I’ve made 2 sweaters lately… a pullover and a cardigan.
They are both top down on circulars… with the cardigan knit not being joined.
The problem I have is this…
The sweater fits my body but is always so wide at the neck that I end up adding stitches to bring it more in line with my shoulders.
The pullover had a very loose neckline so I picked up and knit with new yarn around the edge. It only took about 3 rounds before the sweater fit perfectly at the top.
The cardigan was a different story. It is a big cardigan… more of the knitting jacket in grey and black.
I didn’t make buttonholes like the pattern specified as I had plans to add a zipper.
I tried it on and it seems a bit big at the top but I thought it fit pretty good in the body so I added the zipper then.
Trying it on again… it fits perfectly except the neckline is soooo big that the sweater cannot sit on my shoulders at all. To fix that I have crochetted more rows at the neckline and now it is starting to look much better.
The crochet is firmer than the knitting of the sweater but it is looking fine because it is forming itself into a collar.
Anyway, I was wondering… how to I make the sweater fit and the neck fit as well without having to do all this extra sewing?
It’s the second time so I’m thinking it can’t just be a fluke… what am I doing wrong?
Any help would be greatly appreciated… 
Thanks,
TEMA
:knitting:
A problem I've had knitting in the round
It may just be that the patterns are written for a certain build and you don’t fit into that mold.
I find that I always have to make the armholes smaller and the sleeves thinner than in most patterns.
Maybe you can work the sweater in one size up to a point and then make the neck for the smaller size. It’ll mean some math, but you might be able to finish up without adding extra.
You might want to look at a top-down raglan pattern. This way you will know from the beginning how the neck will fit and can adjust how many stitches you start with and just increase more as you work your way down.
You could cast on the sts for a smaller size, but do more increases until you reach the stitch number for your regular size. The great thing about top down sweaters is that you can try them on as you go so you can see how it’s fitting you and do more incs or go back a few.
I applaud your creativity in adding an unexpected design feature to correct the problem. :yay:
It may just be that the patterns are written for a certain build and you don’t fit into that mold.
That was my first thought also. I’m made up of mismatched parts so I encounter this type of thing in all items of clothing.
You could cast on the sts for a smaller size, but do more increases until you reach the stitch number for your regular size. The great thing about top down sweaters is that you can try them on as you go so you can see how it’s fitting you and do more incs or go
back a few.
I’ve just started my first top down sweater, and this is one reason I wanted to learn to do them. This one isn’t for me so it can be a more standard size but not getting the neck right is too frustrating even when it can be corrected later.
I feel your pain.
Thanks everyone for replying to this thread…
I always do top down sweaters for that very reason - they are much easier to try on when one is knitting them… and I’m guessing that I had forgotten that I could change it to fit me when I did try it on before I went any further.
I did try the pullover on and felt it was a little big but didn’t worry about it, feeling that it would right itself when the whole thing was knit. It didn’t… but that wasn’t too bad as it was easy to fix.
With the cardigan… well, I actually think I should have knit the size lower and then added as I came to the main body of the sweater so it would fit my… er… ‘full’ figure. (I have to laugh here because I am anything but a full figure… I’m more of a thick stick figure… LOL!
I’m so glad you all mentioned that I could change the pattern to fit me needs, especially from the top down.
I’ve also discovered that the thickness of the yarn is a great factor in the drape of the sweater… hopefully, this lesson will stay with me in my next endeavour as well.
You ladies are the greatest!
Love you all.
TEMA