How to Make a Gauge Swatch | How to Swatch in the Round | Knitty Natty Knitting Tutorials

Here's how I make my swatches for projects in the round! This method saves time AND yarn all while helping you the perfect gauge for your sweater.
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[@sarahbruck7538]

Thank you for this video! Excellent explanation of how’s and why’s. The best thing about swatches is the unforeseen opportunities. My daughter asked if she could have my swatches, and before she left for college, she laid them out how she liked and we made a “dorm blanket” from all those swatches. So colorful and cute, and a little bit of me went to school with her. Completely win/win, right?

[@gabrielleholcombe3995]

Thanks for going through every step of knitting a gauge swatch in the round! I was really unsure how to block something like this but you made it crystal clear. I’m test knitting a sweater for the first time and I don’t usually swatch but I have to for this!

[@whiskersandknits4240]

Wonderful, thank you!

[@rhondacary1035]

I swatch for large projects like sweaters but tend to wing it for smaller items like hats, socks, cowls, etc. I swatch in the round like this but add extra stitches for buffer because of how the end ones get loose. I also don't cut the yarn across the back because I want to be able to use the yarn if I end up needing it.

[@erinbanana22]

I do this method too! I don't want to waste food yarn by not adding it to my project ever!

[@lisaspears4578]

Thanks, this is a great idea! The best part about swatching in the round - no purling! 😄😄

[@sharonsplace5146]

I’ve never seen or heard about a swatch made this way. Thank you so much. I do both: sometimes swatch and sometimes not. I make mostly socks, shawls and cowls.

[@cathynewkirk6807]

This was very helpful, thanks! I always swatch for sweaters, but not so much for shawls and other flat projects.

[@katherinevetter9400]

Thank you for the excellent video. I’m eager to try it, I have two swatches I want to do today, both are in the round. You make it look easy and quick and I love that! ~Kathy

[@jennifershaw2077]

Thank you! This really helps me so much.

[@TheWanderingPurl]

I always wondered how to do this, thanks for the tutorial! I’ve searched twice, but I definitely feel like it’s a good habit to have.

[@KnittyNatty]

Bethany Flake you’re so welcome!

[@zoedoodle9824]

Thank you so much for your fun and instructional videos. You are clear and concise and your video production skills are excellent. Much appreciation! As to swatching, I'm a frustrated swatcher. I need to swatch because I never get gauge with recommended needles and I'm a bit inconsistent in my gauge - though I think many of us are. I've tried this method of swatching in the round but I rarely have enough yarn to spare for an unrecoverable swatch. And it just goes against all my sensibilities to snip that yarn. I'm now using Laura Nelkin's tip for gauge swatching in the round. I'm curious what you think of it.

[@rozieknits7559]

Thanks. Need to do a swatch for my summer sorrel tee. The sample can be my “mug rug” for my coffee at my desk lol

[@radhikam2401]

This was very helpful. Thank you for a great tutorial.

[@KnittyNatty]

Radhika M you’re welcome!

[@emmaswartz6653]

Hi Natalie, I tend to wing it, my last couple of projects worked perfectly, however I think my next two will need to be swatched, thank you for showing how to do it in the round, have a great week and happy knitting.

[@KnittyNatty]

Emma Swartz yay! So glad to have helped!

[@zooieyaj04]

Thank you for showing the swatch and showing how to block it!

[@litterstars]

I swatched this way for my last top! But I added about 2-3 more stitches at both ends so I can get my 4” across nicely.

[@KnittyNatty]

litterstars great idea!

[@athenapn4217]

You are a genius! This technique is so much faster than creating an entire tube for an in-the-round swatch; my only question to more experienced swatchers is how important is the wetting/blocking step? If one can do a half-sized swatch (i.e. 2 inches instead of 4), can we not also skip the blocking & still get quite close to gauge? Once my yarn is blocked it's going to get a bit felty & I do need all the yarn on my rather spendy skein for this beret. Thank you!!

[@theastewart6721]

Great tutorial! I’m a swatcher . I wasn’t always one but for the past 8 years I’ve been swatching both flat and in the round. And I do it in the round just like you do. Thanks for sharing!

[@KnittyNatty]

Thea Stewart yay!! It’s such a great way to save time!

[@theastewart6721]

Yes! And to do it properly!!🤗🤗

[@Jennifer-oz8ec]

Wow! Your edges look so good. I have worked 3 swatches in the round and my edges are so loose. I am going to play copy cat with your example. Thank you, Natalie. How do you keep those edges from getting too loose? Any tips would be so appreciated. Probably keeping the yarn across the back of your hand as much as you can? I am going to really work on that. I have been casting on too many stitches because of the loose ends. I wanted to make sure I had a healthy amount to measure in the centre.

[@jwoj2009]

This is a fabulous explanation video! Trank KZbin so much it ❤

[@andreacover5840]

I always hate swatching in the round because it is so time consuming! Thanks for this solution, I'll definitely be using it for the Christmas sweater I want to cast on in the next couple of days! 👍👍

[@KnittyNatty]

Andrea Cover hooray! Time-saving solutions make it way more doable!

[@4SlowFashion]

im about to swatch for a christmas sweater too! in march, so i have time.

[@zerolefthanded3252]

Thank you for the tutorial😊 learn a new way to gauge swatch. Going to do a hat and I’m going to try this method, but is going to be bulky.

[@KnittyNatty]

Zero Lefthanded yay!

[@MelancholyMoondancer]

Can I tighten up the stitches at the end of the row because this is not my normal tension.

[@KnittyNatty]

No need to tighten! You’ll measure your gauge in the middle of the swatch. It’s normal for tension to change knitting in the round. That’s why it’s important to swatch how you’ll knit the project!

[@stephaniechauvin1787]

Are you swatching your mkal shawl? I want to be a rebel.😂

[@KnittyNatty]

Stephanie Chauvin lol! Yes if I can get it cast on tonight 😅

[@brendamelahn1781]

Winger here

[@KnittyNatty]

Brenda Melahn 😂👏🏽

[@AyameKiri]

I just wing it

[@KnittyNatty]

AyameKiri 😂👏🏽

[@shortcake180]

Brilliant!! Thank you.