Decreasing Size on Fair Isle Pattern

aqueous18 · 11-09-2010, 02:59 PM

I found this really cute pattern for a dog sweater and it will be my first go around with Fair Isle. The only problem is that the pattern is for a dog that has a 22" chest and 13" neck. My dog only has a 14" chest and a 9" neck.

The pattern doesn't have different measurements but suggests subtracting CO stitches. The only problem is the snowflake pattern is designed for the original CO. If I try to decrease the total stitches, the pattern will be messed up or the 4 repeats won't fit.

Any ideas how I could make this work? It calls for both 6 and 8 straight needles. The yarn is a heavy worsted. Could I just knit it on smaller needles? Say a 4 and 6? Any help appreciated and here is the link for the pattern:

http://doublepointed.files.wordpress...og-sweater.pdf

Jan in CA · 11-09-2010, 09:16 PM

If you use too small a needle for the yarn it'll be a stiff fabric. I think I'd go with a lighter weight yarn..maybe DK and needles appropriate for the yarn.

Ingrid · 11-10-2010, 03:56 AM

If it works out, you could center one complete snowflake and just work the edges of the others if they don't fit. Or just put one snowflake on the back.

Determine how many snowflakes will fit by counting the stitches and see how many complete ones you can fit and decide if you want to put incomplete ones on the edges or just leave the edges plain.

aqueous18 · 11-11-2010, 02:57 AM

I'm using a set smaller needles then called for and when I did my gauge I also put the bottom part of the snowflake to measure how wide they were. My piece is only going to be 9" wide and each snowflake is 3" wide so voila! Well...hopefully lol we'll see how it works out!

hyperactive · 11-11-2010, 03:30 PM

the size of the flakes you can only compare by the stitches, not the inches (since they depend on gauge, as well).
But I would also reduce to 3 flakes - and if you need to use a few more stitches than that, you can either work "blank" on the edges, or "stray dots" or you can just work another row of main color in between the repeats or so.

Adjusting is work, but it will be worth it, once you have made your very own thing.