How to choose the best size for you from a knitting pattern.

[@lizholzer4930]

Two things: #1, I think you’re a great host and that you give super-useful info. You’re my new fave. #2, the way I do the math is to decide what I want the chest circumference to be (e.g., 34” + 7” of ease = 41” total), and then multiply my gauge (e.g., 3.25 stitches per inch) by the circumference. In other words, the desired 41 inches x 3.25 stitches for each inch will give me a total of about 133 stitches for the underarm circumference. Then I go to the pattern to see which size will work, and we’re only three stitches away from the smallest size. I guess if you wanted to, you could decrease those extra three stitches and move on, but as we know from the way you crunched the numbers, those extra three stitches only amount to a bit less than an inch. It’s the same idea as yours-just multiplying instead of dividing. Cheers!

[@kwosilait2855]

Yup--and guaranteed fewer steps to get to your answer!

[@muntymeyer]

This is very helpful! Once you explain it, it seems so obvious but I don’t think I would ever have figured it out myself. Thank you for making us all better knitters!

[@wendybradley8420]

This is the best tutorial I’ve ever seen on finding out what size to make thank you so much.

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

My pleasure! I'm so glad it helps. ❤️

[@dottyknits]

Yay! It took me so long to realize I could do my own calculations and it wasn't always "swatch again or nothing"! Thank you for posting this! I'm sure many people will find this helpful ❤

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

My pleasure! Everything you're saying here is why I wanted to share. I'm the same. I just can't do the whole "swatch till you get gauge" thing. Like, who has that kind of time or patience? Not me. 😉

[@theastewart6721]

I 100% agree. I found myself doing multiple swatches way too often. This is so helpful!

[@Annie-Claude332]

Ooohhh the questions I had before I realized I had to multiply the the body stitches by 2 in my pattern!🤣

[@lieslnew8247]

Fabulous tutorial. I recently went through the experience of using a yarn that was not the recommended weight. I ended up writing myself a little formula using excel so I can now input all the info from the pattern and the yarn ball and it calculates for me. 😊

[@RegrettablyLongwinded]

This sounds super useful! Would you mind sharing a little bit more about the input and output data you set it up for?

[@SuperLynix]

I know this is an older video, but THANK YOU! I was never taught how to swatch or how to accurately match gauge. I have been, in general, lucky with my knitting, only a few have been too big. But this is going to be a game changer for me. Thank you.

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

My pleasure! I’m so glad this is helpful. ❤️❤️

[@mimikriegbaum7893]

Holy mother of Mary. This has simplified my knitting life so much!!!!!!!! THANK YOU!!🎉

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

My pleasure! ❤ Thank you for watching!

[@ubrylinsky]

this was such a clear explanation ok knitting math and using your specific stitch gauge to achieve the fabric you want!! Well done!!

[@almyndgal]

When I do short row shaping I always use a stitch marker where I do the wrap and turn. Super handy!

[@annabelle7123]

I love the simple mathematical explanation here! It’s grade 4 math I think, but I needed this to make sure I’m doing my calculations correctly. I use centimeters (why US, why? 🤷🏻‍♀️) so I don’t use 1 inch gauge but I could or just use 1 cm gauge, divide my swatch stitches by 10. Thanks for this tutorial 🙌

[@gailmcmillan4635]

OMG. Thank you so much for this video. I have struggled trying to get the right size to make and this makes so much sense. Going to try it for sure

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

My pleasure! I'm so glad that this was helpful. ❤️

[@suegraham4323]

Fantastic info, thank you!! I’ve been swatching for 2 sweaters and so frustrated about getting gauge. I’d heard people mention “doing math” to figure out what size to knit, but until now it wasn’t explained. I don’t comprehend math so your step by step is a great and non-scary explanation for me. Thank you very much.

[@safiyab4767]

Thank you, Tayler, for putting this video out for knitters! I always go by the number of body stitches in a pattern after separating the sleeves and calculate according to my swatch. This way I get a garment that is to my liking and that I will actually wear. 😊

[@sandranokes7443]

This is some of the best information I've ever heard. Walking us through the stitch gauge is so helpful. Thank you!

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

I’m so glad Sandra! Thank you!

[@milabulic]

Thank you 🎉🎉🎉 My yarn stash needs to be pared down quite a bit, but it seemed they couldn't work with many of the patterns that I want to knit. I live in the desert, so 🔥🥵 during the day and ❄️ at night. So many lovely sweaters in my library, but I couldn't figure out how to transform them into long sleeve pullovers with bamboo, cotton, or linen without having to use multiple strands. Yes, I know there are a lot of tee-shirt patterns out there, but they don't appeal to me the same way that my sweater patterns do. Thank you, thank you, thank you ❤

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

My pleasure! So glad you enjoyed this. And as a desert dweller myself (Las Vegas, NV) I totally relate. ❤️

[@MsGg43]

I just bought the Felix Cardigan pattern and am using hand spun yarn. I am close to gage but not quite and this video was useful for pointing me to the right size! Thanks so much!

[@mariehansen2534]

When I first started following you, I thought yep she is a rebel but it turns out there are heaps of you out there. Its scary for me because I have not been doing gauge or in th e early days it was called tension. I do gauge swatches now but didn't know much about it, seemed like if you said no when asked, youd be smacked about the face and shunned from the community. I would love to know more about gauge, thats why I binge watch gauge tutorials. Thank you for all you do, I do appreciate you ❤ and everything you do.

[@RegrettablyLongwinded]

I only do gauge swatches for garments or projects where I'm playing yarn chicken. Otherwise, no swatch, we die like men 😂

[@alexandrarebelcrafter9328]

I just discovered you and I am so over the moon that I did. I’ve just started binge watching your videos and I love the video on which size to knit. You have demystified the sizing dilemma. The best part was your “tablet to screen” technology. I also signed up for your newsletter as well as your shop page. 😊

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

Gosh, thank you so much Alexandra! This means a lot to me. I'm really glad that this video was helpful for you and that the screen capture was also a good visual. I love visuals so anything I can do to provide more of that is good. ❤️

[@faithandknitting3994]

This was SO helpful!! Very concise and very well explained. Beautiful job. Thank you!!

[@marthastrogen9001]

This is so helpful! I knit a swatch changing needles 3 times, and the gauge went from 18 per 4”, to 19 and finally to 21! Completely skipping the desired 20 per 4”. Argh!

[@ccam504]

Thanks for the math, wish I had you as my math teacher during my tortured math classes of teachers that weren't crazy about teaching math classes.

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

My pleasure! When I was in college for education I focused a lot on developing better more meaningful ways to teach math to children (as a person who did not have a great experience in school in regards to math) and it helped immensely in my own understanding. I always joke that I became really good at both doing and teaching math from teaching 4th grade for nearly eight years. 😂. Glad I've still got the edge. 😉

[@coolsteven2]

Woah! This might save me a lot of headache in the future because it means I might not have to adjust my needles, but I can match what's already written. Thank you!

[@ccpperrett7522]

Thank you Taylor for the talk. Alaska Grandma

[@rejoicing3507]

Now I know why I keep failing at knitting sweaters, thank you

[@MYROCKOROCKO]

Tayler….. You are just fabulous!

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

That means so much. Thank you! ❤

[@jasminecruz7452]

This is SO helpful!! Omg I can't wait to use this *searches for a new pattern to cast on*

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

Oh good! I’m so glad Jasmine! Happy pattern hunting. ❤️❤️

[@susanwingblade1799]

Tayler, this is awesome. I am not a math person and never have been. I understand all of your calculations except how you came up with the amount of new ease like the 7.8" or the 12". DUH!!! I would be really grateful if you could help! Thank you so much! I really appreciate it!!!

[@d6h597]

This is also my question

[@d6h597]

I know the answer: it is 41,8” minus her bust 34”

[@jillc720]

All good information…I would wash your swatch though because it can make such a big difference espcially with Superwash. It’s worth the extra time…..

[@elizabethbradley7794]

can't wait to knit the cardigan version!!

[@3Dhyana]

I am knitting my first sweater, the Vanilla Sweater. Didn’t do a swatch and kind of counted stitches as I knitted. It was off. I think I’m going to regret not taking gauge seriously!

[@annkroll6794]

Thank you so much, this calculations is so easy for my brain!!! Hugs ann

[@theastewart6721]

Very very helpful. Thanks so much for this.😊

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

Clarification: when I say “single stitch gauge” what I mean is how many stitches in a SINGLE INCH. Just to clarify. Sounded confusing upon watching it back. ❤

[@andreahuss3156]

Thank you!!

[@TK-cx8ve]

This is the most helpful video!! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge😊

[@teadreyer1510]

Great explanation for those that get confused by this. FYI.. in the written box, you switched around the *kfb & knit to one stitch before marker* LOL

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

Ah yes. Typographical errors. My nemeses. 😂

[@phillipmarsh4886]

Thank you for sharing some knitters math! I dont think this topic is shared enough! It so helps us!!!!

[@suewaldeck8198]

Great tutorial Tayler! After 3 Felixes I know I can so some simple mods to customize the fit, but the joy of the Felix is that if you're not there yet in your knitting journey it's an amazingly wearable sweater whether you end up with a bit less ease, a bit more, even a lot more. It's such a great choice for a KAL.

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

Thank you Sue! Honestly, this pattern is so perfect for its ability to be modified easily. That's a testament to the designer. Keeping things simple and streamlined means good design. ❤️ SO excited to see all the Felixes in the KAL!

[@sherismith9517]

Thanks Tayler!!!

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

You’re very welcome Sheri!

[@phyllisburke4141]

Great information. So excited I stumbled on your podcast ramble.

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

Thank you Phyllis! I'm glad it helped. And I'm so glad you found the channel. Welcome!

[@Laura-sm9hu]

Great tutorial. I am an avid gauge swatcherer and always do a big square at least 6” x 6” with a full wash and block. The hardest part for me is choosing which size to make, meaning how much ease do I want on MY body in THIS yarn? Sometimes only minimal ease but sometimes all the ease possible. Decisions, decisions!!

[@peggytraeg]

Have you found when you wash a gauge that there has been a significant shrinkage when using wool yarn?

[@elizabeth4053]

Thank you 🙏 ❤

[@mandycoker2074]

Thanks for sharing this. I always choose my sweater sizes this way because I rarely use the recommended yarn in a pattern. Mandy

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

My pleasure Mandy! And I’m glad to hear from someone else who does this in the regular. It’s a much less fussy way of getting the size you want without sacrificing the fabric you want. ❤️

[@mandycoker2074]

@@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS Also, Im so glad to see you back. Your podcasts have always been my fav. 😍

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

@@mandycoker2074 thank you Mandy. ❤️❤️

[@kjlouisi4630]

This is brilliant!! Thank you so much!!

[@mlea79]

Thank you so much for this video. Just used it to work out the size to knit on my next project ❤

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

My pleasure! I’m so glad this was helpful. Thank you for watching. ❤️❤️

[@michelleenzenroth8162]

I can see that this is going to be very helpful! Thank you for posting!

[@joanneyoung1081]

Super thank you. Very helpful

[@christinakrakoff1704]

This is so helpful and really highlighted for me the need to really love my swatch. In the past i have been so happy to "get gauge" but ultimately, even though the size was right, i was disappointed with the actual the fabric of the garment! going to focus on the swatch and see if this tip can help me determine the best size later. Thank you!

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

This is a really great takeaway Christina and I'm so glad. You're absolutely right. Free yourself from the specified swatch and go with the fabric that feels right to you. Happy knitting!

[@jasminecruz7452]

So when you find the size that works best for your swatch, (in your example it was the smallest size for you), you would knit for the smallest size, and follow the small size instructions through out the pattern?

[@Ma-PaHandmade]

this is brilliant thank you!

[@yvettemartinez6511]

So helpful, lady 😊! Thank you - great tips!

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

My pleasure Yvette! 😘

[@cookiesmith8545]

Awesome video. Thank you for this information!

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

My pleasure Cookie!

[@Asma-ep9bx]

Veru informative thank you. I ve a small question, how did you find out the increase in the ease after calculating the new gage (7.8") ?

[@_noname___9036]

Her bust measurement was 34" so the 41.8" from the pattern with her gauge are 7.8" wider than her actual bust measurement

[@judyweaver7268]

Thank you for explaining this!!! I wish I would have stumbled onto your channel before today... I am bummed that I missed the Felix for Fall KAL... would loved to have joined but there is no way I can do it in 3 days! LOL!

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

Judy! Join the KAL! We’d love to have you and there isn’t an end date yet. I’m thinking December. You have time. And thank you so much for watching. It’s great to have you here! ❤️🎃🍂

[@janemarriott3389]

🙏🏽thank you

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

My pleasure Jane!

[@dianevcalhoun6848]

I love your videos, Tayler! Great information.

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

Thank you so much Diane! ❤️❤️❤️

[@lauriehunt5988]

very enjoyable thanks

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

My pleasure Laurie! Thank you for watching!

[@ninamariaknitting]

Lovely video. You can always use the given finished bust measurements to calculate the body stitch count. That's useful for if you don't yet have the pattern and want to see if you could make a different size. It might not be 100% accurate but can be quite useful 😊

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

Thank you for watching Nina! And using the best measurement is also a great way to determine stitch count for a more custom fit. Thank you for that tip!

[@annabelle7123]

Btw is the cardigan you are wearing hand knitted? Which pattern is it? It’s beautiful! 😻

[@jessievanausdal4502]

Thank you so much for this helpful information! ❤

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

My pleasure Jessie! Thank you for watching. ❤️

[@theyarngoeson]

Tayler, thank you so much for this episode! This was so helpful for me!

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

My pleasure Lisa! Thank you for watching. ❤️

[@karimcnair9890]

So helpful! Thank you.

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

My pleasure! Thank you for watching.❤️

[@lindarogers3608]

Very informative! Thank you. Is there a Felix Light? I’m enjoying the aran version but would loooove it in a lighter weight-fingering + mohair, maybe. ??

[@catherinecunningham7126]

Such great info Tayler, thank you!!!❤️

[@kerrybrown3219]

This was so helpful, thank you!

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

You’re very welcome!

[@JadiesJars]

Thank you so much. I would like to know if you substituted German short rows for the wrap and turn method? I know there are some designs that you can’t use the substitution. I have ripped this out twice. I think it’s because I don’t like wrap and turn. I seem to mess it up even though I have watched a video of someone who is leading a KAL on this sweater.

[@prisminside8904]

Dear Tayler Thank you so much. There’s so much in this tutorial I can apply. I don’t know what’s up with me but my swatch always ends up different then the gauge on my garment With the Felix it’s great because it starts off with the same cast on for all sizes. With your method I now can just knit and figure out the ease I want as I go when I measure the gauge on the actual garment. Also quick question What pattern is the cardi you’re wearing in the video, it’s lovely

[@dianetaylor4791]

Just discovered your channel and am so enjoying it and finding it very helpful. I love the cardigan that you’re wearing today and would love to know the name of the pattern please 😊

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

Thank you so much Diane! I'm so glad that you're enjoying the channel. As for my cardigan, this one is store-bought from Old Navy recently. Cotton cardigans are some of my favorites because I can wear them almost all year so when I find a good one in a shop, I jump on it. ❤️

[@dianetaylor4791]

@@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS Thank you. Unfortunately we don’t have Old Navy in the UK, bit I will certainly look out for one similar .

[@noradavid8275]

Thank you for all the tips! Can you skip short row shaping if it gives one trepidation?

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

My pleasure! And in terms of skipping short rows, I think it’s important to know that those few rows in the beginning make a BIG difference in how the garment will lay and fit when it’s complete. There are designs that do not include short rows and are essentially symmetrical between from and back, however that is reflected in the overall design. If you decide to skip them, the overall look of the garment may be affected. Just my thoughts. ❤️

[@lindahansen8141]

I have the Felix pattern and don't understand where you are getting the body sts from the pattern. My st gauge 16/4 equals 4 st per inch, then you lost me.

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

Hi Linda. You’re going to want to begin your math after the section that says ‘Divide Body and Sleeves’-page 4 of the pattern. The second to the last line of this section will give you the stitch count that you’ll use for the math I show here. I hope this helps! Let me know. 👍

[@elysecoleman3654]

All great info here. That being said, IMHO, most knitters have been sidetracked by the 'measure stitches in 4 inches' directions so commonly called for. Particularly in the process she is explaining but really in any situation, you want to know SPI--stitches per inch. You don't need to do any extra counting to come up with that info. Just divide the total number of stitches in your swatch by the total number of inches in your swatch--no need for any secondary counting. Just don't use any edge or border stitches in working your swatch. (You should not be doing that anyway, even if you count stitches in 4 inches of your swatch.)

[@adellasanto7063]

Love this tutorial! Only question so far is how did you come up with the final ease figure of 7.8”? You had 136 divided by 3.23 = 41.8” then you got 7.8”. Can’t figure out how you got the 7.8” figure. Thanks. Math is my enemy.

[@annahalverson1132]

She subtracted her bust measurement of 34" from the 41.8, equalling 7.8" of ease

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

Hi Adella! Thank you for watching. So I divided 136 sts by my stitch gauge of 3.25. So 136/3.25 is 41.84. When I subtract my bust circ. (34) from 41.84 (to find the ease difference) I get 7.84. I just rounded that down to 7.8 inches. 👍 And don't worry. Math sucks. If I hadn't done the math ahead of time, this would have been a much different video. 😅🥴

[@VisitWithNanaAndPapa]

it is much faster to multiply the 41 times 3.25 stitch gauge and the find the closest number rather than doing the math backwards. Just so you are aware.

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

Hi Valorie! Yes. This is a great point. I actually did that initially, but I think my thoughts here were that if I showed the reverse, folks could see how to use their info to select a size that was already written out as opposed to just figuring out the ideal number of body stitches to achieve their ease if that makes sense. For example, if I had multiplied 41 (my preferred size) by the 3.25 sts/inch I was getting, I would arrive at 133.25 sts needed for the bust. This tells me that I would need to have that many body stitches in order to meet my desired ease. However, I don't want to modify the stitch count of the pattern so by working backwards, I not only see which size is closest to my desired ease, I see the difference in ease pretty clearly and I'm not faced with having to rewrite the pattern's stitch count (for those who aren't into doing that). Math is not my strength, so I'm approaching this as someone who is a complete layman in terms of pattern grading and just wants to get started without having to reknit a gauge swatch or rewrite a pattern's stitch count. 🤷‍♀️🥴

[@Sache_mit_Haken]

​@@WOOLNEEDLESHANDSActually I was confused at first too, but now I think it's genius! 😊

[@alixiat560]

Ok, important questions: when pattern designers say « go down/up a needle size » are they talking about US size or millimeters size?

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

This is a great question, and basically what it means is to go up or down one full size increment. US sizes are the same as everywhere else-they’re just labeled differently (for the most part) so if it calls for a US 4 or 3.5 mm going up one size would be a US 5 or 3.75mm.

[@alixiat560]

@@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS Thank you 😊 Thankfully that is what I did but I was not sure at all!

[@JustWriter]

Hi Missus Earl! This video shows a variety of short row methods used on a loom, for anyone interested. My favorite is the Japanese Pin Method. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eIa4nK2MnNhsp80

[@libbyfifis6806]

Thankyou so much for the Felix tip. I have joined the kal and have tried six times now to knit it but never end up with the correct number of stitches by the time I get to the raglan increases. Will definitely try without the lace. Am I adding the kfb’s in the short row section or just in the raglan increase section? Thanks again

[@emilywilson8435]

Oh I'm wondering this too! 🙂

[@emilywilson8435]

Libby I'm not sure if you've got an answer, but on further searching and zooming in I think you still increase during the short rows. Just this way you don't have to worry about correct placement of eyelet holes & instead use the stitch markers to keep track of where to increase and the purl rows will be the equivalent of the alternate knit rows in the round. Happy to be wrong, but that's what I've come up with 🙂

[@libbyfifis6806]

@@emilywilson8435 thanks Emily. I didn’t get a response unfortunately so have gone back to the original pattern and trying again with the yo’s. Good luck with yours and thanks for sharing!

[@janicerizzi1935]

ok so wait a sec... does this mean I can change the size of the yarn that the pattern calls for? If it's a DK pattern, I could figure out my inch # and recalculate the pattern for sock yarn? And vice versa?

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

Yes! That can definitely be done!

[@janicerizzi1935]

@@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS well that just blew my mind wide open! Do you have a video on that? Fiber Math 102?

[@prisminside8904]

Oh dear I just did this calculation with the cardigan pattern and now I’m confused The stitch count before dividing for the sleeves is much higher than for the sweater pattern (between 181 to 277 sts ) but the pattern gauge is also 14 sts. So the ease becomes massive and that’s even without the button band added. Could you point out my thinking mistake. I’m sure I’m hung up somewhere. My gauge is 15sts by the way and my bust is 36 inches

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

Oooo let’s see here…how much ease are you after?

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

Ok so I see what you’re saying here. You’re going to want to begin your math after the section that says ‘Divide Body and Sleeves’-page 4 of the pattern. The second to the last line of this section will give you the stitch count that you’ll use for the math I show here. If you plug in your numbers (15sts/inch) the third size will give you 9 inches of positive ease and the second will give you just over 5 inches. I hope this helps! Let me know. 👍

[@prisminside8904]

@@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS around 7 -8 inches

[@prisminside8904]

@@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS yessss, you’ve helped me so much. I’m silly I took the numbers which had the stitches for the sleeves included from the paragraph above . Of course that would have never worked. Thanks again, fantastic lesson for future projects !

[@junimondify]

Is there a reason why you do not simply add 34 and 7 = 41 inches and multiply that number with your stitches per inches (3.25)=133.25? Then you can compare which number of stitches is closest (136) instead of doing the division with each and every stitch number. Or am I missing something? edit: Thought about it, and your way shows better just how much the size would differ from the ideal, so yeah, I take it back XD

[@Sache_mit_Haken]

Ah, that's actually a good point! I was confused by the "over complicated" way of thinking, but yes, it would be helpful to know how much the gauge is off. 😊

[@rhiarnevans9420]

Doing this using imperial measurements is insane

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

Really? Insane? Hmmm...

[@QueenBaha]

💗💐🧶💗💐🧶💗💐🧶💗

[@promenadeable]

omigosh why are so many KZbinrs so wordy and take so long getting to the point...smh

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

Honestly, we KZbinrs could ask the same about folks who feel the need to share this personal annoyance in the comments section. Just go watch something else. Bye!

[@nathaliebourre3578]

Eternally grateful, Tayler! This has been a true revelation and so, so clearly explained! Right there at the top with the one you filmed on mohair in terms of helping me to progress in becoming a more confident knitter and up scaling my skills! I shall go and check your advised list for short rows! See you on Sunday!🍄🍁🌰🧶☕🍂🤗

[@mjrshek1844]

Thank you!

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

My pleasure!