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 (294)

Le Roy Michelle wrote:

Je ne vois de commentaires qu\'el langues étrangères

13.10.2022 - 18:16:

Anita wrote:

Ik heb een dikkere wil, brei met pen 8. 8 steken breed is 10 cm en 14 naalden is 10 cm lang. Hoe kan ik het patroon aanpassen zodat de verhoudingen gelijk blijven? Ik vind dit zo’n leuk vest!

13.10.2022 - 10:16:

DROPS Design answered:

Dag Anita,

Op basis van je stekenverhouding en de maattekening zou je uit kunnen rekenen hoeveel steken je op moet zetten om dezelfde breedte te krijgen. Stel dat het patroon 44 breed moet worden en je hebt 9 steken op 10 cm, dan doe je 9 keer 4,4 om het aantal steken uit te rekenen. Houd ook rekening met eventuele patronen in het breiwerk en over hoeveel steken deze lopen.

16.10.2022 - 16:34:

Cristina wrote:

Hi, Is it necessary to wet and block the swatch before measuring the tension?

11.10.2022 - 15:24:

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Cristina, it's recommended to wet and block the swatch. It may depend on which garment you are working on; if you will need to block the final garment then it's recommended to block the swatch as well. Otherwise, you are free to block it or not. Happy knitting!

16.10.2022 - 23:35:

Karla wrote:

Hola quiero hacer el chaqueta Deep Woods estoy gaciendo la prueba de tension el agujas 3 y medio mm me dio 22 ptos de ancho y 30 hileras de largo por los 10x 10 cm En agujas 4mm me dio 22 ptos de ancho y 25 hileras de largo

09.10.2022 - 22:43:

DROPS Design answered:

Hola Karla, siempre recomendamos hacer la pregunta en la sección de comentarios del propio patrón, o al menos indicando el número de patrón, para agilizar el proceso de respuesta. Para este patrón requires agujas de 5 y de 4mm, no de 3.5mm; y la muestra indicada es para agujas de 5mm. Por eso la tensión es muy diferente a la de las agujas de 3.5mm, e incluso de las agujas de 4mm.

16.10.2022 - 23:47:

Karla wrote:

Mi muestra de tension meda 21 punto en 10centimetros 9 centrimetros de largo con agujas 3,5 igual he probado con agujas 4 y 3 y no logro llegar a tention requerida de 17 ptos en 10 cm de ancho y 22 hileras de largo en 10 cm Gracias

09.10.2022 - 01:48:

DROPS Design answered:

Hola Karla, cuando la tensión es tan diferente, necesitas cambiar a una aguja más grande. ¿Qué tensión tienes con las agujas de 4mm? ¿Qué patrón y con qué hilo estás trabajado?

09.10.2022 - 18:46:

Pascale BABIN wrote:

Bonjour, Echantillon avec laine Mérino et aiguilles n° 5 en jersey Pour 17 mailles et 22 rangs, j'obtiens 8,5 cm de hauteur et 9 cm de largeur. Si mes calculs sont bons : - En largeur : (17/9) * 10 = 19 mailles ? - En hauteur : (22/8,5) * 10 = 26 rangs ? Si c'est correct, je dois donc tricoter avec une aiguille plus grosse ? n° 5,5 ou 6 ? Je vous remercie. Pascale

29.09.2022 - 20:50:

DROPS Design answered:

Bonjour Mme Babin, tout à fait, si votre échantillon ne mesure que 8,5 cm x 9 cm, essayez avec des aiguilles plus grosses; pensez également que nos laines mérinos se tricotent plus volontiers serré que trop lâche, n'hésitez pas à laver votre échantillon et à la faire sécher (en suivant attentivement les indications de lavage du nuancier + autres astuces ici) et vérifiez ensuite de nouveau vos mesures avant de continuer. Bon tricot!

30.09.2022 - 08:41:

Astrid wrote:

Hallo, ik ben begonnen met breien met Puna met rondbreinaald nr 3,5 volgens het model. Ik vind de steken in boordsteek echter erg rommelig en ongelijk. Dit terwijl ik normaal erg vast en regelmatig brei. Ik had een proeflapje gemaakt met naald nummer 4 (wel rechte naalden), ook volgens instructie en in tricotsteek zoals aangegeven. Dit zag er prima uit en stekenverhouding klopte! Wat moet ik nu doen? Enkel veranderen v naald vr de boordsteek en niet voor het hoofdgedeelte? Beide wijzigen?

28.09.2022 - 23:00:

DROPS Design answered:

Dag Astrid,

Het ene garen geeft een gelijkmatiger stekenbeeld dan het andere garen en het hangt er inderdaad ook vanaf of je tricotsteek of boordsteek breit. Dit kan bij puna er inderdaad wat 'rommeliger' uitzien dan bijvoorbeeld Karisma of Merino.

04.10.2022 - 19:31:

Dea wrote:

Risultati / conseguenze: Più di 20 maglie - passare a una misura più grande di ferri Meno di 20 maglie – passare a una misura più grande di ferri più piccola. Nella terza frase c'è un errore....bisogna togliere "più grande".

11.09.2022 - 21:38:

DROPS Design answered:

Buonasera Dea, grazie per la segnalazione: abbiamo corretto il testo. Buon lavoro!

14.09.2022 - 19:24:

Carolyn Wood wrote:

How can a i make a bulky knit sweater size small with a sleeve at least 2 inches too big in width and arm hole

10.09.2022 - 01:42:

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Mrs Wood, you will find our "chunky knits" here, one of them might inspire you. Happy knitting!

12.09.2022 - 12:28:

Nina Schie wrote:

Det er veldig vanskelig å måle strikkefasthet når det er 2 rett og 2 vrang. Hvordan gjør man det?

17.08.2022 - 20:12:

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Nina. I en oppskriften vil det være oppgitt en strikkefasthete, Der vil det være opplyst om den skal måles i f.eks glattstrikk, vrangbord eller strukturstrikk. Om strikkefastheten skal være i strikket i vrangbord (f.eks 2 rett/2 vrang), vil arbeidet trekke seg sammen og du måler det da liggende flatt (når det er trukket sammen). mvh DROPS Design

22.08.2022 - 08:08:

Nto wrote:

I am planning to make a sweater with a plain back and a big braid in the front, which will make the front sizeably smaller than the back when using the same number of stitches, , do I have to increase the number of stitches for the front so front and back are the the same width?

15.08.2022 - 18:43:

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Nto, yes you will need more stitches for the back piece worked in stocking stitch without cable than for the front piece for your cable. You can just swatch both patterns (plain + the desired cable) to recalculate the number of sts you will require on both pieces for the desired width. Your yarn store should be able to help you if you need further individual assistance. Happy knitting!

16.08.2022 - 08:50:

Pia Liukku wrote:

Hei. Minulla on ongelmanatiukka käsiala. Joudun luomaan vähintään puolet enemmän silmukoita työhön kuin ohjeessa neuvotaan. Löysempi käsiala tulee rumaa. Miten tämä vaikuttaa työn edetessä, onnistuuko lainkaan?

12.08.2022 - 10:16:

Pat wrote:

I would like to knit the bolero shrug and in the the pattern instructions it just says see M.I. I'm not sure what that means and I can't tell from the chart. Should I yarn over between the stitches on the right side and then what do I do on the wrong side of the shrug? Directions are not very clear. Thank you.

06.08.2022 - 00:14:

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Pat, this is a lesson applied to many patterns. Which bolero shrug are you trying to work? Could you tell us the pattern number so that we may help you more?

07.08.2022 - 23:43:

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: