Hello There!
My name is Martha, and I have been knitting for about 6 months now. I learned when I was 5 (my Mom was a knitting instructor at the YWCA), but it took me almost 30 years to get back to it. Fall/Winter is quickly upon us here in Columbus, Ohio, so I am anxious to start some warm projects!
Up to now I have only made very simple projects, but would like to try a sweater. My problem is that the yarn I like has recommended a size 17 needle and the pattern calls for a size 13 needle. Can I still make this pattern? Will I need to get more yarn than the 700 yards the pattern calls for? Will the sweather turn out too big if I use the larger needles? Can I just use size 13?
Sorry for all of the rambling questions in a row!! :oops:
Knitting with a smaller than recommended needle can often result in a very dense fabric that’s not as soft/pliable. What type of yarn does the pattern call for? Changing to a yarn with a different gauge can be tricky. Definitely do a gauge swatch and see where you need to go from there.
Pretty sweater! I noticed that there is a list of possible substitutions for the discontinued yarn. Apparently it was a super bulky yarn with 10 stitches over 4 in. The Joanns yarn doesn’t give you a gauge which complicates things. If you have a Joanns near you you could check it out and see if it’s a #6 (super bulky) yarn as well or maybe call if you were planning on ordering online. If so then it might be fine, but you really need to do a gauge swatch to be sure it will work out. I don’t think I’d do a sweater based on measurements alone.
I’ve seen the yarn at JoAnn’s and it might be either a worsted (4) or bulky (5) yarn. One way to use it would be to make a different size of the pattern like the large or extra large.
Well, I went ahead and got the yarn last night and completed my gauge swatch. The pattern says that I should have 8 stitches and 12 rows = 4 inches on size 13 needles.
My swatch, on size 13 needles, was 1.5 inches short on both the stitch and row gauge.
The label for the yarn says 9 stitches and 13 rows = 4 inches on size 17 needles.
I am going to reswatch on 17 needles tonight.
If my swatch matches the stitch and row gauge for the pattern, then I am good to go right? Even though I am using different needles?
The most important gauge measurement is the stitch gauge. If you get that one to be correct, then you should be good to go. Most patterns call for the number of inches to be knit, so row gauge isn’t as important. You can always adjust your row gauge by knitting more or fewer rows, but you can’t make something wider or narrower.
Well, I got my gauge swatch done on the 17 needles and I am right on with the stitch gauge but one row off (long) on the row gauge.
The pattern calls for size 13 needles to be used with the original yarn, but my gauge matched almost exactly with the 17’s and my chosen yarn.
According to everything on the previous posts I should be fine since the yarn calls for 17’s (the fabric won’t be too stiff) and my stitch gauge is right on with the pattern.
Well, I got my gauge swatch done on the 17 needles and I am right on with the stitch gauge but one row off (long) on the row gauge.
The pattern calls for size 13 needles to be used with the original yarn, but my gauge matched almost exactly with the 17’s and my chosen yarn.
According to everything on the previous posts I should be fine since the yarn calls for 17’s (the fabric won’t be too stiff) and my stitch gauge is right on with the pattern.
Knitqueen, I am using the black/white/grey color. The purple colorway is really pretty too. This yarn is so soft and nice in person. I figured 4 bucks a skein for 100% wool is a great deal!!
Btw, sorry about the double post!! I have no idea how that happened!
:oops:
