What should I do? glove turned out too small

[Laggie]

Just wondering if a more experienced knitter can advise me...

I just knitted a fingerless glove from a knitty pattern and it came out too small. I think maybe my knitting is just too tight? I was using size 4 needles and it was supposed to end up being 7" around the palm but it's more like 6" (maybe 6.25") I'm just not sure, if I switch up to a size 6 needle will it end up way too big?

I was planning to knit 3 pairs for xmas gifts, now I'm not sure what to do...

[Marlet]

Have you tried blocking it?

[DeerMother]

I made some mitts too big. I just counted how many more stitches I wanted and redid them. If you like how they look on 4s, I would just figure how many more stitches you need to add an inch and co that many more next time.

[Laggie]

Originally Posted by Marlet

Have you tried blocking it?

Um... I don't quite know what that means! I think wetting the wool and stretching it and pinning it down somehow? I dunno... if I have to knit 6 of them that seems like a lot of work, and won't they just shrink again as soon as they get wet?

Adding an inch isn't so simple, I would have to add stitches to each of the fingers and I don't think I would get it right. Maybe I'll try the bigger needles and see how it goes.

PS. I'm knitting this pattern

[Krisis]

I think that's what blocking means but I'm not sure. However I just wanted to say that omg those mittens are so cute! I wish I had seen that pattern before I started my current project. Woooowwwww.

[onelilguysmommy]

If you use bigger needles instead of figuring out gauge, you will end up with large fingers as well.

[lnupermom]

Did you make a swatch first? Since the gloves are knit in the round, your swatch needs to be that way as well (or faux round). The swatch also needs to be treated in the same way you will treat the finished project--so if you're just going to wash dry the gloves, that is what you do to the swatch; if you are going to block the gloves, you block the swatch. Blocking is not going to work for non-animal fibers overall though.

[JessicaTX]

I'd do the men's pattern if I consistently knitted an inch tighter than their gauge =D

[Laggie]

Originally Posted by JessicaTX

I'd do the men's pattern if I consistently knitted an inch tighter than their gauge =D

Oh, why didn't I think of that!?! The fingers are too tight as well, that is the part that is uncomfortable actually... but the men's pattern should be perfect and I don't have to rework the numbers myself and screw it up.

I know I should have knitted a swatch but I'm so slow at knitting, I've never figured out a good way to hold the yarn despite looking at people doing it on youtube over and over. I'm not a very good visual learner... or maybe just horribly uncoordinated. Well and I missed the line in the pattern about gauge until now. I've only knitted socks before this and that was from a tutorial (silver's sock tutorial) so I'm still at the "knitting for dummies" level.

Anyway thanks all for the suggestions!

[flapjack]

Ah. Funny you should say that. I just knitted the child's size, eased up on gauge slightly and my DS finds them uncomfortable. I had assumed that I'd find someone that they'd fit, but have you read the pattern notes on ravelry? It might be worth it before we both go loopy...

[Knittin' in the Shade]

what is your gauge versus the stated gauge for the pattern? That's the most likely culprit, so I'd check that and if you're off then change needle size (and Do A Swatch!) until you hit the pattern's gauge, and then all should be well from there on