Need fit help with a cardigan! - YouLookFab Forum

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Dressing

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Need fit help with a cardigan!

Ket

Veteran

Hello my Fabber friends <3

I have a dilemma and would love your insights and help. I am knitting a cardigan. It’s turned out rather large—about 4+ inches too large, despite gauge swatches. And it gets another 1 inch when I add the buttons bands—for 5-6” of positive ease. Maybe even more as it’s quite a stretchy and loose gauge fabric. It feels okay and yet… I worry it will look and feel too large when all is said and done.

I really want my cardigan to look similar to the fit of the blue cardigan in photo 1 and 2. That cardigan had about 1-2” negative ease.

Do you prefer the looser fit photos 3-4?

Or the more fitted fit photos 5-6?

I’m concerned the larger size is a bit blocky looking. But then also worry going down a size could maybe make it look shrunken/too small for my rather voluptuous proportions.

I’m planning to wear the cardigan over very lightweight chiffon blouses, tees, and lightweight dresses. I don’t really need tons of ease to wear it over heavy layers or anything.

I’m really not bothered by ripping back to reknit a smaller size if needed. I just want to be sure the finished cardigan feels flattering to me.

What do you all think??

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Dressing

15 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

Kathie

Veteran

Do you have a picture of the finished product? 5-6 doesn’t look too small to my eye, and if you want it to look like the blue one, then I’d rip it back and reknit it in the size you want.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I like the smaller, trim fit. I think your waist will be lost, and yes, the look will be boxy, if you go with the larger fit.

It's going to be gorgeous. What a beautiful color for you, and it looks so soft.

Ket

Veteran

Kathie this is how the designer modeled it. She is wearing it with 7” positive ease. I do want it to look and fit more like the blue one, which is not how it’s modeled by the designer.

Technically the size in photos 3-4 would come in more at the waist due to the ribbing. But the rest of the sweater would still have some decent volume.

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Ket

Veteran

Sharan oh yes! I am worried about it being boxy. The fabric would probably mitigate that some due to its softness. But I would much rather have some fittedness. Thank you for the compliment! I really love the color. It’s sadly discontinued, but I’m thankful I could get it on clearance. It’s made of mostly alpaca and some merino, blown into a cotton tube. It’s a very lightweight, fuzzy yarn. And yes, soft! Kitten soft!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

First, that blue one is stunning on you! And second, I love the colour of the new one also.

It looks as though the designer is wearing it quite loose, especially on the sides/ underarm. But as you point out, you get to wear it however it works best for you! I think both fits would work. I suspect it is looking "blockier" in part in the larger size partly on account of the short sleeve here now. I'm not sure it would have the same effect with the full sleeve, especially if you add the ribbing at the waist. On the other hand, knits do give and some moreso than others. I would go with what your instincts tell you. You have experience here.

Bijou

Veteran

I have no knowledge of knitting, so will defer to Sharan who does know all about getting a good fit. I had to say that the blue cardigan is stunning on you - a beautiful shape and so I would go down a size or two to get a similar fit with this cardigan.

lyn67

Veteran

I don't knit as I could never figure out about the proper sizes to fit like I wanted. Is the first cardi DIY, too? Think both fits do have their place in a wardrobe-if you plan to get you a tailored/structured fit like in your pictie nr 1. (or to wear it open like a blazer) over something like a looser underlay (dresses, or longer shirts)--then I will probably consider to knit smaller. In all the other ways would go with the looser fit--but I hate to undo anything, too!:-))

Suntiger

Love the blue one on you! For the other, I'd want it to be longer.

RobinF

Veteran

Fit is my biggest problem with my hand knit sweaters! Not sure why that is. Sometimes they stretch out when blocking too.

I also love the blue one on you and if that is the fit you are going for then I say rip out and re-knit. Sad but better than a sweater you aren't happy with after all that work.

Val

Your WIP has 5-6" of positive ease. You want it to have 1-2" of negative ease. That sweater needs to lose between 6-8 inches! I understand your worry about sizing down making it look shrunken, though. I'd suggest that you consider questions like: How much smaller is the next smaller size in the pattern? How does the stretch in the fabric compare with the stretch of the blue cardigan? Can you use your WIP like a giant gauge swatch to get a more accurate estimate of how the smaller size is likely to come out?

Ket

Veteran

Suz, thank you for your affirmations and encouragement <3 The blue of that cardigan is one of the few and only blue colors I have ever liked on me, let alone loved. It’s a really warm blue. Makes me think of idk… petrol? Deep ocean waters in a stormy day? I haven’t yet found anything else in a similar blue. Good call about the sleeves! I do feel that the lack of sleeves visually makes it feel more blocky. There is still a good deal of excess of fabric, however. So I’m thinking I will rip it.

Bijou, thank you! That blue cardigan is a very precious favorite. I have it stowed away as it needs special washing; I’m hoping one day to unearth it. I really do want a similar fit with the burgundy affair. Soooo… rip rip.

Lyn, the blue cardi is DIY… but not by me. :] It was handknit in Austria in the 1980s. A friend bought it while traveling abroad and gifted it and another similar one to me a couple years ago. I have never loved blue. But this blue is a very dear favorite. I call it petrol blue but not sure it’s the accurate name.

Suntiger, that blue is one of the few and only blue colors I’ve ever enjoyed wearing! I do love and want some loger cardigans but bit sure if I will do that with this one? Will see how it turns out. love the idea!

Robyn, oh I forgot we are knitting twins yes with the drape and blocking an item larger! I am not sure what to anticipate with the blocking. But I was able to easily pull another 2+ inches around me with all the give from the fabric. Soooo, I’m guessing I can really block this sucker ha! I’m sad to lose my time with the ripping. BUT I do so agree with you! It’s better to have a sweater I love at the end after all the time and work it takes.

Val, yes on all the extra ease! I forgot to add in the extra but I was easily getting 6-8 in when I tried it on. I checked my in-progress gauge and it’s still spot on. However, I discovered what I think is the issue. Going to post a new reply with my discovery!

Ket

Veteran

UPDATE! The mystery is solved! I discovered why the cardigan has turned out so massive.

I went back to the pattern to reread the gauge. (My gauge even in-progress was still dead on for the pattern’s requirements.) And there my eyes alighted on this precious fragment: sizes XYZ measured at underarms.

Measure around the chest at underarms not bust.

It’s partly my fault. I actually did read this tiny yet crucial distinction when first setting up to knit and then somehow I forgot a few minutes later.

It’s (maybe) partly the designer’s fault. Most women’s knit sweater patterns are measured around the full bust. In fact, most men’s knit sweater patterns call for measurement at full chest. Very rarely does a designer call for chest/bust measurement to be made at the underarms or upper bust. Well, this one did and I’m not sure why. The designer is not busty to say the least. (Often indie designers subconsciously design to fit their own body shape.) Maybe too she was emphasizing the loose, boxy fit.

Technically, even with the measurement at the underarms the resulting torso shouldn’t have gained so much excess ease. There are no torso or bust increases after the initial raglan shaping. Even the pattern’s schematic shows the torso maintaining the same circumference from armpit to hip. Nonetheless, I had 6+ inches of excess ease in the bust and torso.

I feel like an idiot for missing this small but extremely key piece of information. Nevertheless, I found it. I’m hoping this results in a much better fit.

I spent 20 minutes ripping and picking up stitches before hopping on here to reply. I feel a bit knackered for some reason. (Who knew ripping could fatigue a person ha!) And I’m relieved the mystery is solved!

thank you, dear ladies for the lovely feedback and help! I am so grateful for the friendship and support I find here with my Fab Friends <3

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Ket, I prefer the more fitted fit, and suggest a some extra length too. I.5 inches!

LOVE the blue!

Ket

Veteran

Thank you so dearly, Angie!! I have already begun reknittng the smaller, more fitted size. will definitly take your advice and add 1.5 inches <3 it gets ribbing at the bottom and that will neatly add the extra length!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

PERFECT!