Expert: Bea Harrell - 3/9/2008

Question
I am currently trying to crochet a dress for my neice however the size goes up to a 4T and she is a 5T, how do I make the pattern work to fit her? Thank you.

Answer
Hi, Trish! There are 2 possibilities here. You can can check the pattern for the different sizes, and see how many extra stitches are needed for each size increase. For instance the 1t/12 mo, uses less stitches than the 2t pattern, which uses less stitches than the 3t. count the difference in the number of stitches, noting how many stitches are increases for each larger size ie: size 1 is increased by 2 stitches, size 3 is increased by 4 stitches. If that's the way the increases are handled, then size 4 will be 2 stitches more than size 3, and size 5 would be two more stitches larger than the size 4.
Adjust your pattern from the size 4 to the required number of stitches. I usually just go through the pattern, mark out the directions and add the correct numbers. It's a bit time consuming!
  Your other option is to use a hook size 1 or 2 sizes larger than the pattern calls for. If you still need it to be a bit bigger, you can use a bigger thread size. So, if your using a hook size 9, go up to a 7 or 5 (this is steel hooks)or for yarn hooks go from an f to a G or H. If your using a size 10 thread go to a size 8 or 5.
Now have fun deciding!
Best Wishes,   Bea