Sweater Fit
Correct measurements and ease are critical to achieving the perfect knit fit
Throughout the apparel industry, you will come across a variety of terms which indicate the way clothing will fit any given person. This terminology applies to knitwear as well.
Sweaters can be described as fitted, close fitting, of average fit, loose fitting and even oversized. Don't let the label fool you...Depending on the style of the sweater, each descriptive sizing label represents an amount of wearing and design ease, in other words - extra inches - that have been "built into" or subtracted from the pattern to give the finished garment a particular fit and overall look.
What is wearing ease?
Wearing ease is the amount of extra fabric in a sweater above and beyond your actual body measurements.
You actually need this extra space just so you can move while wearing your sweater.
It is also assumed that you will be wearing the sweater layered over another item of clothing...ex: a long sleeve shirt. The long sleeved shirt will take up some of that extra "space".
Fitted = -10% wearing ease
Close fit = - 5% wearing ease
Average fit = up to 10% wearing ease
Loose fitting = nearly 15% wearing ease
Oversized fit = up to 20% wearing ease
Actual Versus Finished Measurements
What is design ease? Design ease is the amount of extra fabric added to the wearing ease in order to give a finished sweater the specific look a designer intended to achieve.