I have a top down cardigan pattern that calls for 4.5 stitches per inch in DK yarn on sz 7 needles. The pattern says heavy DK or light worsted. I had some TLC Cotton Plus in my stash and did about 4 inches of it and decided it would be too small. I’m exactly 44 around the bust and went with the 44 pattern. I got 6 stitches per inch with the TLC on sz 7’s. I frogged it. :hair: Now, should I go up a needles size, go up a cardigan size, or try again with actual DK yarn that I don’t have and can’t afford right now. :??
Try going up a needle size first and see if you like the fabric you get with the TLC at 4.5 stitches per inch. If it’s not too loose, you’re good to go. If you prefer a tighter fabric, then you can try making a larger size.
There really is no reason that you can’t make the yarn work. 4.5 stitches per inch is closer to a worsted weight yarn than a dk.
Yep, try using size 8s or 9s, I think the yarn is more of a worsted anyway. If that doesn’t get you big enough, or the knit is looser than you like, go up a pattern size.
The instructions said 18 stitches to 4 inches, knitted loosely with DK on sz 7 needles. I don’t knit loose. I knit tight to normal. Make sense? A nice, even tension. I’ll go up a needle size and see what happens. Maybe a swatch this time! If I ever find a cardigan pattern that fits, I’m going to knit one in every color! I can’t get a cardigan to fit me for anything. I either misjudge my own body size or the pattern size. I always research the pattern on blogs to see if there are any sizing problems. Me thinks me thinks too much! Ya think?
I’m kind of butting in here but I have problems get the right gauge.
I knit swatches and thery are alwalys too big. If the pattern calls for 4.5 stitches I will get 5.5.
Right now I am swatching for a pair of socks using Cascades “fixation” it is very elastic and can’t see the stitch definition without stretching the material. My swatch on size 6 DPNs was way big(over 6") and my second swatch on size 5’s only about 1/2" smaller. Help please I’m not sure what to try next. Should I go down 2 needle sizes from here?
No problem with a butt in! But you might get a better reply if you start a new thread. Fixation comes with it’s on set of issues with the elastic I would think. Good luck with yours! I can’t get the right gauge with normal yarn, much less elastic!
Alyce,
I know all about gauge problems, as I have them regularly. 
If the yarn you are using is the right weight for the pattern, then the needle size doesn’t matter. I mean you will want to use whatever needle will give you the correct gauge, even though it may be quite differnt from the one suggested in the pattern. Gauge is what matters, not what size needle you use. So go down to whatever needle you need to acheive gauge.
I tried the sz 8 needles with TLC Cotton Plus and got 5 stitches per inch. still off. I didn’t bother checking the row gauge. I’m sure it was off, too. I think I’m trying to make chicken salad out of chicken poop. I’ll wait until I can get the DK yarn. come on tax rebate!
follow up: I emailed the designer and got the following answer. I know I’m being paranoid, but if you could see my past failures, you would understand. After spending about 6 mths on the Something Red and Juliet, only to end up frogging both of them and having nothing but rewound yarn to show for that 6 mths…
Hello Sandra,
The yarn I used is a discontinued yarn from New Zealand in the 8 ply weight, which they say is DK weight. It was a Babajo’s wool yarn.
As the pattern says, you can use a heavy DK or a light worsted.
There are many light worsted weight yarns that suggest 5 stitches to the inch that would work very well for this pattern.
Diane Soucy
Knitting Pure & Simple
Go up to size 9s and don’t stress. If you still don’t get the pattern gauge, use whatever size needles you like the knit on and do a larger size. I never use needles that small for sweaters so decide what I want to use and knit it to my own gauge, just using the pattern as a general guideline.
It’s the weirdest thing, but I learned to knit at age 11. At age 12 I was knitting raglan cardigans for my mother and grandmother, but different sizes. And they fit. First time, every time, no guessing. I cranked out better sweaters at age 12 and didn’t know a thing about gauge. I used Susan Bates needles and Red Heart or Wintuck yarn. Now we have access to a whole world of yarn, bamboo, harmony, options, denise and a host of different needles, and I can’t produce one sweater that fits. It’s very frustrating.