How to Interpret a PetiteKnit Pattern

PetiteKnit design the most beautiful patterns. Showcasing simple shapes and luxurious yarns the patterns are clear and concise and easy to follow. However they are not laid out in the same way as a typical UK pattern so here’s all you need to know to work out  your perfect size and yarn requirements.

The first part of the pattern to read is the pattern introduction and size guide.

Pattern - This gives you an overview of the pattern, whether it is worked top down or bottom up, what stitch pattern is used, how the yoke is worked etc. Some of the terminology and techniques may seem a bit daunting however the pattern explains it all perfectly as you move through it. 

Size Guide - This will tell you the amount of positive ease the garment is designed to have. Positive ease is in most garments we wear, if it wasn’t then garments would be skin tight. The amount of positive ease will vary from garment to garment. The model on the front of the pattern will be wearing her bust measurement plus the right amount of positive ease. 

Measure yourself before you start every project in either inches or centimetres and pick the right size for your bust measurement. Do not assume that because you were a large on one pattern you will be a large on all of her designs. I have knitted two PetiteKnit garments so far and was an XL on one design and a L on the other. I will use the Friday Slipover size guide to explain.

My bust measurement is 97cms, which equates to the fourth size (95-100) L. The finished size of the large (given on the front cover of the pattern) will be 105cm.

Gauge - this is the European & US term for tension. To ensure your tension is correct you MUST knit a tension square. Cast on more than the stitches given and knit more rows than it asks for. This will allow you to measure it correctly. If the pattern says it should be washed and blocked before measuring please do so. 

NB. Not all PetiteKnit patterns ask for the tension square to be washed and blocked beforehand.

Materials - PetiteKnit patterns give you the total number of grammes needed, not the number of balls. Again I’ll explain using the Friday Slipover.

I am knitting the large size, this is the fourth size. Before I start my project I always ring the size I am making throughout the pattern.

You hold two yarns together for this project, Sunday & Tynn Silk Mohair. I need 200g of Sunday by Sandnes Garn which comes in a 50g ball; 200 divided by 50g equals 4 balls of Sunday. I also require 100g of Tynn Silk, this comes in 25g balls so I need 4 balls of this yarn.


If you are intending to use another yarn not Sandnes Garn, you need to have the right length of yarn, NOT number of grammes eg. Sunday has 235 metres on each ball, 4 balls x 235 metres = 940 metres of another yarn of the same weight. Tynn Silk has 212 metres of yarn per 25g ball, so I need 848 metres of my alternative yarn.

Once you have your size and the right yarn then you are good to go. As I said initially the patterns are beautifully explained, read them thoroughly and trust the process but most importantly enjoy it!