Gauge question

#1

OK, I’ve always gotten pretty much what the gauge suggests, so I’ve never had to adjust…

The pattern I am starting says the gauge is:
18 st and 30 rows = 4" in st st

The pattern calls for size 7 needles and DK weight yarn. I did a swatch, and I got 21 st in 4" on size 7s. This means I should go to a larger size needle, correct? and if I need to go up to a size 9, is it still going to look nice on DK weight wool? It’s a baby girl’s dress with a pretty vine pattern in it, and I want it to look nice.

As for the size, I am doing the size rec for a 20" chest and the next one up is a 22" inch chest. the CO is 182 st (and co for the larger size is 195). Would it be better to stick with the size 7s (for a nice looking garment) and co the 195 to account for the extra stitches per inch, or go with a larger needle and co the size I need?

**ETA DD’s chest measures almost 20" (more like 19.5").

#2

Regardless of the needle size, if you get the gauge called for, it should look the same as in the pattern. You’ll be able to tell if you like the fabric by looking at your swatch. If that looks ok to you, then continue with that size needle. If not, then go down and make the larger size.

#3

You don’t think the larger needles will make a looser garment?

#4

The way I see it is that 18 stitches per 4 inches is 18 stitches per 4 inches regardless of how you get it, no?

The person who made the original pattern may be a very tight knitter.

#5

The knitting will be looser than the 21 sts/4", but the gauge needs 18 sts, which means the 21 sts is too dense. So go up a couple needle sizes and see if that gets you there. I’ve done DK weight on 9s and it looks fine; I consider myself having average tension.

#6

Thank you! That makes sense. I consider myself a fairly tight knitter (which, I thought, is why I get more stitches per inch…but I may be wrong there).

Good to know that the bigger needle still looks ok with DK weight. I’ve not used DK weight for anything before!

#7

That makes sense. I consider myself a fairly tight knitter (which, I thought, is why I get more stitches per inch…but I may be wrong there).

You’re not wrong; knitting tight means you make smaller sts which means more of them per inch. And since I knit averagely, my sts on a 9 will be larger than your sts on a 9. Yours will probably look more like mine would on a size 7.