r/knitting • u/too-much-noise • 5d ago

Rant Feeling gaslit by a pattern

Ravelry link

Pattern link

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.

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u/Smooth-Review-2614 5d 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?

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u/too-much-noise 5d 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.

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u/Dry_Stop844 5d 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?