Sorry Boys, Bigger Isn't Always Better
I've been calculating and measuring sweaters all week trying to decide how deep to make the armholes. My problem has been the fact that I don't own many sweaters that are as large of a gauge as this one. In fact, I thought I only had one, and it's a raglan sleeve so the measurements won't help.
Then I remembered Rogue. I knit Rogue as my first big project after getting back into knitting. The pattern came out a couple of weeks after I started to knit again and so it seemed like the perfect project.
And in many ways it still is.
While I don't wear Rogue much at all (I didn't wear it even once last winter*), it taught me TONS about good fit and what works for my body.
For example -- the armholes on Rogue are way too deep. They're almost 10.5 inches! That's huge for me. I've been thinking I'd make this top 8.5 inches and after trying on Rogue again I'm convinced that's the way to go.
The next area that I was unsure about was the shoulder width. Again, since the yarn is thicker I'll be going for a slightly more relaxed fit. But how much more? I was thinking 16/16.5 inches and when I measured Rogue it was 18! Again, that's perfect -- Rogue's shoulders drop on me about an inch on each side.
It's nice to know my intuition (really, my obsessive measuring of every sweater I own) has translated into something tangible before I knit these parts. And now that I'm confident these measurements are right, I'm going to do just that.
* this is not a commentary on the design or the pattern's instructions. both are great. if there's any advice to take from my words, it's that you have to know how to knit for your body. patterns are just a starting point, and unless you're knitting a boxy, shapeless sweater, you'll most likely need to make some adjustments to the pattern along the way.
Cool! It's interesting to hear your process for figuring out fit. I know one of these days I will take that on: start taking notes and measurements, and figuring out how to adjust things so they're perfect. I will definitely be paying attention as I knit and try on my Rogue. Your design on the new sweater looks awesome by the way~! Great color choice.
I think this is the best way to get a well-fitting sweater - takes ones you already made, measure, and adjust accordingly. I bet the new one will fit wonderfully!
That's going to be one sexy sweater!!
Hopefully, someday I will learn how to do all that measuring and tailoring.
Wow...I'm so glad you posted that. I have the SAME problem with fit with my Rogue. The armholes are WAY too deep and it hangs slightly off my shoulders. It was really my first finished adult-sized sweater and I often wondered if I made a mistake somewhere because I haven't seen those fit issues in other people's FOs. Now I'm far more experienced and could fix those things if I were knitting it today. It is a greatly written pattern, but no one pattern can fit everyone perfectly!
It's fun to follow along with your design process!
Yay! on what you said about fit, etc.
Your new sweater is looking fab.
knitting genius! :-P
i cannot believe how AMAZING the design looks. and WOOT--armholes!!!
Thanks for letting the rest of us learn something along with your progress! The impending boyfriend sweater might just be better because of all this great info. :)
Will keep all of that in mind...I have had a Rogue sleeve on the needles over a year..
a good couple of tips on sizing sweaters! i've often heard of people taking their "favorite" sweater and getting the measurements for other sweaters. i have to admit that i don't have a favorite sweater :( that must be remedied, i think!
thanks for the post a few days ago with your hair color pic! now i know what you look like! :)
Wow, the new sweater is looking awesome. This is the Rhinebeck sweater, right? I always do the same thing with measuring sweaters. It's so much better to be obsessive than to spend so much time on something that doesn't fit. I can't wait to see how it turns out.
It's looking really great. I think you should wear the Rogue this winter as well. It's beautiful.