Gauge Swatches

This has come up twice in the past week so I think it is important. When making a gauge swatch if you don't get the gauge on one needle you can't just assume you can go up or down one needle size and get the gauge without actually doing the gauge.

Here is the situation as it happened. Someone was doing a gauge for a sweater on size 5 needles. Here gauge was too tight, e.g., she got 25 stitches over 4 inches instead of 24 stitches over 4 inches. She assumed that she could just start the project with one size larger needle and she would be okay. NOOOOO! You have to do the gauge swatch on the needle you are using for the project. No assumptions.

I know how hard it is to take the time for a gauge swatch when the pretty, soft yarn is there and the pattern is winking. I know. But believe me, do the gauge swatch.

Kathy