How do the gauges of different stitches compare?

#1

I’m just wondering – let’s say I am knitting a stockinette stitch at 4 stitches per inch. Would the following stitches give me a tighter or a looser gauge? 1x1 rib, moss stitch, double-moss, garter?

If I decide to do an afghan and want to make separate squares with different patterns, am I going to have to swatch each type of stitch I use to get the gauge?

Also, does everyone knit looser on round needles?

#2

You really need to test the gauge of those different stitch patterns separately because you may purl more loosely or tightly than you knit.

#3

You can also use different size needles for each pattern square if you need to, so they come out the same size square.

seu