How to Change Yarn Weight in a Knitted Pattern
Ever since I learned how to change the yarn weight in knitted patterns, I have wanted to share with others just how to do it. It is so simple and for me, someone who lives in a warmer weather climate, I find there are so many amazing patterns written in heavier yarn weights that I wouldn’t be able to enjoy otherwise. At this point I knit all my patterns in either fingering weight or sport weight yarn. Anything heavier than that and it is just too warm for our Bay Area winters.
Below are the steps for how to modify any knitted pattern to the weight of your choice. I will use my current WIP Guthrie by Caitlin Hunter as an example. The pattern is intended for DK weight yarn and I will be using a fingering weight yarn as the MC and sport weight yarn as the CC.
1. Knit a swatch as directed by the pattern with your intended yarns in the needle size of your choice. For this project I have decided to use the same size needle the pattern calls for although typically I prefer using a US 5 for colorwork I liked fabric the US 4 created.
2. Calculate your gauge not only over the typical 4” x 4” but also in stitches per inch and row/rnd per inch. In this case I got 26 sts x 29 rnds over 4” in colorwork and 6.5sts = 1” and 7.25 rnds = 1”
3. Determine the bust circumference you would like to knit and calculate how many stitches you will need by taking the circumference and multiplying it by the sts per inch. In my case I want to knit a size 34” bust. 34 x 6.5 = 221 sts
4. Find the stitch count that is closest to the stitch count you want by looking at the stitch count after separating for the sleeves if it is a top down sweater and total CO stitches if it is a bottom up sweater. In this case it is a top down sweater and the stitch count closest is the size M with 224 stitches body stitches after separating for the sleeves.
5. Where the row/rnd per inch comes into play is when knitting the yoke and the body. This will can greatly alter the length of a garment making it either to short or too long if your gauge is off in this area so pay close attention to it as you knit, trying on or measuring frequently and making adjustments as needed. Luckily for my the rnd gauge is 28 rnds and I got 29 rnds so I don’t need to make any adjustments in this department.
And there you have it, now you know how to alter any knitted pattern to the weight of your choice. Happy knitting everyone.
