What To Do When Your Knitting Does Not Match The Pattern Photos

A simple guide to understanding why knitting projects sometimes look different from the pattern photos.

From time to time all knitters experience the disappointment of a tea cosy or other knitting project not turning out as expected. Maybe the fit is wrong, the finish is not as neat as you hoped, or it simply does not look like the knitting pattern pictures. It can feel disheartening and it can take the wind out of your sails, so here are a few pointers that can help prevent that underwhelming feeling when a finished knitting project does not quite meet the grade.

One of the biggest reasons knitting projects go off track is substituted yarn. Not all yarns behave the same. Next time you are in a yarn shop, try rolling a single strand of two DK yarns between your finger and thumb at the same time. You will often feel a difference straight away. Hayfield Bonus DK is slightly thicker than Stylecraft Special DK, and Cygnet DK is thinner again.

This matters because the tension and finished density of the knitting will change. As a designer I like to use Stylecraft Special DK because it is a good all round yarn, reasonably priced, good value for money and widely available in most UK shops and online. If you switch to Hayfield Bonus DK your tea cosy will come out a little larger. That might not sound dramatic, but if you need the cosy to grip the teapot, that small change can make it slip. If you switch to Cygnet DK the finished cosy may look thin, you may see the teapot through the stitches, and the overall size may be too small.

This is why every knitting pattern includes the tension you should be working to. If you knit a tension square at the start of the project and measure it without stretching or squashing the fabric, you will know whether you are on track. If your square is too big, go down a needle size. If it is too small, go up a size. This helps ensure the cosy turns out the correct size. If you want your tea cosy to look like the photos, avoid substituting the yarn, especially the yarn for the main body of the cosy.

Sometimes tension can vary throughout the project. You might knit differently if you are tired or stressed, or your hands may be too warm which can stop the yarn running smoothly.

Another common culprit is the yarn ball itself. They are not really balls these days and they do not always release the yarn easily. Tugging at these brick shaped balls can pull on your work and create tight stitches in some places and loose stitches in others. I like to pull a small amount of yarn off the ball before I start and knit until that slack runs out, then pull off a little more. Do not pull off too much at once or it can tangle. Just enough for a couple of rows is ideal and it helps you avoid tugging.

Pattern reading, or misreading, can also change the outcome. If a row or section looks complicated, read it carefully and follow it exactly as written. Do not overthink it and do not assume the designer meant something that is not stated. If something does not make sense, do not push on regardless. Search Google, look for help videos, ask a friend or a knitting group. There is a whole internet full of knitting knowledge and knitters are always happy to help.

Sometimes it is not the knitting itself that causes a finished item to look different from the pattern photos. Often it is the sewing up and the final finishing that make the biggest difference. Sewing up is a lifelong journey and something we all keep learning. Over the years my own finishing has improved simply by staying curious, reading tips and watching videos whenever I come across them, always looking for a new idea that might make my work a little neater. Keep exploring and trying new techniques and you will find that your finishing gradually improves and your projects start to look closer to the photos. It really is all about practice. You know your own weak spots, so if side seams are tricky for you, read a clear guide just before you sew the next one. Having the advice fresh in your mind helps you put it into action and using it straight away makes it far more likely to stay with you for future projects.

For most people, knitting is a lot like handwriting. We are all taught the same way to form the letters of the alphabet, but everyone’s handwriting looks different. In the same way, everyone’s knitting is distinctive to them. Every time you knit something, it becomes an individual piece that only you could have made.

Read about How to Sew Up Knitting Seams Neatly with Mattress Stitch here.


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