Hello! Just looking for advice please. I bought a pattern for a man’s jumper that uses Tahki Yarns Cotton Classic
100% Cotton, 98m (107yds)/50g (1.76oz), DK
I want to make it in an acrylic DK wool with same size 4mm needles. I did a gauge check and it’s coming up half an inch shorter over 28 rows x 28 stitches. Can I use a 4.5mm needle or is this going to make it too big/too loose?
Thank you.
Welcome to KnittingHelp!
If you made a gauge swatch over 28sts, then measure the gauge over the middle 2 inches. You don’t want to include the edge sts in your measurement because they are not as wide as a full stitches. Ideally you would cast on 32-34sts for your swatch and measure over the middle 4 inches.
You can certainly go up a needle size or more. The only way to tell if this will get gauge and you will like the knit fabric is to give it a try.
What is the name and designer of your pattern?
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Thank you so much for the reply. The pattern is Mens Cabled Turtleneck in Tahki Yarns
(https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-gb/l/knitting/knitting-patterns/knitting-patterns-by-brand/tahki-knitting-patterns)
My husband wasn’t keen on the cotton yarn!
Beautiful cables. Cotton Classic is rather heavy so wool, an acrylic or a cotton blend is going to work better here. Let us know how it’s going and have fun working on the sweater!
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Thank you!
Were you coming up with fewer rows, or fewer stitches? Row gauge usually isn’t as critical, as you can almost alway just knit a few more rows. Definitely do a new swatch with the larger needles and see which works better–including how the fabric looks and feels. Does it show the cables nicely with the larger needles? Are the stitches too open? And so forth.
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Thanks for the reply. I’ve never done a swatch before so not too sure what I’m measuring! I’ll do a new one with the 4.5 needles. How many stitches across should I do? The cables are 4 stitches each with 4 in between.
Thank you
The Ravelry pages gives 28sts/4inches x 24 rows/4inches in the cable pattern. You could cast on 32-36sts or whatever seems reasonable to keep the cable pattern or at least add in the large rib pattern before the cable cross.
I would cast on 36 stitches or even more. Edge stitches tend to be a different gauge than the rest of your knitting, so I shoot for a 5-6" swatch. Then you measure the middle 4" section. It can help to run a thread or contrast yarn where you plan to measure, or put stitch markers where you measure to, and THEN count, so you don’t lose track of the goal.
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Thank you so much. I’ll do that!