Question about sizing?

#1

Hi All,

This is my first post, hopefully youll be able to help!

A friend had a baby prematurely a few months ago and she is now 5 1/2lb. I want to make them some cardigans as a coming home gift but have now way of asking them to measure her chest as it is supposed to be a surprise. I have looked online and it says a 5-6lb baby would be a 12-13 inch chest circumference. My pattern options come with a ‘to fit chest size’ and ‘actual measurement’ - the 3 sizes are…
1)to fit chest 10inch/actual measurement 12inch
2) to fit chest 12inch/actual measurement 14in
3) to fit chest 14inch/actual measurement 16inch

Can anyone advise me which would be best to do? Obviously online it says 12-13inch but would that be chest size or actual measurement?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

#2

Welcome to KnittingHelp!
There are so many different size estimates online. Here’s a reliable site with somewhat smaller sizes:
http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/size-chart.html

If you’re planning on a couple of sweaters, why not make one at the smaller size and one at the largest size, to fit a 14" chest. Hopefully the baby will be growing quickly.

The “to fit chest size” is the measurement of the baby. The actual measurement is the size of the finished sweater.

#3

all excellent advice.

just thought i’d mention: my general rule is when in doubt, to always go with slightly too big over slightly too small, particularly with babies. obviously, babies grow quickly but i always figure that even before they “grow into it,” at least something that’s too big can still be worn, whereas something too small is just useless…