Like a lot of knitters, I’ve gone from having a devil-may-care attitude about swatching to increasingly, becoming a careful swatcher. I’ve even been known to swatch repeatedly to get the right gauge — something I never did in my teens (which accounts for the blue acrylic sweater of gargantuan proportions).
What I’m about to say is probably obvious to everyone else, but it only recently dawned on me.
I always have a hard time measuring my swatch and counting up stitches. Especially with variegated yarns, I keep losing track, even with a magnifier. Finally, I realized I could just cast on the number of stitches I was supposed to get in four inches to hit gauge. If gauge is six stitches to the inch, cast on 24 inches, knit for 24 rows (or however many are supposed to give you four inches) and then measure. If your piece measures four inches, you’re at gauge. If it is over or under, you have to adjust your needle size accordingly.
Here is my current variation: to avoid the curl issue with the edges of stockinette, I cast on four extra stitches. I knit in garter stitch for four rows, swatch in pattern the correct number of rows, and then do a final four rows in garter. This creates a nice little frame for my swatch. It lies perfectly flat so that I can measure the little box in the middle and check my gauge. Just like this:
It makes it so easy! I’m probably going to be mortified when I learn that everyone else has been doing this all along, but I figured I would share it, in case it could be of help to anyone.
Not too surprisingly, my gauge in both of these swatches is off. Off to buy new needles!
I don’t mean to mortify you, but this is how I’ve always done it, for the reasons you stated. No rolling, no stretching – just a nice, flat swatch to measure. I’m sure you know this, but always take your measurement in the center of your swatch. Edge stitches are wonky and usually tighter because you’re a little more tense when you first start a row. The middle stitches are more relaxed and a truer reading.
Hi Joyce….i know nothing about knitting but boy do I love coming here to see the colors you are working with. So beautiful!
I’ve become a convert to swatching, myself. Proper planning means less ripping, frustration and projects hidden in the recesses of the closet! Always wash your swatch too, you know how yarn blooms.
Hi Joyce,
I’ve never bothered to swatch. It doesn’t really matter for everything I’ve knit so far. However, should I ever decide to switch, I’ll be sure to use your tip. I don’t think I would have ever thought of this idea. Also, I just love the dyed silk you posted the other day. The colors are so deep and rich.
Judy
I learned to swatch this way, too. When I was in college, a local yarn shop paid me to swatch yarns for display in the store, and that was exactly how they wanted them done.
Just a gentle reminder that if your lad decides that he does not like the Whales colorway, I be willing to give it a loving home.
Thank you for the tip. AND. That is a beautiful colorway, the second is honestly gorgeous!
Thank you for the tip. AND. That is a beautiful colorway, the second is honestly gorgeous!
I am happy you shared this! I hate swatching, dealing with a curling piece of fabric, trying to measure…doing it this way will definitely help out! And both of those colorways are TDF…
Ingenious Joyce 😀