As an avid knitter I am drawn towards the work of other knitters, sometimes for inspiration, other times looking for engagement with my peers, so it was logical choice to become a member of several online knitting groups. These groups are wonderful places to show your work to other members and to ask questions in a safe space that will bring a plethora of recommendations or solutions for problems. These posts are as varied as the people who post them and I myself have gained so much insight from reading them that I have never had to post a question to date. I have noticed however, one question that just keeps popping up, and the answers given mostly don’t adequately address the full gravity of the importance of Gauge Swatching.
One of the issues I believe is contributing to this question of “To Swatch or Not to Swatch” is confusion over what is to be gained by doing it. I have looked at many and varied knitting patterns and all give a gauge, from which needle size to use and the ply of yarn that is best, but ‘What it is for’ and ‘Why it’s important’ is always missing. So let us delve into these questions and fill in the gaping chasm.
Gauge: What is it for? You have a pair of needles and some yarn, gauge is the size of the stitch the that needle and that yarn combination produces. Each individual stitch has a height and a width – it is this high by this wide. Seems pretty straight forward until you need to produce a stitch the SAME height and width as someone else.
Gauge: Why is it important? If you can reproduce a stitch that is the same height and width as the pattern suggests, you will reproduce a product that is the same dimensions as is written in the pattern. This is super important if you are making a garment, something that is intended to be worn. Sure, if you end up knitting a jumper that is a bit bigger you might be happy enough, but you will be sore and bitter if it ends up too small or the sleeve doesn’t fit the armscye. Knitting is a slow, meditative process – it takes time, and a lot of it – to make a one of a kind masterpiece with the cabling and the individually crocheted bobbles and the beautifully detailed neckband that looks like leaves complete with button holes – right? Do you want to get to the end only to find out it doesn’t fit you? That tiny knitted square is starting to look might good by that stage and then you’re left with two choices, give it a new home, or frog that son of a B*&%! You can rehome it and some lucky person will feel like it was meant to be, while you are kicking yourself and starting over again (or giving up completely). Or you can frog the entire project and cry in your wine at all the work being undone (been there and there is never enough wine for that). So the next time you go to cast on a project, save your sanity and knit a swatch.
Catherine Hunt - Fibre Artisan 