It begins with good pattern choice, and so we’ll start with a deep dive into the topic of garment style and fit, to help you understand what garment styles work best for you. We’ll discuss how to identify the right patterns – garments that offer the appropriate style and sizing. We’ll spend time on measurements and sizing, teaching you how to virtually “try on” a garment from a knitting pattern, and help you identify the sizing you need and like.

From there we’ll discuss alternations to fine-tune and tweak the garment fit, providing tools and techniques for easy modifications – with as little math as possible. The focus of this workshop is making smart decisions up front to reduce (or indeed possibly eliminate entirely) the math. Although we will discuss in detail how to go about doing alterations: modifying length, adding or changing waist shaping, modifying sleeve length and fit, our focus is on doing as little of it as possible.

Along the way, we’ll talk about gauge and what it means and what to do about it: how to match it, and what you do if you can’t. We’ll talk about strategies for assessing and tweaking garment fit as you work through the project, including mid-project course-corrections.

You’ll leave the workshop with a new way to look at garments and garment patterns, and with all the skills you need to create fantastic, flattering, well-fitted sweaters.

Materials for garment strategies:

Bring: paper and pencil, tape measure, calculator (or your phone with a calculator app), and any garment patterns you are considering. If you’ve got a sweater project (good or bad) that you want to discuss, bring that, too.

Blocking and Fiber Care