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Gauge

Gauge means how big your stitches are and how big they should be to make your project come out the right size. Gauge is measured in stitches per inch or as the number of stitches in 4 inches (10 cm).

Knitting Topics » Gauge
Gauge means how big your stitches are and how big they should be to make your project come out the right size. Gauge is measured in stitches per inch or as the number of stitches in 4 inches (10 cm).

Featured Videos

Gauge – How to Check Your Gauge on Flat Knitting

Gauge – How to Check Your Gauge on Flat Knitting
Gauge – How to Check Your Gauge on Flat Knitting


Definition: Gauge

“How big your stitches are and how big they should be to make your project come out the right size.

Gauge is measured in stitches per inch or as the number of stitches in 4 in./10 cm.”

Definition: Gauge Swatch

Knitted gauge swatch

A small sample of knitting made especially in order to check your gauge.

Definition: Getting Gauge

Achieving the gauge called for in your pattern. To do so, make a swatch and check your gauge. If it does not match the gauge specified in your pattern, adjust your needle size up or down and knit a new swatch. Repeat this process until your gauge matches the target gauge.


Blog Post: Why Gauge Matters and Needle Size Doesn’t

Yarn and NeedlesBy Liat Gat – Founder / Gauge, Reading Knitting Patterns / December 17, 2010 / 43 Comments

In knitting as in so many other pursuits, results matter. Whether you use a pattern’s suggested needle size or not, if your gauge is off, your garment won’t fit. The reason for this is because different people knit differently given the same needles.

Read Post »


Blog Post: For Perfectionist Knitters: How To Knit a Gauge Swatch In a Hurry

A tiny swatchBy Liat Gat – Founder / Basic Knitting Techniques, Gauge, Yarn / November 4, 2011 / 35 Comments

Are you the kind of knitter who thinks you “should” knit a gauge swatch — and hardly ever does? You may be suffering from swatch perfectionism – when you believe swatches have to be perfect. Here’s how to overcome perfectionism and make a perfectly good swatch – FAST.

Read Post »


Gauge Illustration: Handy Guide to Yarn Weights, Gauge, and Needle Sizes

A quick-reference guide to what needle sizes to use with what yarn weights, and what gauge you can expect to get. Gauge and needle sizes in Standard (US) and metric (mm). Most common: Worsted-weight yarn on US size 7 needles gets 5 sts/in in St st.


Gauge Illustration: Yarn Weights and Thicknesses ACTUAL SIZE Comparison Chart – With WPI

Yarn Weights and Thicknesses ACTUAL SIZE Comparison Chart sm

See all yarn weights from laceweight to super-bulky in ACTUAL SIZE – next to a US quarter dollar for reference. Gauges based on Ravelry WPI information.


Free and Premium Videos

How to Check Your Gauge in the Round

Free Video
How to Check Your Gauge in the Round
How to Check Your Gauge in the Round

To check your gauge in the round, make a swatch on Magic Loop or DPNs and hold your gauge-checker over the stitches. Count how many stitches are in one inch.


Gauge – How to Check Your Gauge on Flat Knitting

Free Video
Gauge – How to Check Your Gauge on Flat Knitting
Gauge – How to Check Your Gauge on Flat Knitting

Make a swatch (a small square of knitting at least 3 inches wide), block it, and then check your gauge. If your stitches are too small, use a needle one size bigger. If your stitches are too big, use a needle one size smaller.

You don’t always have to check your gauge (I know, you won’t anyway), but please do it on projects that you really need to fit a certain size. Watch the video to see how it’s done.


How to Make a Gauge Swatch, Check Gauge, and Adjust Needle Size to Get Gauge

Premium Video

How to check your gauge on flat knitting, tips for marking your gauge swatch with knots in the tail to remember what size needles you used, and how to know whether to increase or decrease needle size.



Recommended Notion: Knit Chek Gauge-Checker by Susan Bates

Susan Bates Knit-Chek Gauge Checker

A gauge-checker is essential for ensuring your knit projects come out the right size. Make a small swatch (or a big one, if you’re a perfectionist), block it, and lay the gauge-checker over the stitches. Count how many stitches are in 2 inches and divide by two. That’s your gauge.

Buy Knit Chek Gauge-Checker online


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