Why You Should Knit a Gauge Swatch
Why is it so important to knit a gauge swatch? Because it is! Swatching is an essential step in figuring out what needle size you should use to knit your pattern. Pattern dimensions are based on stitch gauge, aka the number of stitches per inch. Every knitter’s gauge is unique, and yours will be different from someone who knits more tightly or loosely than you do. Knitting and blocking your swatch before measuring your gauge prevents any unpleasant surprises. You don’t want to skip this step, only to find that the project you’ve spent so much time on is too big or too small! But a gauge swatch can offer you so much more than just a stitch gauge measurement. Read on to learn about all the different ways your swatch can work for you.
CREATE YOUR BLUEPRINT
Your swatch isn’t just meant for checking needle gauge at the start of a project. After your swatch is knit and blocked, it will also serve as the blueprint for your finished project. This is especially important for yarns that tend to relax after they have been blocked. For example, let’s say that your swatch had a measurement of 8 rows per inch when you knitted it, but it relaxed to 7 rows per inch after you wet-blocked it and let it dry. When knitting your actual project, you’d want to take this difference into account, checking your row count against your swatch while making measurements to your project’s length.
GET A FEEL FOR THE FABRIC
Even for projects where gauge isn’t essential to the fit, such as a scarf, knitting a gauge swatch can still give you a preview for how the fabric you’re creating is going to feel. This is especially helpful when substituting a different yarn for your pattern. Take a look at the swatches above. The one on the left was knitted in Wooly, and the one on the right was knitted using two strands of Marvel held together. While two swatches have the same gauge, the Wooly swatch is lofty with lots of drape, while the Marvel swatch is dense and cushiony. No matter the result you’re looking for, you won’t know until you knit a swatch.
STICK TO YOUR METHOD
Many knitters will get a different gauge between different knitting methods, such as knitting flat vs. in the round. This means that your swatch for an in-the-round project should be knit in the round as well. Check out the swatches pictured above: The swatch on the right, which was knitted in the round, has slightly taller stitches. Though the difference is minimal between the swatches, this would add several inches to the overall length of a finished sweater. To knit a swatch in the round, use a circular needle to cast on the desired number of stitches. Knit across the row as usual, then slide your work back to the other end of the needle. Bring your yarn around the back, creating a “float” behind your work, and knit the next row. Repeat until your swatch is complete. After binding off, carefully cut though the “floats” behind the work so that your swatch can lay flat.
COVER YOUR BASES
Some patterns, especially those that feature cables, will list the gauge for stockinette stitch as well as the cable pattern. This is because the crossed stitches in cable patterns pull the fabric in and make it more narrow. (Compare the swatches above: Each has the same number of stitches between the garter stitch borders.) The stockinette gauge offers you a shortcut to determine the right needle size without having to work a complicated cable pattern over and over again. After you find your stockinette gauge, it’s always a good idea to swatch the cable pattern using the same size needle, just in case. Your cable gauge may also vary from your stockinette gauge, and it’s always better to find that out before you complete a project!
SAMPLE NEW STITCHES
You can also think of a swatch as a stitch sampler. Knitting a swatch allows you to preview how different edge treatments will look, like the swatch picture on the left, or practice a new technique, like the lace-and-bobble patterned swatch on the right. If you’re looking to expand your knitting repertoire but feel intimidated by a technique that seems challenging, knitting a swatch is a low-commitment way to try out something new!