How to read a knit

Short fibres work loose in the first weeks and form pills. Comb them off once and the surface settles. A jumper that never pills is usually one held together with synthetic fibre.

01 — Gauge

Stitches per inch. A 7-gauge sweater is chunky; a 14-gauge one is fine.

02 — Shaping

Fully fashioned pieces are knitted to shape. Cut-and-sew ones are cut from a sheet.

03 — Ply

More plies means a rounder, stronger yarn that pills less.

Find the weight you will actually wear.