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 (132)

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:

Carla Jongste wrote:

Ik heb een brother breimachine en daar wil ik de patronen voor gebruiken is dat mogelijkheid?

23.04.2022 - 09:14:

DROPS Design answered:

Dag Carla,

De patronen op onze website zijn geschreven om met de hand te breien. Helaas niet voor breimachines.

10.05.2022 - 09:57:

Antonia Milano wrote:

Bonjour, L'échantillon est-il "mesuré" après blocage ? Merci pour votre aide. Bonne continuation

07.04.2022 - 14:08:

DROPS Design answered:

Bonjour Mme Milano, l'échantillon n'est pas bloqué, mais si vous pensez que vous êtes susceptibles d'avoir une différence avant/après blocage, n'hésitez pas à le faire, et adaptez ensuite la taille des aiguilles si besoin. Bon tricot!

07.04.2022 - 16:42:

Nicole Vandenberghe wrote:

What if you just change the size of the sweater instead of changing needles ? If I like my gauge with a certain needle number, but my gauge is smaller than in the pattern, can I knit a larger size?

07.04.2022 - 11:32:

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Mrs Vandenberghe, the pattern has been calculated with a gauge so that the number of stitches given will let you get the measurements in the chart; if you work with another gauge, you will have different measurements, you will then have to count again to get the pattern working. Read more here. Happy knitting!

07.04.2022 - 16:44:

ROSA PASCUAL wrote:

Buenos días, En el párrafo " Si 10 cm de ancho = 20 puntos de ancho, Entonces 1 cm de ancho es (20/10) = 2 puntos. Si la medida de ancho del cuerpo es de 48 cm, entonces necesitamos 48 cm x 2 puntos = 96 stitches." La palabra "stitches" son puntos,no? Gracias,

29.03.2022 - 13:32:

DROPS Design answered:

Hola Rosa, sí, stitches son puntos. Es una errata en la lección.

10.04.2022 - 19:23:

ROSA PASCUAL wrote:

Buenos días, En el párrafo "Consecuencias: Si obtienes 22 puntos en 10 cm en vez de 20 puntos, tu prenda será 5 cm más angosta que las medidas en el diagrama. " Creo que es mejor utilizar la palabra "estrecha" en vez de "angosta", es más clara la interpretación. Saludos y gracias,

29.03.2022 - 13:09:

Edith PEDERSEN wrote:

JEG HAR SKREVET TIL JER MEN GLEMTE NUMMER PÅ OPSKRIFTEN OG DET ER 183--22 HÅBE JEG KAN FÅ HJÆLP

20.03.2022 - 10:56:

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Edit. Se vårt forrige svar til deg eller svaret under selve oppskriften. mvh DROPS Design

21.03.2022 - 08:56:

Edith PEDERSEN wrote:

Hvor skal man begynde henne på denne mønster jeg kan ikke få den til at passe begynde jeg hvor der stå 34 eller hvor der står 14 maske TAK

20.03.2022 - 10:51:

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Edit. Se vårt forrige svar. mvh DROPS Design

21.03.2022 - 08:55:

Edith PEDERSEN wrote:

Skal man begynde oppe fra med34 ma på mønsteret eller nede fra med 14 ma jeg kan ikke få mønster til at passe

20.03.2022 - 10:46:

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Edit. Du starter digrammet nederst til høyre (14 masker). Usikker på hvordan man leser et strikkediagram se her: Hvordan læses strikkediagrammer mvh DROPS Design

21.03.2022 - 08:54:

Lene Pedersen wrote:

Kan jeg regne med at garnmængde er den samme, hvis jeg må skifte pind fra 3 til 4 for at overholde strikkefastheden? Det handler om DROPS Baby Merino.

17.03.2022 - 10:47:

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Lena. Ja, om strikkefastheten stemmer. Bare husk at Baby Merion er spunnet av flere tynne tråder som gir garnet ekstra elastisitet og et jevnt maskebilde. Denne spesielle konstruksjonen gjør det ekstra viktig å ha riktig strikkefasthet i prosjektet, så ha heller en litt for fast strikkefasthet enn for løs. mvh DROPS Design

21.03.2022 - 08:44: