Hello!
I’m working on a knitted 18-24 mo cotton sundress. My gauge is right but the size seems so big!! The chest size should be 22in but I think mine is way off! Is it the cotton? Do I trust the gauge and finish the dress? This has happened before with a toddler sweater. The gauge was right but the size was more suited for a mini football player. This makes me think my gauge Has to off but how could I keep measuring wrong?
Thanks for any insight!
Have you measured your gauge on the dress itself? Sometimes gauge changes between the swatch and the project because you may become more relexed as you knit.
Do you measure your swatch over the middle 4 inches, not including the edges? Is the swatch knit in the same stitch as the dress? What chest measurement are you getting, how many sts across the chest and what is the stitch gauge?
What pattern are you using? Can you give us a link?
Is the one I decided to try now. I have the 5.5 at per inch while working the pattern on a 24 inch needle. I casted in the 110 st. I’m afraid it’s bigger then the 22 inches fior the size 2. I’m going to keep working and hope the elastic will help in the end. If not, hopefully it will be something she can grow into.
My gauges are checked in the middle and over two inches and in different spots. I tried with multiple needles, and did both swatches.
The st swatch was 5 stitches per inch.
The last dress was http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fiona-baby-sundress but I gave up since it was way to big even after the pleats.
I realize this doesn’t make much sense. I was just wondering if it was a cotton thing since I don’t normally have this issue with wool/wool blends.
Thanks for your time!
I tend to not worry about baby kid stuff as long as it’s on the big side and not small since they grow so fast. You can always try a smaller needle size or make the smaller size. It doesn’t seem like you’re that far off though.
Well it’s an adorable pattern and it can certainly be worn by a range of ages. I agree with Jan, better too large bacause they grow to fast. Even if the toddler wears a T-shirt under it to begin with, it’ll still work.
Geting 5nsts/inch instead of 5.5 is enough to give a measurement of almost 23 inches for the bodice instead of 20 inches so that could well be why you’ve got a larger size. You might consider following the length measurements and knitting a longer bodice (5 or 5.5 inches) to keep the dress in proportion.
Cotton does have lass stretch than wool so that I find that I need to drop down 2 needle sizes sometimes to get stitch gauge. Don’t worry about row gauge since lengths are given in inches.
Thanks for the help. I am almost finished with the pattern. It is running a little big but I agree, it’s something then can be grown into. I am having a difficult time with gauge in general. My new project is confusing me with the gauges/needle sizes for ST and Brioche pattern. I’ll get it sooner or later.
Just a thought but you said you were working a 22" circumference piece on a 24" needle. If that’s the case and since it’s cotton, there’s a chance you’re stretching it out as you’re working it. Possible it could snap back a bit after washing. Possible.