Knitting Math--What Do You Do If You Don't Get Gauge (Besides Cry)?

She didn't know what to do about gauge.

Photo courtesy of robb3d

There are four possibilities for what to do if you don’t get gauge. If you hate or fear knitting math, you’ve probably already made your sweater anyway even if you didn’t get gauge. And you’ve probably already cried when it didn’t fit. What other options do you have so you can dry your tears?

First choice: choose a different pattern.

If your yarn and your needles in your hands just won’t get gauge for the pattern you wanted, it’s very possible another pattern will work out better for you. The gauge could be different, one that works with your yarn.

Second choice: choose a different yarn.

If you really love the pattern, but have become disgusted with your yarn, you may enjoy swapping it out for something more suitable. Get the pattern’s suggested yarn or match it with one in very similar weight and fiber content.

Third choice: rework your pattern with knitting math.

If the yarn SHOULD work with your pattern and your gauge is close, adjust the number of stitches you’ll need so your gauge works. If the sweater calls for 5 stitches per inch but you get 5 1/4 stitches per inch, figure out how many more stitches you’ll need to cast on, how many you’ll knit at the chest and upper sleeve, how many at the neck and so forth.

Adjust your pattern’s numbers with a handy calculator and a pencil.

If you want a sweater that measures 40 inches around the chest, the pattern will call for 200 stitches with the 5 stitches per inch gauge. If you don’t adjust the number of stitches to reflect your slightly smaller gauge of 5 1/4 stitches per inch, you’ll wind up with a sweater that’s about 38 inches around the chest.

Here’s one way to look at it.

You’ll knit one more stitch in every four inches. In a 40 inch sweater, you’ll knit an extra 10 stitches. So change the number of chest stitches to 210. If the pattern says to bind of 5 stitches at the underarm, you might bind off six. Go through the pattern and put your own numbers in everywhere you need a stitch count.

Make your knit fit every time.

No more crying over gauge issues or failed sweaters for you. Swap out the pattern, or yarn, or use knitting math for a great fitting sweater–or hat, gloves, mittens, shrug or socks. Imagine how proud you’ll feel, master knitter, when every project fits great every time!

Best,

Karen

P.S.

Did you know FEAR of math makes you believe you can’t do math? All you may need is practice. Did you ride a bike like a pro right away? Knit like a pro the first time? Nobody did!

I don’t care if you count your fingers, line up match sticks or draw little pictures as you figure things out. You can do this. Here’s a book that can help:
Mind Over Math: Put Yourself on the Road to Success by Freeing Yourself from Math Anxiety