have learned so much! Thank you to everybody posting on this! I am still confused about "finished bust size", and what appears on the printed pattern info-----does the schematic show the sweater's finished bust size, i.e. what your finished garment will measure if everything else is correct? Or, does it mean that the sweater is made TO FIT such and such a finished bust size, and therefore will also contain positive or negative ease? I really think the designer's concept of ease is crucial, and should show up on the model, and be noted in the intro. Thanks, Sandi, you are wonderful!