Sizing

So my yarn came in today that I was waiting on. Its Drops merino extra fine. Yea!! So I am going to knit the Leksak by madeleine Nilsson for my granddaughter. I was looking at the pattern. There are no schematics. The sizing is by ages and the only measurement I see, says “actual chest circumference of garment”. So I am assuming it’s not her chest circumference. So how much larger should it be from her actual chest size. She is 8 1/2 yrs but is small and only wears a 6 in store bought clothes sometimes even a 5 will work. So my plan was to knit the size 8 so hopefully get some longevity out of it and lengthen the sleeves ( they look to be 3/4) and I want longer. Suggestions?

Do you have a link to the pattern that you could share? Linking to a page for a paid pattern is good. Seeing it could help. The only pattern by that name and by that designer II can find is for adults.

It is a paid pattern that I obtained from ravelry. I’m not that great on “links” and posting here. So I screen shot that page( hope that’s ok).

Sorry. The one I will be doing is the top picture though a different color.

Hello
I would do a few things

  1. Look at some standard size charts on the Internet. Look at the general size for age 6 and 8 including the waist and height, not just the chest (i find height a good help for my son’s torso size). If there is a store where you know she frequently gets clothes in a certain age size then look at their size chart at the age/size she usually wears, otherwise choose one from your country (other countries can size differently)
  2. Measure a sweater or cardigan she already wears in the right size and use this as a finished measurement size to compare with the finished measurements on offer in the pattern
  3. Look at some other knitting patterns (free is fine) at the age and chest size and what the actual finished measurement is.

Equally with sleeve length, I would go by an actual measurement of her arm and judge how long you want it, plus extra growing length or fold back if you want it. And if needed use the online calculator to work out the inc/dec increments to modify the pattern.

Kids clothes have become bigger over the last couple of decades to accommodate the bigger ‘average’ which can lead to some measurement confusion. My son has always been in clothes a few years younger than just age so I totally understand the size dilemma when buying or making clothes.

Also, despite swatching and washing my swatches, I made 2 sweaters in the same age and size, all stocking stitch but 2 different patterns. One came out just right ready to wear and room for growth, the other came out very big and being saved to grow into. The pattern of the too-big one I used a second time in a smaller size almost 2 years later (so he is 2 years bigger and the pattern smaller. He is 12 now and i went down to age 9 pattern I think) and it still came out big. However, for kids it’s better too big than too small unless you need the item to fit right now for a certain occasion. At least they can grow into it. But I mention this as you might find the age 6 to be a better fit, the age 8 could be a long wait before she can wear it.

Hope this helps. It’s an extremely pretty top and I look forward to seeing your progress.

You make some very good points. Since she lives with me, I will check the sizing chart at the store I purchase most of her clothes. I am trying to scan through the pattern prior to starting and will pay attention to the sleeve instructions. I had just thought it would be as simple as knitting extra rows but I will look at it more in-depth. Thank you for time. Really appreciated.

So I’m looking at this pattern while she’s in her dance class, and I’m not sure what I’m comparing the size chart to since the pattern only lists the chest measurements. Do you think that is enough to make my decision? I am going to swatch but I know I am more of a loose knitter so wouldn’t my chance of it being too big even greater? ( I think that’s right— since I many times have to go down a needle size or two)

This is just a guess, but if your pattern has ages 6 and 8 then it is likely the size age 6 covers from age 6 and up to age 8 - roughly. And the 8 is more likely to cover age 8 to age 10.
Based on my own child and just a hunch I’d go for the age 6.

The size chart from the shop is just for a guide as to the height, chest etc similarly if you measure her chest you’d want a hit of ease in the top so I would her actual chest measurement plus a little ease equals the actual size you want to make, and compare this to the actual size of the pattern chest.

With the arms, you may well, just be able to add a few more rows in the straight section, more easily near the cuff or just before the armhole so that the sleeve cap isn’t changed, but it depends how much extra you want to add, if it is quite a lot you might want the increases to start within that extension. If it is only a few rows you likely don’t need to change where the increases are (or decreases if it’s top down). Altering where the inc or dec come really isn’t hard, it sounds harder than it is. In short you have a number of stitches at the cuff and a larger number of stitches at the under arm, you want these to remain as the pattern so the cuff and sleeve cap are staying the same width, and the inc or dec take place in the rows between. It is a relatively easy calculation and the online calculator can do it for you - obviously there’s help here too.

With my son, his body is a healthy size but due to clothe sizes changing with averages (getting bigger) he needs smaller than his age for his chest and waist, however this can mean sleeves and trouser length are too short so I’m aware of the length issue.

1 Like

I would compare it to one of her sweaters, or even a shirt that fits her nicely now, and then make it a wee bit larger.

1 Like