How to measure the knitting tension and how to calculate a pattern.
This description can be used for both knitting and crocheting.
This is how we calculate a pattern from the knitting tension:
Always check the size chart to find the size you need.
See here for a lesson on how to read our size charts.
Calculation:
The pattern is calculated so that the measurements given in the chart will be the measurements of the finished garment.
For this calculation we need the knitting tension, and then the process is as follows:
If 10 cm in width = 20 stitches in width,
then 1 cm in width is (20/10) = 2 stitches.
If the width of the body is 48 cm, then we need
48 cm x 2 stitches = 96 stitches.
Consequences:
If you get 22 stitches on 10 cm instead of 20 stitches, your garment will be 5 cm narrower than the measurements in the diagram.
All stitch counts in the pattern are calculated from the given knitting tension and this affects everything: e.g. the shaping of the neck – the increases on sleeves – the cast-on edge - raglan etc.
So you need to change the size of the needle :)
Knitting tension and gauge swatch:
Gauge swatch:
To make sure the measurements on your garment = the measurements in the pattern, you should always start by working a swatch – to arrive at the correct knitting tension.
Cast on more stitches than the knitting tension states for 10 cm in width and work slightly more than 10 cm in height, starting with the suggested needle size.
If the knitting tension is:
20 stitches in width and 27 rows in height with stocking stitch = 10 x 10 cm.
Lay a tape measure on the piece and count the stitches:
20 stitches = 10 cm in width and 27 rows in height = 10 cm.
Result / consequence:
More than 20 stitches – change to a larger needle size
Less than 20 stitches – change to a smaller needle size.
When you have found the correct needle size, you are ready to start.
Remember to check the knitting tension as you go; it can vary as you work through the garment.
Right or wrong needle size:
Needle size:
There is no correct needle size; everyone’s knitting is different.
The given needle size is only a guide.
Find the needle size to get the correct knitting tension – if you need to use needle size 6 mm, when the pattern suggests needle size 4 mm, then do so.
Our own design team uses different needles sizes when knitting with the same yarn. This is very common.
Types of needles:
This is very individual.
There are needles made of wood, bamboo, metal, plastic, as well as other materials.
One finds their favourite, and it’s normal to use a different knitting tension when using different types of needles (circular, double pointed, etc.).
So if it doesn’t work when you try a knitting tension with – for instance - metal needles, try another material, like birch, and see if it works better for you.
Comments (50)
Manuela
06.04.2021 - 12:26:
Ich habe immer wieder das Problem, dass meine Reihenanzahl mehr ist. Bei Mustern oder Rundpasse ist es ein Problem. LG Manuela
DROPS Design
07.04.2021 - 10:11:
Estelle PIERRE
14.03.2021 - 12:32:
Bonjour, Pour le pull inner circle 196-23, l'échantillon requis est de 21 mailles en largeur et 28 rang en hauteur. En le tricotant le jacquard jesuis à 29mailles en largeur mais seulement 21 rangs, mais pour le corps je suis dans les mesures. Je ne comprend pas comment je me retrouve avec plus de mailles en largeur mais pas assez en hauteur. Comment puis-je ajuster ? est-ce une question de taille d'aiguille ou de tension ? Merci beaucoup !
DROPS Design
15.03.2021 - 10:15:
Carla
13.03.2021 - 00:12:
Haken haaknaald5.0 Ik heb een proeflapje gehaakt ,van 18 steken en 6toeren 10 bij 10 CM Hoe kan ik dit uitrekenen Mijn Rug breedte is 62 CM Hoop dat u mij kan helpen
Muriel
27.02.2021 - 19:31:
Bonjour je débute dans le tricot, je dois faire un échantillon de 12m x 24 rangs hors j'ai bien 12 m pour 10cm mais pour 24 rangs j'ai 13 cm que dois-je faire ? Merci beaucoup pour votre réponse. cdlt
DROPS Design
01.03.2021 - 11:02:
Joana
10.02.2021 - 02:24:
Olá, estou com uma dúvida em relação à agulha que devo usar no modelo recomenda agulha 5mm e que devo ter na amostra 17pts x 20 carreiras. A minha amostra dá 18pts x 25 carreiras, qual a melhor agulha a utilizar neste caso? Obrigada!
DROPS Design
10.02.2021 - 10:05:
Diane
29.01.2021 - 03:46:
Bonjour, Dans le patron #200-28, quand vous mentionnez des aiguilles no 8 dans le patron, voulez-vous dire 8 mm ou 4 mm? Je ne sais jamais si c’est le numéro ou la grandeur en mm! Merci,
DROPS Design
29.01.2021 - 08:46:
Marianne
26.01.2021 - 22:19:
20 m =10 cm på min sticknin, men när jag mäter färdigt mått så stämmer inte det med måttet på diagrammet. Enl diagrammet ska den vara 44 cm i storlek M men min stickning är inte alls så bred! Vad har jag gjort för fel? Tacksam för svar Mvh Marianne
DROPS Design
27.01.2021 - 07:32:
Jozefien De Bruijn
25.01.2021 - 18:54:
Ik wil graag de lange trui Kristina nr 116/3 breien, maar qua steken kom ik uit op 18 of 19 steken per 10 cm met naalden 4,5. Als ik een proeflapje brei met naald 4 dan vind ik het te stug worden voor een lekkere trui. Moet ik nu een maat groter nemen of een maat kleiner ?
Monique
23.01.2021 - 19:52:
J'ai recu 10 balles de laine Mérinos 4 de bergère de france j'aimerais savoir ca équivaut à quel groupe de vos laines
DROPS Design
25.01.2021 - 13:47:
LIDIA FRANCO ARBELAEZ
22.01.2021 - 23:27:
Talla S , las medidas que corresponde y la talla M que medidas corresponde. Gracias
DROPS Design
28.02.2021 - 17:09:
Tanja Kondraschew
13.01.2021 - 09:37:
Sie haben mich leider nicht richtig verstanden! Diese zwei Farben werden abwechselnd verwendet. Muss ich jetzt bei beiden Farben die Maschenprobe machen? Man hat mir nur gesagt, ich soll eine Maschenprobe machen.
Tanja Kondraschew
13.01.2021 - 19:46:
Tanja Kondraschew
12.01.2021 - 23:46:
Ich habe mir heute meine bestellte Wolle, allerdings nicht Drops Garn abgeholt. Es sind zwei Farben, muss ich mit jeder Farbe eine Maschenprobe machen?
DROPS Design
13.01.2021 - 09:27:
Yens W
04.01.2021 - 22:53:
Jag skal sticka kofta i Plummun Mohair .Det garn finst inte här var jag bor. Jag skulle vela ändra garn .Vilket kan jag andvända I stället?
Lisbeth
29.12.2020 - 13:04:
Strikkefasthet - Er dette alltid målt på glattstrikk? Ikke den strukturen/mønsteret som brukes i oppskriften?
DROPS Design
11.01.2021 - 09:03:
Amélie
19.12.2020 - 15:06:
Je doit fait une tuques pour un enfant de 12ans est je trouve pas comment la fait de cm de haut aider moi
DROPS Design
21.12.2020 - 09:20:
Ingrid
22.11.2020 - 17:12:
Hallo, mijn steek verhouding komt overeen met het patroon maar niet het aantal naalden. Kan ik dan niet gewoon de lengte in acht nemen en niet het aantal naalden? Bedankt
DROPS Design
06.12.2020 - 14:34:
Dag Ingrid,
Het belangrijkste bij de stekenverhouding is dat de breedte overeenkomt (tenzij anders aangegeven in een patroon, bijvoorbeeld bij een overdwars of diagonaal gebreid werkstuk kan dat belangrijk zijn.), de hoogte kun je inderdaad steeds opmeten.
Claudia
30.10.2020 - 14:47:
Buongiorno, ho fatto un campione di 12 m x16 ferri a maglia rasata = 10 x 10 cm adesso ho misurato : la larghezza e' ok ma in altezza ho 11 cm . come devo procedere ?se cambio ferri modifico la larghezza che andrebbe bene cosi'. grazie
Jackie Dempsey
29.10.2020 - 11:51:
Thanks for your reply to my query. However, I have just looked at the knitting tension for size 3mm needles and it should be 28 sts and 34 rows to 10cm, rather than the 24 sts and 32 rows that you recommend in the pattern. I could only get 9cm with 28 sts, even knitting very loosely. So should I knit the pattern in one size bigger or use 4mm needles?
DROPS Design
30.10.2020 - 08:30:
Jackie Dempsey
28.10.2020 - 18:18:
I have made 2 knitting swatches for the Green Luck Cardigan (Drops 196-11), and have found I have to use size 4mm needles instead of the recommended 3mm to obtain the correct measurement, and even then I have to knit loosely. I am using Drops Flora yarn. This seems a very big jump, and I am wondering if the pattern tension may not be correct?
DROPS Design
29.10.2020 - 09:08:
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...thank you this is well explained. Its just the old English teacher in me who worries that you have dropped an "o" in "to big" which should be "too big" in third paragraph third line that is if you mean larger than desired (too) as opposed to in movement towards "to" in the context.