Hello everyone,
Here is an excerpt for the e-book "The Beginning Knitters Guide" on the importance of gauge. Let me know what you think.
Gauge
As you practice your knitting you will find that you get different size swatches based upon the size of your needles and type of yarn. That’s why practice is so important. Beginners often find themselves getting a different size swatch even with the same size needles with the same yarn, so learning to be consistent will give you a better idea of your gauge for each project.
What is gauge? Gauge is the measurement of your stitches. Your gauge is based upon the stitch, your tension, the yarn used, and the size of your knitting needles. It is basically the number of stitches it takes to make one inch of fabric.
Take a look at some of the swatches you’ve created. Even look at some sweaters and t-shirts you have around the house. You will see different gauges in each of these items. In your t-shirt the stockinette stitch is very small, so it takes a lot more stitches to make up an inch of fabric. Now take a look at that big heavy sweater you only pull out when there is a few feet of snow on the ground. You can probably see the stitches, and there are fewer of them per inch.
Why is Gauge So Important?
A lot of people ignore the gauge specified on a pattern, but it is really important to make sure you are getting the right size piece. It may not be extremely important if you are knitting a scarf or afghan, but it is when you are knitting a sweater or tankini. If your subject has to have a top that measures 34 inches around, then you need to make sure you have enough stitches to get that 34 inches.
So what is the general formula patternmakers use to determine gauge? It is actually a simple formula:
Number of inches needed x Stitches per inch (or gauge) = Number of stitches
It only takes a few minutes to make a swatch to measure your gauge. Take the time…it’ll be worth it.
How Will I Know the Gauge?
Most patterns tell you what your gauge should be. It is usually referred to in the same place where they tell you what yarn to buy and the size of your knitting needle (we will be going over patterns in a later chapter).
Sometimes gauge is known at “tension” or “stitch measurement,” but they all mean the same thing. It is usually given as a number of stitches equaling a number of inches. For example, your pattern may read as follows:
Gauge: 15 stitches equals 3 inches
This means that fifteen stitches will be equal to three inches of fabric, supposing you use the same size needle and yarn weight as dictated by the pattern. It basically adds up to 5 stitches per inch (15 divided by 3).
There is a link on my blog that takes you to a special offer on the e-book "The Beginning Knitters Guide" Just look on the right hand side and you will see the link. Click the link for the special offer!
good luck and happy knitting
Brad
