Magic Math: choosing a size when your gauge is off (sweaters), modifying a one-size to fit (socks)

[@mariehansen2534]

You are a lifesaver and after watching your video 4 times and writing it down, I get it now. It's been 37 years since I've knitted anything and in those days Tension was a medical condition and it was ignored. Now I have had it drummed into me by knitters who flare their nostrils when they hear that you didn't swatch, its not a good look. Now hopefully I'll be able to get gauge and nobody will roar at me and no flames anywhere. I used screen shots to copy your information, hope that's ok. Thank you for a jolly good watch.

[@hollyammari]

Thank you so much for this invaluable information! I even used this lesson to explain to my 15-year-old just how important math can be in unexpected areas of life! Can’t wait to revisit patterns I might have avoided because I couldn’t figure out how to adapt just them for my particular stitch counts. Much appreciated advice!!

[@jonellesandel1066]

I will definitely refer to this video again and again. Thank you for covering my magic math request!

[@jcaff2265]

Thank you for this video. I have trouble with gauge and hesitate making sweaters because of it. I will refer back to your video in the future.

[@gui-xiyoung5864]

This is so, so helpful! I have been scrolling the internet looking for advice like this. I have gorgeous yarn for a pattern I've set my heart on, but increasing needle size to get gauge results in a very loose fabric; and as a new knitter, I don't want to invest in a new set of needles just to see if metal tips result in a different tension). I'll try this and report back 🧶

[@Cstarsmoon]

Thank you so much since I'm Math handicapped, this is easy to follow.

[@SunDragonTipsTricks]

So glad I could help ❤️

[@charlottealable]

Thank you! I'm trying to use 'knit math' for the first time with a pattern I'd like to make, and this was very clear. You're a lifesaver!

[@miziacamargo]

Thank you so much! This Magic Math are perfect for my. I could prove it with my Flax. And all match so perfect!!!! Many many thanks. You are a great teacher.

[@jdc1964]

Thank you!!!!! This really took me out of panic mode when trying to decide what size to do for my next project especially being my first top-down knit. As a teacher, I will also be using this real-life application to encourage students to see the value in math. lol Bless you!

[@SunDragonTipsTricks]

As a former school teacher, I love that this can be a real world example! ❤️

[@sandypotter1983]

Thank you for all the posting on your White Board...I am going to put it in the back of my knitting journal for quick reference as you explained it all so well! Guess that is the teacher in you!!!

[@Ulyssa12]

This is super helpful! I find myself getting lost in the mathematical sauce lol when I'm mathing late at night. I'm excited to go home and play around with a couple of patterns.

[@lieslnew8247]

Perfect explanation. Thank you.

[@SunDragonTipsTricks]

Glad it was helpful! ❤️

[@christinethurn7332]

Thank you! This is so helpful!

[@saskiafresh]

How about Raglan, if you knit the bigger size to get the bust circumference but then it’s getting too long, because you can’t knit the littler size for length as in Raglan you have the increases so a certain number of rows to get there? I find this the tricky thing with raglans, as everything depends on each other there… do you have a formula or way of doing for this?

[@staceytannehill320]

Thanks so much for the video. It was very informative. Question: is there a way the figure out cast on sts if the smallest pattern size is too large for you but your gauge matches the pattern?

[@izzyeis5752]

this is really helpful!! i haven't knitted a lot of sweaters and like the fabric i get with the needles and yarns i used for my swatched but my gauge is off and for my first one i adjusted the amounts of stitches by dividing the sts of the size i want by the gauge stitches and multiplied them with my gauge and i'm unsure if that was right 😅 it's a pieced one and i still need to sew before i know but the one for my mother stumps me bc i can't tell how the small back panel between yokes is supposed to look on the recipient

[@drnehab24]

🙏 thank you

[@denisetappen3925]

🎈🎶😃 Well done, Rebecca 🤩. Thank you‼️

[@TrudySchwartzBurrill]

Thank you. What about sweaters that are too big for you even the smallest size is much too larger. Its much much to wide and than your bust size and it makes the sweater hangs off me and the shoulders are down to my elbows. It has much too much ease and it makes me so very sloppy? I want to adjust the sweater so that it makes the smallest size actually fit and not look like I’m wearing a potato sack. Or my fathers sweater. When everyone disguises this they always talk bigger. I need to make it smaller than the smallest size. Thank you.

[@SunDragonTipsTricks]

Hi Trudy- this can work for going smaller as well, though if you are on gauge I don’t have advice for how to change the shaping to fit for the rest of the pattern. If your gauge is smaller than the pattern calls for, you may be able to figure out if that will reduce the size for the smallest size to what you want. You may be able to make the smallest size with thinner yarn and smaller needles if you can work the math to have it come out to a check circumference you like, just be careful if the sleeves are designed to be big or fitted as well. Some of that is going to be trial and error

[@spaf912]

Thank you for your video, it’s really helpful!!! ❤Can I ask you some advices? I am trying to adapt a sweater pattern but my “gauge/measurement” fell between 2 size: I calculate I need 56 st, and size 4 is 54 st and size 5 is 58st…which one do I follow? And, in general, how do I adjust the increases and decreases to my gauge? Thank you so much😊

[@SunDragonTipsTricks]

If you’re getting a gauge that is between the stitch counts offered, and you don’t want to change needle sizes and try again, you will need to decide if you want the sweater to come out a little smaller (54) or a little bigger (58). That’s a personal preference for how tight or loose you want your sweater to be. I don’t adjust increases or decreases if my gauge is different, I follow the pattern for the best size I can and hope for the best, if it doesn’t work then I have a sense of how to adjust, as each situation tends to be unique (personally I do not have a magic formula 🤷‍♀️) ❤️

[@spaf912]

@@SunDragonTipsTricks thank you for your reply. ❤ I will start right now with my new project 🤞

[@jenniferturner7293]

This math nerd is geeking out! 🤓👍🏻 🤓🧮 + 🧶🪡 = 🤩💖