A sweater should fit close enough that the shoulder seams sit at the edge of your shoulders and the sleeves end at your wrist bone, but loose enough that you can lift your arms without the hem riding up or the knit pulling across your chest. If you see stretched stitches, the size is too small; if the shoulder seams hang halfway down your arms (on a sweater that isn't meant to be oversized), it's too big.
That's the short version. Below is a simple, check-it-in-the-mirror guide to each part of the fit, plus how the rules change for loose, cropped and long styles.
Start With the Shoulders
The shoulders are the hardest part of a sweater to change, so check them first. On a regular-fit sweater, the shoulder seam should land right where your shoulder bone ends. If it sits up on top of your shoulder, the sweater is too narrow and will pull. If it drops a few inches down your arm, it's either too big or it's a dropped-shoulder style on purpose.
Dropped shoulders are completely fine on relaxed and oversized sweaters. If you're shopping a loose style, like the Loose Turtleneck Sweater, expect more room overall. The point is that the extra room should look intentional and even, not like the whole sweater is sliding off you.
Check the Chest and Body
Look at the knit across your chest and stomach. The stitches should lie flat and even. If you can see the pattern stretching, gaps between stitches, or horizontal pull lines, size up.
A good test: cross your arms in front of you, like you're hugging yourself. If the back feels tight or the knit strains, the sweater is too small. You want a little room to move, about the width of your hand of extra fabric when you pinch it at the side, for a regular fit.
Sleeve Length: Aim for the Wrist
Sleeves should end at your wrist bone or just past it, covering the top of your hand slightly at most. Raise your arms straight out in front of you. If the cuffs pull back more than an inch or two up your forearm, the sleeves are short for you.
Slightly long sleeves are the easier problem to live with, since knit cuffs can be pushed up and usually stay put. Many people actually like a little extra length in fall so they can pull the cuffs over their hands on chilly mornings.
Where the Hem Should Hit
For a classic pullover, the hem usually lands around the hip, somewhere between your belt line and the middle of your hips. That length works with jeans, trousers and skirts, tucked or untucked.
Other lengths have different jobs:
- Cropped: ends at or just above your natural waist. It's made to pair with high-waisted pants and skirts, like the Short Zip-Up Knit Cardigan.
- Long or tunic length: covers your hips and sometimes the top of your thighs. Great over leggings or jeans, like the Relaxed Long Sweater.
- Regular: hits around the hip and is the most flexible for tucking.
Whatever the length, the hem should lie flat. If it flares out or rides up into a roll around your hips, the sweater is tight through the body.
Should a Sweater Be Tight or Loose?
Neither, unless that's the style. A fitted sweater should skim your body without clinging, and a loose sweater should look relaxed without swallowing you. The easiest way to tell is to check the product description: if a sweater is labeled relaxed or loose, it's designed to have extra room, so don't size down hoping to make it fitted.
If you plan to wear a sweater under a coat, a smoother, mid-weight knit with a regular fit is your friend. The V-Neck Knit Sweater is a good example: it's a mid-weight knit that layers under a coat without bunching at the shoulders. Very thick, very loose sweaters are cozy on their own but can feel crowded inside a fitted coat sleeve.
How to Pick the Right Size Online
Trying sweaters on at home means you can't grab the next size off the rack, so a minute of measuring saves a lot of hassle:
- Measure a sweater you already love. Lay it flat and measure across the chest from armpit to armpit, then from the shoulder to the hem. Compare those numbers to the size guide.
- Read the fit notes. Many of our sweaters note that they run small, so if you're between sizes, size up.
- Think about layers. If you'll wear a collared shirt or a long-sleeve tee underneath, leave a little extra room.
- Check the size range. Many styles come in sizes from S up to 3XL or 5XL, so you can choose the fit you want instead of settling.
Quick Fixes When the Fit Is Almost Right
Sleeves a bit long? Push them up or fold the cuff once. Hem a little long on a regular sweater? Try a front tuck into high-waisted jeans or a skirt to show your waist. Feels boxy? Add a belt over a longer sweater, or wear it with a slimmer bottom so the outfit has balance. A loose sweater looks most intentional with something fitted on the bottom, and a fitted sweater pairs nicely with wide-leg pants or a full skirt.
Quick Answers
How should a cardigan fit a woman? A cardigan should button or zip closed without pulling between the buttons, with shoulder seams at your shoulder edge and sleeves at your wrist. If you mostly wear it open as a layer, give it enough room to sit over a top without hugging your arms.
Should a sweater be tucked in? It depends on the length and your bottoms. A front tuck works well with regular-length sweaters and high-waisted pants or skirts. Long sweaters look best left out, and cropped sweaters don't need tucking at all.
Should a cardigan be oversized? It can be, if you like a relaxed look and wear it open. Just make sure the shoulders and sleeves still look intentional and that it doesn't bunch up when you wear a coat on top.
Find your next favorite knit in our Sweaters & Cardigans collection.
