sorry to be such a pitb. but here's the deal....

ok, so I was making that homespun hoodie sweater for Mason. Got the front and back done. Put them together. Go to put it on over his head to see how it's fitting so far and the darn head hole was too small. So I fiddled around with it as best I could without taking it all the way apart again and I got it to fit over his head.

I think I know what I did wrong. But I put it aside bc I have baby gifts to make.

So now I'm making this sweater as a gift http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/kce-oneStitchBabySet.html (And may I say cotton yarn and size 9 needles are a beautiful thing!!)

and I want to make sure that what I think I did wrong last time really was wrong before I don't make the same mistake this time. (follow that? lol!)

So, here's the question: When the pattern says to knit until it measures 4 1/2" do I count the stitches on the needles in that measurement or only what is below the needle?

Last time I counted them and I think that's why the head hole was too small. I would have lost about 1/4" on each side resulting in a head hole 1/2" smaller than it was intended to be. And 1/2" difference on a baby sweater could really matter so I thought it best to just ask.

Thanks! (again)

Nope, you don't count the stitches on the needle. Only count the fabric you've actually made so far.

I always overthink all this stuff too.

thank you! I think by the time people get so good that they're writing patterns for others to follow they forget that beginners don't automatically know stuff that should be obvious lol. I figured that I had made a mistake counting the stitches on the needle. But ya just never know... lol!

expect more questions when I get to the buttonholes ;)

Dannielle, I made a sweater that I couldn't get over my son's head and then I realized that I needed to bind off in pattern to make it stretchy, does that help at all??