Pink Chalk Studio » Blog Archive

Girl Got Gauge

Nov 14th, 2007 by Kathy

A little detail called gauge entered my carefree, scarf-knitting world this week. Up until now, I’ve blissfully skipped over the pages in the the knitting book that talk about 4 x 4 squares that all good knitters religiously create before beginning a project.

Fortunately, I decided to knit my first ever swatch before starting my first ever sweater. My reaction when my square measured 13 1/2 cm and it was supposed to be 10 cm? Disbelief. I’m using the same yarn, the correct needles. I didn’t really even need to do a swatch! I double checked everything. Re-measured the swatch at least 5 times. Made yet another note to pick up some reading glasses at the drugstore. I dropped from 3 3/4 mm needles down to 3 1/4 mm. Oh boy, now I’m at 12 1/2 cm x 12 1/2 cm. Drats.

Not having smaller needles on hand (and coming to terms with the fact that wasn’t my problem) I headed over to Churchmouse to see if they could explain my dilemma. They obviously see this type of thing everyday. There’s a defined drill. Are you a picker or a thrower? I didn’t know (eyebrows raise). Knit for me. Yes, you’re a picker, hmmm. OK, Purl for me. Hmmm. Let me see your swatches again. Hand rubs over the back, hmmm. “;lkjdf lkjfdlkj amkme lkjxji” (knitter conversation between store employees discussing the patient). The Continental expert was called in to make my fingers do something different than they’ve done for the past two years.

15 minutes later after practicing my new found picking skills I felt confident enough to leave the store. Why is it when the person at the store grabs your needles and demonstrates the stitch it looks so easy?! I was terrified that I’d forget what I’d learned as soon as I stepped out the door. I went home and immediately started on a new swatch.

My new swatch measured 10 cm x 10 cm. Yippee. I cast on and started dreaming how I’d look just like the model in my new Martha.

* * *

I’m headed out for a few days. I’ll be checking e-mail for business related stuff but nothing else. I want to see all those scarves when I get back!

Posted in Knitting | 17 Comments

17 Responses to “Girl Got Gauge”

on 14 Nov 2007 at 5:59 pm1alison

guage scares me. I usually skip over that section too, but maybe i need to start paying more attention…hmmm….
on 14 Nov 2007 at 6:02 pm2adrienne

Guage…*sigh* lol Have a good trip!!!
on 14 Nov 2007 at 6:25 pm3Anina

I may have to visit your yarn store before I attempt another sweater since my last effort was less than successful.
on 14 Nov 2007 at 11:04 pm4lindiepindie

Hey, I just started my first sweater also! My swatch was right on gauge, but I can tell my mood is effecting how tightly I knit. There doesn’t seem to be any consistency…
on 15 Nov 2007 at 12:54 am5nicolette

I always knit a swatch, but it’s almost always OK. I don’t quite understood what you did wrong the first few times? What’s a picker and what’s a thrower? Have fun knitting and a wonderful weekend!
on 15 Nov 2007 at 3:18 am6katrin

gauge is a thing i started doing when the first project TOTALLY went wrong. all things before were done without taking care of gauge, but now i knit those funny squares. sometimes one just learns it the hard way.

love the jacket you chose - hope you have much fun knitting and that we’ll soon see your beautiful result! ^-^
on 15 Nov 2007 at 4:57 am7Verry Sherry

oh, if only I had more time for learning knitting…another day. But interesting story, even to a non-knitter!
on 15 Nov 2007 at 5:54 am8Solidia

I still haven’t learned to knit, but I will one day! In the meantime, have a Happy, Happy Thanksgiving!
on 15 Nov 2007 at 9:23 pm9esther

hi,

are this glitter yarns? it’s beautiful. rich in color
on 16 Nov 2007 at 2:10 pm10mrspilkington

woo hoo — happy knitting!
on 16 Nov 2007 at 10:24 pm11Tracey

So, what exactly is she having you do differently? I’m so curious!!! Presently, I have a beanie cap/skull cap for my son and it looks likes it’s going to be huge! *sigh*
on 17 Nov 2007 at 7:25 am12Heidi

Are you saying you’re basically switching from knitting English to knitting continental? I was led to believe it’s like forcing a lefty to become a righty.
on 17 Nov 2007 at 1:07 pm13Daphne

Yay for knitting a sweater and getting gauge! I’m happy the Churchmouse peeps were so smart about your gauge problem.
on 19 Nov 2007 at 8:14 am14sue

I never do the gauge thing either… but then, when making a simple scarf or afghan, I never cared.

I, too, find it hard to watch someone else do it… they make it look so easy!

Have a good trip~~
on 20 Nov 2007 at 6:22 pm15Pink Chalk Studio » Blog Archive » Rubblework Class

[…] Related to my last post on knitting, I got more than a few comments asking what I did. I’ll be responding soon with more details on how I changed my technique to get the gauge tamed. I had lots of time to practice on our trip to California and I’m pretty darn excited about it! […]
on 23 Nov 2007 at 12:54 pm16Pink Chalk Studio » Blog Archive » Happy Thanksgiving

[…] We ended the day watching Home for the Holidays with full tummies, a little cable knitting on Martha, finishing off the last of the wine (not the best combo with the previously mentioned activity) and going to bed early with smiles on our faces. […]
on 25 Nov 2007 at 6:01 pm17Pink Chalk Studio » Blog Archive » My New Knitting Thing

[…] I got several different questions about what changed in my technique when I posted about my gauge issues. I have not responded to one darn note. I feel really bad about that. […]