Knitting baby items can be a lot of fun. However, there are some definite tricks to successfully using a baby sweater pattern. One of them involves making the correct size sweater.

Your typical baby sweater pattern offers instructions for multiple sized babies. The sizes are typically sorted into three month intervals, ie. 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-9 months. However, don’t forget that size suggestions are merely suggestions. All babies are different. For example, your three-month-old may weigh 15 pounds and be 22 inches long while your neighbor’s baby may weigh 18 pounds and be 23 inches long.

It’s especially difficult to know what size sweater to make if the baby has not yet been born as some babies start out much larger than others. Your best bet is to knit one in a larger size than you think the baby will be. If the family history includes a lot of large babies, it is safer to knit a sweater for a six or nine-month-old baby. Remember that even if the sweater ends up being too large, the parents can always keep it until the baby grows into it a few months down the road.

If you are knitting a sweater for a baby who has already been born, it’s a good idea to measure the baby first if at all possible. You will want to measure the chest size, the length from the baby’s neck to waist , the width from shoulder to shoulder, and the sleeve length. It never hurts to allow a little extra space as babies tend to grow very quickly and you want your sweater to fit for as long as possible. And if you’re knitting an over-the-head sweater, be sure to measure the baby’s head size and allow plenty of extra room. Most babies hate having things put on over their heads so the easier it can be accomplished the better.

Also take into consideration if the sweater will be a form fitting one or a loose one. This will help you to determine how exact the measurements need to be. Now you’ve overcome one of the biggest challenges in using a baby sweater pattern.