Swatching

A couple of weeks ago when I wrote the post about Gauge vs. Tension I said that I would write another post and share some details about swatching, so here we are. There are many crocheters and knitters who don’t like swatching and never do it.

Swatching is still stitching, I’m not sure why we shun it so badly or balk at doing it. Most patterns give you the gauge info of how many stitches and then rows or rounds to 4″ / 10 cm. The really good designers share the directions for making a swatch or tell you which part of the pattern to use for a swatch.

For example if you are making a pieced sweater, you can probably start a sleeve or pocket and use that for your swatch. You will still have to rip and try again if your gauge is off, but if it isn’t you’ve begun a new project!

If when you work the gauge swatch your gauge is off, what can you do to fix it? There are a couple of options. The most obvious is to change hook/needle size. If you have too many stitches to the 4″ / 10 cm compared to the gauge info, you will need to go up in hook/needle size. If you have too few stitches to the 4″ /10 cm you will need to go down in needle size.

Another option is to change the yarn. You can change weights, brands or sometimes just the color. If you have too many stitches to the 4″ / 10 cm you will want to switch to a heavier yarn. If you have too few stitches to the 4″ / 10 cm you will want to switch to a finer yarn.

Another thought, one that will require no change by the way, is does it matter? If this is a shawl, blanket or something that as long as it fits someone we’re good, then check to make sure you have enough yarn, if your gauge is big; and that you won’t have too much yarn left over, if your gauge is small; and then just go for it. If this is a sweater or socks, probably not a good way to go.

My final option will require some work and probably some basic math. This is something that I enjoy helping others with and the finished piece on the other side is that much more prideful. Changing the size being made; not the hook/needle size or the yarn but the size being chosen from the pattern. If you have too many stitches to the 4″ / 10 cm, you will need to make a smaller size. If you have too few stitches to the 4″ / 10 cm, you will need to make a bigger size. I’m not going to go into all the math here. If you are interested email me and we can work on it together, either through email or on a Zoom call.

How do you work with the info from a swatch? If you know that A yarn and X hook/needle gives YOU 7 stitches per inch / 2.5 cm and the gauge listed is 27 stitches to 4″ / 10 cm, you have something to work with. If this is a sweater and you are missing 1 stitch for every 4″ / 10 cm, it might not make that big of a difference. If the sweater is for a finished size 40″ / cm then you will be missing 10 stitches, which comes out to about 1.5″ / cm. If this an oversized garment that will be fine. However if it is to be form fitting, it might be too snug. This is why swatching is so important and that you take what the swatch is telling you seriously and make changes as needed.

If the above gauge were for a blanket, shawl or scarf, go for it. The weight of the finished piece and you getting relaxed in the stitching will make up for that.

In the next post I will share info about where to start swatching with different yarn weights. This is to help you as a stitcher know where to start when a pattern calls for a particular gauge, has no hook/needle recommendation or because you want to change something from the very beginning.

Until then, Happy Making!