Sweater Modifications for a Custom Fit

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Knit sweaters that fit your body and your taste perfectly! Learn to personalize fit and fashion with expert guidance from designer Amy Herzog.

Sweater Success

Knitwear designer Amy Herzog is obsessed with sweaters. Let her passion be your guide as you learn how to choose and knit a sweater that will fit you beautifully. Amy discusses silhouettes and shows how to get the most accurate body measurements for planning your sweater.

Thinking Beyond Fit

Approach swatching like a designer, as an exciting way to test your yarn and the fabric it creates. Amy shares tricks for successful swatching, from accurate measuring to judging the fabric for flexibility and durability. You’ll also learn about fiber types and what they can do for you.

Fit, Sizing & Construction Options

A great sweater begins with proper shoulder or upper torso fit. Choose a pattern based on that and you can modify other measurements to fit your body. Amy helps you calculate measurements, understand the pattern schematic and start drawing up your own.

Planning & Starting Modifications

Complete your personal schematic as Amy explains ease, or the difference between the sweater’s measurements and your own body, and how that makes the sweater look and feel. Understand the guidelines for ease at the bust, waist and hips, then consider appropriate sweater lengths.

Torso Modification Details

It’s time to turn the pattern’s numbers into ones that will result in a sweater that fits. Begin by modifying the torso, following Amy’s sensible steps and formula. You’ll essentially sculpt the sweater to your shape as you knit! You’ll see how to modify for hip, waist and bust measurements.

Neck & Sleeve Modifications

If you’ve modified the bust shaping, it’s easy to use the neck shaping to get the stitches back to the number you need for the shoulders. With Amy’s help, you can also change the neckline type, such as boat, V or crew, and modify the sleeves as you like!

Construction Modification & Finishing

Give your sweater pieces a relaxing bath before you start seaming. You’ll be glad you did! Amy demonstrates mattress stitch for the seams and shows how to pin your sleeve cap and troubleshoot problems. Finally, learn about how to add stitch patterns to gussy up your great-fitting sweater!