Sweaters

Since at this point in your knitting journey you might be contemplating knitting your first sweater or “real” garment, here’s a little miniseries on the lessons I learned when knitting my first sweater, and tips on how to make your experience much smoother.

A very important thing to understand about getting your sweater the right size is the concept of ease, which is how loose or tight a sweater is on you. It is a matter of preference.

We already discussed ease and choosing the size and shape of sweater that’s right for you. Now, to make sure your sweater actually turns out the size that you planned, your gauge and color must be right on target.

My first sweater was an ill-chosen pattern knitted in a bland color. Heavy steeked seams and holes that appeared in the fabric made it worse. Here’s what I learned, and some of my successful sweaters since then.

What’s the best way to make sure you are actually going to be able to knit your sweater or any difficult, new pattern? Preview the pattern, use your online resources, and take it one step at a time.