Take Measurements

• 1). Measure your upper bust, which is the area above the fullest part of your bust, before the breast tissue begins--almost in your armpit. Make sure to keep the tape measure level all the way around to get an accurate measurement.
  
  
• 2). Measure the fullest part of your bust.
  
  
• 3). Measure under your bust line, around your ribcage.
  
  
• 4). Write down all the measurements.
  
  

Start the Sweater

• 1). Choose a pattern size for the upper bust measurement.
  
  
• 2). Start knitting the sweater for your size. Follow the pattern instructions and knit to 1 inch below the fullest part of your bust.
  
  
• 3). Subtract your under-bust measurement from the full bust line measurement. This is the total amount in inches that you must decrease. For example, if your full bust measurement is 42 inches and the measurement under the bust line is 32 inches, the total amount to decrease is 10 inches.
  
  
• 4). Count the number of stitches per inch you are getting for the sweater, or the "stitch gauge." Divide that number by two, because you will make two darts--one on each side. For example, if your stitch gauge is 4 stitches per inch, decrease two stitches per round for each dart.
  
  
• 5). Divide the total amount to decrease by the number of stitches per round to get the total number of rounds you will work the decreases in. In our example, 10 divided by 2 is 5.
  
  

Place the Darts

• 1). Mark the center of each armhole with a safety pin. This divides the front of the sweater from the back. Count the number of stitches on the front of the sweater, between the markers.
  
  
• 2). Divide the number of stitches of the front of the sweater by four to determine where to put the darts. For example, if the front of the sweater is 80 stitches, divide 80 by 4 to get 20 stitches.
  
  
• 3). Knit one round, placing a marker after one-quarter of the stitches and one at three-quarters. In our example, you would place markers after stitches 20 and 60.
  
  
• 4). Knit to the first marker, slip the marker. Slip one stitch, knit one stitch and pass the slipped stitch over the knit stitch. Knit to two stitches before the next marker and knit two stitches together. This is decrease round.
  
  
• 5). Knit one round even with no decreases.
  
  
• 6). Repeat the decrease round followed by an even round for the number of rounds determined above. In our example, that is five times.
  
  
• 7). Continue knitting the sweater as directed by the pattern.