Sizing for Children’s Sweaters

Friday, July 16th, 2010

Following up on the last post, you may find the following handy:  the Craft Yarn Council publishes sizing standards.  Here are standards for babies and children.

As I said previously, it’s like knitting two washcloths and adding sleeves.  However, don’t forget to give the little guy some room at the neck–a round neck an inch deep will be plenty.

Tags: baby sweater, cardigan pattern, child's sweater, design, flat knitting, knitting pattern, sweater, Sweater Design
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How to Knit a Child’s Sweater

Friday, June 11th, 2010

I just got a question from a knitter who said she didn’t have a circular needle (only straight, single-points), and wants to knit a sweater for her young daughter.

There are a couple of things she will do differently:

• The sweater body is worked flat, with the front and back in two separate pieces that are seamed together in final assembly. An extra stitch must be added to each side seam as selvage stitches. They will become the seam allowance and lie inside the sweater.

• No shoulder shaping is required–the shoulders can be knit straight across. Neck shaping is still needed, though.

• Sleeves are drop-shoulder. That means no armhole shaping.

• After shoulders are seamed, but BEFORE you sew the side seams, pick up stitches for the sleeves along the straight seam in the armhole area and knit the sleeve top down–no short rows.

• Seam the side seams and sleeve seams, and you’re done except for neckline finishing.

Are you getting the picture here? Knitting a child’s sweater is like knitting two dishcloths, sewing them together and adding sleeves.

Tags: cardigan pattern, child's sweater, chilren's sweaters, how to knit a sweater, knitting, knitting design, knitting pattern, Sweater Design
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