Gauge or tension

Understanding your knitting tension can help you determine whether your stitches are loose or tight. Neither loose nor tight knitting is "right" or "wrong"—it’s simply your personal style. However, knitting a gauge or tension swatch is essential if you want your finished project to match the dimensions outlined in the pattern. If your gauge doesn't match (even roughly), your final item may end up a different size than intended by the designer.

I get it—it’s tempting. You’ve got the pattern, the yarn, the needles, and you're eager to dive right in. I’ve been there, and I’ve learned the hard way. I once knitted a gorgeous cable jumper in a soft, beautiful yarn. The cables were stunning, but when I seamed it together and tried it on, it was a disaster! It was far too small and too short. The jumper was eventually frogged, unraveled into yarn, and now it’s sitting in my stash. I’ll eventually use the yarn again, but oh, it’s going to take me a while to recover from frogging an entire project!

Remember, both your yarn and your pattern will specify an "ideal" gauge. I strongly recommend taking the time to knit a swatch following the instructions in the pattern. And don’t forget to wash and block your swatch the way you’d treat the finished piece, as this can affect the final size and fit.

And if your swatch doesn't match the pattern gauge?

This is a small sample of knitting. The pattern you are working from will indicate the gauge (or tension), which will look something like this:

22 st and 24 rows to 10cm or 4 inches.

Always work to either cm or inches, never swtich between the two within a pattern. Cast on more than the required number of stitches and knit more than the stated number of rows. This is so the area you are measuring is relaxed and as it would be when the garment is completed. It also avoids the tricky issue of trying to count edge stitches or rows.

Swatch...?

This isn't a problem! Start by checking the number of stitches per 10 cm or 4 inches. Lay your swatch flat, grab a ruler (which is more accurate than a measuring tape) and count the stitches within either 10 cm or 4 inches—choose whichever measurement you prefer.

• More stitches than stated: Your knitting is tighter than the gauge, so try using a larger needle size. Yes, this means re-knitting the swatch to check!

• Fewer stitches than stated: Your knitting is looser than the gauge, so try a smaller needle size.

Row tension is usually less critical than stitch tension since you'll be measuring the length of your knitting as you work. You can easily adjust by knitting more or fewer rows to achieve the desired length.

The pattern should indicate over which stitch the gauge should be worked. If multiple stitch patterns are present in the knitted item, the gauge should indicate which stitch should be used to knit the swatch.