I’m a J cup, with a 12 inch difference between my full bust and under bust - for people like me NEVER choose based on your full bust size. You need to learn how to knit a full bust adjustment. Designers enlarge everything when they enlarge the bust.

Thank you Claudia, I appreciate you sharing your expertise and explaining the "why". I would like to add to your swatch tip: soak/block your swatch to see any size/gauge changes. I lay my 5"x5" swatch on a piece of paper, draw an outline around it and measure my drawing. Then I soak/block and lay flat to dry (without pinning), and lay the swatch over the drawing to see the change. Sometimes the swatch gets longer (tells me I don't need to knit as long), sometimes it narrows (tells me I probably want to be on the generous side of ease), and sometimes no change. And I always use the gauge from my blocked swatch, that way rarely any surprises. Lastly I always measure for length by wearing it, and not by lying my knitwork flat. Our shapes change the length, because our fronts and backs are not flat.

My first sweater was too small. So the next three were oversized. Tweaking and learning with every attempt. I now have an Anker’s summer tee and an Alpine Bloom that fit perfectly.

As a new sweater knitter, I’m just soaking up as much wisdom from experienced knitters as I can so I appreciate this video 😊 I’ve knit a few sweaters now. I am the type that has to learn by doing and I struggle to follow written instructions if I can’t picture the result in my head so I have opted for a combination of written instructions and video tutorials of said pattern. I did a flat knit sweater in pieces first and that taught me a lot. Then I decided to try a top down, in the round, raglan sweater. It was a lot of fun and, again, I learned a lot. However, the pattern was meant to be a quick project and easy for beginners so it called for chunky yarn. I bought the exact yarn recommended. I ended up with a sweater that felt like a stiff, thick, shell. I was super proud of accomplishing a finished sweater with more complicated techniques but hated the way it looked on me. I left it sitting in my closet for a year and did a couple of other sweaters in a different style with different yarn. It kept nagging at me that I should just unravel the raglan sweater and make a different sweater with it. One that would better suit me and the yarn. It seemed like such a “waste” of all the initial work I had put into it. Finally, I just went for it and it was a great experience because it also taught me that I don’t have to be afraid to undo something if it isn’t working or if I’ve made a mistake. Better to do it and end up with something I love and will wear than something that just disappoints me. I made a sweater much more suited to both me and the yarn and I love it. I’ve been wearing it constantly ever since I finished it. That was definitely a case where the swatch didn’t tell me how the finished sweater would drape. It looked lovely as a swatch. But I don’t have enough experience with different yarns to know how a swatch will relate to a larger fabric. Anyhow, I am so appreciative of the knitting community that is so encouraging and happy to help out and pass on what they have learned to us newbies. I’ve definitely found a craft that brings me a lot of satisfaction and I know I will be knitting for as long as my hands and eyes can manage 😊

Yokes can be too long or too short too! It's a little trickier than knitting less rows but figuring out the yoke length is so worth it.

Such good things to tell us all! I have to swatch because I’m a loose knitter so I tend to need to go down needle sizes. I agree with measuring a favorite top or sweater - it gives me a better idea of what length and ease I wear the most, because then I will feel most comfortable and confident when wearing that garment. And, not using the called for yarn - you need to do a swatch 😊 OH MY goodness - the try on has helped me so much, (yes indeed) the color(s) I picked looked awful together and/or super bad on me. Yes, yes, yes - blocking can make all the difference and it also can helped the feel of the yarn/fabric. My biggest tip is - when it seems something has gone super wrong, step away and come back hours later or the next day, DO NOT do something impulsively in an anxious/angry state; look at it again when you’re calm and simply be objective because it’s just knitting and just know that it can be tinked back / simply frogged to a point to adjust / entirely ripped out to re-knit OR if not meant to be the yarn can be passed along to someone else.

I really agree with your advice about reviewing yarns and project pages to determine whether the yarn chosen for a project (which is a diff fibre than the original) will work. This really is a matter of experience. I feel it took me a good 8 years of knitting constantly before I started to have regular success with this. And I was a sewist first - so fibre and fabric were not a new concept. The way I view it is that you need the time to try all of the yarns (like that's possible 🙂) and you need to make the mistakes in order to learn from them. Which is why, by my estimation, it's also super important to feel comfortable ripping things out once they're finished and it's apparent they don't work. They yarn can then be used to its best effect in something that will be worn.

I totally agree about not creating a super-sized sweater. Over sized garments do not look good on anyone, and the cost of time and yarn for making too large is a waste. A well knit sweater should fit the body with the amount of ease that makes the garment comfortable, not sloppy.

Thank you sooo much for the tips on fit and trying on frequently, Claudia! I've been working up to larger projects and am about to start my first top, and have already been scheming on possible adjustments. Swatching has proven it value to me. Just finished a historic hat pattern using old stash yarn, and had to go down 3 needle sizes before the fabric quality looked okay. Unexpectedly, the 4th swatch was exactly on gauge after blocking. Also thanks for suggestion to swatch in the round, since the top is knit bottom up in the round.

I used to knit my sweaters too big and too long and yes they were very frumpy. When I measured my favorite store bought sweater I discovered that I like almost zero ease and I need to knit them shorter because I am shorter than average. Ta da now my hand knit sweaters fit so much better and yes blocking is essential. Your comments about yarn are so right on too. Take the time to choose the right yarn for the pattern.

Great insights 😊 I like to wear my sweater for a couple of times before blocking to let the yarn relax 😊

All excellent points Claudia, especially going to ravelry and seeing what yarns others have used and how it looks. Also, big plus from doing this is seeing if others made fit adjustments to make the sweater fit better. Thinking of a top down sweater that I made and love due to fit advice from others on ravelry. Sleeves were too narrow so added more rows to yoke and am so happy I checked there first before getting started.

Thank you so much for pointing out vital steps to make a sweater!!❤❤❤

Very informative. And comments are right on. I have tummy problems but I dart the waist shaping not the overall size!

So helpful, Claudia. Thanks!

Started with the video about stranded color work and I’m really enjoying your opinions, tips, and personal experiences!! My addition to this is: If you’re doing a swatch to help you decide what colors you want to use in a piece, go big!! Currently making the Kaarnaneule pullover for my nephew and tried different color combos and a teeny weeny swatch. It made me doubt the original color combo he liked, but I finally decided to knit the originals in a much bigger swatch and stuck with them for the sweater. Soooooo happy I did!! They might be more subtle, but it’ll be perfect for him!!!! Over the moon with this project! Hope that helps someone somewhere ☺️ Back to the vids! Best wishes from the Pacific Northwest!

Thanks for the tips! I love your sweater and how well it fits you!

All great advice Claudia. I’m always amazed at how much of a difference blocking makes to a sweater’s fit and finish. I’m intrigued by how and why that works. What’s happening to the fibres? Hmmm ….. another rabbit hole, lol!

I love the sweater you're wearing in this video. Please tell me it's hand knit and what the pattern is

Neck size is my nemesis! I try on top down sweaters along the way and all seems fine but then when I go to wear the garment the round neck feels much bigger. I have gone back and added more ribbing on some- which is better than ripping everything out. I started my current project using provisional cast on and will be the neck line ribbing once I have blocked the sweater.

obviously you've been snooping through my handknit sweaters!!! My goal in 2024 is to concentrate on fit and how a garment will fit into my wardrobe and my life. Thank you

Working on a raglan , sleeves look wide. I keep trying it on but thinking after finishing the first sleeve l’m going to block the sleeve before ripping back . This is only my 2nd knitted sweater. Designer sizes started too small and jumped to 40 & 45 . Had to go with 40….ugh thank you for this video

Thank you! Your tips are great as always. I would also love if you have any tips on bottom-up and seamed sweaters!

My first sweater was the flax sweater by tin can knits. I am a 44. 1/2 bust but was not sure the ease but had watch Andrea Moury and she likes 6 inches in her sweaters well she is a petite woman. I pick the 6 inches of positive ease and it was way too big. Blocked it and hated it. I feel like it was a lesson so not mad. Made a cotton tee shirt turned out great. Now going to try a vest, but have not made another sweater. Only been knitting 6 yrs or so mostly non fitted items other than hats. Very intimidating by sweaters because I don’t have anyone close to help me. I have followed KZfaqrs that have taped a step by step tutorial on a free sweater like the flax or buy their pattern and they will do a step by step tutorial. Gives them a chance to sell their patterns and helps people like me. I learned to knit socks 🧦 also from here. Self taught. Hope someday if I learn enough from educated and helpful people like you I will be able to knit a sweater from a pattern without watching a tutorial from start to finish. If I can now do it with socks I should be able to do it with sweaters. Thanks, Judy

I believe sweaters end up too long because knitters don’t do intermediary blocks when checking length. So many times I have not done this step, tried it on and said “yeah looks good” and then finished knitting, blocked the sweater and BAM! Everything (sleeves and body) are now 6” longer than what I thought it would be. It’s a pain but I now block after the body and also 1 sleeve so I know exactly how many rows to knit the other sleeve. It actually saves me time from having to rip out a bound off edge and re knitting. Which I’ve done many times! Ugh.

You are amazing in your explanation thanks from Brasil

I’ve never swatched. I’ve had to frog a number of things to make them fit. Guess I should start swatching.😅

Ive learnt so much from you...i am just going to block my first sweater...a tad bit nervous...

Thank you!

I have made most all these mistakes, so very helpful to talk through. With blocking, how do we plan for yarn size changes? Some yarns stretch and is it hard to predict?

That sweater fits you so well, what pattern is it? I have been looking for a saddle shoulder design

thanks so much! Tell me about the sweater you are wearing... Lovely!

I'm "late to the game", 5 months late I see but my biggest issue is FINDING a simple pullover sweater; I love the one you are wearing. Where can I find the pattern? Patty from Florida. I'm so glad I found you!!

It seems to be the style to have 8-10" of positive ease for a sweater. at 5'1" and 100 pounds, choosing what size to knit is challenging! I have had to frog several sweaters because they looked ridiculous on me. I guess it's a '70s thing to have sweaters that actually fit.

All your tips are perfect !!! One question, how do you manage to try your sweater while you are knitting, do I have to pass all the stiches onto an auxiliary yarn ? Maybe you have a better idea. Thank you.

I really like the sweater you're wearing. Do you have a link to where I could get the pattern?

Can you provide more about a gauge swatch? What elements should one do if it’s a cable or a color work seater. Should a portion of the ribbing be included? Thanks, Claudia.

*See title* "I bet she's going to tell me to gauge my yarn" *Clicks video* Damn it LOL I tried making one without making a swatch first and it looked great....until I washed it. :( I never washed my gauge and didn't know the yarn would stretch and look huge until I was totally done with my sweater

You didn’t mention the architecture of the sweater. I knitted a drop sleeve sweater and , on me, the look was awful! 😱

love the video! although it's a shame that it's not divided into chapters - it would be so much easier to come back to it in the future and quickly find what i'd be looking for:) i'm currently working on my first sweater, did my gauge swatch, blocked it, measured it. now i'm knitting the front panel, and it seems too small, but i have to remind myself that i'm going to block it later ahahaha

Thank you for the tips! May I ask what sweater you are wearing in the video?

Ah! Gauge nightmares! Just gaily knitting on a top down all in one fitted sleeve construction cardigan. Done the try on as you go thing and it’s looking gorgeous - fabulous fit. Stopped knitting a couple of inches down from the underarms and picked up sleeve stitches to get an idea of how much yearn I was using and whether I had enough. Did half a sleeve and then I decided to give the whole thing a gentle wash. 😢 it’s grown and now the armhole hangs lower than I’d like. Belatedly swatching (I know, I know) and can’t get row gauge. Pattern gives row by row instructions for the creation of the armhole rather than a measurement, so if I’m knitting more rows per inch than suggested gauge I’m not going to be able to make this work, am I? Any help gratefully received!

Are you not assuming that we only knit top down sweaters? Some of us like knitted flat, in pieces and bottom up.

Thank you for the video. I found the gauge swatch not that useful though because my gauge when I knit the actual sweater is always very different from that of my swatch.... I have no clue if it's the case of some other knitters but they the swatches barely help me...

What is the sweater you’re wearing, Claudia? I really like the shoulder construction! The funny thing with the sweaters that I’ve made, is that the one that I like the fit of the least is the one I knit in the yarn recommended by the pattern designer. I think the fit issues have more to do with the proportions of the sleeve circumference and yoke depth not being quite right for my body. To be fair, it was the second sweater I ever made.

hello from San Diego, recently found your channel, I wanted to know what sweater pattern you are waring, looks so pretty,

Thank you for the information 🙏 what happens when i get stitch gauge, but cant get row gauge? When i go down a needle size and get row gauge, my stitches are all wrong? It scares me!

I need to learn to get the proper yoke measurements....a couple of times I've knitted the yoke too deep

What is the sweater pattern you’re wearing? It’s lovely.

🙏💞🎆 👍🔔💐

Can you block acrylic though? Or are you just talking about wool

I’ve only knit cardigans for babies. The cardigan pattern was top down with raglan sleeves, and very easy to knit. I made a huge mistake by agreeing to knit a pullover for a niece who lives several states away. This makes trying on as I go rather difficult. She is an adult, so at least she won’t be growing. Does anybody have any helpful advice? I’m nervous to start the sweater. I have knit a swatch in the round, and blocked it, so I have gauge.

After you have used many types of yarn, in many sizes, you know what to do. In my experience, swatches are not accurate, it is a waste of time. A garment you make, for you or especially by order - the size and shape it is dictated by the customer. This art of knitting or crocheting, it is not about "it should be this long... etc", it is what you want, how you want. If you're into should be this way, get an item made as mass production.....😊

Generally designer only give guidance for bust measurement, but not for hips. Help!