Reviewing the Steps
- Make and measure your gauge swatch.
- Determine the number of stitches per inch.
- Measure the person you’re knitting for in the places the garment should fit.
- Multiply those measurements by your gauge to determine the number of stitches you need.
- Adjust for stitch pattern multiples as needed.
In this post
How do I change the pattern size on yarn?
To do this, multiply the inches (or cm) of the garment by the number of your gauge stitches, then divide by 4 inches (or 10 cm). The result will be the number of stitches that you need to cast on to begin knitting your modified pattern. This will be the number of rows that you need to work in your modified pattern.
What happens if you knit a pattern with bigger needles?
So by knitting with bigger needles, you’ll have larger loops on the needles of the finer segments of the yarn as well, which will allow easy passage of the puffy parts. A second advantage to knitting thick and thin yarn with larger needles is the strain on your hands.
How does changing needle size affect knitting?
The size of the needle affects the length of the stitches and thus your finished product. The concept of gauge, or how many stitches fit into 1 inch of knitting, relies heavily on the size of the needles.
Can I use double pointed needles instead of circular?
And the answer to this question is: Yes! Of course it’s possible! As long as you are knitting a small project on the round, you can absolutely replace a set of 5 dpns with circular needles and you can also do magic loop, if that’s your thing…
Why use double pointed knitting needles?
Knitting in the round on double pointed needles creates a seamless tube of fabric, and allows you to work small circumferences such as socks and mitts that don’t have enough stitches to fit around a circular needle.
What is the purpose of circular knitting needles?
The benefit of using circular needles for flat knitting is that it distributes the weight of your knit piece, especially when you’re working with a high number of stitches. Circular needles come with sharp pointed tips (for detail-oriented lace knitting) up to rounded tips (for bulky-style projects).
What happens when your knitting gauge is off?
How to Adjust Your Gauge in Knitting
- Go Up a Needle Size. A bigger needle is what you need if you’re getting more stitches to the inch than the pattern calls for.
- Go Down a Needle Size.
- Change the Type of Needle.
- Change the Way You Knit.
- Make Sure You’re Happy.
What will happen if you will use a wrong size of needle?
Using the wrong needle for your machine, fabric, or thread can result in a substantial amount of damage. Using the wrong needle can damage your machine’s timing, your fabric, shred the thread, and destroy your bobbin hook.
How do you know what size knitting needle to use?
A simple guideline: Add the measurements (in millimeters) of the suggested needle size for each yarn and then use the needle that is closest in size to that number. For example, for a swatch of two strands of Wool-Ease Chunky, we added 6.5 mm plus 6.5 mm to get 13 mm. The closest needle size is 12 mm, which is a US 17.
How do you change the number of stitches when knitting?
First, divide your 4-inch gauge by 4 so you know how many stitches per inch you’re getting, then multiply by your finished piece measurement to determine how many stitches to cast on. If you’re working a pattern that involves a stitch pattern with a multiple, make sure your adjusted numbers will work with the pattern.
What is knitting magic loop?
Magic loop is a technique that you can knit when your circular needle is too long for your knitting project. This often happens when you are knitting sleeves, the neck of a sweater or something else with only few stitches.
What is the difference between magic loop and circular needles?
Magic Loop is a technique for working in the round that avoids the use of double pointed needles. Using longer-than-usual circular needles, you can knit projects even with very small circumferences, like wee little socks, crowns of hats, cuffs of sleeves… the list goes on!
What is the difference between single point and double point knitting needles?
The single point needles are typically 10-inches or 14-inches in length. Double-pointed needles are usually 4 to 8 inches in length. The single point needles can be used for flat knitting projects only. A disadvantage to straight needles is there are only so many stitches that can comfortably fit on the needle.
Can I use regular knitting needles instead of circular?
The short answer is “Yes, absolutely.” Use whichever style of needle is most comfortable for you. A slightly longer version goes like this: Both circular needles and straight needles have their uses.
What can I use instead of knitting needles?
24 Absurdly Clever Knitting Needle Alternatives
- Nails.
- Match Sticks.
- Pencils.
- Chopsticks.
- Pick Up Stix.
- Lollipop Sticks.
- Drumsticks.
- Broomstick Handles.
Can a beginner use circular knitting needles?
The guide explains the difference but what you need to know right now is that many beginners prefer to start with circular knitting needles. They are versatile and starting there helps narrow down what can be an overwhelming array of choices.
What do I do if my gauge swatch is too small?
My sample swatch is too small.
If you have too many stitches per 10cm/4″, this means that your stitches are too small. Go up a needle size and make a new swatch.
Does knitting gauge have to be exact?
It’s not “mandatory,” but if you’re knitting a garment that needs precise sizing or if you’re a perfectionist, then you’ll want to stick around for this. For Super Precise Gauge Seekers: Before you measure you swatch you’ll want to wash it. Yep.
What if I have too many stitches per inch?
Most often, if you have too many stitches per inch on your gauge, we would suggest going up a needle size. If you have too few stitches, you should go down a needle size.