Knitting gauge

Gauge

Gauge refers to how much space your stitches take up. If you match the gauge stated in the pattern, your finished piece will turn out in the size you’re knitting. That’s why it’s important to check your gauge — so you don’t end up spending a lot of time on something that doesn’t fit.

To check your gauge, you need to knit a gauge swatch. The swatch should always be worked in the same stitch pattern as stated in the pattern, for example stockinette stitch or double pearl rib. The swatch should measure slightly more than 10 cm (4 inches) in both width and height, so you can measure 10 cm without including the outer edge stitches.

If you’re working with a yarn or stitch pattern that changes after washing, it’s a good idea to wash and, if needed, block your swatch before measuring. When measuring your gauge, count how many stitches you have across 10 cm.

• If you have too many stitches over 10 cm, use a larger needle

• If you have too few stitches over 10 cm, use a smaller needle

Once you’ve found the needle size that gives you the correct gauge, that’s the needle size you should use for the pattern. Everyone knits differently, so you won’t necessarily get the correct gauge using the same needle size listed in the pattern.

When you match the gauge, you can be sure your finished piece will turn out in the correct size. If not, it may end up too large or too small.