Ok so I knit up my gauge swatch and it was great. Everything was right on so I knit 20 rows, check my gauge again and its 3 stitches off. I think that is to significant to continue so I ripped it up. Now I checked wikepedia and it says if I need more stitches per inch to go to a smaller set of needles. Im gonna try that. I was wondering if anyone had any tips…Also whats the point if its possible your gauge can change as you knit. For some reason I tihnk smaller needles smaller gauge swatch. Im kind of confused at this point. Any help would be appreciated.
I would knit another swatch, then plan your project to your new gauge, and keep checking throughout the project.
So since the number of stitches in the width is off should I cast on additional stitches to compensage for the missing stitches?
It’s a good idea to CO more stitches than the gauge is. CO enough to make about 5 inches and measure the sts/in in the middle part. The edge stitches are a little different and shouldn’t be counted for gauge. If you CO just enough for gauge and it’s off, did you inadvertently add stitches?
sue
Well when I do my swatch I do it the way the article knitty.com suggests. I didnt do the 4 rows of garter because the gauge stitch is k1 p1. So the gauge calls for 18 stitches and 17 rows, so I cast on 40 and did like 36 rows the first time. So then I started knitting and the gauge was way off. The stitches were 3 off and the rows were maybe one or two over. So Im knitting another swatch now with smaller needles? I dont want to have to knit 10 swatches though. So if I never achieve gauge I would like to know how to alter the pattern for my gauge. Do yall know of any good articles on how to do that?
You don’t have to start over, just begin knitting with another size needle. And being 3 st off means which way? What’s the actual stitch gauge you’re getting? Don’t worry about the row gauge, patterns direct you to knit for X inches rather than X rows most of the time. Ribbing is difficult to measure too - do you measure flat, stretched a little or stretched a lot? Does the pattern say the gauge is for ribbed or stockinette, btw?
sue
I think I was getting about 14 stitches in width in 4 inches. Thats counting from left to right. I measure the ribbing flat without stretching it at all. I wasnt sure how to do it. I just counted the v’s in the ribbing but I know there are little bumps in between the v’s but I figured I shouldnt count those. It says in the pattern “18 sts +17 rows=4” (10cm) in k 1, p 1, rib" Those are the exact instructions. The pattern calls for a size 10 needle which I was using. Now Im knitting another swatch starting with size 9 needles. So I guess my main concern would be getting that 18 sts in 4 inches?
The bumps between the Vs are stitches too! That’s the purl of the k1,p1, so yes, count them. You may be getting too many stitches/inch!
sue
LOL nooooooo. Well that explains a lot thanks Suzee. I think I will still do a new swatch. So I guess I have to stretch it to count the bumps then. Well I was still probably off a bit. So I shall start over armed wtih knowledge! Ive only ever done gauge in stockinette never ribbing so this was a good learning experience. Thanks again.
You won’t have to stretch it much, just remember that there’s a purl stitch between the knit stitches.
sue