question regarding measurements/gauge

I just started working on this sweater, which is all in a 2x2 rib. The gauge, however, is indicated in stockinette. I got gauge with a #7 needle then started knitting and wanted to measure the work to make sure I was on track. My question is, since it is a rib, do I measure it stretched out or not? It is supposed to be 9.75 inches wide but it is coming out at 8.5 inches (unstretched). I wouldn't even know how much to stretch it if I were to measure it stretched. A picture is on this page (Maxwell pattern at the very top and middle):

LauraJ

No, hon, don't stretch it! HTH Noreen

stretched out or

pattern at the

> Thanks!

PLEASE NO Streching ,, but a little `bother` , make a little swatch in Stockinette and measure this ,,,,, mirjam

I noticed the pattern seems to call for #8 and #10 needles. Perhaps another gauge swatch is in order, on both size needles?

-- Carey in MA (stepping back to the sidelines....)

Hi Mirjam,

I did make a stockinette swatch (actually about 4 swatches!) and it came out perfectly with the #7 needles. That is why I am so confused as to why the piece is coming out so much smaller than the pattern! I think I am going to have to take it over to the LYS this afternoon to get some advice.

LauraJ

Thanks, Noreen! I didn't think I was supposed to stretch it but something my LYS owner said yesterday in a quick conversation made me wonder. She was just starting a lesson yesterday so I didn't have time to ask her more questions but I hope to catch her this afternoon. I just don't understand why my gauge swatch is coming out perfectly but the pattern is so off :(

LauraJ

Hi Carey,

Yes, you start the bottom with the smaller needles to make it a little snug and four rows in you switch to the larger needles. The gauge is given for the larger needles so that is all I did to swatch. The panel that I started with and asked the question about has 4 rows of the smaller needle followed by 28 of the larger so I figured that was enough to get an accurate measurement (I would expect the beginning to be smaller anyway). This is just so frustrating because at this point I have started the panel 3 times with different size needles. I'm using a double-thickness so I know how 6 skeins of yarn going! Very confusing and frustrating!

LauraJ

And one last note: it is not all that unusual for me to be using a much smaller needle than a pattern calls for. I knit big for some reason. I am also using a different yarn (2 strands of Nature's Pride) so that is also contributing to the vastly different needle size.

LauraJ

Hi, Laura, I hope you will be able to get a good answer from your LYS owner. Perhaps there was a mistake when the pattern was printed? Me, I would probably try getting gauge in the 2X2 ribbed pattern, since that's what the primary stitch seems to be, before turning into those lovely cables. Please let us know what the outcome is, as this looks like a sweater collection I might really consider getting to do some hand knitting again. (But I don't think I could work with 6 skeins going all at once!)

-- Carey

I can't help you much on this and, in fact, have the same question, but rather than saying "stretched", a better word might be to "flatten it out". Stretching implies that you put more tension on it than just simply flattening it out to figure gauge.

Hopefully we'll get more replies about *how* to measure it other than "swatch, swatch, swatch". lol I know how to swatch, I just need to know how to measure the swatch when it's in a k2p2 rib pattern. :o)

TIA, Jenn

Hi Brenda,

The gauge is in stockinette and I hit it perfectly. Since the sweater is in rib, I know I can no longer check the gauge so I was comparing it to the diagram which shows the width of the finished pieces. And that is what is too small. Which is why I'm so confused! I did bring it in to the LYS owner and she thought I should go up a needle size or two since it is coming out so small. She also mentioned that she saw someone else working on this pattern (it's for a knit-along at the store) and that she thought that hers had seemed narrow as well. I'll be interested in seeing how other people are faring when we have our second get-together this week.

I have gone back and forth on this project and started knitting it so many times that I could almost be done by now if I hadn't run into this problem! But I think I am going to go with the larger needle, even if it isn't to gauge, and my sweater will just be a little loose if it's not right. I figure too big is better than too small since I will likely eventually get there ;)

Thanks for trying to help!

LauraJ

Hi Jenn,

Yes, that is a good point and one of the things I was wondering myself. I assume that the rib will flatten out a bit after blocking. At this point I'm just going to jump in and try it. If you are still trying to figure out your own project by the time I'm done, remind me and I will let you know how it turned out!

LauraJ

What kind of yarn is Nature's Pride? If you are using a wool, and the yarn originally specified for the pattern is cotton, there would be a difference because Cotton lies flatter than wool.

Of course some pattern writers are whacked as well.

Dora

Hi Dora,

Hm, that is something I never thought of before and will have to keep in mind in the future. In this case, the pattern was written for "extra fine" merino chunky wool and Nature's Pride is a thinner wool (I'm using 2 strands held together). So, probably not as extreme a difference as cotton but could be a factor nonetheless. I've started working on the back panel and am interested in seeing how wide it ends up being (only about 6 inches in so it's still to early to tell).

LauraJ

Laura J wrote I've started working on the back panel and

inches in so

I've seen machine knit sweaters in rib that narrow that stretch out to fit even my tubby little bod. The ribs tend to emphasize the bust or anything else that protrudes though.

One of my WIP's is a silk-viscose lace rib sweater pattern with which I have similar concerns. I have made the pattern before, in the recommended cotton yarn, and it fit very well. It is interesting to see how the change in the yarn affects the behaviour of the knitted fabric.

Good luck with it. Dora

Yes, I am a little concerned that the rib and those giant cables are going to "emphasize the bust" which I definitely don't need! It is not a pattern I would have picked out myself but I enjoy doing these knit-alongs with the weekly group so I figured I'd give it a go.

Your lace sweater sounds intriguing! I would love to see a picture when you're done if you are able to post one.

LauraJ

Laura ,,,, it is ok , any ribbing will make a knitted piece look smaller ,,, that is the nature of ribbing. and that is the trait we use to close ends of knitted clothes, so that wind doesn`t enter into the sweaters and they don`t climb up the body . as long as your number of stiches was ok in the guague it will be ok But now i read that the sweater will have cables ,,,, in that case i would make a swatch with cables to see if the body will fit you. mirjam

Jenn , i know to read /hear SWATCH is frustrating ,, when you read it , but even after more than 56 years of knitting , i don`t have another solution ......i never find the wools recomended anyway , and i would i have no idea if they will be used for a bought pattern,,,,, guagues given on wools are only a recomendation , not a rule ,,,, mirjam

Well, in my OP I was going to say you are going to be one sexy babe, but I don't know you very well.

The fabric of the sweater is posted in the WIP album at

trouble with posting pictures of a whole sweater is that I'mworking with an old-fashioned camera, and if I can't get something tofit on the scanner, taking enough pictures to fill up a roll takesalmost a year. So I might take a picture at the end, but you might notsee it until after next Xmas.Dora