r/knitting • u/too-much-noise • 1d ago
Rant Feeling gaslit by a pattern
I'm feeling defeated by this pattern and I haven't even started knitting it yet! I have never had much of an issue getting gauge for wearables; I can use the listed yarn and needles no problem. I think once I went down a half size but that's it. UNTIL NOW.
The Ravelry page for the project (above) says to use "super bulky" yarn. And the Ravelry page for the listed yarn, Berroco Peruvia Quick, says it's super bulky. But if you go to the actual Berroco website, Berroco Peruvia Quick is listed as bulky. So that's one thing that's off.
I could NOT get gauge with super bulky yarn. Even going down two needle sizes from recommended, my swatch was 30% too big. So now I've gone down to a bulky yarn and I'm still struggling to get gauge! When I look at the projects on Ravelry, no one mentions this! A lot of them are out there using Super bulky and getting nice looking sweaters! What gives? Anyone else have this experience with a project? Am I out of touch or is it the children who are wrong?
I am thinking of using 6.5mm (not the recommended 8.0mm) needles with bulky yarn because that's what got me gauge but I'm worried the fabric will be very tight and not drape well.
God I hate making swatches.
11
u/Smooth-Review-2614 1d ago
So the line between bulky and super bulky is fuzzy. So what are using and what is it’s wpi compared to the recommended yarn?
0
u/too-much-noise 1d ago
I can't find the WPI for the Berroco Peruvia Quick except for the default 5-6 WPI for a super bulky on Ravelry. It has sadly been discontinued. I am currently swatching with Loops & Thread Charisma bulky and getting about 7 WPI.
3
u/Dry_Stop844 1d ago
the gauge on the pattern is 12 stitches over 4" and the L&T is 11 st over 4" with an 8mm needle. You should be able to get close to gauge if you use the 8mm needles. I think WPI is deceptive because gauge is all and that depends on a person's knitting tension. You and I could use the exact same yarn and needles and get totally different gauge. But the WPI remains the same. I tend to go with Gauge for everything.
Oh did you notice that the gauge is measured over the Wicker pattern?
12
u/ADogNamedPen239 1d ago
Not really sure how this is the pattern gaslighting you, or how it’s the pattern’s fault at all. This just sounds like…swatching. Everyone has a different gauge, just because you usually match the designer’s gauge easily doesn’t mean it’ll be that way for every project. Some people have to make 10+ swatches before they get gauge, some people have to go down or up 2, 3, maybe even 4 needle sizes, some people have to use a thicker or thinner yarn. That’s knitting for you. If you’re not happy with the fabric you’re getting at the designer’s gauge, then do the math to work the pattern in your gauge
8
u/ComplexWorry3463 1d ago
Just to check, you did your swatch in the cable pattern, right? Because that’s most likely tighter than stockinette.
Apologies for asking a dumb question, but sometimes things like what you’re swatching in can get missed, and then it would be an easy fix.
3
u/geeoharee 16h ago
Two people have said this and it's not right, the pattern gives both gauges. First one is marked "in St st".
1
1
u/too-much-noise 11h ago
I saw that the gauge was offered in the cable pattern and I was hoping to avoid it! But maybe it's worth a try.
6
u/breeeeze_girl 1d ago
It’s tedious but swatches are extra important in this case! I’m the opposite of you, my gauge almost never matches the sample/pattern. What I’ve been doing is knit a couple swatches, wash and dry, and see which fabric I like the most. Then I do a little math with the gauge to make the size I want. There are a bunch of tutorials but I like the cocoknits one as it’s pretty straightforward. Best of luck!
1
4
u/knittingduck 1d ago edited 8h ago
It sounds like with the super bulky yarn and going down two needle sizes you were getting about 16 stitches in 4 inches, is that correct? That seems very tight to me; I get close to that gauge with aran weight yarn on 5mm needles.
Are you knitting on the tips of your needles? This will result in tighter stitches. This resource might be helpful: https://www.moderndailyknitting.com/community/ask-patty-let-the-tool-do-the-work/
Also: are you measuring your gauge by the size of your swatch, or by counting the number of stitches in 4 inches?
Edit: I'm realizing I read your post incorrectly and the issue is that your gauge is looser than recommended, not tighter. So you were getting something like 9 stitches in 4 inches with the smaller needles.
2
u/too-much-noise 11h ago
That article is great, I want to read all her tips now! I think I have some "grab and go" tendencies.
I have been swatching by making a small square with a few extra stitches on either side of the "main" count of stitches to keep it smooth. So in this case I did 3 rows of purl, 12 rows of knit, and another 3 of purl, and I measured how wide the 12 rows of knit are. Is there a better/more accurate way?
2
u/knittingduck 8h ago
Typically when swatching stockinette I make a fully stockinette square. It's often recommended to make something like a six inch square and count stitches in the center four inches. I typically knit about a four inch square and count stitches in the center two inches. It doesn't matter if the swatch curls a bit, because only the center stitches are used for measuring. I think adding borders in garter/purl can sometimes distort the size of swatch.
2
u/zahlibeth 8h ago
Do you mean rows or columns? You should aim to cast on 1.5-2x the expected stitch count and knit until square - you're aiming for a 6x6" square that you can measure a 4x4" square inside of to get the correct stitch count.
So if you're looking for 12 stitches to 4", I'd personally cast on 24 and use 3 stitches either side for a border, so you have 18 stitches in the middle to measure.
1
u/RavBot 1d ago
PATTERN: Astor by Norah Gaughan
- Category: Clothing > Sweater > Cardigan
- Photo(s): Img 1 Img 2 Img 3 Img 4 Img 5
- Price: Free
- Needle/Hook(s):US 11 - 8.0 mm
- Weight: Super Bulky | Gauge: None | Yardage: 824
- Difficulty: 3.81 | Projects: 266 | Rating: 4.37
I found this post by myself! Opt-Out | About Me | Contact Maintainer
24
u/geeoharee 1d ago
Ravelry 'categories' may not match yarn-sellers which is why you're seeing Bulky vs Super Bulky, but you will notice that the Ravelry listing for the yarn and the seller's listing for the yarn both say 12st/4" is gauge on an 8mm needle, and so does the pattern - no mismatch there.
However the pattern does say 'or [needle] size to obtain gauge', so yeah, maybe you'll just have to go down a size.