1. Home
  2. Knitting and other yarn carfts
  3. Gauge

Gauge

Saw a tunic sweater pattern I really love, only I couldn't find a blue worsted, so I bought a boucle. I knitted a swatch of yarn (I'm using boucle, the pattern said worsted). The swatch came up to 14 stitches for 4 inches of yarn, but the pattern says to use 18 stitches.

I know if I cast on the number of stitches it says to use, the sweater will be way huge. So I calculated the number of stitches (using math) needed to make the number of inches across. It says 112 stitches across, but using my math, I calculate 86 to get the same inches wide. I start thinking that using this measurement alone would be good, until I realize I've got to decrease at the neck. That means more math. Ugh!

So then I start looking at the pattern again. A smaller size uses 88 stitches in the cast on.

So what I'm curious is if I can use the smaller numbers (88 is only 2 stitches wider than 86, and that's hardly anything) to make the width and just knit to the length used in the larger size?

It's a simple pattern. I use rows of garter with stockinette stitch to add texture, although with the boucle there's already a lot of texture. Most of the pieces are square, except for the neck hole and the sleeve insert.

Did I find a secret, or should I look for another pattern?

Reply to
Mystified One
Loading thread data ...

"Mystified One" graced us with her glorious presence when she uttered:

That's the "secret", according to my Handy Book of Sweater Patterns. Should work just fine, as long as you remember to go with the length for the larger size.

Good luck!

Anastasia

Reply to
Teacher Gal

Thanks.

Didn't want a "crop top" tunic! At my weight, it's a public service to NOT show my midriff!

: > It's a simple pattern. I use rows of garter with stockinette stitch to : > add : > texture, although with the boucle there's already a lot of texture. Most : > of : > the pieces are square, except for the neck hole and the sleeve insert. : >

: > Did I find a secret, or should I look for another pattern? : : That's the "secret", according to my Handy Book of Sweater Patterns. Should : work just fine, as long as you remember to go with the length for the larger : size. : : Good luck! : : Anastasia : :

Reply to
Mystified One

The only possible problem I can think of is if the neckhole is the same size on both body sizes (heads are usually pretty similar), you may end up with a larger neckhole than you expected. Still, if that happens it probably wouldn't be too hard to add a few rows to the neck edge to fill in.

=Tamar

Reply to
Richard Eney

There shouldn't be any problem at all with using the smaller size. Just check the finished measurements. Since the row gauge is unimportant in the pattern you have chosen, knit to the required length. I have done this for years. DA

Reply to
DA

Your suggestion should work. Let us know how you make out.

Higs, Katherine

Reply to
Katherine

I do that all the time. Should work out okay. Measure along as you go to make sure it's consistent.

sue

Reply to
suzee

A Neck hole should [normally] always be 1/3 of half yoor chest circumfernce ... mirjam

Reply to
Mirjam Bruck-Cohen

Still, some people are not [normally] proportioned... One of the best things about knitting our own garments is that we can adjust them to fit us instead of a "standard model."

=Tamar

Reply to
Richard Eney

InspirePoint website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.