Hi I am new to knitting and trying to figure out how to change to a different yarn weight than the shawl pattern calls for. My yarn is a bulky weight and its gauge is 15x20 on 6mm needles which I did and it came out the right size. My pattern calls for a dk weight and the gauge given is 22x28 on 5 mm needles. I made that gauge and it was 5 1/4 x 5 1/2in. I think the 4x4in gauge is 17x 23, but I feel like I’m miscounting rows. The shawl is supposed to be 20in wide with a CO of 120 but can be any multiple of 4. Should I cast on fewer stitches to make it 20in and if so how do I calculate that? Should I use the needle size the yarn label recommends or that the pattern calls for? This is the pattern.
Gauge/Pattern help
Hello
The first thing to note is that if you change the weight of the yarn dramatically (bulky rather than DK) the result is not going to look, or drape, the way it does in the pattern picture. If you are OK with that and just want to go ahead with the experiment and see how it turns out, that’s fine. The pattern is already using a slightly bigger needle than most DK patterns call for (often 4mm but this pattern is 5mm, possibly to add more drape into the fabric) and you might want to take that into consideration too, and go up a size of needle with your bulky yarn (7mm rather than 6mm) which would again change the gauge.
The pattern
22 sts per 4 inch multiplied by 5 to make 20 inch is cast on 120 sts (4 × 5 = 20, 22 × 5 = 120)
Your yarn
15 sts per 4 inch multiplied by 5 to make 20 inch is cast on 75 sts (15 × 5 = 75)
As your pattern calls for a multiple of 4 sts you could cast on 76 which is a multiple of 4.
So, perhaps try a cast on of 76 and see how you go?
Thank you for your help! I tried a gauge for the 7mm like you suggested and I ended up with 15 stitches for that one too, so I’m going to try the 76 stitches.
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OK. Let us know how you get on, it’s always interesting to see how a pattern progresses, and the yarn substitution too. I hope you’ll post a pic of your version of the pattern.
Welcome to the forum!
What is the name of your pattern and designer?
As Creations cautioned, that’s a major change in the yarn weight which will affect the look and feel of the shawl. Seeing the pattern photo may help with your question.
It’s call the Palette shawl. Here is the video for it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3i6hOuKyRdU
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Looks like it’s going well. Are you pleased with the yarn and the fabric it’s making?
Yes, I like what it feels like and how it looks!
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Well done and so lovely! Enjoy wearing it.
Thank you! It’s my first shawl so I’m really proud of it!
You’re right to be proud of it, it’s a great accomplishment!