What Size To Make?
What Size To Knit?
When choosing a size in a pattern to knit then measurements are obviously very important! Once you know your bust or chest size then you can choose the type of fit you would like.
In most standard UK patterns you are given a to fit size and an actual size. The actual size shows you if it is designed to be a tight or loose fit which is what is known as positive & negative ease. For example in this pattern the 40/42 inch size is designed to be worn with 5 - 7 inches of positive ease so the actual size is 47 inches. If you don’t want it to be as loose as that then you would choose the next size down for a more fitted look.
These charts give you a rough guide to measurements and positive/negative ease. Hope it helps!
|
Chest Size |
Finished Measurements |
|
Inches |
Tight Fit |
Tailored Fit |
Normal Fit |
Loose Fit |
Oversized Fit |
|
21 -22 |
20 |
22 |
24 |
26 |
27-28 |
|
23-24 |
22 |
24 |
26 |
28 |
29-30 |
|
25-26 |
24 |
26 |
28 |
30 |
31-32 |
|
27-28 |
26 |
28 |
30 |
32 |
33-34 |
|
29-30 |
28 |
30 |
32 |
34 |
35-36 |
|
31-32 |
30 |
32 |
34 |
36 |
37-38 |
|
33-34 |
32 |
34 |
36 |
38 |
39-40 |
|
35-36 |
34 |
36 |
38 |
40 |
41-42 |
|
36-37 |
36 |
38 |
40 |
42 |
43-44 |
|
39-40 |
38 |
40 |
42 |
44 |
45-46 |
|
41-42 |
40 |
42 |
44 |
46 |
47-48 |
|
43-44 |
42 |
44 |
46 |
48 |
49-50 |
|
45-46 |
44 |
46 |
48 |
50 |
51-52 |
|
47-48 |
46 |
48 |
50 |
52 |
53-54 |
|
49-50 |
48 |
50 |
52 |
54 |
55-56 |
|
51-52 |
50 |
52 |
54 |
56 |
57-58 |
|
53-54 |
52 |
54 |
56 |
58 |
59-60 |
|
55-56 |
54 |
56 |
58 |
60 |
61-62 |
To allow for positive & negative ease
|
Chest Size |
Finished Measurements |
|
Centimetres |
Tight Fit |
Tailored Fit |
Normal Fit |
Loose Fit |
Oversized Fit |
|
53-56 |
51 |
56 |
61 |
66 |
68.5-71 |
|
58.5-61 |
56 |
61 |
66 |
71 |
74-79 |
|
63.5-66 |
61 |
66 |
71 |
76 |
79-81 |
|
68.5-71 |
66 |
71 |
76 |
81 |
84-86 |
|
74-76 |
71 |
76 |
81 |
86 |
90-91.5 |
|
79-81 |
76 |
81 |
86 |
91.5 |
94-96.5 |
|
84-86 |
81 |
86 |
91.5 |
96.5 |
99-101.5 |
|
90-91.5 |
86 |
91.5 |
96.5 |
101.5 |
104-106.5 |
|
94-96.5 |
91.5 |
96.5 |
101.5 |
106.5 |
109-111.5 |
|
99-101.5 |
96.5 |
101.5 |
106.5 |
111.5 |
114-117 |
|
104-106.5 |
101.5 |
106.5 |
111.5 |
117 |
119.5-123 |
|
109-111.5 |
106.5 |
111.5 |
117 |
123 |
124.5-127 |
|
114-117 |
111.5 |
117 |
123 |
124.5 |
129.5-132 |
|
119.5-123 |
117 |
123 |
124.5 |
127 |
134.5-137 |
|
124.5-127 |
123 |
124.5 |
127 |
132 |
139.5-142 |
|
129.5-132 |
124.5 |
127 |
132 |
137 |
145-147 |
|
134.5-137 |
127 |
132 |
137 |
139.5 |
150-152.5 |
|
139.5-142 |
132 |
137 |
139.5 |
142 |
155-157.5 |