Can we talk about sleeves (crochet and knitted)?

[motdaugrnds]

I'm having a hard time understanding sleeves....

When I was using the looms to "knit" and knitted sleeves into sweaters, they were a simple continuance of the bodice with only exception being a few increases on one side (top of one sleeve) and a few decreases on the other side (top of other sleeve).

Now I'm learning to "crochet" and no matter what I do, it has to be taken out because it just doesn't look right. I've watched youtube videos on crocheting long sleeves and they are not helpful as the ones I've found simply show two rectangle pieces created exactly alike to be attached to the bodice. This does not make a good looking sweater...at least it doesn't look good to me because the wrist area is as wide as the armhole area.

When I measure my own arm, the length from top of shoulder down to wrist is longer than from under the arm to the wrist. This tells me if I "crochet" the rows lengthwise, I need to decrease the rows UNDER THE ARM (arm pit to wrist). Yet when I do this, the sleeve looks upside down. If I decrease the rows SHOULDER TO WRIST the sleeve is much shorter at the top than it is at the bottom when the sleeves are laid flat against the sides of the bodice, i.e. same as were one wearing it.  So how to figure this is evading me bigtime....

Crocheting the long sleeves from wrist to wrist (going across shoulders) looks fine in the beginning; however, since the wrist size is smaller than the arm hole size, something needs to be done....but what?  And I'm not finding any videos that speak to this. Can anyone help me with this and/or direct me to a video where I can learn?

[Maura]

Find the tip top of the sleeve opening. If you made the front exactly the same as the back with no drop at the front of the neck, it will be easy. Mark with a pin. Measure two inches to the left of the pin. Mark with another pin. Do the same on the right.

Begin on the right side of the garment and pick up the stitches from Pin 2 to Pin 3 (or 3 to 2). Crochet back, adding one pick up at the end. Go back and forth until you have picked up all the armhole stitches..

Join in round.Place marker. Crochet round and round

If the sweater is flat and not seamed at t he sides, you can crochet back and forth.

Every four inches decrease at each side of center under the arm (where a seam would be). This should make enough decreases to the wrist.

This is very basic and. you can tweak it to personalize.

[motdaugrnds]

Maura, Thank you so much for the information. Now let me see if I understand what you've said.

Since front/back are exactly the same (neck is boat type) I can find the "top" of the shoulder easy. Yes I did! Ok marked! Now you stated, "...Measure two inches to the left of the pin. Mark with another pin. Do the same on the right..." What I think you said was to mark with a pin the top of the armhole and measure two inches down the armhole on each side of that one sleeve. Is this correct? OR Are you telling me to measure two inches on the shoulder toward the neck?

Now I'm lost where you said "...pick up the stitches from one pin to the other crocheting back and forth..." Wouldn't this mean I'm creating the sleeve only 2 inches wide on that front or back side at the armhole? "...Go back and forth until you have picked up all the armhole stitches..." Are you saying to move the two pins down the armhole for another two inches?

Maybe this is what you mean...??...Start at the top of the shoulder at armhole and crochet around the entire armhole over and over and over again; and every 4 inches "decrease" one stitch at the middle of the row on both sides of the sleeve. You stated, "...Every four inches decrease at each side of the center under the arm (where a seam would be)..." Maura if I'm going "around" the sleeve with the stitches, the center of the row would not be under the arm where a seam would be. So I'm real confused here. Can you clarify?

[feather]

If you are making a sweater, and I'm impressed with all you do, and you can't find the right shape for the sleeve. How you envision it. What about finding a fabric pattern for a shirt/sweater, where it shows you the shape of the sleeves when they are laid out flat. Then make your sleeves in that shape? Since it would make a shirt/sweater, then if your sleeve was in that shape, it should/ought to be right for your crocheted or knitted sweater? I guess that is the direction I'd take it.

[motdaugrnds]

Feather thank you for helping. Understanding the "shape" (even the size) of what I want is not the problem. Being a seamstress and having made most of my own clothes all my life, I do know about shapes, sizes and how they fit together. I envision crocheting (and knitting) in a similar fashion and, of course, this causes me to be "creative" in what I do. LOL However, in sewing material one simply places the pieces together and creates a seam. In knitting/crocheting one does this with loops that stretch.

I have envisioned the shape of what I'm crocheting, sleeves included; however, how to get the loops to perform for the outcome I want is something I'm finding difficult to understand.

[Maura]

You pin to mark the edge of the armhole opening. As you go back and forth you pick up an extra stitch at each side. This is called short rowing in knitting. Your sleeve cap gets wider and wider as you move down.

Google short row sleeves and you should be able to find directions for knitting that you can transfer to crochet.

[motdaugrnds]

Maura, I am not understanding what you're saying. I'll google as you suggested. Thanks.