You are an experienced crocheter. Do you really need to start with an easy garment pattern?

There's actually a lot that goes into answering that question because the hard part about making your first garment has nothing to do with crochet and is all about learning about creating a sweater that fits and is comfortable when you're finished.

Fit & Ease

If fit and ease are new concepts to you, you definitely should consider starting with an easy pattern. To determine fit and ease we're gonna need to start with with getting good measurements of your body. Go read this blog post , measure yourself, and then come back here.

Next we need to figure out the amount of ease you prefer. What is ease? Ease is the difference between your body measurement and the finished garment measurement.

Go grab a sweater from your wardrobe that fits the way you like. Lay it flat and measure the chest and the widest part of the arm. Compare those numbers to your body numbers. If the chest measurement of the sweater is 2-4" larger than your body measurement then that is a more classic fit. More than that would be a relaxed or loose fit. Less than that would be considered a close fit.

Choosing a pattern

Now that you have your measurements and your preferred ease we need to start looking at patterns how how they are intended to fit. A pattern it should list then amount of intended ease. If this is your first garment, ideally you'll want to start with a pattern where you won't have to make modifications. You'll want to start with a pattern that has the right amount of ease for you in both the chest and the arm. Often only chest ease will be listed but you can figure out how much ease you'll have in the arm from the schematic.

Next you'll want to consider the garment's construction and design elements. As a first time garment maker, you may not even be aware of all the various construction methods. Designs can be worked from the top down or bottom up or from side to side. They can be seamless, worked in pieces and sewn or anywhere in between.

Choose a pattern with an easier construction

A top-down and seamless garment (or almost seamless) allows you to easily try the garment on as you go. When you get more experience this won't be needed but it really helps when you're just starting out. You can make tweaks or decide you just need to try a different size. Note: If your gauge changed after blocking, keep that in mind while trying on your garment. For example, if your gauge swatch grew a lot, your garment is going to feel tight.

Choose a pattern without a bunch of fancy design elements

We all love elaborate designs but if you're just starting out, it might be easier to not have to worry about cables or elaborate stitch patterns so you can concentrate on all the fit related things that are new to you. After you're comfortable with creating a garment that fits you well, then go ahead and dive into a more difficult pattern.

Setting yourself up for success

Now that you've picked a pattern, do your homework. Read the pattern from start to finish. Swatch until you get the right gauge. I know everybody hates doing a gauge swatch. But if you don't swatch you'll have no idea why your garment didn't fit at the end. Check out this blog post for creating a gauge swatch that doesn't lie.

Pattern Suggestions

If you've read this far, you're probably wanting some suggestions for a first garment pattern.

Short sleeve tops
Check out the Garden Top and the Lunar top. They are both worked from the top down. The Lunar top is worked in the round and the Garden top is worked flat but you can use a connecting stitch and try on as you go. They both have easy bust adjustment information for folks who need some extra fabric in the front.

Cardigans
Cardigan are a little less fussy with fit because they open in the front. The Pebbles Cardigan is a top-down raglan worked mostly in Tss. It's a great first long sleeve garment pattern.