Comments on: Tuesday’s Knitting Tip – Check your Gauge

By: Gabby Hobbs

Gabby Hobbs — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 14:06:00 +0000

no, and my stuff usually doesn’t fit, too big. this is a really good visual, thanks

By: MaryAnn

MaryAnn — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 14:04:00 +0000

yes. is gauge vertical and horizontal the same?

By: Judy Casserberg

Judy Casserberg — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 12:06:00 +0000

1/2 stitch off gauge can make a difference of 4″ on an adult sweater. That is important! And it makes a great difference on the amount of yarn that you use.

By: Lisa Sullivan

Lisa Sullivan — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 07:58:00 +0000

I try but I think it ends up just confusing me so I give up. My lack of gauge swatch skills has kept me from trying to knit or crochet a fitted garment.

By: marin_knitwizard

marin_knitwizard — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 06:50:00 +0000

Great visual. I teach the importance of this to every class. It SO makes a difference. Been knitting almost 50yrs. and I still swatch. Yarns vary too much to take the chance it will “work out” if you don’t swatch. Swatching is your friend, it assures you get the right fit in your garment.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 03:14:00 +0000

I never swatch and the last sweater I made it might have been helpful to do so. Next one I will.

By: Rachel Henry

Rachel Henry — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 00:53:00 +0000

For what it is worth … I know myself to be a “loose” knitter. When I publish a pattern, I routinely recommend a needle one size smaller than the one I actually used, because that approximates “standard” gauge for that yarn/needle combination. I also use test knitters, to ensure that my guess at the “proper” size of needle is as correct as possible.

By: Tracy Cox

Tracy Cox — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 00:48:00 +0000

I made the mistake of knitting a hat and two, not one but TWO tams without knitting a gauge…. my hat was so big I had to give to a friend withlong hair….she had a full on bun in the hat…. and the tams looked like HUGE Pizza Pies!! I had to felt both, one was made with alapaca! GRRRR…
Some lessions are hard learned!

By: Tina

Tina — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 00:38:00 +0000

I love to swatch. When I buy new yarn, I swatch in stockinette stitch. I do this just to test drive the yarn, even though I don’t have a pattern in mind. I also wash it, so by the time I do have a pattern ready, I can just lookup which yarn knits up at the given gauge.

By: Jan Everett

Jan Everett — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 00:15:00 +0000

I do swatch. I buy good yarn and spend a lot of time on the things I make, and I want them to come out right. Too many early projects never panned out when I didn’t, so I’m not coming from high moral ground, just hard experience!