Sizing information in my books

Below are common questions that knitters have asked me:

What size do I knit from your books?
I don't use standard sizes in my patterns. I feel there isn't anything 'standard' about hand knitted garments!

I let the shape and the yarn dictate the finished size so always check the Actual Measurement. Sometimes I feel the garment is better tighter or looser however that is my personal choice and the beauty about hand knitting is that you can knit to your own personal choice.

In each pattern there are measurements, which include To fit chest (suggested) and Actual Measurement sizes. There are also diagrams of the garment. These show the garment’s length and the width at the underarm.

It is a good idea, once you have chosen the garment you wish to knit, find a similar garment that fits you or the person you are knitting for.

Lay your existing garment out flat and measure across the chest (about 2cm/1in under the armholes). Once you have this figure, compare it to the width measurements on the diagrams and chose the knitted garment size that is nearest to this figure.

If there isn't a garment (which there isn't in my older books, then look at the Actual Measurement in the measurement table, double the width measurement of your existing garment and compare it to the Actual Measurement.

I love the shape of the garment I've chosen but I would like it longer/shorter than shown.

This is easy with my patterns. Everyone is individual and no one is the same. My sister and I are the same height, however she has a longer body than me. So while we can wear the same clothes, my t-shirts are always shorter on her than they are on me. So I understand how we all are different and I make sure my patterns are easy to lengthen or shorten to your preferred length.

If you wanted to lengthen or shorten the garment the best place to do this is in the instructions before the ‘Shape Armholes’ instruction, if the pattern has this instruction, otherwise it is just the total length.

Remember to work the same length on the back and front.

How do I make my sleeve's shorter?
I love long sleeves. I love having sleeves fall to my knuckles. I soon realised after my first few books that not everyone shared my love. However most of my sleeve patterns are really easy to lengthen or shorten.

Once you have knitted the back and front, pin or sew the shoulders together.

Pin the side seams and put the garment shell on.

Measure from the seam under the arm to the desired length.

To lengthen or shorten the sleeve, find the instruction in the pattern that states, for example: ‘Continue in pattern without shaping until the sleeve measures 45cm/17¾ins from the cast on edge, ending with a wrong side row.

Change this measurement by your different amount.