Is there a specific formula for converting a sweater pattern to a different gauge? I’d like to use a different yarn than called for but there’s a big discrepancy in the gauge. I know how to figure out the new cast on numbers but the shaping is what concerns me (decreases, bind-offs, etc.) I’ve downloaded the Knitter’s Companion but the shaping portion seems to be incomplete and it doesn’t appear to recompute bind-offs. I know that other knitters do this kind of thing all the time but can’t seem to find out what the exact forumula is no matter how much I’ve searched.
When I design sweaters, or change the gauge of a pattern that’s the basis for another, I always graph out armhole and neckline shaping on graph paper. I print a sheet with the orig gauge, and one with my gauge, draw the old shape and then overlay them to determine how those numbers will work on the new gauge. (Perhaps sounds complicated but it’s very easy.) I’ll snap a pic of an example and post it.
But the KnitComp does come in handy for general things like CO, sleeve incs/decs, etc.
Not the best pics but the lower image is the old gauge, the upper is new. Once the knitting graph paper (free online) is printed, the whole process of determining the new numbers takes less than five mins, if that.
ETA: from left to right the lines shown are the adjusted numbers for neckline, sleeve cap and armhole.
What I do is convert the pattern gauge to inches - so if their x rows/sts = 1" (or 2 or 3½) then I figure however many rows/sts I need for that same measurement. Unless your gauge is really really different, you would only need to convert the BO number for underarm shaping. On the armhole shaping, you would still continue to decrease 1 at each edge, but you do it for more or less rows - the proportion should still be the same.
Here is a help page which explains how to calculate number of stitches and rows necessary for your garment.
This simple logic is a good way to get rid of problems with “not matching” gauge and other troubles while you try to follow someone’s descriptions.
Thanks, Gaby! I just took a quick look and I think this will be a big help, as well. I’ve bookmarked the page so I can study it more carefully tomorrow.
