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Needle Material Can Affect Gauge, Too

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knit darling needle gauge chartI’m really interested in this bit of knitting geekery from Knit Darling, which is about knitting needle materials and how different needles — even those labeled as being the same size — can give you different gauge results.

She knit up swatches of the same number of stitches and rows on four different kinds of needles, using the same kind of yarn. After blocking, she measured them and extrapolated what size sweater you would get if you knit to that gauge for 200 stitches.

She discovered a difference of as much as two inches between two different kinds of needles (with carbon needles coming out the smallest and resin the biggest in her test).

The takeaway here is that different needles perform differently, even when they’re labeled the same size. So if you don’t already do so, make sure you knit your swatch and your project with the exact same needles, not just the same size. Also knit circular swatches for projects that will be worked in the round; she found a sweater knit with the same number of stitches would be 1.5 inches narrower worked in the round rather than flat. Which just goes to show that knitting is a lot more precise than we usually give it credit for.

[Photo via Knit Darling.]

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Comments

  1. This is a very necessary thing to know. I have been designing & making a blanket for a charity & decided to use different techniques as in modular block (no sewing), a Motif & mitered corners (more no sew). After knitting the motif it was buckled & even with blocking wouldn’t sit flat. I have now discovered that my purl stitch row was larger than my knit rows. Upon some research I discovered this is not uncommon. I now know that I have to use a smaller needle for a purl row, especially when combining garter & stocking stitch in the one piece. I might add that the needle that eventually gave me the right tension was 2 needle sizes less than the knit row needle. I have also found out that I knit a lot more loosely when using a circular needle. Yes knitting really is a technical past time.

Have you read?

Knit and Felt Some Tabi Style Slippers

The felted slipper craze that began last year doesn’t seem like it’s fading away. The Sailor Slippers, often striped knit and felted slippers made with super bulky yarn, because the project of the moment late last year (check out more knit slipper options in this post all about sailor slippers) and they’re still consistently popular with knitters.

Which makes sense because they are fun and fast to knit, and seeing them go from this giant thing to something that actually fits a foot feels a little magical. 

I have always loved felting (in fact my first book was about felting knitting) and it’s always fun for me to see people rediscover this technique. 

If you’ve knit enough plain slippers to fit all the feet you know, maybe it’s time to stitch up some tabi style slippers instead. 

Maymade Knits has designed these cute tabi ballerina slippers, made with bulky yarn and felted. They’re worked flat at first and then in rounds, and are available in 10 EU sizes (the Internet tells me add 31 to your American shoe size to get your EU size). The designer says the slippers are meant to have a close fit and you should choose a size a little smaller than your foot for the ideal fit. 

The pattern includes a video tutorial along with the written pattern. 

You can grab this pattern on Ravelry. The same designer has her own version of the striped felted slipper as well, called Sarah’s Striped Slippers. These are worked in super bulky yarn and have a contrasting foot and a striped body. These are knit flat and seamed and there are 7 size options available. Check that pattern out here if you’re looking for a more traditional slipper shape. They also look roomier so you can wear them with socks if you like. 

[Photo: Maymade Knits]