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How to read a size chart

You’ll find the size chart at the bottom of the patterns. The chart shows all the measurements (in cm) for each size the pattern is available in.

If you follow the pattern and maintain the correct tension/gauge, your finished garment should match the size indicated in the chart.

But how do I choose my size?

To choose your size it is important to understand that the size chart shows the finished garment measurements, not your body measurements.

These measurements are shown in the size chart as number sequences, with each number matching a specific size in the pattern.

For example, the pattern for the size chart shown below is available in sizes XS-S-M-L-XL-XXL-XXXL, so the sequence for the chest width measurements, 46-50-54-58-63-69-75, corresponds to those sizes, in that order. XS = 46, S = 50, M = 54, L =58, XL = 63, XXL = 69, XXXL = 75.

CM to IN / IN to CM converter.

Size chart for DROPS 262-30, Hazelnut Harmony Sweater

Once you understand this, there are 2 options to choose your size.

Option 1: Measuring a flat sweater

If you're unsure which size to make, it can be helpful to measure a sweater you already own and like the fit of. Then, use the size chart to find the size that best matches those measurements.

  • Lay your sweater flat and measure across the chest, arms, hips and length.
  • Use our IN to CM converter to find the measurements you need in cm.
  • Compare these numbers with the sequences of numbers in the size chart to find the closest match.
  • For example, if your sweater measures 57 cm across the chest, the closest number in the chest width sequence is 58. This is the 4th value in the sequence, which corresponds with size L.
  • From there, you should compare the rest of the measurements in the sequences for size L (arm width, neck opening, etc.) to see if they match your sweater’s proportions, or if you would prefer to knit another size.
  • Length can always be adjusted to your preference.

Option 2: Measuring your own body

If you prefer to measure your own body, remember that the size chart shows flat measurements for the finished garment and not your body measurements.

This means that you’ll need to decide how much ease (extra room) you want in your sweater. Whether you prefer it to fit snugly, comfortably or with extra room for layering.

Once you have taken this into consideration:

  • Measure your body circumference (chest, hips, arms, etc.).
  • Use our IN to CM converter to find the measurements you need in cm.
  • If your chest circumference is 115 cm, the best match in this size chart would be the size that has a chest width of about 58 cm, since 58 × 2 = 116 cm.
  • Do the same for hips and other areas: divide your body circumference by 2 to compare with the chart’s measurements.
  • Choose the size that best matches your body measurements and/or the fit you wish the sweater to have.
  • As always, the length can be adjusted to suit your preference.

Comments (263)

Country flag Hery wrote:

Re Bonjour J'ai fait une erreur dans le mail précédent, il s'agit du modèle 171-21. Merci et bonne journée. Mme hery

09.03.2019 - 11:16

Country flag Hery wrote:

Bonjour Je désire réaliser le modèle 271-21,je fais T 44,quelle est la lettre qui correspond. Merci Mme hery

09.03.2019 - 11:10

DROPS Design answered:

Bonjour Mme Hery, pour ce modèle, vous pouvez comparer les mesures d'une veste similaire de la même façon: 38-42-42 cm entre les manches, 50-57-64 cm du milieu dos au devant soit 100-114-128 cm d'un devant à l'autre (diamètre du cercle) et 54-54-56 cm pour la longueur des manches. Bon crochet!

11.03.2019 - 12:21

Country flag Laura wrote:

Buona sera. Sto per iniziare a fare un cappottino. È il vostro modello \"Cappottino smilzo doppio petto Candido ed elegante\" Modello ne-158. DROPS NEPAL colore n 0100. Il problema è che non riesco a prendere le misure. Non riesco a capire lo schema. Potete aiutarmi e spiegarmi come fare le misure, per favore? Grazie anticipatamente.

03.01.2019 - 17:55

DROPS Design answered:

Buonasera Laura, innanzitutto deve prendere come riferimento un capo simile che le piace e prendere le misure di quel capo. Confrontandole con il disegno in fondo alla pagina del modello che vuole realizzare può trovare la taglia da seguire. Se ha bisogno di un ulteriore aiuto può scrivere direttamente nella pagina del modello o rivolgersi al suo rivenditore DROPS preferito. Buon lavoro!

04.01.2019 - 22:05

Country flag Ursula Lowrey wrote:

I can normally interpret the pattern diagram, however, I cannot make sense out of diagram for DROPS 173-36. Length is clear, but width I do not understand. What is back, what is front, what do the measurements reflect. Need help.

27.11.2017 - 22:56

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Mrs Lowrey, in this pattern you can see the total width on body = 56-64-72-80 cm (measured flat). Measurement from mid neck to bottom edge on sleeve = 45-49-53-57 cm. Neck = 16 cm in width. Happy crocheting!

28.11.2017 - 09:30

Country flag Kirsten Vennemann wrote:

Wie lese ich eine Maßskizze für eine Kreisjacke?

03.11.2017 - 16:18

DROPS Design answered:

Liebe Frau Vennemann, genauso wie andere Maßskizze, Sie finden die Maßnahmen für Rückenteil (zwischen Ärmel) und andere hilfenreichen Maßnahmen, die Sie dann mit einer anderen ähnlichen Kleidung vergleichen können. Viel Spaß beim stricken!

06.11.2017 - 10:29

Joan wrote:

I am making my daughter Drops circle jacket crochet pattern (Moonlight Mist). She is a slim 94cm bust. What size should I be following S/M or M/L and could you please let me know the back distance between the shaping of the sleeves. Thanking you. Joan

19.09.2017 - 01:38

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Joan, you will find at the bottom of the pattern a measurement chart with all measurements in each size, in cm, taken flat from side to side (ex, 40-44-48 cm between armholes on top of jacket), compare these with a similar garment she has and like the shape to find out the matching size. Happy crocheting!

19.09.2017 - 09:28

Country flag Marie-france wrote:

Bonjour, je voulais savoir si dans la taille en cm dans le chémas vous tenez compte de l'aisance. je veux dire que j'ai un tour de taille de 102 cm donc 51 cm a plat mais s'est un patron chandail over size est ce qu'il faudra que je prenne une taille plus grande pour qu'il soit over size?

20.07.2017 - 16:55

DROPS Design answered:

Bonjour Marie-France, les mesures indiquées dans le schéma sont celles de l'ouvrage final, posé à plat. Comparez les mesures d'un vêtement similaire dont vous aimez la forme pour trouver la taille idéale. Bon tricot!

21.07.2017 - 08:56

Country flag Magdalena wrote:

In einem Buch für Stricken wird grosser Wert darauf gelegt, dass man ein Muster strickt (10x10 cm), es wäscht, trocknet, bügelt und dann die Maschen zählt. Ich hab das mit Cotton Merino gemacht und festgestellt, dass mein Muster unbehandelt 19 Maschen zählt, behandelt aber 17 Maschen. Der Unterschied ist mehr als 10%! Wenn ich jetzt ein Modell auswähle, welche Maschenzahl und welche Grösse soll ich nehmen, damit mir das Kleidungsstück passt?

13.06.2017 - 17:11

DROPS Design answered:

Liebe Magdalena, Sie stricken ein neues Muster mit kleineren Nadeln, und wiederholen Waschen/Trocken Prozess bis Sie die richtigen Maschenprobe erhalten. Viel Spaß beim stricken!

13.06.2017 - 17:38

Country flag Eva Jung wrote:

I'd like to make Mermaid Stripes for my daughter but the top has no sizing other than S-M-L and no diagrams at all. The shorts are sized but not the top. Help please.

23.05.2017 - 18:31

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Mrs Jung, choose your size with your bust measurements, either small, medium or large. Your DROPS store will provide you any further individual assistance, even per mail or telephone. Happy knitting!

30.05.2017 - 08:58

Country flag Diana Aston wrote:

I am not nderstanding the flounce in this pattern Sunday Mornng Stroll 118-3. The diagram M 1 does not help me to understand what I am to do

27.04.2017 - 05:58

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Mrs Aston, in this pattern the flounce will be made thanks to diagram M.1 where you will dec 1 st in each repeat on row 1 (= K5, K2 tog), and 2 sts in each repeat on row 3 (=K1,K2 tog, K1, K2 tog), repeat diagram in width on the stated sts to decrease and shape flounce. Happy knitting!

27.04.2017 - 10:09

Country flag Josée wrote:

Bonjour, je porte habituellement du 3X (tailles fortes) pour tous mes vêtements, est-ce que le XXXL réfère a cette taille? Merci et bravo pour votre superbe site, il est formidable et si complet, tout est la! Je suis si contente d'être tombée dessus.

22.04.2017 - 11:45

DROPS Design answered:

Bonjour Josée, pour chaque modèle vous trouverez un schéma en bas de page. Comparez les mesures indiquées dans le schéma à celles d'un vêtement similaire que vous avez et dont vous aimez la forme pour trouver votre taille, voir aussi ici. Bon tricot!

24.04.2017 - 11:39

Country flag Claire Garant wrote:

Je fait le modèle Millicent 173-39 et à la fin de ma torsade j'ai 92 mailles pour 78 cm du marqueur. Je fais la taille s. Comment je compte la balance pour terminer mon tricot car ça n'arrive pas à 122. Merci de votre aide.

18.04.2017 - 14:20

DROPS Design answered:

Bonjour Mme Garant, dans ce modèe, vous devez relever 6 m dans la bordure devant, puis 1 m le long de la torsade (d'un marqueur à l'autre), et 6 m le long de la bordure devant = soit environ 122 m au total et environ 110 m entre les marqueurs. Essayez de relever des mailles à intervalles plus fréquent, et s'il en manque quelques unes, vous devez quoi qu'il arrive augmenter au rang suivant pour avoir 176 m au total, augmentez alors davantage de mailles. Bon tricot!

19.04.2017 - 10:32

Country flag Jessica wrote:

So, in the circumference sizes at the bottom of a pattern (say the sweater in the example above) the largest size, 75cm, is times 2= 150cm around? is this the same in the other patterns?

17.04.2017 - 06:34

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Jessica, that's right, all measurements are taken flat, from side to side and are always given in cm. Happy knitting!

19.04.2017 - 10:24

Izumi wrote:

Hi, can you tell me how to determine glove sizes? There is no schematic drawings for gloves, just XS/S/M/L, so it is difficult to guess which size to go for. Thanks

06.04.2017 - 13:09

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Izumi! You have to read carefully the pattern description. There are some indications like length for example. Just try to make the first pair of gloves, and then you will know! Happy knitting!

06.04.2017 - 13:36

Country flag Eva Stjernholm wrote:

Funderar på att beställa Blue Danube 166-34 jacka/kofta. Har storlek L-XL vilken storlek bör jag ta.? Mvh Eva S

22.03.2017 - 15:36

DROPS Design answered:

Hej Eva. Hvis du laeser her, saa ser du tips til hvordan du kan vaelge din störrelse. Saa hvis du fölger tipsene her og ser paa maalskitsen paa selve opskriften, saa maa du beslutte hvilken af de to str du mener vil passe dig bedst. Du kan ogsaa tage en snak med din garnbutik, de kan ogsaa hjaelpe dig med at vaelge

23.03.2017 - 12:51

Country flag Laurel wrote:

I would love to knit "Take Me to Spain", but am unsure of its fit. I have a small bust size and would typically make a Size Small. As the photo does not include a full front view I am wondering how much stretch this pattern has. Thank you for your assistance.

25.02.2017 - 18:31

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Laurel, you will find at the bottom of the pattern a measurement chart including all finished measurements taken flat from side to side in each size. Compare these to a similar garment you have and like the shape to find out the matching size. Remember your DROPS store will also provide you any further personnal assistance. Happy knitting!

27.02.2017 - 11:59

Country flag Kisti Skarp wrote:

Hej Jag stickar koftan Bluebird och undrar lite över hur stor omkrets det ska vara på ärmarna efter att man minskar ner antalet maskor till hälften? Jag har stickat 2 v resår men tycker de är jättestora i omkrets, 26 cm.

02.02.2017 - 21:10

DROPS Design answered:

Hej Kisti. Kan du spörge paa opskriften selv? Da er det lidt nemmere at kigge med :)

06.02.2017 - 12:33

Country flag Ruth wrote:

Please guide me how to figure out how S-M-L...XXXL to the disagrams that show inches. I am interested in making Irish Winter Cable but do not know how to select the size that will let the sweater fit as it is designed to fit. Do you have a page on your site to guide me?

28.01.2017 - 23:36

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Ruth, you'll find a converter to calculate in inches all measurements in chart to find out the matching size. Happy knitting!

30.01.2017 - 14:27

Country flag Nicole Dupuis wrote:

J,aimerais savoir pour prendre les mesure tableau de mesure pour savoir si on tricotte un small medium ou large etc ou sont ses mesures dans drops design. merci à vous

10.01.2017 - 21:11

DROPS Design answered:

Bonjour Mme Dupuis, vous trouverez en bas de chaque modèle un schéma avec les mesures pour chaque taille, en cm, prises à plat d'un côté à l'autre. Comparez ces mesures à un vêtement similaire dont vous aimez la forme pour trouver la taille. Voir aussi ici. Bon tricot!

11.01.2017 - 09:44

Country flag Sarah wrote:

I am unsure how to select sizes because different patterns have different amounts of ease. Different weights of fabric will alter how my own garments fit and drape so I could guess wrong. Do you have a guide for the bust / waist / hip size each of your sizings (S-M-L, etc) is intended for? Then we could just take our own measurements. Or could you give the amount of positive or negative ease for each design to achieve the fit shown in the photo?

24.11.2016 - 02:34

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Sarah, compare the measurements from a similar garment you have and like the shape to the one given in the measurement chart to find out the matching size. Remember, your DROPS store will provide you any further individual assistance if required, even per mail or telephone. Happy knitting!

24.11.2016 - 10:02

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