Yes, Row Gauge Matters

Most of the time when we care about gauge at all, we knitters tend to fixate on stitch gauge, that is, the number of stitches per inch. Ensuring that stitch gauge is the same as the pattern calls for means we’ll end up with a garment that’s actually the size the pattern says it will be (which in turn means it will fit us or the desired recipient).

We’re not usually as careful when it comes to row gauge, but that can cause problems if it’s wildly off.

Patty Lyons recently shared her secrets of row gauge, and why it’s important to hit row gauge, too (spoiler: sleeves).

I particularly like the reminder that if you really want your knitting to be accurate, you’ll measure your blocked swatch for row gauge and count rows instead of measuring the knitting on the needle when you need to work to a certain length. I don’t know that I’d ever actually do that, but it is a super smart idea.

Do you care about row gauge? Ever been burned by a gauge problem? I’d love to hear about it.

[Photo: Patty Lyons.]

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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