Beginner Machine Knitters

Sometimes it's just something simple

September 27, 2022
7 comments

There's an old saying in carpentry "Measure twice, cut once". This proverb can be applied to knitting.

Accurately measuring gauge would translate to "measure twice, KNIT once"

A fellow knitter recently was struggling with establishing gauge. She knit a "proper" swatch and measured with both a regular ruler (in inches) and with the a yellow ruler. She came up with 2 different row gauges. Why???

If establishing gauge is "just math" how could she get 2 different results?

She sent me a photo of her swatches (with rulers) and putting our heads together we quickly discovered what happened.

Can you see why she was getting an odd measurement using her yellow ruler?

Gauge Rulers

Member Bonus

Measuring your swatch to find the correct gauge is the most important step in making sure your garment will fit.

Using Gauge Ruler is a traditional (and easy) way to establish your gauge). Simply knit a swatch isolating specific stitches and rows.
Place the ruler on the swatch to measure. No Math!

Simply download, print, cut out and create your own gauge rulers.

Green Ruler

(Standard)

40 stitches / 60 Rows

Green Ruler

Yellow Ruler

(Mid-Gauge)

30 stitches / 40 Rows

Yellow Ruler

Blue Ruler

(Bulky)

20 stitches / 30 Rows

Blue Ruler

7 Comments

- Sue J
- September 28, 2022
By isolating a specific number of stitches and rows AS YOU KNIT eliminates all that counting!
- Vivienne Q
- September 28, 2022
I have a 4 inch square cut from card on My die cutting machine so it is completely accurate. I usually knit a fairly big swatch and the allows me to easily place the square and count rows on one side and stitches on the other.
- Parukapood Oü P
- September 28, 2022
I've always known a ruler is in centimeters.
- Sue J
- September 27, 2022
Using the tool leaves less room for math errors, too! https://www.knititnow.com/GaugeTool
- Sue S
- September 27, 2022
I do a standard swatch and measure with a standard ruler. The I use the gauge tool on the knit it now website…..much more accurate than using the coloured rulers…….
- Cherie S
- September 27, 2022
Aha... she measured from the right end (wrong end) of the ruler where the numbers are higher; not from the left end (beginning of the number scale). I've done that before, mainly when cutting quilt strips! Maybe add a mark at the left end of the ruler as a reminder where to begin from?
- Marilyn N
- September 27, 2022
Personally, I isolate my 4" square stitches and rows, manually count for gauge, then apply to pattern. Time consuming.