Whose Gauge is it Anyway?

I’ve been thinking a lot about gauge lately. I never seem to get it right.

The gauge on a pattern reflects the knitter who designed the project or knit the sample, the number of stitches per inch she was able to get with the yarn and needles she chose.

There are a lot of variables there that make it likely you would get a different gauge. Using a different yarn of the same weight, needles made of a different material, and just being a different person with a different knitting style all play a role in your gauge.

I’m used to using different needles, or even different weights of yarn, or knitting using the directions for a different size because with my gauge that number of stitches will work for me.

But when it comes to projects that don’t require an exact gauge, it gets even more personal. When knitting scarves or shawls or anything you’re designing yourself for yourself, the gauge listed in the pattern or on the ball band doesn’t really matter.

Yesterday I started work on a scarf (pattern coming soon) with yarn the ball band suggested should be knit on size 11 US knitting needles.

I tried that, but the resulting fabric stuck straight out from the needle, with no drape at all. I wish I’d taken a picture, because it was pretty funny.

I ended up trying four different needle sizes and eventually settled on size 15 — a big difference from what the ball band suggested but what gave me the look and feel I was going for.

The point of this is not once again to tell you to swatch, because you’re probably either a person who does or doesn’t and I’m not going to change your mind.

But I do want you to be open to the beginning stages of a knitting project being an experiment. You’re testing the yarn and needles (and the stitch pattern) to see how well they get along. Everything is subject to change and can easily be switched up if you don’t like the way things are going.

Because if you don’t like it on the needles you won’t want to wear it, use it or gift it, either.

End of lecture.

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Looking for more amazing shawl patterns? Check out these Knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

Generally I like knitting patterns where I feel like you can use whatever yarn you have (because my stash is big enough and I want to use it, thanks) and make a successful project. This is one of those times when a special yarn makes the process that much easier.

The Floral Bouquet Shawl from Xandy Peters uses a specific extended color pooling yarn from Feisty Fibers, which allows you to place the bobble flowers with increasing frequency as you knit the project.

It starts with a solid color yarn, then the two color yarn is added in, and you make a bobble whenever you encounter the color pops. This would be hard to replicate with other yarn that doesn’t have the extended color pooling built in.

The background of the shawl is ribbed, making the project reversible.

The shawl uses fingering/sock yarn and comes out to be an asymmetrical triangle that’s 54 inches/137 cm long and 36 inches/ 90 cm deep and 60 inches/150 cm across the top edge.

Xandy says the pattern is for intermediate to advanced knitters. Knowing how to work traditional bobbles would probably help, but there’s a great video tutorial for how to work the floral bobbles so you can practice on other yarn or even incorporate the bobbles into other projects.

The bobbles are five-petaled flowers but they also kind of look like starfish to me, which could be fun on a child’s cardigan or other pattern. They’d also be fun on the leg of a sock or around the brim of a hat for extra whimsy.

The pattern includes photo and video tutorials, and written and charted instructions. It also includes tips on what to look for if you choose to use different yarn for the project, and instructions on how to dye your own yarn to use in the project.

If you want to give it a try, you can find the pattern on Ravelry.

[Photo: Xandy Peters]

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