• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • SHOP
    • Featured Patterns
    • J-Squared Knitwear Design Intensive
      • Knitwear Design Intensive Schedule
    • Knitter’s Math Webinar
    • Special Offers on New Releases!
    • Patterns
    • Why Jill Wolcott Knits Patterns are Expensive
  • BLOG
  • LEARNING
    • J-Squared Knitwear Design Intensive
      • Knitwear Design Intensive Schedule
    • Knitter’s Math Webinar
    • What Is An Action Chart?
    • Menu of Techniques
    • Techniques Library : What’s In There?
    • Abbreviations
    • Sizing Tables / Charts / Guidelines & Croquis
    • Pattern Difficulty Levels / Type of Knitting
    • Why Jill Wolcott Knits Patterns are Expensive
    • Inside a Jill Wolcott Knits Pattern
    • How-To Videos: Taming Techniques from Jill
      • Why I Love . . . Techniques
    • Jill Wolcott Knits: A Fit Background
    • 2019-2020 Workshops With Jill Wolcott Knits
    • Overview of ASOG – A System of Grading
  • ABOUT
    • J-Squared Knitwear Design Intensive
    • Designer’s Story
    • Calendar Events Schedule
    • Newsletter Archives
    • Fundraising Projects
    • Jill Wolcott Knits
      • Jill Wolcott curriculum vitae
    • Techniques Library : What’s In There?
    • Abbreviations
    • Errata
    • Privacy Notice for Jill Wolcott Knits
  • CONTACT
  • My Account
  • Press

Jill Wolcott Knits logo

January 15, 2012

gauge

Gauge is how you measure the number of stitches and rows in one inch of your knitting. It influences lots of things you knitting project, including the size in your pattern you knit, and the it’s critical to know if you’re working any pattern alterations.

How to measure your gauge

Lay your swatch flat. Mark off 4 inches (10 cm) of knitting, vertically and horizontally. Count the number of stitches between markers. This will give you your stitch gauge over four inches. Then count the number of rows between markers. This will give you your stitch and row gauge over four inches.

Best Practices

  • Always measure with swatch laying flat.
  • Always measure across 4 inches or 10 centimeters. Then if you need to divide by four to get gauge over one inch.
  • Never measure at the needle.
  • Always measure in the center of your swatch.

Examples of Gauge Swatches

Videos

This video is on on Youtube, or on Viemo, and also embedded below for your convenience.

You can see more knitting videos on my Youtube channel, and on my Vimeo channel.


Pattern Specific Variations to Gauge

Sometimes, I include technique variations that are for specific patterns. I always include directions for specific techniques in the pattern itself, so be sure to also read any patterns you’re working on closely.

Taking Gauge Variation for Almost Plaid Scarf

If you do the math you will realize that I didn’t have 58 stitches in the scarf to take my gauge. I took my stitch gauge over 3″/7.6 cm then used a relationship formula to figure out the 4″/10 cm gauge. I used to give the smaller number, but tech editors worry that knitters will not notice that I’ve used a different measurement. I still always recommend a larger number of stitches than a tiny gauge swatch, but a gauge swatch doesn’t always make sense. Go here to read a blog post about using the relationship formula.

Share this:

  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Primary Sidebar

Jill’s Story

Teacher, Designer, with expertise to lead you where you want to go as a knitter/designer. Read More…

Don’t Miss these Techniques!

Pull Sufficient yarn for BO over dropped stitch

Pull sufficient yarn into the stitch on right needle

Afghan Join in North Country

Afghan Join

difference the gauge makes: swatch ready for counting--in burly

Measuring, Measure

Action Chart as originally written and changed to have a stacked repeat to exactly match your knitting

Action Chart

Popular in the Shop

  • Rise Up Cover Rise Up Designer Collection Week 4) $28.00 $24.00
  • Rise Up Cover Rise Up Designer Collection Week 3 $28.00
  • Rise Up Cover Rise Up Designer Collection Week 2 $28.00
  • Positano & Steps to Positano: Spencer with Pin Positano & Steps to Positano $10.00
  • Yarn, pattern, swatch, and reading glasses that are named Cheap Therapy First 2021 Studio Chat (free) with Jill Wolcott Knits $5.00

Stay Updated

Footer

About Jill

Teacher, Designer, with expertise to lead you where you want to go as a knitter/designer.

Pattern Availability

If you live outside of the US and Canada you can now purchase Jill Wolcott Knits PDF patterns directly through Payhip.

Stay Connected

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Ravelry

© 2021 Jill Wolcott Knits