Curse you, Debbie Bliss!

[jwgh]

The gauge square I finished knitting this evening is too big; was supposed to be 4"x4" but is instead 5"x5". Not sure what to do about this. I will think about this some more tomorrow after I have gotten sleep.

It's a sweater for a baby. The size I was going to make was for 2-3 year olds:

Chest measurement: 27 1/2"
Length: 15"
Sleeve seam: 9"

The only smaller size is for one year olds:

Chest: 24 1/2"
Length: 13"
Sleeve: 8"

but that would still end up being too big if it scaled up to the same proportions as the gauge (24 1/2" x 5" / 4" = 30 5/8" = the chest of a mighty baby whose like has not been seen in these parts).

I guess the thing to do is try doing the gauge on #2 needles instead of #3s and see what happens. Or I could try adjusting the pattern and hope it works out, but that seems like it's asking for trouble (although I think I did that successfully on another sweater).

Or I could just make a damn blanket already. I have to go to A Stitch Above tomorrow during lunch break to get some other supplies and they should have the denim yarn required to make a start on the other baby-related project I've been considering. I gather that for best value I should do my denim yarn shopping online, but I could get a few skeins to start with, anyway.

This post just gets longer and longer the more I edit it, so it is probably time to post it and go to bed.

Comments

[doctroid.livejournal.com]

Resisting the temptation of a spelling flame, I merely give you this parenting advice: there is no such thing as a too-large baby garment. Babies grow at about an inch an hour, you know. If it's too big now, check again tomorrow.

Sometimes, of course, you have something like e.g. a shorts and t shirt outfit which is too immense this summer and too tiny next summer, but a sweater if it's not too heavy can be pretty much a four season garment in the world of babies, so no problem there.

[jwgh]

That was basically the theory behind making a sweater that's sized for 1-2 year olds to bring to a baby shower, but I would feel a little goofy bringing a sweater that probably wouldn't be wearable for another three or four years.

[jwgh]

Also, because you decided not to spelling flame me I had to figure out which word I misspelled myself! Hopefully I got the right one.

Livejournal's spellchecker has never heard of the word 'gauge', which makes me nervous.

[restartsmyheart.livejournal.com]

do it on 1's! then it won't be to big! are you coming tonite?

[jwgh]

I shall be there! Also, check out this picture of Phil Spector:



Going down a needle size or two seems like the way to go. The gauge square is 28 stitches by 36 rows, so I am less than enthusiastic about the prospect of making another one. Whine whine whine.

[restartsmyheart.livejournal.com]

phil spector needs to go down a size.

[yong-mi.livejournal.com]

I've heard other people say Debbie Bliss patterns come out LARGE. My one experience using the recommended Debbie Bliss yarn for a Debbie Bliss pattern, when I used the recommended needle size I found I had to knit painfully tight to get the recommended gauge. I had to go down a needle size to get the required gauge and still have sensation left in my hands.
(I've heard people also have to size down for Rowan patterns, maybe Brits all knit insanely tight or their inches are larger than American inches???)

[jwgh]

Yeah, I thought I knit pretty tight, but apparently not compared to some people!