To ensure that your next knitting project will be the right size, you must check your gauge before starting your knitting. In a perfect world, everyone could cast a certain type of yarn on a certain sized needle and get the same result. The truth is that everyone knits with a different tension, so some people knit a little tighter or a little looser than standard.
Using a needle gauge like the Addi Turbo needle gauge helps you find the size of your knitting needles and check the gauge of your work. This is helpful if you own a lot of knitting needles that aren't marked with sizes. Insert your needles in each hole on the gauge until you find the perfect fit. The number that is next to the hole marks the size of your knitting needles.
Once you've determined the sizes of your knitting needles, take a look at your pattern. In the section marked "Materials," it will tell you the recommended needle size for the project. See if you have these needles in your stash, as this will be a starting point for finding your gauge. Owning a set of interchangeable needles like the Addi Clicks makes this process a lot easier.
Then, check the gauge section of your pattern. It will usually be expressed in a way similar to this: "20 stitches across 4 inches on size 5 needles." This means that if you measure the width of your project, you should get twenty stitches over four inches. With some simple division, you know that you will need 5 stitches per inch of knitting.
Cast 15-20 stitches onto the recommended knitting needles. Knit the right side and purl the wrong side to knit in stockinette stitch for a few inches. Looking at your needle gauge, you will find an inch long piece of plastic with two triangles on either end. This will help you see the exact amount of stitches per inch you are getting with your project.
Place the gauge in the middle of your swatch. Make sure you line it up at the beginning of a stitch. Count the number of v's (the number of stitches) you're getting in one inch. If you have five stitches exactly, you have the right gauge for the project.
If you get four or six stitches instead, make another swatch using larger or smaller knitting needles. This just means that your knitting may be tighter or looser than average. There is no right or wrong tension. You should just make sure that you're using the needles that are right for your knitting.
Checking gauge is more important on larger projects, because being off by just half a stitch can dramatically change the outcome of your project. On smaller projects, you can get away with not getting a completely perfect gauge. With large projects, make sure you use an Addi Turbo needle gauge so your projects look beautiful!
Using a needle gauge like the Addi Turbo needle gauge helps you find the size of your knitting needles and check the gauge of your work. This is helpful if you own a lot of knitting needles that aren't marked with sizes. Insert your needles in each hole on the gauge until you find the perfect fit. The number that is next to the hole marks the size of your knitting needles.
Once you've determined the sizes of your knitting needles, take a look at your pattern. In the section marked "Materials," it will tell you the recommended needle size for the project. See if you have these needles in your stash, as this will be a starting point for finding your gauge. Owning a set of interchangeable needles like the Addi Clicks makes this process a lot easier.
Then, check the gauge section of your pattern. It will usually be expressed in a way similar to this: "20 stitches across 4 inches on size 5 needles." This means that if you measure the width of your project, you should get twenty stitches over four inches. With some simple division, you know that you will need 5 stitches per inch of knitting.
Cast 15-20 stitches onto the recommended knitting needles. Knit the right side and purl the wrong side to knit in stockinette stitch for a few inches. Looking at your needle gauge, you will find an inch long piece of plastic with two triangles on either end. This will help you see the exact amount of stitches per inch you are getting with your project.
Place the gauge in the middle of your swatch. Make sure you line it up at the beginning of a stitch. Count the number of v's (the number of stitches) you're getting in one inch. If you have five stitches exactly, you have the right gauge for the project.
If you get four or six stitches instead, make another swatch using larger or smaller knitting needles. This just means that your knitting may be tighter or looser than average. There is no right or wrong tension. You should just make sure that you're using the needles that are right for your knitting.
Checking gauge is more important on larger projects, because being off by just half a stitch can dramatically change the outcome of your project. On smaller projects, you can get away with not getting a completely perfect gauge. With large projects, make sure you use an Addi Turbo needle gauge so your projects look beautiful!
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