Am I crazy? rewriting sweater pattern possibilities

How-to Questions
1

My DH actually asked me to knit him a sweater! So - knowing he just wants a basic man’s sweater, I found a pattern in a magazine - Knit It! page 73, #10, Man’s Crewneck Pullover. I’m an inexperienced knitter - learned to knit and crochet as a child, and over the years have done a few blankets/dishcloths (and 1 trial sock), but never a sweater.

I decided to get Berroco Touche - which is a similar fiber, 50/50 cotton/rayon, as the pattern, but a different brand. Where the pattern’s brand is 50 g = 104 yds, the Berroco Touche is 50 g = 89 yds. Somehow I figured the Berroco would be a thicker yarn, since it’s less yardage for a similar weight. But apparently not?

I got size 11 and size 10 circulars, 32". I knit my swatch with the 11s and I am going to be WAY off for the gauge. The pattern gauge is 11 st = 4 inches, and right now I’m getting 3.5 stitches per inch, or 14 st = 4 inches. I’m using 2 strands, like the pattern says, and the weave is pretty loose. I just can’t imagine using even larger needles and having it be even looser. In fact, I was thinking of using smaller needles for a tighter weave. But then I either have to find another pattern, or completely wing it on this one.

Am I crazy to think I can swatch this yarn, and figure out this pattern by going by inches instead of by #s of stitches? I mean, it’s a fairly straight forward stockinette stitch, seamed crewneck sweater. The pattern includes a drawing with inches - sides, neck, across shoulders, arm length etc.

Thanks for any input on this journey…!!

2

You are not crazy. I do it all the time. Get your gauge and then figure it out by using the inches.

3

www.knittingfool.com has a formula for knitting basic raglan sweaters where you can put in your yarn gauge and size of the sweater and it will calculate it for you.

4

You can use the smaller needles and make a larger size pattern so you’d have more stitches to get the same measurement. Of course, if he’s already at the largest size, you’ll have to wing it a little as the others suggested.

sue

5

Thanks for all the good advice and ideas! I decided to combine elements from them all - I took some ideas from the Knitting Fool site, and measured a sweatshirt that he likes for comparison, and swatched the yarn with different needles to get the tension I liked and used that for gauge, and have now cast-on. I did figure out all the numbers on paper first, but I’m planning to keep measuring as I knit to be sure I’m on the right path!

thanks again for the help!