I’m a very experienced crocheter but a very new knitter. I’ve signed up for a class next Tuesday, and we’re to make a gauge swatch before class.
I’ve borrowed #10.5x40" circulars from a friend for the class, and I won some yarn :cheering: in a drawing in February (HPKY hand-painted knitting yarn, giant skein, Parsifal color scheme). With 12 yarns to choose from, all of which are recommended for “#9 - #10 needles for scarf or afghan,” how do I know the correct number of sts to cast on for the gauge swatch? (I’ve already decided [B]not[/B] to use the fuzzy, nubbly, bouclé-ish, or otherwise heavily textured yarns; the plainer textures look [COLOR=“Blue”]just fine[/COLOR] for this purpose! 
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And is the size of a gauge swatch the same in the knitting world as it is in the crochet world–4"x4"? (Actually, a little larger so that the 4"x4" area isn’t actually ON an edge…) If so, how do I know the number of sts to cast on for this length if the yarn doesn’t give a recommended “target”? as this yarn does not.
Thank you for any guidance!
DCM
What fabulous luck! This yarn looks gorgeous in all colors. Very basic knitting will look spectacular with it.
It’s a DK weight so it’s about 4-6sts/inch on size 7 needles. For size 10.5 needles, I’d guess about 2-4sts/inch depending on your tension. Yes, a 4" x 4" is the common window for measuring gauge, so cast on ~20 on the 10.5 needles and see what your gauge is. (10.5 needles are a rather large for learning to knit. I think that it would be worth getting some size 8 needles to start with, a little less bulky and easier to work with. In that case, cast on 28-30 sts for a swatch.)
I like the larger needles and think your yarn will be fine on the 10½s as long as it isn’t thin. Yes, you do the same as for a crochet swatch - a little larger than 4", the edge curl under even more than with crochet so you don’t include them in the measure. I usually get about 3½-4 sts per inch on that size with a medium weight yarn, so 20 sts is about right.
Believe it or not, I haven’t had time the past couple of days to dig yarn out of the tub (yes, singular) and do the casting on. I’ve got to get this swatch MADE before Tuesday night.
Thank you for the advice; will give feedback when I get the thing started!
DCM
It’s going to be easier to measure if you do this in a stockinette stitch, knit one row purl one row. Expect the edges to curl. It shouldn’t take you long to do on that size needle.
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