Checking Your Gauge

Before You Start, Checking Your Gauge

How to Check Your Gauge in the Round

Why It’s Important To Check Your Gauge In The Round

Your gauge on flat knitting may be different than your gauge when you knit in the round, even when using the same needles and yarn.

For one thing, you’ll be doing only knit stitches (probably) when you knit in the round, whereas when you knit flat you will have a row of purl stitches every other row. Since many people purl looser than they knit, this could definitely affect your gauge.

It makes sense to knit your gauge swatch in the same style that you will be knitting the garment. For instance, don’t assume that your gauge will be the same on different brand needles of the same size.

Lastly, it follows that if you are going to block your final knitted piece (and you probably should), you should block your gauge swatch as well before you check your gauge. You can do it quickly, but it should be done. See How to block your 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.