Substituting yarn weights

I started a sweater for my son LAST summer. I got the brilliant idea that I would use worsted yarn for my DK weight pattern. So I knit a swatch and calculated that using the smallest size numbers would yield measurements for a larger size and I would adjust the length accordingly. I have knit the back of the sweater.

ONE YEAR later I need revisit this sweater and finish it for the upcoming winter (this was the plan originally so it will still fit). BUT I don't keep notes. I have no idea what size this was supposed to end up. I also am not 100% positive what set of numbers I was knitting with. I do remember the needle size though :)

Anyway, does anyone have any suggestions on HOW to go about determining what size this sweater is? I think I need motivation as much as suggestions! I have not yet dug it out to see if I can count stitches and figure out the number I was using, but that is my first step! I would love to finish it and I will, somehow... It is the Digger Sweater from Lucinda Guy and my son LOVES trucks!

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Permalink Reply by Karen on August 14, 2009 at 12:47pm

i admit that i have the same problem! i started a sweater for myself a couple years age and never finished it. if i remember correctly, summer came along and it had gotten too big to knit comfortably in the heat. soo, there it still is... what size was i doing? where did i leave off? plus, looking at it a few months ago i decided i need to frog part of it because the back was a few rows longer than the front. so i put it back in its bag and there it still sits!

my advice is to just bite the bullet and get it out and count and measure and see if you can figure it out before your son is too big for it. it is a lot of work- you could always frog it and start a new one! (which is probably what i will do with mine).

plus, kids grow so fast that if you think it will take a while to get it done he may be too big already!

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Permalink Reply by Melissa Burnett on August 14, 2009 at 12:53pm

I didn't really think about REKNITTING the back. It wasn't the hardest part (the front has INTARSIA!) so I could do that... I could then even size it UP for two years... I think I'll take a look at it and if it take more than 30 minutes to decode, it is probably worth reknitting. Thank goodness toddlers aren't very BIG!

Thanks, this is GREAT advice!

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Permalink Reply by Melissa Burnett on August 14, 2009 at 12:55pm

NOW, I need to pull out my husband's vest that is a year and a half old and decide if THAT is worth continuing... Larger knits just aren't my thing :)

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Permalink Reply by Joan on January 12, 2010 at 6:53am

What does "frog it" mean? Have not heard that before.

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Permalink Reply by Laura Sherby on January 17, 2010 at 5:21pm

Frog it means Rip it, Rip it, Get it?

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Permalink Reply by Joan on January 18, 2010 at 9:02am

Love it. Realize I have done a lot of frogging.

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Permalink Reply by Barb Shillinger on March 26, 2010 at 3:00pm

Rip it!!

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Permalink Reply by Dusti Gomery on August 14, 2009 at 12:55pm

I agree with Karen, counting really is the only way to go. I've been there myself (I think we've all done this at one time or other - lol) and I've learned that when doing mods and jigging patterns, if I just take a pencil and circle the number for the size I'm using it helps a lot - doesn't require a lot of notes (and I can erase it when I'm done) but at least I can look at the pattern later on and be able to continue on with it.

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Permalink Reply by Melissa Burnett on August 14, 2009 at 12:58pm

I do wish I was better with notes. Circles would have saved me on this one! I'll have to do that in the future for all of my projects. I don't really know why I don't do it. It is such a good idea!

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Permalink Reply by Karen on August 14, 2009 at 2:18pm

yes, it helps a lot! i, too, have finally started copying the pattern i am working on and write on it whenever there is a possible need to know something later. or i will write on a sticky note and stick that on.

i do think you should take a look at what you have and if you can figure it out then continue on. only if you can't do i suggest re-doing it! i didn't mean to sound like you should just rip and start over without checking it out first! oh, yeah, and take notes! =)

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Permalink Reply by Margie Redmon on March 29, 2010 at 9:58am

I carry a small spiral notebook (like the old grocery list ones) and make notes as I go. I can put it in my purse, so it goes with me anywhere I take my knitting.