11 Gauge Swatch Secrets PLUS How to Swatch in the Round | Off Our Needles S3E1

[@BonJourBonJour123]

I started knitting in the olden days when the yarn ladies wouldn’t let you leave the shop until you’d knit a swatch to the right gauge and sent you home with the needle size you needed plus an extra skein or two of returnable yarn just so you wouldn’t run out. Because of that I’m an avid swatcher, especially to see how patterns work out and how the fabric drapes. For fine gauge knits like socks, I find that a 4”x4” gauge is too much but a patterned swatch might be much longer. I knit in lace eyelets to let me know what size needle I’m using. Because I’m a thrower, my knits and purls are the exact same size saving me from having to do swatches with floats for knitting in the round.

[@SouthernSpirit2008]

Love the video. If you cut the floats at the back of the swatch, you won't be able to reuse it if you're close to running out of yarn and need to rip out your swatch.

[@alainapickering487]

I just LOVE that you actually SHOW how to leave that float in the back, I've seen you talk about it before but being a new knitter I was scared to attempt this, now that I see it's so easy I'm going to try!!! THANK YOU!!!

[@pennysmith-kerker1202]

I’m happy to see shorter videos! Great information on swatching in the round. Very clever.

[@sarahardy-wilcox365]

Great information! Thank you. I am the non swatch maker but I think you have convinced me to start! I have been putting off making a sweater because I was afraid of it not fitting after all of the work. Maybe a swatch would help me feel more confident that I am going to like the end product.

[@theastewart6721]

Thanks for this great tutorial! I never used to swatch because I was always so eager to get started. Now I swatch just about everything! It is so worth the time and energy to do it. I started a sweater and I had to make many swatches because I knit much looser than the pattern needles called for. Had I not swatched it would have been a total failure. Great tips! I am working on a möbius cowl and we swatched in the round. Thanks again!

[@susand8068]

Great information. I won’t get tired of seeing you a few times a week.

[@downriverknitter4974]

Love the new shorter format. I'll be happy to see you more frequently. Thank you for giving me an easy way to swatch in the round.

[@erinmarcks7150]

GREAT tip about swatching in the round! Joji Locatelli LEMONGRASS story: I swatched yarn for this sweater 6 times before I was satisfied with my swatch.... Wood needles in 3 sizes, nickel-plated needles in three sizes. I finished the sweater and LOVE it. Swatching is a MUST if you want to wear what you have knit.

[@Sylvia_1002]

I'm SO happy you did this video!! I am going to be using that swatching in the round info very soon!!

[@brendaselanders]

So glad to have you back. I think I will try swatching on my next project.

[@dysle4406]

I think y'all are just too clever & so much fun to watch!! Thx for all your invaluable help! It would be even more informative if you had also shown us the gauge differences between a blocked & unblocked swatch in the exact same yarns. Can you please explain why the grey & red yarn swatch has 2 different stitch patterns on it? That obviously changed the gauge, causing shrinkage in the center. Thx, & Happy New Stitching Year!!

[@connielambert5731]

Thank you girls. I really liked this episode. I am getting ready to knit my first pair of socks. Yeah! I did not think about knitting the swatch in pattern and in the round. I watch you each time you are on. From a West Texas former IGA Foodliner girl!! We too have two daughters that were grocery girls at one time. Connie

[@lisalovesstitchin]

Such a helpful video, I didn't know about swatching in the round. Thanks Tracie and Jodi xxx

[@susangillespie2434]

Perfect timing!! I am starting a color work class next week and I need to swatch in the round! Now I know how to do it!

[@joanbryson8643]

I love the short segments!

[@bozviolin]

Thanks so much gals. Swatching has always been a trial for me but you gave me some great tips. Love it.

[@princessinvidia]

So glad to see you both again! Jodi, your nails are beautiful - great color. I tell you what, I don't mind swatching at all. It feels like a little mini project to me and, sometimes when I can't start a new project but I just have to try out some new yarn I bought, I swatch with it to get it out of my system. :-) Thanks for the video - can't wait to see what more you have for us.

[@shirleyknits123-7]

OMG I never even thought to swatch in the round and to also carry a long floater on the back side and to swatch the pattern. Also I loved that Jodie shared her experience from knitting her three sweaters because I've seen every episode of the Grocery Girls and saw her challenges.

[@tinaporubsky]

I’ve only been knitting for a year. Your gauge tips were excellent.

[@ccam504]

Thank you so much for such a helpful video. Was trying to figure out just how to swatch in the round.

[@deearebee5150]

SO nice to have you back but what a tease those 7 minutes were! If the short mini-eps are the way this is going to stay, I personally would prefer they all be released at once (thanks Netflix!). Thanks for the reminder on cutting the floats when you soak and pin your in-the-round swatch, it really does make a difference!

[@michelleread8854]

Agree I normally sit and knit while watching and poof it was over before I'd done a row!

[@yvonnesanders5925]

So happy you are back! Great tips ladies! Thank you! 😁

[@TheWoofnwooly]

Great video, I’m hoping to start knitting socks ( first ever ) and needed a swatch video in the round thank you for making it all clear 👍👍

[@amominak2]

I thought, at first, this was just a preview for the return of the season! I too, enjoy the longer multi faceted episodes. This is more like a video I might find when searching KZbin in general. Except, of course, it's the fabulous Grocery Girls!!!!!!!

[@levin4376]

Thank you so much for this video. I knew I needed to swatch in the round for a hat I want to make but I thought I would have to knit a whole 16" tube and was NOT looking forward to that.

[@michelleread8854]

Do people rip their swatches to get the yardage back? I kind of like the idea of making a crazy blanket from all my project swatches but uncertain as to whether I need the yardage?

[@ayleenjackson3140]

Good to have you back. Can't wait for the knit alongs. Happy New Year

[@scarletwoodland5210]

Thank you so much for this. I knitted the swatch for my first, in the round sweater flat and my guage was so far off in the actual sweater 😄. Thankfully it still looks cute very oversized! Will definitely try this next time, thank you

[@irenes4885]

Glad you're back! Love your podcast!

[@barbarak1850]

As someone who also just finished a sweater that doesn't fit (I feel Jodi's pain!) this came at the perfect time ! This time, I will totally swatch

[@bethspeirs8217]

Hi ladies, thank you for posting this video. I have brought yarn to knit my first sweater but have been avoiding this as I was not entirely sure how to swatch (I knit very tight). I still feel nervous but I think I will attempt this today. Wish me luck! :)

[@StellaElan]

Loved this segment!

[@newe4me]

YAAAAYYYY...Love you both on this show and your podcast as well...exciting!

[@bettystine8724]

I've only recently heard about swatching in the round so this was a great video.

[@nancysteiner8814]

So fun! Welcome back!

[@JulieJSchmidt]

People say they don't swatch, because they want to get started knitting. I think it was a comment on Very pink knits that said, swatching IS knitting. Now I keep my swatches with the project to look at or fondle now and then while working on the project.

[@MrsAChery]

I CANT BELIEVE IVE MISSED 6 EPISODES!!!!!!!!!! I need notifications man

[@mariashea8227]

Go to see you again and Happy New Year to you both. I worked a swatch in the round to get gauge in one of your earlier KAL off the needles....it was the Zara sweater and boy did it make a difference for my to swatch this way. I knit tighter than I Purl. So knitting all stitches as in the round made a denser fabric which has a tighter gauge. So glad I did this technique as you illustrate so well here, it made a huge difference and I was able to knit a sweater, in the round, that fit. Looking forward to see you here. Thank you.

[@mariashea8227]

Sorry that was the Zadi sweater not the Zara.....☺️

[@susanobrien3900]

You are great. I always swatch now. Can you tell me what issues there are with swatching and using double stranded yarn?

[@Fastballspecial9]

I knitted my first sweater last summer, with no swatch. I am so lucky that it fit even after blocking. I think I need to start swatching now.

[@PattymacMakes]

OMG!! I swatch every single yarn I get!! I will buy extra yarn so I have plenty to do nice big swatches in a few stitch patterns. Then I can see how the yarn behaves in different rib stitches or in seed as well as stockinette and garter. Especially for speckles or hand dyes. Since I like the act of knitting, I actually enjoy knitting swatches. I need to be better about labeling them because I have stacks of them now with no info and I have no idea what the yarn is or what needle I used. But....the project that used that yarn looks great! I know the emphasis is on sweaters, but can we talk about HATS? I have a huge head and just about nothing will fit me as written. So I have had to use the swatch method to come up with hats that will fit me properly. So many people over look this step with hats, and it's just as important there as with sweaters.

[@stitchy_linn]

Great video and I love the shortcut for circular gauge knitting! New fan here. ;)

[@christinebeaudoin8703]

Great info. I did not know about swatching in the round!

[@gailhalloshry410]

so happy to see you back again! I appreciate all your hard work. You guys crack me up! I do however, prefer the old longer podcasts. These see more like an infomercial...that a. podcast. my 2 cents.

[@mariaconley409]

You girls are amazing I love love love watching you guys thank you so much for the wonderful tips I've learned so much from you guys

[@heathersteadman8122]

Welcome Back Ladies!!!!!

[@bridgetreilly1663]

What an absolute great tip.

[@Anna-2]

Do you have to cut your floats? I'd like to leave them and then try re-knitting the yarn into my project in case I need it. But also, would it be an issue to knit it in if it's already been washed? Thanks!!

[@reneem4155]

Thanks for teaching me something new!!!

[@culinarygurly987]

swatching also gives you numbers that you need to Change patterns. In a good example: my first sweater is for my son and it is a Reglan style so I used the measurements of a known free pattern but they used Fingering weight yarn and I wanted to use my premier Nordica in DK. In the end it was a lot of math to change the yarn for the pattern measurements to help me get the same measurements with it. ... but I do have a sweater that will fit my kiddo with a tiny bit of room to grow into it. the gauge swatch helped me have all the needed numbers to do the math for that specific yarn YAY also for Algebra

[@Sheila-cm4jy]

Thank goodness the conversions did not require calculus!

[@culinarygurly987]

@@Sheila-cm4jy I mean If I Had to I would but...lol I don't have to tee hee so yeah I'm glad for that.

[@joannebender6660]

Can the loops on back be left and not cut, so the yarn can be reused if the loops are left loose enough? Or are swatches considered in addition when buying yarn for project ? Is it better to cut them?

[@sweetteanoshade903]

Great info about swatching in the round!

[@rozieknits7559]

Will be doing this for ,my summer sorrel tee

[@crystalsimmons2135]

Thank you for your response.I can now add color and also make a square can you please demonstrate how to knit a circle.

[@darlenewatkins2958]

I am confused. If the floats are cut prior to blocking, then isn't the swatch the same as if it were knit as a flat swatch? Thanks! :)

[@glazedtalons]

So the floats take the place of purling? I am a beginner sock knitter.

[@mariesaunders9951]

Thank you! Can't wait to learn more!

[@tanasay]

I have trouble with my edges getting loose and messing up my swatch when I do the long float method. How do you control your edges?

[@Sheila-cm4jy]

Some people don't knit the garter border in a stockinette swatch; most do. Pro might be that it lays flatter, but if you are pinning your blocked swatch anyway.... does it really matter?

[@valeriewood2636]

What if you don't get gauge? I am discouraged from swatching because I can't get gauge in some projects. For example, if the pattern suggests a size 7 I may get too many sts, then I swatch with a size 6, to create larger stitches, but then get too few sts. What needle should I choose? I don't make large clothing, but have this issue with hats. I made the Emergency Nickle hat that is too small. Love the hat but don't know any head small enough to wear it! :) I'm an avid sock knitter but no longer need to swatch for socks (TG!!). Thank you.

[@TeresaNTaylor]

Valerie Wood Have you tried changing needle types or brands? You may find you get gage with wooden needles but not nickel or bamboo. Maybe Addi turbo rockets are your go to needles for socks, but you need Knitter’s Pride Karbonz for cabling. You may need to change the yarn. I have a bunch of different brands of needles in the same sizes, but have to use specific needles with specific fibers or else my gauge is all messed up. Some fibers are “sticky” and others are really “slippery” to work with. If I can’t get them off the needles (or keep them on) knitting isn’t enjoyable and the project is not worth finishing. I hope this helps.

[@vadahaynes365]

i am doing a Raglan sweather do i use a smaller knitting needle for my neck part or the bigger needle for the body

[@nancyduff8648]

I never swatch my yarn. I always sample swatch without washing the yarn and blocking. Sometimes when you buy a kit there is just enough yarn to make the project. I was never taught to swatch when I learned to knit from my mom and grandmother. I never really worked with wool yarn. I realize know that I mostly used acrylic yarn. I have recently just fell in love with alpaca yarn. Thank you for showing me the importance of swatching!

[@bwktlcn]

Besides gauge, a swatch can also alert you if you have a bleeding yarn - I ruined the first sweater I knit when I was blocking it, and one of the colors bled all over the design. I was heartbroken-did vinegar, salt, and every trick I could find on the web. No good. Learned that lesson! But love the swatching in the round, always did a straight needle swatch.

[@ellenhealey5147]

Great tips even though I hate swatching. However I do realize how imprtant it is. By the way, where can I get those tee shirts??????

[@annmariebusu9924]

Great tips 😉

[@dawnfuqua7637]

Gosh I’ve missed you girls!

[@huebinhtrinh4830]

Hi, the link for free guide on getting gauge is no longer valid. Do you have a valid link please?

[@bettyhannan3771]

You’ve turned me into a swatch believer. 👍🏻

[@elaineshopland8408]

Missed you......Happy New Year💕

[@AKeith-uy8hi]

Do you think most pattern designers included the yardage for the swatch in their estimates? I do swatch, but always hate "wasting" good yarn and often buy more than needed because I am afraid they aren't counting the swatch (or in some case multiple swatches) in the yardage for the pattern.

[@PattymacMakes]

Generally, the swatch is not counted in the project. The piece itself is weighed and that gives you the weight in the pattern. You could always unravel the swatches if you need them to finish a project, but you would need to frog, reskein, soak, dry and rewind to get the curls out. I've added curly to non curly yarn and it was terrible. Maybe it would have blocked out, but I wasn't willing to risk it. If you are concerned about too many yarn leftovers, You can always use them for fingerless mitts or put it into a scrappy blanket or scarf.

[@hisalone7166]

Bea Keene Exactly my concern also.

[@celticheart5933]

One of my concerns too.

[@kerrytom6799]

I always knit my swatch yarn . I redamp the swatch, frog it and wrap the yarn around the biggest round container I have until it dries. There isn't that much yarn in a swatch.

[@brandip2446]

Did I miss the part where they cut it? Or was that part just skipped? Watched it twice now and they said they were going show us how cut it to lay flat curious how thats done so it don't unravel at start of every row

[@christinebeaudoin8703]

I wonder how much extra yarn in yards you need for swatching in Stockinette and in the round?

[@inthelabyrinth007]

Thank you fo this! Great advice.

[@ducksnstuff7427]

I would have just knit something all the way around for a swatch but doing it as if I were knitting icord is a great way to do it.

[@dianneross2801]

Welcome back 😍 am I weird ? don’t mind swatching 🤔🤷‍♀️

[@rosehernandez5313]

Welcome back ladies, I see there is the ever present bowl of Dove chocolates. Enjoy!

[@crystalsimmons2135]

Hi I am a beginner knitter and am so curious about Intarsia. How do you knit a circle in Intarsia?

[@PattymacMakes]

Intarsia is a bit different from Fair Isle. Fair Isle is always knit in the round and the color work is done through floats. You see this on the beautiful mulit colored sweater yokes and hats that are so popular right now. Intarsia is where you have large color blocks that sit within another field of color. That is done as a flat knit. They are slightly different processes to give different design elements.I hope that helps!!

[@ciannacoleman5125]

These are great tips for anyone doing yarn craft! Although lets be honest even if we swatch ripping out will likely occur lol

[@dawnfuqua7637]

Do you cut the floats before or after you wash your swatch?

[@barbarak1850]

Dawn Fuqua in the video Traci said to cut them before you wash

[@NanZingrone]

Not sure why you wouldn't just knit in the round for the swatch without the float? I pretty much only knit on circs now and I've done a swatch for a sweater I'm starting just by knitting up four inches of stockingnette the way I would usually knit in the round, so no floats. I'm about to block it to see how stretchy it gets (I have gauge with the needle I'm using) and I just don't get what's the difference between just knitting/pearling as usual by turning my needles and having a float.

[@heidifeldstein3887]

Nan Zingrone I was wondering the same thing! You don’t purl when knitting in the round anyway. I would imagine your gauge would be off using the float rather than actual stitches?? To each his or her own I guess.

[@NanZingrone]

Actually I often use the circulars just because I'm getting older and I tend to drop needles. So I do pearl. I turn the needles around and purl back. So I guess if I'm doing that I don't need to float, but if I'm doing that that's going to actually be in the round, then I should do the float. Thanks Heidi. This helps. I'm just getting to where I'm swatching all the time instead of just hoping for the best. I was thinking this morning I should keep all the swatches and maybe made them into something when I get a bunch of them. :-) Thanks again Heidi

[@bdarci]

The reason is that both tension and yarn used are different for stockinette knit flat and in the round. Purling uses a bit more yarn than knitting. If you do a whole swatch in the round, you'll be knitting twice as much. Knitting the swatch flat with floats is a time saver. The only drawback is that should you need the yarn in the swatch to finish the project, not an unheard of situation, you wont be able to use the swatch with the cut yarn.

[@Patricia-iq7vu]

You could always just sew the cut yarn from the swatch into the yarn on your project and use it that way. Its a simple seemless join that you can't see in your finished product. Well...as long as the colors are the same.

[@karenrichbeiriger9969]

Help, I did a swatch and steamed it then measured the stitches and rows for 4 inches and got 16 both ways right? So, what does it mean when my directions say 17 stitches and 36 rows= 4 inches? This is an afghan kit for beginners and the stitch was stockinette. After watching the video I am now concerned about the other stitches that are required and the possibility of the 91/2 inch squares being different sizes based on the different stitches....anybody??

[@oldfashiondragon]

I need my mug hold on 💙👌

[@melmckenna4599]

Do you wash your swatch

[@marquesn77]

Great tips girls!! I have a confession to make...... I never swatch 😱 lol

[@wtrtowine]

YAY!!

[@andreashymatta5247]

great iinfo

[@kmfoster11]

Never heard of swatching in the round without it being in the round! I thought you always had to knit in the round to get a round swatch.

[@mickeythompson6889]

Can you show a Swatch in garter Stitch please.

[@PattymacMakes]

Michelle are you having trouble identifying garter stitch? I do have a video comparing stockinette and garter. I don't know if that would help you or not.

[@mickeythompson6889]

Pattymac Knits would show how many stitches and rows. I'm working on a project using all acrylic yarn with the same amount of stitches, with the same rows, with the same pair of needles and not all the squares are the same. This is why I asked. I can send a picture to show what is happening to an email.

[@PattymacMakes]

I do have a facebook page if you would like to attach and send them there. It sounds like you have different yarn weights or maybe your tension is not perfect from square to square. I'm on Facebook as Pattymac Knits so please look me up and send me what you have. I will see if I can answer the question.

[@madhurisahadatta4428]

Please take measure on different size model by measuring tape. Want to measure v neck mens full sleev sweater. Because your language I can't follow properly.

[@Claripatra]

My worst swatching experience last year: buying needles and a sweater-quantity of yarn, doing my swatch and it BIASED! D: I had a parallelogram instead of a square. Needless to say, I did not go forward with that sweater.

[@Claripatra]

And it didn't even block out square after washing.

[@lisabrison381]

That is so true about sticking with the same needle, I was knitting a pair of bulky sleep socks at Christmas and on the first sock I used my metal 6" hiyahiya needles and I kept having stitches fall off so I said to myself I will just use my 8" dreamz for the second sock I knit a whole other pair before it dawned on me it was the needles...lesson learned the hard way.

[@superspicyspinalfluid6190]

i hate the edges when i swatch in the round i just wanna cry when i see iy

[@junec759]

Deja vu

[@lindacarlson935]

I have watched a couple of your instructive videos and enjoy them. Being a woman of "a certain age," I am a bit hard of hearing. The music that plays during your conversation is very distracting and makes it difficult to concentrate and hear what you are teaching. I think what you are doing is very good, I just need to hear it better. Thank you for what you do!

[@startagain126]

I don't like these shorter video's as they feel rushed n hurried. if they were either longer, or as a compromise maybe 15 mins the shortest. knitting has a lot of info n that takes time to explain. swatching is very important information and there's lots you didn't well couldn't include because it was rushed.