Measuring Up

I've learned one important thing as a self-proclaimed sweater maven: measure, measure, measure! The sooner the better to make sure the size will come out as it should be.

I was about 15 rows into the front of said sweater when I looked at it and thought: No, this isn't wide enough. So out I whipped the trusty measuring tape and found out that it measured only 18 inches and it needed to be at least 19!

When I calculated the number of stitches to adjust the stitch gauge, my math said it should be 19 inches, and I even measured the initial row which measured in at 19 inches, but in the process of working the pattern the yarn tightened up (which happens) and so it shrank! Egads! Thankfully the pattern is fast and I frogged the mistaken stitches and restarted with a few more stitches. It is now 19½ inches which should be just fine.

I decided to stop at 31 rows and have worked about 11 inches. I should get to the 15 inch mark tomorrow and start shaping the sleeves. Along the way I'll continue to measure, measure, measure!

I learned my lesson the painful way with the last wearable I made for somebody. I was two-thirds completed when I realize that the size was way too small and so I frogged the entire thing and started over. My vow was to never let that happen again. I'm doing my best to keep my promise.