all the soakers I knit are HUGE

[sparkly]

I've knitted 3 soakers--one wrap, two pull up ones. I'm at the recommended gauge (or very, very close). These things look *enormous* for a newborn, even if I have a diaper underneath. I haven't washed them yet, but I'll be handwashing, so I can't imagine they'll shrink much. I have no idea how we'll get clothes over these things, much less if they'll work if they're baggy and droopy.

Does anyone have measurements for how big a newborn size should be?

[poisonedapple]

I'd say rise should be around 12-15 (depending if its a real newborn or just a small size labeled as such). Waist I'd imagine fitting 12-16".

For the true newborn items I've made, I've used these measurements -> Measurements: 12-14 waist; 11.5 rise; 4.5 inseam

I cast on 64 on size 6 needles and then size up to 8's past the ribbing. My gauge on the 8's is 5 stitches per inch. I hope this helps you some!

[sparkly]

hmm...maybe I don't get what the rise is. I thought it was the length from the crotch to the top of the waistband? If so, isn't 11.5" big? I think my own jeans are about that!

[poisonedapple]

You almost got it for rise, but it's from the back waist band, between the legs/crotch, to the top of the front waist band. A big "U" the rise is what covers the diaper. I hope that makes sense.

[sparkly]

Thanks. I think I'll make yet another one...using one of the same patterns but resizing it to the measurements you gave, since I am not expecting to pop out a 15 lb baby (I sure hope not!)

[poisonedapple]

One last thing....

If you bought newborn cloth diapers, try measuring the rise on those to see what your rise should be on the wool.

Because if you bought all small diapers, the rise won't be large enough on your wool to go over them. I have some newborn BBH that my wool will fit perfectly over. A photo here. HTH!

I wouldn't want you to start over and then not have diapers that fit the wool. And the good thing about your other wool is that though you probably aren't having a 15lb baby, they should still fit at some point as your baby grows. My first soaker I ever made wouldn't even fit my 7 year old