How to measure your tension/gauge

It`s important to check your gauge:

Make sure that the measurements on your project will be according to the pattern. Always make a little swatch.

If it says in the pattern that the gauge should be 17 stitches and 22 row equals 4 x 4 inches (10x10cm) on needle 5mm/ US 8, cast on 20 stitches on needle 5mm/US8 and knit stockinette back and forth over 24 rows in height.

Place a ruler on top of your swatch and count the number of stitches pr 4 inch/10 cm vertically and horizontally. If you have more then 17 stitches, the stitches er to small. Try with a bigger needle. If you have less 17 stitches, the stitches are to big. Try with a smaller needle.

When you have figured out what needle to use you are ready to start. Remember it`s smart to check your gauge several times while you are knitting to.

Comments (321)

Patricia Alejandra wrote:

Gracias por enseñarnos excelente aprendo mucho de las explicaciones y detalles de las medidas y como tomarlas . Mil gracias

15.07.2022 - 04:05

Teresa wrote:

Hi, I have a big head! How would you recommend making this larger? Use larger needles or cast on more stitches? If the latter, how would I keep the shape correct? Thanks.

13.07.2022 - 14:33

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Teresa, it would be best to know which pattern you are working so that our answer may be applied to your garment in particular. Sometimes the answer may be to work a larger size, depending on the garment you are working. If you try to make a pattern bigger by modifying the gauge you will later need to make a rule of three to calculate the amount of stitches needed for each part of the pattern. Happy knitting!

15.07.2022 - 12:34

Leonor wrote:

Hello! I always do the gauge and sometimes my knitting is bigger than the pattern, I do not why because I check de correct measure of my gauge. In the beginning I am ok but when I am going forward my work is very big. Can you help me? Thanks!

10.07.2022 - 04:57

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Leonor, if your swatch is correct in height and in width but your piece is getting larger, make sure that you kept the same tension when working the garment, if you loose your tension when you have more stitches, it might be wise to use smaller needles. Bring your work to your store, or send them a picture per mail, it might be easier for them to help you. Happy knitting!

11.07.2022 - 09:21

Wendy wrote:

Ik begrijp het begin niet van de pas. 16 herhalingen van 7 steken. Tot je aan de 320 steken komt.\r\nWat word er precies bedoelt

09.07.2022 - 23:27

Katarina wrote:

Hello, When your pattern says to measure "x" cm from cast-on to (for example) make an increase or sleeve bind off, should I measure the knitted fabric stretched (as will be blocked) or not stretched (as coming out on the needles)? I am currently knitting your "Winter bird" cardigan. Thank you.

03.07.2022 - 21:35

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Katarina, you should measure piece without strechting, but should you have a big difference before/after blocking, then you might have to measure after blocking if you think it's better. Happy knitting!

04.07.2022 - 09:09

Mary Walker wrote:

The instructions read: KNITTING TENSION: 13 stitches in width and 15 rows in height with stocking stitch and 1 strand of each quality = 10 x 10 cm. My question is, am I to put together the thicker and thinner thread types and knit the swatch with both strands of wool at the same time? Thanks

30.06.2022 - 09:11

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Mrs Walker, the piece is worked with 2 strands of yarns held together just as there was just one, so take 1 strand each yarn/ball/quality and work them together. Happy knitting!

30.06.2022 - 09:34

Ria Van Zundert wrote:

Moet ik de steken verhouding uitgerekt meten of gewoon zoals jij op tafel ligt?

14.06.2022 - 09:45

Anabela wrote:

Hola, que hacer cuando la cantidad de puntos es correcta pero en los 10cm de lato me da más hileras? Gracias

06.06.2022 - 04:47

DROPS Design answered:

Hola Anabela, la tensión del tejido en vertical no es tan relevante como en horizontal. Por eso casi todas las explicaciones en los patrones están en cm y no en número de filas. De todos modos, deberías trabajar menos filas cuando se indique el número de filas a trabajar (contando que el número de filas indicado es cuando tienes la tensión de 10 cm).

06.06.2022 - 13:22

Thomas Baumeister wrote:

Beziehen sich die Angaben der Maschenprobe auf die gewaschene und gespannte Maschenprobe, oder darauf, wie sie gerade von der Nadel kommt? In manchen Anleitungen wird verlangt, den Probelappen vor dem Messen zu waschen und zu spannen.

30.05.2022 - 21:44

Fabienne wrote:

Est-ce qu’il faut tricoter un échantillon jersey en aller/retour ou en circulaire ? Est-ce précisé au besoin du patron? Merci

19.05.2022 - 16:31

DROPS Design answered:

Bonjour Fabienne, tout dépend de votre façon de tricoter, si votre tension est la même que vous tricotiez en rond ou en rangs, alors un échantillon "plat" suffira, mais si vous avez une tension différente quand vous tricotez en rond par exemple, il vous faudra alors tricoter un échantillon en rond (et à plat si besoin). Bon tricot!

19.05.2022 - 16:43

Rene Gould wrote:

Here is pattern

13.05.2022 - 16:54

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Rene, we don't understand which pattern you are working on. Could you specify which pattern number of our DROPS catalog you are working on (for example, 220-1), so that we may check it and answer you? Happy knitting!

15.05.2022 - 22:14

Rene Gould wrote:

Hi I'm doing a pattern for sweater An it says 3m3 I don't no if it's an increase or decrease but I've never heard of 3m3 it's like knit 3 then make 3 something like that I'm baffled thank you for getting back to me usually you see m3 but never seen 3m3

13.05.2022 - 14:31

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Mrs Gould, would it be possible to ask your question under the pattern you are working on? It would be then easier for us to check with you and answer you. thanks for your comprehension. Happy knitting!

13.05.2022 - 16:32

Rene Gould wrote:

How do you do a 3m3 please

12.05.2022 - 21:30

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Mrs Gould, sorry, I don't understand whata you mean here, could you give us more details? Thanks for your comprehension.

13.05.2022 - 08:50

Jaklyne wrote:

Hello j'ai vu pour l'échantillon plus haut mon modèle j'ai fait échantillon avec aig 4 me dit pour 10 cm =24 m et 30 rgs moi cela me donne 144m modèle que je dois faire échantillon donne aig 4 20m 28 rgs mon modèle doit faire 59 cm de large en bas ils disent 118 m et moi je dois faire 144m de large pour le dos + 144m devant ? est ce bon

06.05.2022 - 19:10

DROPS Design answered:

Bonjour Jaklyne, les modèles sont calculés sur la base de la tension indiquée; si votre tension est différente, vous devrez soit adapter la taille des aiguilles soit recalculer le modèle en fonction de votre tension. Bon tricot!

09.05.2022 - 09:12

Emma wrote:

Necesito ver más claro un patrón para chaleco gris 21 ,tejido dd lateral ,para 3a 6 meses. Gracias

03.05.2022 - 23:08

DROPS Design answered:

Hola Emma, te refieres al patrón Baby 21-39? No disponemos de más fotos que las disponibles en la web. Puedes concretar cuál es tu duda respecto al patrón? También por favor menciona el número de patrón cuando hagas una pregunta o pregunta directamente en el mismo patrón, para que podamos ayudarte mejor.

05.05.2022 - 21:31

Céline wrote:

Bonjour, est-ce qu'il faut faire un échantillon avec les differentes torsades lorsqu'il y en a ? Merci 😁

01.05.2022 - 21:03

DROPS Design answered:

Bonjour Céline, la plupart du temps, l'échantillon est indiqué en jersey, pas avec les torsades, toutefois, il peut être sage et intéressant de tricoter les torsades sur un échantillon au préalable pour s'entrainer au point fantaisie. Bon tricot!

02.05.2022 - 10:44

Grete Rasmussen wrote:

Pinde , strikke fasthed Hvis jeg skal have f.eks 28 m -10cn . Men har 30 m , For at komme ned på 28 m Kan jeg ikke se at man skal bruge større pind . Men tværtimod mindre pind Mvh Grete

28.04.2022 - 09:27

Marianne Vestlund wrote:

Hej. Jag stickar enligt stickfastheten "rätt" stickfasthet på bredden men på längden/höjden stickar jag fastare. Men det är väl bara att sticka fler varv?

27.04.2022 - 08:41

DROPS Design answered:

Hej Marianne. Ja på höjden uppger vi oftast mått i cm så det ska inte vara något problem. Tänk bara på att om det anges antal varv som ska stickas (tex ökning vartannat varv, raglan och liknande) så kan du behöva lägga in extra varv för att få riktigt mått. Mvh DROPS Design

27.04.2022 - 09:53

Marianne Vestlund wrote:

Hej. Jag stickar enligt "rätt" stickfasthet på bredden men på längden/höjden stickar jag fastare. Men det är väl bara att sticka fler varv?

26.04.2022 - 14:19

Eliana Salamanca wrote:

Si tengo que tejer un poncho para 6 meses , cuantos puntos necesito, y que número de agujas circular para obtener para de 6 meses El vídeo presentado es para que edad? Poncho azul

26.04.2022 - 05:29

DROPS Design answered:

Hola Eliana, no hay ningún vídeo en esta lección. En todos casos, te recomendamos que mires nuestra sección de ponchos para bebés para ver el número de puntos que te piden y el número de aguja necesario; recuerda que esto puede variar según el hilo usado y tu tensión del tejido: https://www.garnstudio.com/search.php?action=browse&c=children-ponchos&lang=es Tenemos un poncho azul, pero es para niños a partir de 3 años.

27.04.2022 - 21:35

How to measure your tension/gauge

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