Question about knitting Guage(s) and

#1

Hello I’m New to knitting and have a silly question to ask:

When a pattern specifies to that you need 4 balls of color A, 4 balls of color B and then instructs you that your guage should be 16sts = 4" does that mean I need to buy an extra ball of yarn just to check the gauge? Or will I have plenty of year with my 8 total balls of yarn the pattern calls for?

Your help and guidance is appreciated!

#2

No just knit the gauge with one of the balls you bought. You don’t have to cut it unless you’re going to need it to finish; just knit with the other ones to start.