Hoods

[missazrael]

A few years back, I made a cardigan for myself that had a hood.  I fouled up the pattern somehow (I can't quite figure out how), and ended up with a really large neckline and a correspondingly large hood.  We're talking a Sith Lord, down-over-the-face hood.  Despite its other flaws, I was happy with the cardigan and wear it proudly

Comments

[linda_joyce]

That is what I was thinking, it's a method I used when peasant sleves were fashionable ,way back when. You pick up the number of stitches the pattern says for the neckband then simply increase by knitting 2 or 3 stitches into each stitch on the first line. If that isn't enough you simply repeat for the second line.

[e_morgan]

I haven't knit a hooded sweater either, so I may be way off, but I'm thinking:

Does the hood have better drape (is it considerably more floppy) than the rest of the sweater? If it does, I would guess that your gauge was somehow different between the hood and the body. If that's the case, you should be able to replicate the effect by either using larger needles on the hood or by holding the yarn significantly more loosely on the hood than on the body.

I think this would only apply if the body and the hood were made of similarly-textured stitches, though.

[sjeknits]

I have sewn cloaks for costuming with those enormous "Kinsale" hoods, and the excess fabric was darted into the neckline. My suggestion is to try to drape it. Have him put on something with the general neckshape and fit you want. (or, if he's like the men in my family, have a more cooperative female friend sit in for him!) Use some fabric that will drape as much like the sweater you want to make as you can find. Polar fleece, or an old sweatshirt may work well. Cut a hood shape that is bigger than you think you need and shape it and fiddle with it until it looks good. Pin or baste it to the neckline. Do a final fit,remove, and measure it. Figure your stitch count, increases & decreases etc by your gauge , and you are set.

[missazrael]

That is exactly what I wanted. Thank you so much!