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Match Your Target Gauge Without Math: The 4-Inch Square Technique

May 17, 2022
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Traditional Method:

Measure a specific number of stitches and rows based on your Needle Pitch

Standard gauge:40 stitches and 60 rows

Mid-Gauge: 30 stitches and 40 rows

Bulky/Chunky: 20 stitches and 30 rows

These "rules" are based on using knitting machine gauge rulers

Visual Method

Mark the required stitches and rows as you knit. Place a 4" x 4" template to confirm gauge.

No math!

TL;DR :o) (too long, didn't read)

I recently had an epiphany about swatching when I'm trying to MATCH gauge. I've always knit my swatches according to the "rules" which forced me to "do the math".

On my standard machine, I've dutifully cast on 60 stitches and knit 60 rows between marked rows . I marked off 40 stitches and got out my regular ruler, measured and did the math, calculating how many stitches and rows = 4"/10cm

Being a total non-math person, I can't tell you how many times I've messed up the calculation of my gauge ... even when using a calculator. (Sound familiar?)

THE EPIPHANY:
I was hand knitting a HK pattern. Hand knitting the complicated sections of the pattern was fun, but I decided that knitting a whole lot of stockinette (the boring stuff) by hand was dumb. So I threaded up my machine and started to knit a swatch.

Matching Gauge
The gauge I needed to match was 24 sts and 30 rows per 4".

I cast 60 stitches (so I could easily measure 24 stitches in the center of the swatch)
I knit a few rows with my main yarn (marking the tension gauge with eyelets)
2 rows of a contrasting color
Knit 30 rows (the desired number of rows in 4"/10cm)
2 rows of a contrasting color
A few main yarn rows and bound off
AT THE SAME TIME I also marked the stitches that were framing my desired 24 stitches.(hang markers on needles left 25 and right 25

In other words, instead of marking the traditional number of stitches and rows, I broke the "rules" and marked my DESIRED GAUGE of 24 stitches and 30 rows as I knit the swatch.

I let the swatch rest, then wet blocked it and let it sit overnight.

The next day, I put my handy-dandy 4" measuring tool down on my swatch.

As you can see, by the first photo, my stitch gauge was good, but my row gauge needed to be adjusted. It was easy to see through my tool that I had too many rows to 4". I adjusted my mast tension, knit another swatch and VOILA! I was able to match my gauge EXACTLY --- with NO MATH!