BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Knitting Pattern Adjusting

We probably all wish we could buy all of our clothes custom made and with knitting we have that opportunity. Don't be tied to the pattern, use it as a guide not necessarily as a bible.

Do you have any tips for how you have successfully adjusted patterns?

I'm afraid I am not a "pro" at knitting and don't venture too far away from the pattern and its tried and true measurements. I have adjusted simple stuff like the length of a sweater and the length of sleeves. I guess I am too chicken to try uncharted waters, if you will.

The only pattern that I did alter once was for my niece who was born premature and whose head was about the size of a baseball. The hat I wanted to make her turned out way too big for her and I ripped it out and remade it by adjusting the stitches based on the pattern repeat to get it down to the size I needed. Took me several attempts. For me, very challenging. For most of you out there, this would be childs' play.

I have always been envious of the knitters who can make anything and even design stuff from scratch. Maybe someday........

I don't know, I think adjusting a pattern is scary. You put a lot of time into knitting something and to find out you adjusted wrong is disappointing. But that said, you picked a perfect project to take the adjusting plunge with. It does get easier. If it is a big project, most local yarn shops will help you, if you didn't purchase the yarn there they may charge a small fee though, but until you are comfortable with the process that may be your best bet.

Good going though, do you have pictures?

unfortunately that was about 5 years ago and pre-digital for me. I don't have any pictures of that project.

Whenever possible, I just change the needle size. I know this isn't always possible to do but my rule for doing this is if you need it adjusted just a little (not 2 sizes bigger), this way you can still stick with the pattern and be ok. Plus once you start making little adjustments here and there, it does get easier and will become second nature to you, so jump right in start with a small project and adjust away.

I think that changing the needle size is often the easiest thing to do. I also have heard of some programs some shops have purchased (I believe they are fairly expensive) that help with pattern sizing.

I highly recommend www.cochenille.com , Garment Designer the price is not that bad, especially if you do alot of designing and I have found it fairly easy to learn.

I wonder if as a newly minted editor, with a few reviews, they'd send me a copy...of course with Stitches coming up there could be a show discount...and failing all that there is a holiday coming up!

I'm new to knitting, but have crocheted all my life.
I change even knitting patterns all the time, sometimes I have to frog, most of the time it's works fine.
The main idea is not to be scared. Trying and frogging isn't dangerous *s*.

Thank's for the link to Cochenille, I'm downloading the demo now.

Since I think of knitting as a process, I generally knit, rip, knit, tink, set it aside, work on something else, go back to it, find a different recipient. Maybe I'm too flexible.

But I agree with you, the things I try sometimes have to be ripped back, but I always learn something.