How to Alter Knitting Patterns
Working for months on a knitted garment, only to discover it doesn't quite fit once you finish it is a frustrating situation that most knitters deal with at least once in their knitting careers. After creating one ill-fitting knit garment, many knitters learn to alter patterns to fit them perfectly. Altering a knitting pattern based on your own measurements will help you avoid making knitwear that doesn't fit.
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Instructions
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Measure yourself or the person for whom you are knitting the garment. In order to effectively alter a knitting pattern, you need to know what measurements to aim for.
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Pick the pattern size that most closely fits your measurements. The closer you can get to your actual measurements, the less drastically you'll need to alter the pattern.
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Compare your measurements to the pattern's measurements and determine the difference. For example, if you need your sweater to measure 38-3/4 inches around the bust for a proper fit, but the pattern only includes instructions for a 38-inch bust, you'll need to add 3/4 inch to the bust area to make up the difference.
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Calculate how many more or fewer stitches you need at each point, using the stitch gauge provided in the pattern instructions. The stitch gauge tells you how many stitches and rows fit into 4 inches.
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Multiply the number of stitches that fit into 4 inches by the difference between your measurement and the pattern measurement. Divide this number by four to determine how many stitches you need to add or subtract to achieve the correct measurements.
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Incorporate alterations into the pattern. For example, if you want a wider waist than the pattern calls for, but you want to preserve the rest of the pattern, add stitches below the bust area. Cast on the number of stitches needed to create your waist size and decrease at either side seam. Figure out how many rows you will knit before you reach the next significant pattern measurement. Divide the number of rows by half the number of decreases you need to make. This will determine how many rows you should knit between each decrease row.
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Add or subtract rows to alter the pattern length. If you want to adjust the body length on a sweater with no waist shaping, place additional rows between the armpit and the hem. If you're adding length to patterns with waist shaping, add rows above and below the waist, making sure the shaping still nips in at your natural waist.
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Tips & Warnings
To make accurate pattern alterations, you must achieve the correct pattern gauge. To determine gauge, knit a gauge swatch from the yarn you intend to use for the pattern. Knit a 6- by 6-inch square in the stitch pattern the designer recommends. Wash and block the square and measure to see how many stitches and rows fit into a 4-inch square. Adjust your needle size if your swatch does not fit the pattern gauge.
