How much ease in a toddler's sweater?

[raitch]

I'm designing an Aran sweater for Charlotte and my original thought was 4" of ease (she's got a 20" chest, so 24" total) but is that too much for a tiny person? What's the norm?

[jmo]

Anwyn always looks like she's swimming when I put 4" of ease into a sweater for her, and she also has a 20" chest

The best thing to do is measure one of Charlotte's current sweaters that fits like you want the Aran to fit, then knit to that size.

[raitch]

Oh duh. I knew that! Thanks Michelle.

Oddly enough I measured the well-fitting FCC sweater and it's 26". :bag

[littleturtlemama]

measuring a good-fitting sweater helps, but you aso have to tak einto account the INSIDE circ of the sweater. for example, the outside circumference of a cabled aran done in a heavy worsted or even chunky yarn can be 26", but if you were able to measure the inside, under the bulk of the yarn and the cables, it could well be significantly less (like 1-1.5") so definitely think about how thick the fabric will be when you're finished and adjust up accordingly.

How with the sweater be worn? Will it be over a turtleneck, tee shirt, nothign underneath? Those are also factors to think about - if it'll be over a turtleneck, then add more - something like 3-5" of ease.

[raitch]

Thanks T. Those are GREAT points.