When I first learned to knit, my knitting teacher never said anything to me about swatching in the round for a sweater to be made in the round. I started another sweater this year, and that knitting teacher said I had to swatch in the round. (Mind you they are both expert knitters who teach in the same local yarn store.) What do most people do? I have also learned there is more than one way to swatch in the round. Which way do people use?
Swatching in the round.
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I used to swatch in the round but leave the loose yarn strand across the back of the knitting. There is a nice method however that avoids those long strands.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A59F9L4P-E
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I like this soo much better then having those long “floats” across the back! Uses less yarn, as well, and you can undo the swatch if you need the yarn for your project.
If I am knitting a sweater with about 4 inches of ease, how much of a difference will it make if I swatch flat or in the round?
It depends on the pattern, the dimensions and your tension on knits and purls. If your tension on knits and purls is the same then a flat swatch will be a good estimate. Most people have a difference in tension even if slight between knits and purls so the flat swatch may not reflect the tension in the round.
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