Tension and Gauge Swatches

Tension and Gauge Swatches in Knitting

If you want to eventually knit more than scarves, it’s important to understand knitting tension and gauge swatches.

Tension refers to how tight or loose your specific knitting is.  It is 100% all about YOUR knitting style.  This is dictated by how tight you pull the yarn tail while you’re knitting. Often Continental style knitters (or pickers) will have looser tension than English style (or throwers).  But again, it’s all about your style.

A Gauge Swatch is typically 4 in x 4 in piece a knitter uses to test their tension with a specific yarn and needle combination.

Why do tension and gauge swatch even matter?

If you are following another knitter’s pattern your tension and gauge swatches can make or break a project.   Imagine spending a month knitting a sweater only to try in on and realize it’s too big or too small.  But you followed the pattern perfectly!  What’s up?

If your knitting tension is tighter than the pattern writer your piece will end up being too small. 

If your knitting tension is looser your pieces will end up being too big. 

I’ve already said that tension is 100% about YOUR knitting style.  Knitting patterns should have always have gauge information.

Here’s what you should be looking for in the pattern:

Yarn and needle sized used.
The size of the gauge swatch.  Often this is 4 inches x 4 inches but can vary.
The number of stitches to cast on and rows to knit to produce a gauge swatch of the specified size.
A stitch or pattern type.  This generally is the most common stitch type used in the pattern or simple stockinette  stitch.

So you knit your gauge swatch and it perfectly matches the pattern.  Great!  Rock on with your sweater!

But what if it doesn’t?

Step one, don’t panic, grab a towel.

Kidding about the towel.

If your gauge swatch is smaller than the pattern.

If you’re not off by very much, try knitting another swatch but make an effort to loosen up on the tension.  If that works, continue the project using that same loose tension.

If you’re way off, use larger needles. How many sizes larger depends on how far off your search is.  It may take some experimenting, but it is time well spent!

 If your gauge swatch is larger than the pattern.

Off by a little? Re-swatch trying to get a tighter tension.

Off by a lot? try smaller needles.

Here’s my honest truth:

I hate making gauge swatches. When you are so gung-ho about a new project the last thing you want is to delay getting started.  But gauge swatching really matters for anything fitted! I’m serious. Do it!

So what if it’s not fitted? If I’m knitting a scarf I don’t really care if it’s 15 inches wide or 15.5 inches wide.  I don’t gauge swatch. Has it bitten me in the butt? Yeah. Big time.  But what can I say, it’s how I roll.

If you’ve been knitting a while: Your skill, comfort level, and bravery will determine how much and when you gauge swatch.

If you’re new: Do it for every project. EVERY PROJECT. {insert stern face here}

Do not be surprised if your tension changes over time! Styles change. In the beginning you don’t have the technique down.  You’re thinking about EVERY stitch.  As your comfort level grows, knitting becomes more automatic. Give yourself some time to establish a routine and style while knitting and your tension will become much more even.

Keep learning with more illustrated tutorials and guides:

How to Knit – Getting Started                  Yarn Weights and Needle Size Conversion Chart