im knitting a pair of socks spread over 4 double pointed needles, the pattern calls for size 2 needles, but im using a different yarn. if the gauge is the same according to the yarn labels for both types of yarn, i should be ok right?
As long as you can match the same gauge, you should be fine. Check it as well as the overal measurement after you’ve done a few inches.
You need to get the gauge called for in the pattern as Sue said. Even using the same yarn called for will not insure that you will use the size needle called for, you will have to swatch to find out. But working in the round it is more accurate just to start in and see what happens a bit later, as Sue said.
how do you measure your gauge if you knit it in the round?
To do a swatch to test your gauge when knitting in the round, you want to do the following:
- Cast on number of stitches for gauge (or larger if you prefer to do larger swatches). You’ll want to use circular needles, but do not join your stitches. You won’t actually be knitting in the round for the gauge.
- Knit a row
- When you get to the end, leave a long tail of yarn and slide your work across the needle.
- Knit another row.
- Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you’ve completed the number of rows outlined for your gauge.
I hope I’ve explained this OK. Since knitting in the round means that you are always knitting, you want your gauge to be tested the same way. If you were to knit a row and then purl a row, the purl row could distort your gauge since some people don’t knit and purl with the same tension. The swatch will look funny because it will have these long loops of yarn connecting the end of one row with the beginning of the next row. Just be sure to leave these nice and loose so that they don’t pull on your work.
I thought you’d already started, so you just measure what you have. If not, go ahead and start them, then measure across the tube laid flat. It takes about as much time to knit a swatch for a sock as to begin it. If the gauge is given for 4" and yours isn’t that wide across, figure out how many sts/inch then how many in 3".
i have already started, should i measure around the tube, or laid flat and count it twice?
Always lay flat to measure. The tube is probably at least 3" across, so it’s okay to measure it without doubling the st count. Mark off 3" and count how many sts there are.