I’ve done a little knitting, but this project is a first. Anyone who knits — especially beginners like me — knows it’s a little — to say the least — tricky getting sweaters to fit the way we like. They end up too tight, too loose, too long, too short, too large or small in the shoulders, etc. However, a pattern designer named Amy Herzog has come up with a technique called Custom Fit. This involves taking a series of measurements for your own body, as opposed to the “standard” ones that most patterns use and that rarely fit any one person just right. These measurements are added to your free account on the Custom Fit site.
The next step is to knit at least one swatch to determine what your knitting gauge is — not what it “should” be! This allows you to decide what size needles gives you a “fabric” that you like and that moves the way you prefer.
Then you decide what style of sweater you’d like to knit, what sort of neckline and how deep or shallow it should be, and many other options. You can purchase one of Amy’s patterns, redone to your measurements and your own knitting gauge, or you can adapt one to resemble another pattern you want to make.
I’ve just finished the back of the cardigan I chose to make, and I’m amazed. When the pattern says, for example, to knit 74 rows to get 9 inches, I’m absolutely open-mouthed to see that this is precisely what I actually have! Getting gauge has never been so good. 🙂 The photo, on the other hand, leaves a great deal to be desired, since I haven’t yet blocked this piece. LOL!
