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ChristinaP
Permanent Resident
USA
1089 Posts |
 Posted - 01/03/2004 : 06:25:03 AM
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To add another complicating factor-- sometimes for socks and bags (things you don't want little holes in), the pattern suggests smaller needles and a tighter gauge than the band.
I always have to go down a size or so in needles, too, FWIW.
Christina P. |
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megknits
Sustaining Member
USA
728 Posts |
Posted - 01/03/2004 : 08:38:55 AM
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I'm one of those mutants who can usually use the suggested needle size. (I know I'm a mutant because I can also buy pants off the rack and wear them without hemming them either  )
Of course it may be because I have no fashion sense and wear my sweaters oversized. I saw an episode of "What Not To Wear" on the Discovery Channel last night about a guy who wore all his clothes baggy, and I didn't think there was anything wrong with the way he looked
Meg |
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vicky by the bay
Permanent Resident
USA
4768 Posts |
Posted - 01/03/2004 : 10:24:39 AM
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I used to be a really tight knitter. I had to go up 2 needle sizes to get the gauge correct. Since practicing to relax and knit a bit looser...or maybe it's just experience and relaxing while I knit I am now sometimes right on gauge w/ the needle advised but usually still go up one. I actually don't care what needle size I use...just want to make sure I am on gauge.
Vicky (Queen O'Yarn archivist-QYA) |
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hobbitknitter
Permanent Resident
USA
2284 Posts |
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addicted2yarn
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
376 Posts |
Posted - 01/03/2004 : 12:12:58 PM
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I ALWAYS need to use at least two needles sizes smaller than whatever is called for. I guess I am a very loose knitter...
-Ellen |
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Wen
Permanent Resident
Australia
3242 Posts |
Posted - 01/03/2004 : 7:23:19 PM
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I am one of those rare people who always gets the tension/gauge with the needles recommended. This does not make me any better or worse than people who need to go up or down a size. It's the end product that is important not the size needles required to make it!
Sometimes the recommended tension is not what you want anyway, make it the way you want.
Wen |
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Marg in Mirror
Permanent Resident
Canada
3204 Posts |
Posted - 01/03/2004 : 7:40:05 PM
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Hmmm...I tend to get the right gauge if I use both the suggested needles and the required yarn. Of course, I am generally converting from US patterns to metric or CAD/UK needles, and I don't know how much conversion affects the process...
-- Marg in Calgary
TLWKOTB
http://knitsonthebus.blogspot.com |
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thevalkyry
Sustaining Member
USA
736 Posts |
Posted - 01/04/2004 : 10:15:11 PM
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well, my pattern calls for 28 sts x 48 rows and I did a swatch that got 25 x 39...I suck at math..is this vest going to turn into a dress???
Food, Gas, Rent.. and Yarn |
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fmarrs
Guardian angel
USA
9776 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2004 : 12:33:34 AM
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Most patterns give you the length in inches or centimeters rather than in number of rows, so you can stop when you get to the length you want. You may have to adjust shaping however, depending on how much shaping there is in the project. You might try a size smaller needles. I find that with a particular yarn, I reach a point where my stitches per inch do not change when I go up a size in needles but my rows per inch keep decreasing. The stitches just look more elongated but not wider. You may have reached that point with this gauge.
fran
fran |
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thevalkyry
Sustaining Member
USA
736 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2004 : 2:48:15 PM
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I will go back and double check my pattern for inch/row instructions. And there is minimal shaping so I think I will be OK.
Food, Gas, Rent.. and Yarn |
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Jacqueline
Gabber Extraordinaire
Australia
509 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2004 : 4:52:43 PM
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I used to be a mutant who knitted EXACTLY to gauge...no matter what!!! But in the last 9 months I actually become a tighter knitter and now I have to go up every time...usually only 1 needle size or 0.5mm in the metric language (which is what I use!).
I have a tricky question regarding gauge. I am planning on making the big striped floor pillow in Erika Knights "Simple Knits for Easy Living" book (I think this book has a slightly different title in the US). And knowing I have become slightly tighter in my knitting I thought I would probably have to go up 0.5mm in needle size....but guess what....the pattern does not include a gauge square!!!!!!!!
Well the pillow is made in 4 sections using different combinations of two yarns at every time. The back is done all at once and you knit until you get to 75cm (That's easy enough) but the front is done in 3 seperate sections and is knitted to a row by row pattern. If I go up a needle size and my guage is off the dimensions of my pillow may alter dramatically and the back and front may not match up in size.
I'm not sure if I've accurately described my problem but any suggestions would be appreciated.
Jacqueline
Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut, that held its ground |
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GFTC
Permanent Resident
USA
6331 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2004 : 5:30:27 PM
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| Jacqueline, Why not make the front first? It will be easy to knit the one piece back to the same dimensions as the front after you know the finished dimensions of the front. |
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argus
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
595 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2004 : 5:38:00 PM
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Speaking of gauge, I just finished reading "The Principles of Knitting", and the author recommends washing and steaming (she calls it "dressing") the sample before measuring it. Do you all follow this advise? 
Argus
Carpe diem. |
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Jacqueline
Gabber Extraordinaire
Australia
509 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2004 : 7:03:02 PM
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quote:
Jacqueline, Why not make the front first? It will be easy to knit the one piece back to the same dimensions as the front after you know the finished dimensions of the front.
That is a brilliant idea and I have no idea why I didn't think of that myself!!! DOH!
Only one small issue which may throw a spanner in the works is - The insert for the pillow (which I have already purchased) is exactly the correct size as per the pattern...but maybe that won't matter you can always stuff a pillow a bit tighter or flatten it out slightly I guess.
Jacqueline
Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut, that held its ground |
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