Gauge Rules

Confessions of the Knitting Obsessed Or Why I Love My Job 

One of my favorite jobs as assistant to the editor of Knit ‘N Style magazine is to answer reader’s questions. Usually, I hear from knitters who are in the middle of a project and found a glitch in the pattern. It is my job to find out what went wrong and what needs to be done to correct it. To me, this is like doing a knitting puzzle. Some people like crossword puzzles, I like knitting puzzles.

During the course of the last week I heard from two knitters before they even began. Both had questions about gauge; which brings me to the topic of this blog.

Gauge Rules

When you decide to knit a garment, you become its creator. It is your desire and your hands that make this project a reality. Gauge is the measure of your knitting. Now don’t be scared. I know I just used a math word (and for some of you math is a four letter word) but I promise it will be simple (and worth your time).

If you are making a sweater for a man in your life, you need to know how wide the garment needs to be. If his chest measurement is 44” then the distance around the sweater needs to be 44”.

To insure fit, it is imperative that the knitting that is coming from your hands equals that amount. If the pattern says gauge is 20 sts = 4”, I divide 20 stitches by 4” to know that 5 stitches that I knit must equal 1”. I want 44” so I need to knit (44 x 5) 220 sts, making each side 110 sts.

What is YOUR gauge?

I grabbed a ball of yarn and needles from my drawer and knitted a swatch. Another reason I love my job, I remember jobs where I was banned from knitting.

 

 

 

The information on the ball band told me that the gauge is 20 sts x 26 rows = 4” on size 7 needles. I cast on 20 sts and knit 26 rows using size 7 needles.

 

 

  

 

 I placed a pin in my swatch counted 5 stitches over and placed another pin, then I measured. As you can see I am knitting on gauge for this yarn. I can proceed confident that after I finish knitting this garment, it will fit.

 

 

The two knitters that I corresponded with this week questioned the gauge that was printed with the pattern that they wanted to knit. They were wise to do so.

Just because a manufacturer (or magazine) tells you gauge, this does not mean these will be the numbers that you get from your needles.

You are the creator, and you need to know your gauge. Take the time to knit a swatch and measure your stitches. TO SAVE TIME, TAKE TIME TO CHECK GAUGE.

Don’t be afraid of the math; be an empowered knitter!

Best stitches,

Vickie

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The December Issue

Ta-da!  The December issue of Knit ‘N Style… Advance copies arrived just before we left for the long holiday weekend. A little bit of a different look for the cover… the shot isn’t our usual flat-lighting, and we color blocked the logo.  It’s the holiday issue so we went a little snazzy different.

This issue is always a challenging one to bring to fruition. We work six months ahead of cover date, so this issue is put together from mid-June until mid-August. Brings new meaning to the phrase, “Christmas in July.” Try mustering up holiday enthusiasm in weather conditions of 90 degrees, 90% humidity.

There are twelve other publications at All American Crafts Publishing Co and all the editors are well Christmas-ed out by the time we go to press. Not a soul can muster another “ho ho ho” except this year, a new publication was launched called Christmas 365. ACK!  We’ll forever more be surrounded by Christmas 24/7!

Back to the December cover… The cover ensemble was designed by Sandi Prosser, a brilliant knitwear designer from Toronto, Canada. We love Sandi a lot – even though she is very tall, has a gorgeous figure, and lives in very expensive Italian shoes with 3″ heels.

I love to work with Sandi on a concept, discuss yarns, and let her needles fly. Her execution and finishing are total perfection. Vickie and I always marvel at the evenness of her stitches and seamless piecing. We are never disappointed in her creativity and technical skill set.

The halter top is worked in Plymouth Yarn Co’s Ecco Silk (100% silk) on size 5 needles. The Ecco Silk is a smooth, soft fiber. Sandi worked the stole and the matching bag in Plymouth’s Ecco Silk Boucle (100% silk) on size 7 needles. The texture of the boucle gives contrast to the halter yet doesn’t overpower. We were hoping for a fabulous New Year’s Eve Party outfit, and I think this timeless ensemble is an instant classic. Sandi will be wearing it to ring in 2010 with cigarette pants and her famous 3″ stilettos. You go girl!

Hats are the new socks. How we managed to schedule a tech workshop article about hats for this issue was pure luck genius. When discussing the concept with Margaret (Radcliffe) ages ago (I write contracts with freelance writers 18 months ahead of cover date), we thought it was a great quick gift idea as the December (holiday) issue goes on sale at the end of September. Since then, scads of books have crossed my desk regarding the topic of hats. I am sure there are more to come. Margaret’s article focuses on how to make custom hats with lots of variation for personal creativity.

I am heading off to Seattle on Thursday for some get away time. The cameras are coming with me, of course. I have hopes of catching Mt Rainier out from under the clouds, taking in a Yankees/Mariners game, and cruising through the San Juan Islands on a ferry just to feel the breeze in my hair. And if it rains endlessly, then I will head to the Art Museum and yarn shops (of course)!

Until next time … Happy Knitting!

Penelope

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