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)

Juliet wrote:

I have knit 4 garnstudio patterns and I never seem to have the correct tension, I am always needing to go up 2 needle sizes to achieve correct tension which is making the knitting too loose. Could I use the suggested needles but work a larger size jumper if I worked out what size it would be? Not sure if the pattern would still work! Thank you 😊

22.01.2024 - 17:54

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Juliet, each person has a different personal gauge; you may work tighter than our designers, so your gauge will always be slightly tighter than the one indicated in the pattern and you will need larger needles each time. If you get the correct tension with larger needles, these shouldn't make the knitting too loose, because it should be the same tension as in the swatch. You can also work a larger size jumper if you calculate which one you can do with your gauge, using a rule of three. Happy knitting!

22.01.2024 - 20:08

Kristine wrote:

Hi, I really find it difficult to figure out the kniting tension for 21 stitches - 40cm - 10x10. I am a total newbie and no idea where to start!

21.01.2024 - 10:19

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Kristine, which pattern are you working? 10x10 cm means that you should make a square that measures 10cm in height and width. With the numbers that you mention, it should be 21 stitches x 40 rows = 10x10cm. This means that, before starting the piece, you work a swatch that has 21 stitches and work 40 rows with 21 stitches (in stocking stitch or as specificied in the gauge) and it should measure 10x10cm. If it doesn't measure 10cm in width and height, then you change needle size, as specified in this lesson. Happy knitting!

22.01.2024 - 20:14

Beata wrote:

Bardzo przydatna instrukcja obliczania próbki, dziękuję.

20.01.2024 - 18:29

Victoria wrote:

Hola! Hice la muestra y llegó a los 10 cm en la hilera 27, no en la 33. Deberé cambiar a una aguja 4,5mm?

19.01.2024 - 18:02

DROPS Design answered:

Hola Victoria, qué patrón estás trabajando? Normalmente, lo más importante es que el número de puntos en 10 cm (el ancho) sea correcto, el número de filas se puede ajustar a medida que trabajas. Pero depende del patrón utilizado. Si nos indicas el patrón que estás trabajando y tu tensión completa (cuántos puntos en 10 cm) podremos ayudarte más.

22.01.2024 - 22:58

Tilly wrote:

Please may I ask a question. As a total beginner, would it be possible to replace the twisted rib on pattern Visit Vienna, with regular rib. I understand I will lose the beautiful pattern feature. Thank you for your help.m

16.01.2024 - 09:13

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Tilly, sure, you can work regular rib K1,P1 if your like just note that it will then look somewhat different. Happy knitting!

17.01.2024 - 09:43

Nicola Francis wrote:

I want to make the smallest size in this jumper. I have knitted a swatch for this pattern but I have 4 sts too many on the row (25) and 3 extra rows (31) to make 10 x 10 cm. I can’t find 4.25 circular needles anywhere online, so should i go up to 4.5? If so, should I do the rib using 4cm needles? I could do another swatch, but will i have enough wool to do a second one? Thank you

14.01.2024 - 19:53

Marjatta wrote:

Answering... "Therefore, you need to use the main needle that is used for the specific pattern or most of it. For example, if you use a smaller needle for the rib and change to a larger needle for the rest of the piece, then the gauge is worked with the main, larger needle. If you could indicate to us which pattern you are working we may clarify which needle is used for the gauge" Thank you! I'm starting to knit December Bloom :-).

14.01.2024 - 14:00

Marjatta wrote:

Hi, if you use two different sizes of needles (3,5 in round yoke, 4 in other parts), which one (3,5 or 4) does the knitting tension mean?

13.01.2024 - 19:31

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Marjatta, usually the gauge states which kind of stitch you are working (stocking stitch, garter stitch or even the specific chart). Therefore, you need to use the main needle that is used for the specific pattern or most of it. For example, if you use a smaller needle for the rib and change to a larger needle for the rest of the piece, then the gauge is worked with the main, larger needle. If you could indicate to us which pattern you are working we may clarify which needle is used for the gauge. Happy knitting!

14.01.2024 - 13:28

Denise wrote:

If pattern is knitted with two strands should tension square be the same. Also what is equivalent yarn in Australia for Midara Angoria6 please

11.01.2024 - 06:03

Denise wrote:

If a garment is knitted with two strands should the tension swatch be knitted the same. Also what is equivalent yarn in Australia for Midara Angoria6 yarn please.

11.01.2024 - 06:01

Denise wrote:

If a pattern is knitted with 2 strands should the tension swatch be knitted the same What is equivalent yarn in australia for Midara Angoria 6 yarn please

11.01.2024 - 05:57

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Denise, read more about changing yarns and alternatives here, as we don't know the yarn, you might have to request help from your yarn store. Note that our yarn are available around the world - see list of worldwide shipping stores here. Happy knitting!

11.01.2024 - 08:41

Inge Kristensen wrote:

Jeg synes raglan stykket bliver for langt men trøjen passer i omkredsen med maskeantallet. Skal jeg så strikke på en mindre pindestørrelse?

09.01.2024 - 09:09

Martine wrote:

Ik heb maar 48 welke maat moet ik nemen voor de trui is dat XXL of XXXL

08.01.2024 - 07:44

DROPS Design answered:

Dag Martine,

Het handigst is om een kledingstuk erbij te pakken dat je goed zit en dan de maten daarmee te vergelijken. Voor meer informatie over kledingmaten kun je ook kijken om kledingmaat.nl

21.01.2024 - 19:32

Gaby wrote:

Liebes Drops-Team, ich möchte gerne das Modell 236-34 mit der angegebenen Drops Air stricken. Ich denke da stimmt die Angabe der Maschenprobe nicht. Angabe Wolle: 17 M x 22 R mit Nadelstärke 5 Angabe Pullover: 16 M x 20 R mit Nadelstärke 5,5 meine Maschenprobe: 15 M x 25 R mit Nadelstärke 5 14 M x 24 R mit Nadelstärle 5,5 Ich stricke schon lange - eine solche Abweichung im Verhältnis Maschen und Reihen hatte ich noch nie.

29.12.2023 - 12:57

DROPS Design answered:

Liebe Gaby, mit Air ist 16 Maschen x 20 Reihen ziemlich üblich, das Wichtigste ist daß Ihre Maschenprobe stimmt, die Nadelgröße am besten so anpassen. Viel Spaß beim stricken!

02.01.2024 - 12:40

Hester Sluimer wrote:

Mijn steken verhouding klopt in de breedte, maar in de lengte heb ik meer toeren nodig...... Lijkt mij geen probleem, maar hoe kan ik dit evt oplossen?

22.12.2023 - 11:05

DROPS Design answered:

Dag Hester,

Het hangt een beetje af van het patroon. Bij sommige patronen is de stekenverhouding in de lengte ook belangrijk, maar vaak staat dat er dan wel bij. Als je moet meerderen of minderen om de zoveel centimeter is dat geen probleem, maar als er in het patroon staat dat je om de zoveel naalden moet meerderen, moet je ven kijken of je uitkomt met de stekenverhouding.

07.01.2024 - 14:32

Susan wrote:

The swatch for my pattern should be knit in the rib pattern, but I find it difficult to calculate the stitches/ rows. Can I knit in St.St instead? Thank you

21.12.2023 - 14:48

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Susan, the tension in width will be different depending on the pattern worked, feel free to tell us which pattern you are working on so that we can check together; or just use the questions section at the bottom of the pattern. Happy knitting!

21.12.2023 - 16:03

LORELLA PEDICONE wrote:

Sto realizzando sweet Rosie Baby 11-4. Le indicazioni per il modello sono 25 maglie X 34 ferri . Cambiando i ferri sono riuscita ad ottenere la giusta larghezza ma il campione viene più alto. Che devo fare ? Grazie per il vostro aiuto

20.12.2023 - 00:15

DROPS Design answered:

Buonasera Lorella, se non riesce ad ottenere il campione indicato deve adattare le misure riportate nel modello al suo campione. Buon lavoro!

26.12.2023 - 20:37

Maureen P Kenefick wrote:

Needles ttat are size10.75 dont come in the states,at least i can't find them. Size 11 is close. Is that ok?

17.12.2023 - 17:42

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Maureen, you can find here all of our DROPS stores that ship needles worldwide. You can check out whether they have the necessary needle size or if they can order them for you. In Europe, they are usually sold as mm size; for size 10.75 it would be 7mm. You can always try with a slightly larger or smaller needle, but remember that you still have to work a gauge to see that it matches the one in the pattern or to recalculate the pattern, as shown in this lesson. Happy knitting!

17.12.2023 - 23:35

Maureen wrote:

Hi is the wool for this pattern equivalent to aran/worsted wool? Maureen

13.12.2023 - 17:46

Romana wrote:

Guten Abend, ich möchte gern die Jacke 132-9 Aurora in Größe S mit der Wolle Andes stricken. Meine Maschenprobe war jedoch statt 10 x 10 cm leider nur 8 x 12 cm! Ich habe eine weitere Maschenprobe mit einer dickeren Nadelstärke angefertigt (12 mm): Die ist 9 x 13 cm groß. Habt Ihr eine Idee, was ich noch machen könnte? Vielleicht die Jacke in M mit der empfohlenen Nadelstärke stricken? Vielen Dank im Voraus!

08.12.2023 - 22:36

DROPS Design answered:

Liebe Romana, versuchen Sie, Ihre Maschenprobe zu waschen/spannen, es kann vielleicht helfen, die richtge Breite zu bekommen. Viel Spaß beim stricken!

11.12.2023 - 10:10

How to measure your tension/gauge

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