I feel compelled to write about “Gauge” because so many don’t “Get It.” And you really do need to Get It.
Accomplished knitters usually understand the concept and many do not follow it because they truly do not understand the need for Gauge or how to achieve it. They still “believe” they have the gauge because it says to use size 6 needles and they use size 6 needles. What they forget is that they are using different yarn or they knit tighter or looser than the person who gave the gauge—or both.
Gauge is indicated in a pattern for numerous reasons. The first one for me, as a designer, is for the stitches to look the way I want them to for a given design. Depending on the needle size, I can make the sweater warmer or cooler for the wearer depending if the stitch pattern is tight or loose. Mostly it is the visual look of the pattern stitches I am mainly shooting for. I also like the look of small tight stitches - they also do not grow as much with wear.
I give the “Gauge” so you can recreate the same look.
And even MORE IMPORTANTLY your sweater will fit the sizes given in the pattern.
There are mostly 3 types of knitters. Tight, Medium, and Loose. It really doesn’t matter if you knit continental or you throw. Whether you are a lefty or righty. Some of us knit tight. Some of us knit loose and some of us are various in betweens.
After a study of knitters, the person who thought they knitted incredibly “tight” knitted to what is considered “standard gauge”. The vast majority of the group knitted much looser. Therefore our tight knitting friend with size 6 needles and worsted weight yarn will have a smaller 20 stitch sample than anyone else.
The looser knitter will need to change to smaller needles to obtain the same gauge as the tight knitter. Trying one size smaller, then another size smaller if needed. I know, for myself, to choose my needle size a couple sizes smaller. (All my patterns are to a looser gauge. If you are a tight knitter you will need larger needles to obtain my gauges.) I also usually choose the smaller needles to have a tighter gauge than what most yarns recommend. When a yarn says 22 sts = 4 inches on US size 5 needles, I grab my US size 3 needles and might love the look of 20 sts = 4 inches. Would I get 22 sts if I had used US size 5? Probably not. Remember, I knit loose. I would more likely obtain the given gauge with US 4’s.
Confusing? Yes, it can be. The worse part is the measuring of your stitches. There have been times I can get 2 or 3 different stitch counts! Now isn’t that just wacky! No wonder knitters get all sorts of different sized sweaters!
The tightness of the stitches does come into play. The smaller the stitch the less the stretch. It is recommended to knit your swatch, bind off and block it before measuring for your gauge. And people wonder why knitters don’t want to bother!
It is important to be aware stretch. I would always opt for smaller needles. Sweaters stretch. Especially cotton ones. And even more so if knitted on larger needles. Yarn also stretches the larger the knitted piece.
The friend I spoke of before felt uncomfortable knitting so tight. It was a problem for her when performing other types of stitches outside the standard knit and purl. She has changed her way of holding the yarn and now knits looser.
The knitting world is changing by starting to wise up to the “average knitter”. Many times you will see in a simple pattern like a scarf indicate: Size 4 to 6 needles. The same 2 or more needle size variance is also starting to show up on yarn skeins to indicate recommended needle size for the yarn.
Is this in hopes that knitters will take the time and figure out which is the right needle size for them? One can only hope.
Here's to Getting Guage
Nancy
Accomplished knitters usually understand the concept and many do not follow it because they truly do not understand the need for Gauge or how to achieve it. They still “believe” they have the gauge because it says to use size 6 needles and they use size 6 needles. What they forget is that they are using different yarn or they knit tighter or looser than the person who gave the gauge—or both.
Gauge is indicated in a pattern for numerous reasons. The first one for me, as a designer, is for the stitches to look the way I want them to for a given design. Depending on the needle size, I can make the sweater warmer or cooler for the wearer depending if the stitch pattern is tight or loose. Mostly it is the visual look of the pattern stitches I am mainly shooting for. I also like the look of small tight stitches - they also do not grow as much with wear.
I give the “Gauge” so you can recreate the same look.
And even MORE IMPORTANTLY your sweater will fit the sizes given in the pattern.
There are mostly 3 types of knitters. Tight, Medium, and Loose. It really doesn’t matter if you knit continental or you throw. Whether you are a lefty or righty. Some of us knit tight. Some of us knit loose and some of us are various in betweens.
After a study of knitters, the person who thought they knitted incredibly “tight” knitted to what is considered “standard gauge”. The vast majority of the group knitted much looser. Therefore our tight knitting friend with size 6 needles and worsted weight yarn will have a smaller 20 stitch sample than anyone else.
The looser knitter will need to change to smaller needles to obtain the same gauge as the tight knitter. Trying one size smaller, then another size smaller if needed. I know, for myself, to choose my needle size a couple sizes smaller. (All my patterns are to a looser gauge. If you are a tight knitter you will need larger needles to obtain my gauges.) I also usually choose the smaller needles to have a tighter gauge than what most yarns recommend. When a yarn says 22 sts = 4 inches on US size 5 needles, I grab my US size 3 needles and might love the look of 20 sts = 4 inches. Would I get 22 sts if I had used US size 5? Probably not. Remember, I knit loose. I would more likely obtain the given gauge with US 4’s.
Confusing? Yes, it can be. The worse part is the measuring of your stitches. There have been times I can get 2 or 3 different stitch counts! Now isn’t that just wacky! No wonder knitters get all sorts of different sized sweaters!
The tightness of the stitches does come into play. The smaller the stitch the less the stretch. It is recommended to knit your swatch, bind off and block it before measuring for your gauge. And people wonder why knitters don’t want to bother!
It is important to be aware stretch. I would always opt for smaller needles. Sweaters stretch. Especially cotton ones. And even more so if knitted on larger needles. Yarn also stretches the larger the knitted piece.
The friend I spoke of before felt uncomfortable knitting so tight. It was a problem for her when performing other types of stitches outside the standard knit and purl. She has changed her way of holding the yarn and now knits looser.
The knitting world is changing by starting to wise up to the “average knitter”. Many times you will see in a simple pattern like a scarf indicate: Size 4 to 6 needles. The same 2 or more needle size variance is also starting to show up on yarn skeins to indicate recommended needle size for the yarn.
Is this in hopes that knitters will take the time and figure out which is the right needle size for them? One can only hope.
Here's to Getting Guage
Nancy
