My family is organizing a group baby blanket for a relative’s upcoming baby shower. We are each being asked to knit a 6x4 in. “square” or two to contribute to the blanket. We were told to use size 6 needles and for a basic garnet stitch I am assuming (I learned this on your website! Haven’t knitted since I was 5!) to cast on 28 stitches and knit 30 rows. Of course I was inspired to get somewhat creative & was seeking variety in regards to the stitches for my squares. Variety in stitch & texture is ok, but I think the “squares” have to be a uniform size. I’ve knitted now 5 “squares” using different combos of stitches, but they are all different sizes. I think only my basic garnet stitch square is appropriate size-wise to submit, but I really like the look and feel of the stockinette better. ON one of the “squares” I tried using garnet for the first and last three rows & also for the last 4 stitches of each row. It looks nice, but it the came out more like 6x5 in. How many stockinette, or stockinette w/ garnet borders stitches does it take, both cast on and rows to knit to make a 6x4 in. piece using a size 6 needle & basic baby yarn? Any answers to my conudrum much appreciated.
I don’t know much myself but I think it all has to do with how tight or loose a knitter you are.
I went to warmupamerica.com to see what their site had to say and found this:
[size=6]To crochet or knit “perfect” Warm Up America! sections, cut a 7" by 9" cardboard template. Use the template as a guide; it’s easier to handle than a measuring tape and great for kids. [/size]
What if you made a cardboard template of the size you need and then cast on enough stitches to give you the width you want. Then, just knit until you get the size of the template?
Does that make sense?
Hope you get an answer. Have fun with your project!
Blessings,
Leslie
Use Google to get information on gauge. It differs between individuals. You will probably need to block the squares to make them the right size.
If you’re interested in new patterns, try searching for stitch dictionaries or washcloth patterns to get interesting effects.
The label on the ball of wool will recommend a certain size of needle used in order to get gauge: gauge will be mentioned looking something like a little pic of a grid, underneath ‘20st and 30 rows per 10 cm’ or just ‘20stx30r’. This is referring to a stocking stitch measurement.
I suggest that you forget about the number of rows recommended: just aim for getting the width right, and knit until it’s long enough.
Sarah
Wow, thank you to everyone for your quick replies & ideas. I’ll check it out!
I think you mean garter' stitch, notgarnet’? :?? It produces a different row gauge than stockinette st, so the stitch and row number will be an equal number. But in stockinette, the row gauge is a little more, so CO 28, work 30 rows and BO should roughly be a square. It really depends on what your tension is and the thickness of the yarn as to what size that number of stitches and rows will turn out. You’ll just have to measure as you go along to see what you’re getting.
sue
Yep, I did mean garter stitch. Thanks for the info. It did turn out to be roughly a square. I’ll measure as I go, I guess, because I really like the look and feel of stockinette much better. Thanks again!