I found a lovely V neck top down Aran sweater pattern which I have tried to knit once previously and it was a disaster! You see my hips are 3-4 inches bigger than my bust so I knitted the size appropriate to my hips rather than my bust (using 5mm needles as called for in the pattern) and it was almost falling off my shoulders! I was wondering if I could knit down to the underarm using either a 4.5mm or even a 4mm and then a 5mm from the underarms down? I was considering knitting the size appropriate for my bust and then increasing under the armholes but it would mean increasing by about 15-20 stitches and there’s a slip-stitch pinstripe type pattern so I couldn’t increase and keep the pattern correct.
Sizing issues
You could certainly change needle sizes, but the fabric you create could look quite different. A swatch will reveal whether you like the look at different tensions, and how the transition looks.
If you can tell us the name and designer/source of the pattern, we may be able to help you with increasing in pattern from the top down.
Please don’t post the whole pattern (copyright law doesn’t allow that), but you can post the instructions for the slip-stitch pinstripe if you would like to explore the increase option.
The pattern is the Neve sweater by Kaitlin Blasing and I was knitting the largest size. I discovered the sizing issue when I tried it on after I had separated for the sleeves. I had the correct gauge with the 5mm needles. I’m unsure of my exact bust measurement but I suspect the difference is greater than the maximum 8 inches of ease.
You can increase and mostly maintain pattern. The easiest way I know of is to increase with knit stitches and as soon as possible work them in the stitch pattern. Is the body knit seamlessly? If it is I’d mark the middle of the underarm and work my increases on either side of the ‘seam’ line and as soon as I have enough to work the slipped stitch pattern, I would. How often to increase and how many is beyond my skills, I just do it. Someone else can help with that. I looked for a video but didn’t find one I thought would be particularly helpful but maybe I can later.
Ooh, that’s a nice design. Simple but very eye catching.
What is the stitch pattern repeat for the stripe pattern? By which I mean, how many stitches does it take to complete one pinstripe and the stitches in between it and the next one.
And how long is the garment from the underarm to the start of the ribbing (or how long do you plan it to be)?
With that information, we can guide you a bit more. It will create a different look at the side seam, but this is usually covered by your arms or out of sightlines, so, if it doesn’t bother you to have some extra pinstripes emerging from the side seams, I think it will look fine.
By the way, I also have a very different sized top half to bottom half, according to average measurements used for garments. I am usually four or five sizes different between top and bottom because I have an extreme pear shape.
I personally think my bottom and top half go together perfectly well, but we have to mix and match with patterns
Hi. The repeat is over 4 stitches. Slip 1, Knit 3. I knit the body longer so it’s going to be around 20 inches from the underarm down (including ribbing)
Hello
I may be too late to be of any help here but thought this video may help. It’s increasing or decreasing in rib pattern, not slip stitch, but I think the method would work just as well for maintaining the slip pin stripe.
It takes a bit of working out.
You’d need to know your bust and hips sizes and the stitch count in gauge for each of these sizes (and perhaps match these as close as possible to the sizes given in the pattern) so that you can begin with one stitch count, end with another and work out how frequently to increase across the length from underarm to rib (row gauge needed here).
Once you know the numbers you can use this method to maintain the straight pin stripe in the main body and there will be a neat emergence of new stitches at the side seam (or where the seam would be if knit flat)
Rox puts a marker on the fabric, I prefer it on the needle as I find this easier to follow and not get confused where the increase goes.