Possible to use a children’s pattern for an adult?

Hello once again!

I’ve been eyeing up my next project as I get close to finishing my first jumper and I’ve always wanted to make a retro kids jumper from a pattern I’ve had for years. But I’m making life complicated for myself and I could do with some help or if it’s not possible someone to tell me it isn’t before I start :joy:

The pattern I have is a 4 ply pattern but I’d like to make it with DK as I have a place near me that sells it very cheaply and I’d also like a thicker knit.

I have done a swatch to see how much bigger the dk would make it. The tension on the pattern is 7 stitches on 9 rows is one inch. So 21 stitches on 27 rows would be 3 inches. Mine of the same number of stitches and rows is 4 x 4 inches. Meaning that for every 3 inches on the pattern I’m gaining an extra inch. (Hope I’m making sense so far!)

The pattern has 2 sections, one for children and one for adults. The smallest size for the adults is a 36 inch chest so if I made it with the dk it would be 48 inches by my maths. Ideally I’d like the chest to be 40 - 42 inch.

Now the largest size for the children’s pattern section is for a 32 inch chest so again by my slightly dodgy maths if I used the DK it would end up as around a 43 inch chest.

Is there a really obvious thing that would make doing the children’s pattern in DK to fit an adult a really stupid thing to attempt? Is there a proportion issue that I’m not aware of? I thought I might have to keep an eye on the sleeve length but I didn’t know about the body part.

Thanks in advance. Any tips massively appreciated in helping me create my dream jumper :joy:

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What pattern are you wanting to size up? Is it written to work to length measurements or number of rows? Is a schematic too much to hope for? I think if you know how long you want the body and the sleeves it will probably work out fine. You’d want to pay attention to armhole depth too. I won’t check or second guess your math because calling my math skills sketchy and dodgy would be a compliment. For those more adept at such things than I, a link to the pattern would be a great help.

Could you find a similar pattern for the size you want using dk yarn for comparison and reference? Does the pattern have cables, colorwork, various stitch patterns? What style of sleeves does it have? All these things and probably others could contribute to how difficult this might be but I’m sure it can accomplished.

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It sounds totally possible to me. Its not like you are trying to size up from a baby sweater to an adult sweater which I believe would have proportion issues, its just one size down from the adult size, small adult, and you’ve already started the just important part, swatching, so I sounds perfectly doable.

As GG said if there are certain design features these might effect the changes you need to make and seing the pattern pic woukd help.

In addition to the basic idea of “every 3 inches in the patten gives me 4 inches in my sweater” I would do the maths for each part.
Eg if you cast on the given number in the 32 inch pattern what measurement would this give in your gauge?
Look at the stitch count at the chest on the pattern and again work out the size based on your gauge.
Look at the stitch count for the neck, work out the measurement based on your gauge.
Again for cuffs and upper arm (stitch count before bind off for sleeve cap).
Chances are that each measurement will reassure you that it will be the correct size - if not then it highlights where some additional modification is needed.

I would also check how long you want the body and how many rows this in your gauge.

Shaping on the armhole, neck, sleeve and sleeve cap would likely need altering but these are not too hard.
Eg
A basic cuff up, tapered sleeve in 4ply will give pattern instructions to increase every x number of rows. Your dk row gauge will differ to this, fewer rows for the same length sleeve, so logically increases need to be spaced more rapidly to get the correct stitch count.
There’s a free online calculator to help with this.
Depending what sort of sleeve it is, drop, modified drop, set in… there will be a bit of maths to make sure the armhole depth works and any shaping will work.

These are things I check with pretty much every pattern I knit anyway. I had a pattern for a nordic style kids cardigan my son wanted, he was 11 years at the time, I had to follow the stitch count and shaping for the age 4!!! Age 4 did not provide the length needed in the arm or body so I modified those. But age 4 was the correct size for waist and chest, cuff and around the upper arm. And my son is not a strange size, he is just “normal,” a healthy weight and height.

I really think you can do this and if you get stuck on something I am sure we can help unstick you.

It’s exciting, and in my opinion this is part of what hand knitting is about - tailoring to your personal needs or wants rather than buying off the shelf.

Thank you so much for all of the tips, it’s so appreciated! I’ll going to attempt to do more maths and see if it’ll work as is or if it needs a tweak and I’ll post the pattern if I’m stuck! Have a lovely day!

Thank you ever so much for the encouragement and all of the things to take into account. I’m going to finish up my first jumper and then get my head around this properly but good to know that it should be doable.

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