Uploaded December 2010 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
knitfreedom.com/knitting-video/gauge-how-to-check-your-gauge-flat-knitting How to knit a swatch and check your gauge in knitting:
UPDATE (February 10, 2013): These rulers are no longer available! The company that makes them is no longer in business. :(
A trick for getting your knitting to look professional is to check your gauge before you begin.
A gauge swatch doesn't have to be a big pain in the butt. Just take the needles and yarn that you think you're going to use for a project and knit a small swatch.
You can even cast-on as few as 15 to 20 stitches and knit for about 1 or 2 inches. This is cutting it tight but if you're not going to make a gauge swatch at all if you have to make a big one, go ahead and make a small one.
Remember, before you check your gauge you need to block the swatch. If you're going to be blocking the finished object, whether it's a sweater, a teddy bear, mittens, anything that you'd like to be a certain size, make sure that you go ahead and block the swatch as well.
Many yarns can change when they get wet. Wool stretches quite a bit; silk also. So get your swatch wet, let it soak for 20 minutes and lay it out on the table to dry.
Next, lay a ruler over 2 inches worth of stitches. Just count the little Vs. Line the end of the ruler up with the side of a V which is a knit stitch and count how many stitches there are in 2 inches. Then, divide this number by two to get an average stitch gauge or an average number of stitches per inch that you are obtaining with that needle and that yarn.
For bulky yarn, you'll be wanting to get about 3 stitches per inch; for worsted-weight yarn, you'll want to get about 5 stitches per inch; for sport-weight yarns, 6 stitches per inch; and for fingering weight or sock yarn as many as 7 stitches per inch.
Remember, tension and gauge varies quite a bit with individual knitting styles so it's okay if your gauge is off. Just increase or decrease your needle size as appropriate until you get the right gauge.
There is nothing wrong with using a needle size that is two or three sizes smaller than the one that is suggested in the pattern if that's what helps you get gauge. It doesn't matter at all.
youtube.com/watch?v=SM-2HlmBXo0
knitfreedom.com/knitting-video/gauge-how-to-check-your-gauge-flat-knitting How to knit a swatch and check your gauge in knitting:
UPDATE (February 10, 2013): These rulers are no longer available! The company that makes them is no longer in business. :(
A trick for getting your knitting to look professional is to check your gauge before you begin.
A gauge swatch doesn't have to be a big pain in the butt. Just take the needles and yarn that you think you're going to use for a project and knit a small swatch.
You can even cast-on as few as 15 to 20 stitches and knit for about 1 or 2 inches. This is cutting it tight but if you're not going to make a gauge swatch at all if you have to make a big one, go ahead and make a small one.
Remember, before you check your gauge you need to block the swatch. If you're going to be blocking the finished object, whether it's a sweater, a teddy bear, mittens, anything that you'd like to be a certain size, make sure that you go ahead and block the swatch as well.
Many yarns can change when they get wet. Wool stretches quite a bit; silk also. So get your swatch wet, let it soak for 20 minutes and lay it out on the table to dry.
Next, lay a ruler over 2 inches worth of stitches. Just count the little Vs. Line the end of the ruler up with the side of a V which is a knit stitch and count how many stitches there are in 2 inches. Then, divide this number by two to get an average stitch gauge or an average number of stitches per inch that you are obtaining with that needle and that yarn.
For bulky yarn, you'll be wanting to get about 3 stitches per inch; for worsted-weight yarn, you'll want to get about 5 stitches per inch; for sport-weight yarns, 6 stitches per inch; and for fingering weight or sock yarn as many as 7 stitches per inch.
Remember, tension and gauge varies quite a bit with individual knitting styles so it's okay if your gauge is off. Just increase or decrease your needle size as appropriate until you get the right gauge.
There is nothing wrong with using a needle size that is two or three sizes smaller than the one that is suggested in the pattern if that's what helps you get gauge. It doesn't matter at all.
youtube.com/watch?v=SM-2HlmBXo0
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https://www.knitfreedom.com/knitting-video/removing-knit-and-purl-stitches-one-by-one/
How to remove or take out knit and/or purl stitches one by one from your knitting. Fixing knitting mistakes, tinking, taking out stitches, removing mistakes in your knitting.")
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https://www.knitfreedom.com/blog/how-to-darn-socks-and-fix-holes-in-knitting/
If this video saved you some stress feel free to support my channel and buy me a coffee:
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To darn socks or mend a hole in knitting, first clean up the edges as best you can by trimming yarn ends that are sticking out. Use a crochet hook to re-knit any stitches that have fallen out.
Using a tapestry needle, weave a thin thread through the stitches vertically to create some structure. Then, cut as many pieces of yarn as you have rows missing.
Weave one end of yarn horizontally over and under through the thin threads. Then use a crochet hook to re-knit that row of stitches. Repeat for as many rows as are missing, starting at the bottom and working your way up.
Finally, use a tapestry needle and your yarn to graft the last row of stitches closed.")
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https://www.knitfreedom.com/knitting-video/keep-yarn-from-tangling-on-two-at-a-time-socks/
Learn more knitting tricks at https://www.knitfreedom.com/knitting-videos/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq8xO4B0WMM")
