Hi Knit Sew Quilt knitters,`

These days more patterns are doing away with age groups and just listing chest sizes in their knitting patterns, and making it even harder by just putting centimetres and not the corresponding inches. Yes I know NZ went metric over 40 years ago but inches were easier for some things and are still used today in knitting and quilting...

So here's any easy way to translate those pesky patterns... the "to fit" measurements are the child's chest measurement over a singlet at most, and any "actual garment" measurement is the finished size - the difference between these is known as "ease" - but more about that later.

BABYS sizing

Age - Months 0    0-3   6-9   12-18   24   months
To Fit - cm     35   40    45       50     55   centimetres
To Fit - inch   14   16     18      20     22   inches

The 14" will often fit only small to medium babies and not for long so a 16" will last longer, the other ages are approximate because babies vary so much so it's best to get an actual measurement before you start knitting.
If in doubt knit a larger size, it will be useful for longer than the guess at the right size for the baby's age which may only fir for a few eeks (if at all).

CHILDS sizing

 
Age - Years     2    4      6     8     10    12    years
To Fit - cm      55   60   65   70    75    80    centimetres
To Fit - inch    22   24   26   28    30    32    inches

An easy way to remember for average children's sizing is that 22inch is 2 years old. 24 inches is 4 years old etc

There is no such thing as an 'average' child but if your knitting is going to be a surprise and you can't measure first, you can get a good idea from clothing size the child is already wearing, or by comparing to a friend's child and asking what size they are.

If you have a topic you want covered or a tip of your own to share, please contact me.
Happy knitting.
Fern