This week, Knitting Mama Bear shares her professional guide on Guage:

Are you a knitter or crocheter of any skill level or interested to learn but you’ve always felt intimidated by this mystery called gauge? What is gauge and why do I need to measure it? Why does every pattern have a gauge note? What’s a gauge swatch and how do I count my stitches?

If you’re like me, you hate this part of the process too. Don’t worry, we’re going to get through this together.

What is Gauge?

It’s linked to tension, which is how tightly or loosely you pull your stitches as you make them. 

Gauge is the measure of how many stitches and rows fit into a certain area of measurement, usually 4 inches. However, the area could be measured in centimeters or a different number of inches. Given that all knitters have their own tension, one knitter may need a 4.0mm needle to make a 4″ square with 20 stitches, but a different knitter will need to use a 5.5mm needle to achieve the same size square with the same number of stitches. I’ll explain that in detail a little later.

What is a gauge swatch? 

A gauge swatch is a test of both the yarn you’ve chosen (especially if you are using a different yarn than the patter calls for) and your tension. You cannot change your tension. It’s like changing your voice – it works for a while but you will always return to your natural self. To make a gauge swatch, cast on the number of stitches suggested in the gauge then add at least 3 on each side to avoid distortion. For best results, choose a contrasting pattern as a border on all four sides of the square. 

Why is Gauge Important?

Let’s talk for a moment about why it is important. Why do you need to know how wide 20 stitches will be on size 4.0mm needles? 

Honestly, it’s not always important. For example, if you’re making something that doesn’t need to be a specific size, it doesn’t matter what your gauge is. Blankets, scarves, or purses can vary in size without destroying the functionality. When making this type of item, you can follow the pattern and you will get what you get with your tension. If your dimensions are different from the measurements listed in the pattern, it may not be a problem for you. 

It may even be a benefit. For example, if the pattern claims the purse’s finished size should be 10″ wide and 10″ high, but you wanted yours to come out larger or smaller, you might intentionally use a different gauge to get a larger or smaller item. 

But if you’re making something that has to fit, you’re going to need to pay close attention to the gauge and spend time making a gauge swatch. I know what you’re thinking: I just want to get right into the project. I don’t want to spend time making a square that I’ll never need again!

Trust me, gauge is critical for fitted items. Imagine making a sweater from someone’s pattern in your size. You used the exact same yarn and needle size but after putting in weeks of work, you find that the sweater is like a tent with a neckhole so large that it shows off your bra straps. All that time and energy was wasted and now you swear you’ll never knit another sweater again. And you curse a blue streak at the stupid designer who obviously knows nothing about writing a pattern. 

Gauge swatches are important so that when you knit a piece, you will wind up with the same size as the pattern indicates in terms of width. In terms of height, your gauge can tell you if you need to add or subtract some rows to get to the right length/height.

How to Interpret the Meaning of Gauge Notations:

Ok, ok, so I get that it’s important. But I still don’t understand how to read the notes in a pattern. What does Gauge: 20 stitches, 18 rows = 4″ mean?

This is a good example of how gauge is often noted in patterns. Sometimes they include the row number, sometimes they don’t. Let’s talk about how to read the notes.

As you read the next section, remember the sample gauge is 

Gauge: 20 stitches, 18 rows = 4″

Let’s start at the end. In this example, the goal height and width is given in inches. When you have worked the correct number of stitches, it should measure four inches horizontally. When you have worked the correct number of rows, it will be 4 inches tall. 

Now back to the beginning: when it gives a number of stitches, that’s the total number of stitches that fit horizontally between the 0 and 4″ measurements of a ruler or tape measure. So, if you cast on 20 stitches and work them in Stockinette stitch, they should measure 4″ wide.

When they provide the row or rounds number, they are giving you a height for your stitches. If you work 18 rows of Stockinette stitch, they should be 4″ tall.

Please be advised that sometimes a gauge measurement includes only the number of stitches – it doesn’t include the number of rows or rounds. In that case, you should always be measuring your piece as you work to ensure that you are ready to stop when it reaches the correct height/length. 

What about the stitch pattern? The gauge notes above didn’t tell me what stitch pattern to use! 

Usually a gauge is given in Stockinette stitch (knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side). If the gauge notes do not mention a stitch pattern, you can assume it is the measurement in Stockinette stitch.

However, they may indicate that your gauge swatch should be knit in a different pattern. It may look something like this:

Gauge: 25 stitches & 20 rows = 4″ in Seed Stitch (using size US 6 needles)

In this example, your entire gauge swatch should be worked in Seed Stitch (over a multiple of 2 stitches repeat K1, P1 on both the right side and wrong side). Twenty-five (25) of your stitches should measure 4 inches wide and 20 rows should yield a fabric 4 inches high.

Here’s one to practice on:

Gauge: 35 stitches & 37 rows = 4.5″ over Feather & Fan stitch (using size US 4 needles)

Are you able to interpret that guide?

You should have understood that your swatch should be knit in Feather & Fan stitch. It should be 4.5 inches wide and 4.5 inches tall. Horizontally, you should be able to fit 35 stitches into that measurement and you should work 37 rows or rounds inside that 4.5 inch measurement.

Great job!

One more thing to know before you try to knit a gauge swatch: Make it BIGGER than the recommended number of stitches and rows!

When you knit in any stitch pattern, the top and bottom rows and the edge stitches will be distorted. This will destroy the accuracy of your measurement. Always cast on more than the recommended number of stitches. I include an edging stitch on each side and I give my swatches a border so that my measurement typically occurs inside a frame of border stitches which prevents distortion. Inside the border itself, the gauge pattern will have at least 3 extra stitches on all four sides also. I like Seed Stitch for the border because you can repurpose your gauge swatch as a nice washcloth with a sturdy border! 

How To Accurately Measure A Gauge Swatch

Ok, all that’s fine, but how do I take accurate measurements?

Here’s what you need to know about measuring:

• Lay the swatch on a flat, level, hard surface. Don’t use a lapdesk or a soft surface as this will distort the measurements
• Don’t press down as you measure. The ruler or tape measure should only be lying lightly on the swatch
• Use pins with big heads as a guide. Place the first pin directly into the center of the first stitch you want to measure, count the full number of stitches required by the gauge, and place a pin in the center of the last stitch.
• Make sure you are measuring across one row only. To ensure this, string a scrap yarn through the stitches of one row. Measure a few rows above or below this guide
• Remember to measure from the outer edge of the first stitch to the outer edge of the final stitch 

Please stay tuned for the next article addressing what to do if your swatch does not match the gauge of your pattern.