Gauging Question

How-to Questions
1

Hi all.

I am rather new to knitting and after many scarves I have decided to try something more challenging. A tunic sweater.

I understand the basic idea of gauging but up until now have not done any gauging.

The pattern states…15 sts and 16 rows = 4" in pattern.

Does this mean I should knit my swatch using the pattern of the sweater? Where does the 16 rows come in?

Thanks,
Lori

2

Welcome to KH. Can you link to your pattern? Or give the name and where it’s from? Given no other instruction, gauge would probably be measured over stockinette stitch. There is a link in the Free Videos button at the top of the page to a video about gauge swatches. The rows per inch is important when the pattern says work x number of rows rather than giving a measurement to use. If you have more or fewer rows per inch your length will be different from the pattern’s. I’d cast on about 30 sts and knit my swatch at least 6 inches long. It’s a good idea to wash and dry it as you expect the garment to be washed and dried and then measure your gauge. HTH

ETA Please see DCM’s post. I misread. I’m sorry, I’m glad it was caught. Thanks, DCM!

3

In general, yes, gauge swatches are worked in st st. However, the OP’s statement was that the pattern called for 15 stitches and 16 rows over 4" in pattern. That means that, somewhere on the pattern, a series of stitches (or a compound stitch) is specified. It is this “pattern” of stitches which is to be used in the gauge swatch for this specific garment/item.

HTH.

4

The pattern is in April 2014 edition of knitstyle magazine. #18 Beach to Town Tunic, pattern is on page 76. Could not find a link to the pattern.

If I’m understanding DCM, I should do the swatch in the “pattern” of stitches listed on the pattern?

Again thanks
Lori

5

Welcome to the forum!
That’s right, do the gauge swatch in the pattern stitch as DCM suggeste. You’ll need to cast on more than 16 sts so that you can measure the gauge over the middle 4 inches of the swatch. The edge sts are smaller
you don’t want to include them.
http://sassyskein.blogspot.com/2014/04/knit-style-april-2014.html
The pattern may tell you that the pattern stitch is some multiple of stitches, say a multiple of 4sts for example, so you’ll want to cast on about 24sts for the swatch. It may help in knitting the pattern stitch to add on some extra edge sts that are not in pattern but kept in garter sts as in the example here that GG referred to.
Stitch gauge is more important than row gauge since patterns usually have you knit to a given length in inches anyway.
Great looking tunic. Enjoy knitting it.

6

Thanks for your help salmonmac, much appreciated!
Lori

7

I have the swatch all done, blocked and ready to count the stitches.

This is where I am having an issue. I am having a hard time deciphering what are actually stitches to count??

Any pointers would be appreciated.

LoriAB

8

Sometimes when the stitch pattern makes it hard to tell how to count sts, I mark off 4 inches with straight pins and then follow the line of the pins up to the needle and count loops over the needle. If you’ve bound off, then count the bound off sts at that edge. Repeat over another area of 4 inches if you want to be sure.

9

Thank you salmonmac, I will give that a try.