Hot Lava Cardigan help? Or just general knitting stuff too.

I'm knitting the Hot Lava Cardigan (http://www.bluealvarez.com/bluealva/patterns/hotlava.html)and I've got plenty of problems. The pattern uses a yarn especially from a site, which doesn't say what thickness it is. It used 8mm needles. The last thing I knit that used that size used super bulky yarn, so I went out and bought some of that when I was in the city, figuring I could just used smaller needles.

I got home and started knitting gauge swatches and got all the way down to 5mm needles until it was the right size. I've started knitting now. I'm at the increases to the elbow. I did some math and it seems like the entire arm will only make it up to my elbow. When I stretch it, though, it seems like it could make it.

My question is: is the sleeve looking too short because of my heinous crimes against conversions, or will it be possible to stretch it out while it's blocking?

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5 replies since 20th February 2011 • Last reply 20th February 2011

Reply #1:

bump. I really need help. :/

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Reply #2:

Hi, size 11 on the pattern translates as 3mm. I had a simular problem with my mittens making up different depending on the needle size and yarn.

The thicker the yarn the bigger it will make up even if you keep the same size needles.

If you make the needles smaller it will make knitting harder (with thick wool)

I have used thinner yarn on bigger needles (1 size up) and that gives a looser finish.

Try using a thinner yarn, like a double knit on the size 11 needles.

Hope this makes sense.


Edit...I had a look at the needle size you have given. If it's a SIZE 8 it would translate into 4mm which is more like the needle size I would expect to see for a shrug. Unfortunately there's several ways of marking up the needle sizes. I bought a knitting pin gauge that has metric on one side and corresponding numbers on the other side. Hope you can find a solution for the sleeves Happy

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Reply #3:

Nope it's 8mm, because she says size 11 (it's US sizes). BUT! By some brilliant stroke of luck, I managed to find an altered version of the pattern using super bulky yarn. Yay!

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Reply #4:

Please post it as project when you have finished as it looks such a pretty design. Good luck with the new pattern x

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Reply #5:

I will, and thanks!

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