Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Another Way to Perfect Your Gauge

by

an easy way to get gaugeI know, I know, knitting gauge swatches and getting gauge is a drag, but it’s totally worth it for projects that you really want to fit.

There are lots of tips and tricks you can try to get the right gauge, but a simple thing you can try if you aren’t quite getting the gauge you need with the needles the pattern calls for is to try using a needle of a different material.

The Noble Knits blog has a post all about why this can be helpful, which you should definitely check out if you’re having trouble getting gauge.

Incidentally, changing your needle type — switching from wood to metal or vice-versa — can also be helpful if you’re trying to get the right row gauge.

Do you have any tricks for getting gauge that have helped you? I’d love to hear them.

[Photo: Noble Knits.]

Next Pattern:

Comments

  1. I don’t have a tip, but like the tip about using a different needle if your swatch is really close, but not a whole size different. It makes sense the metal might have a smaller gauge.

  3. Don’t think of the swatch as a chore – think of it as a play-date with the yarn (potentially a new friend). Use different sizes and see what makes the best “feeling” fabric.

Have you read?

Stitch Your Favorite Fruit on a Sweater

The other day I saw a post from Pinterest about trends for summer and it said one of them was “cultivating whimsy.” 

Well, I don’t know where Pinterest has been all this time, but we’ve been cultivating whimsy here at Craft Gossip for a long time. I love sharing projects that are a little different, things that make you smile when you see them, and will make you smile when you knit them and wear them or use them. 

Such it is with the Tutti Frutti tee knitting pattern from Bea Creative Knits. 

This cute little baby tee is worked top down in the round with contiguous shoulder construction to shape the sleeve caps. There are short rows for the neckline and folded hems with picot edging at the hemline, neckline and edges of the sleeves. 

All of this would be great on its own, but then there’s the addition of a super cute fruit icon, which is added with duplicate stitch. There are a lot of options, including strawberry, banana, orange, cherries, watermelon, lemon, blueberries, kiwi, peach, dragon fruit, apple and pear, so it’s likely you can add on your favorite fruit. 

It is offered in eight sizes, to fit a bust measurement ranging from 28-30 inches (71-76 cm) to 56-58 inches (142-147 cm). The design is meant to be worn with around 6.3 inches/16 cm of negative ease, but you can choose the fit you prefer. There’s also optional bust and waist shaping included in the pattern if you want to make it even curvier.

This is considered an advanced beginner or intermediate project because of all the skills involved, but it’s sure to be a lot of fun even if some of these techniques are new to you.

Grab a copy of the pattern for yourself form Bea Creative Knits on Etsy. 

[Photo: Bea Creative Knits]