Hi helpful people, I have a question about gauge. I am on to my second sweater and trying to determine gauge. The pattern calls for 20 stitches per 4 inches on size 6 needles. I worked up a swatch and came up with 16 stitches per 4 inches. So I switched to size 4 needles and made up a new swatch, and came up with 18 stiches per 4 inches. My question is do I have to go out and buy size 3 and 2 and try again with those, or can I just knit the sweater in a smaller size and use the 4’s Thanks so much, I learn so much here.
You can, but it may not drape the way you want it to. It is a pain to go out and buy more needles, but once you have them, you’ll probably use them for other projects for years to come. I would personally follow the gauge and the original size you wanted. I think it’s worth it.
If you’re using a heavier yarn than in the pattern, it may come out too stiff by using such small needles. You can knit the sweater on the 4s or the 6s in a different size, provided the sts/inch times the measurement you need is close to the number of sts given for another size. And you would adjust for length.
Make a really large swatch in the yarn, with your needles, in the stitch pattern given for the swatch or any of the stitch patterns used for the largest bit of the sweater. Then you’ll know if you like the drape, gauge, and hand of your material.