Talk to me about gauge

[mhurst]

Okay, here's my problem.

I used the yarn listed in the pattern and I could not for the life of me get the right number of rows! :hmph:

I tried 3 different needle sizes, with each size I had different stitch counts, but the rows stayed the same. :?

How do you fix something like that? In my case I just used the smallest needles that gave me the right stitch count and proceeded ahead, but what is the RIGHT answer? :crud:

[ravingcutie]

You may have to add or subtract rows to get the right gauge, if you can't get it done with the needles alone.

[pb_and_j]

That happens to me :roll: If it's a pattern where you knit for inches, then it's not really a big problem. Theresa has a formula for figuring it out I think... maybe she can be more help!

[littleturtlemama]

hey, I just answered this same type of question at MDC, LOL. I'm going to c&p my answer there, and I think this is probably the forumla that julie means, cause I know I've posted it somewhere before, LOL!

Oh, and I'm sorry I never answered this in your email, LOL! With all the ribby wrap stuff we had going back and forth it just got totally lost.

The stitch gauge is much more critical, row gauge is pretty easy to adjust for (especially in patterns that call for knitting to x number of inches, LOL!) But for those patterns that call for specific row numbers, you can adjust like the following.

Say your pattern calls for 32 rows to 4". That's 8 rows per inch. You're getting 30 rows per 4", so that's 7.5 rows per inch.

Pattern says to knit for 40 rows. 40 / 8 = 5 inches. So you need to knit 5 (for the number of inches you desire) by your row gauge, which is 7.5 so, 5 * 7.5 = 35. You'll knit 35 rows :)

Hope that helps! It's one of the biggest frustrations with pattern writing, trying to get it written so that it's easily adjusted for those who can't get gauge :)

[pageta]

Okay, I'm having this same problem with my French Market Bag. The gauge is 18 sts/24 rows =4 " and I'm getting 18 sts and 26 rows. The base is done in a circular with 4 corners where you increase every other round and my base, instead of being flat, is like a pyramid. Is that because my row gauge is off or is that just normal?

[mhurst]

Thanks Theresa-

I knew the conversion formula, I was just hoping there was an easier fix...some magical remedy I hadn't thought of. :pink

I guess I'm always looking for the easy way :oops: