One of the most surprising benefits of knitting garments isn’t the sweaters themselves — it’s what you learn about fit.
Once you’ve knit a garment, taken your own measurements, and compared them to a schematic, you start to see clothing differently. And that knowledge doesn’t stop with handmade pieces. You can use it to make much better choices when buying ready-to-wear clothes, especially online.
Knitting Teaches You What “Fit” Actually Means
When you knit a sweater, you don’t rely on vague sizes like small, medium, or large. You look at:
- Bust or chest circumference
- Ease (how much extra room you want or don’t)
- Sleeve length
- Body length
You learn quickly that two garments labeled the same size can fit very differently — because measurements matter more than the label.
That mindset transfers beautifully to store-bought clothing.
Take (and Keep) Your Measurements
If you knit garments, you’ve likely already taken your measurements. If not, this is your sign.
At a minimum, it helps to know:
- Bust or chest
- Upper Bust (just under the armpits)
- Waist
- Hips
When knitting, it also helps to know your preferred…
- Ease
- Sleeve length
- Top length
…for each basic sweater shape (raglan, round yoke, drop shoulder, etc.).
Keep these measurements somewhere easy to access — your phone notes app works perfectly.
Once you know your numbers, clothing sizes become much less mysterious.
In my experience, this process also helps with body image confidence by flipping the clothes-buying method we learned originally on its head. We can use our knitting knowledge to find clothes that fit us rather than trying to make ourselves fit into clothes. It’s liberating. Please try it.
Size Charts Are Your Best Friend
Online shopping gets much easier when you stop guessing and start comparing.
Instead of thinking, “I’m usually a medium,” you can look at the store’s size chart to find their intended size based on your own measurements. This is even more helpful if you are usually between sizes.
That’s the same logic you use when choosing a sweater size in a knitting pattern — and it works just as well for ready-to-wear.
The result?
- Fewer returns
- Fewer “almost right” purchases
- Clothes you actually want to wear
- Confidence in fit
Understand Ease (Yes, Even for Store-Bought Clothes)
Knitting teaches you that fit isn’t just about measurements — it’s about ease.
Some store-bought garments are meant to:
- Fit closely
- Skim the body
- Hang loosely
Once you understand how ease affects comfort and style, you can look at size charts and product descriptions with a more informed eye.
A boxy sweater with lots of ease may need a different size than a fitted knit top — just like in knitting.
Fit Knowledge = Confidence, Not Restriction
Using measurements isn’t about shrinking yourself into a number. It’s about choosing clothes that work for your body.
Just like with knitting:
- You can adjust lengths
- You can prefer more or less ease
- You can ignore the size label entirely
The goal isn’t perfection — it’s comfort and confidence.
Your Knitting Skills Go Further Than You Think
Knitting garments teaches patience, problem-solving, and attention to detail — but it also teaches you how clothes are constructed and how they’re meant to fit.
Once you see that, you’ll shop differently – with more intention, fewer returns, and more satisfaction.
Turns out, knitting really does pay off in unexpected ways.
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