Knitting Instructional: How to Measure Your Gauge CorrectlyBack to Search |
Posted: Wednesday, August 8, 2012 |
Last Updated: Thursday, August 9, 2012 |
Terry from Jimmy Beans Wool and Diane Soucy from Knitting Pure and Simple demonstrate how to measure your gauge correctly! How to Measure Your Gauge Correctly It's All About Gauge! In this video Terry and Diane talk about how important gauge is to getting a garment to fit the way you plan. There are two vitally important steps to making a garment fit correctly. The first step is to know the finished measurements of a sweater you like the fit of. To determine this size please watch our video How to Decide What Size Sweater to Make The second step is to get the exact gauge called for in the pattern. To get the exact gauge called for in the pattern you need to look at how many stitches per inch there are in the pattern gauge. Then look at the label on the yarn you are planning to use. Most yarn labels will tell you stitches per inch. Are the pattern gauge and yarn gauge close? If so, then the yarn will work for your pattern although you may still have to adjust your needle size. This is where swatching comes in. In order to accurately measure your gauge you must make a large enough swatch with the exact needles you will be using for your project. If you will be knitting in the round you will need to swatch in the round. This is because knitting in the round is tighter than knitting flat. The importance of gauge can't be stressed enough! Because a tiny difference in your stitch gauge will make a HUGE difference in the finished size of your sweater. For example-
The mathematical equation used to find the finished measurement of the sweater is as follows:
To measure gauge on your swatch:
Swatching and measuring gauge is so important and the time spent checking gauge is never wasted. What is a waste is knitting a sweater that doesn't fit and then never wearing it. Always take the time to swatch and measure gauge! You won't regret it! Enjoy! |
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