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22 Comments

  1. Kathie Kenyon
    September 2, 2021 @ 8:37 pm

    Very enlightening. Thank you

  2. Linda
    October 29, 2020 @ 6:35 am

    I’d like to make the flax in a DK weight. Would you suggest I go up a clothing size to accomplish this?

  3. Theresa
    January 21, 2020 @ 2:04 pm

    Ok I’m ready to kniy my first sweater for my husband and I’m petrified! I am going to do the Flax. My question is I have Yowza by Miss Babs and it is DK weight. It says 5.25-6 stitches per inch on 5-7 needles. I read every word of your article on knitting with a different gauge and yes your instructions are great. But I’m lost. My husband’s chest is 44 but want to have a bit of ease so I’m going with the large at 47″ is that the right thing to do?
    Also I took the 5.25 x 47 and got 246.75. Is that how many stitches I cast on??? Im lost please help me. Oh of course I will do a swatch first but I really wanted to figure this all out first. Help!

    • alexaludeman
      January 23, 2020 @ 11:59 am

      Hi Theresa – It might be too much pressure on your very first garment to also try to alter a pattern to be knit at a different gauge…But if you really want to do it you definitely can! You want to choose the pattern size that has approximately 246 sts at the body, so look under the ‘split for body and sleeves’ section and see which size has about that many sts at the body. You want to follow the instructions for that size, with lengths customized for the intended wearer.

  4. Alison
    November 11, 2019 @ 11:50 am

    Thank you, thank you, thank you!! You are a genius! :) I have been trying to convert a pattern with all of this complicated math and getting so frustrated! Your article is easy to understand and simple. I now know what size to knit in my sweater pattern!

  5. Debbie Tucker
    October 12, 2019 @ 4:10 am

    Thank you I read all your tutorials..they help alot.

  6. grammag8
    April 25, 2019 @ 3:04 pm

    thanks so much for sharing this information! I have a large ball of ??? worsted but going to do a swatch to see what look I want, note gauge and then use your math to go from a DK to a worsted yarn for shawl pattern. Really the perfect answer at the perfect time as I am in the pitching mood and only keeping what I love. I have a huge stash I will never get through while on this planet! so excited to be confident in using this beautiful yarn in a pattern I like…
    thanks again!! cute little people too!

  7. Pazong Yang
    October 31, 2018 @ 8:02 pm

    Hi! The math was super easy to figure out but now I’m stuck on this: What if the pattern does not have instructions with your calculated stitches needed? I want to use a chunky yarn on a sweater pattern.

    • Emily Wessel
      November 1, 2018 @ 8:45 am

      At this point, if you’re making that big an adjustment, you’re probably just going to have to figure things out from scratch, by determining the stitch counts you’ll need at each point in the garment, and how many increases / decreases between them. It might work well, or you might do better to choose a pattern closer to your yarn gauge.

  8. Máiread
    February 1, 2018 @ 7:55 am

    What is “fingering” and hat is “worsted”

  9. Tatiana
    November 10, 2017 @ 7:31 am

    This is really a helpful tutorial! I love all your patterns, blogs, and instructional material. Your site has definitely helped me become a better knitter. My question is regarding needle size when you were doing the gauge swatch, which needle size did you use? Do you use what the pattern recommends or the size recommended for the yarn weight? I’m trying to make the Bumble Sweater in MadelineTosh DK. Do you have any advice on what needle size I should start with for the gauge swatch? Thank you!

    • alexaludeman
      November 14, 2017 @ 11:15 am

      Hi Tatiana – I would usually start with the needles the pattern suggests and go from there. UNLESS you already know you are a bit on the tighter or looser side as a knitter. I’m a bit of a looser knitter so I would usually look at the suggested needle size and go down by 1 to do my swatch.

  10. Clare
    October 21, 2017 @ 9:12 am

    I’ve come to this late following links from your week of colour (bliss.)
    Does shaping for sleeve heads work the same way?
    Thanks.

    • Emily Wessel
      October 23, 2017 @ 7:42 am

      I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the Week of Colour! I’m not sure what you mean by ‘sleeve heads’ – can you explain?

  11. Suzanne
    May 7, 2016 @ 4:14 am

    I learned a lot from your explanation on gauge and adjustments. Thank you.

  12. Maggienesium
    April 28, 2016 @ 2:40 am

    You are a life saver! I hadn’t been able to start my top for the #TTTKAL16 because no matter what yarn I chose it was just a bit off with the gauge and I was kind of scared since this is my first ever top. No more though! This post was the exact thing I needed! Thank you! :D

  13. knittedblissjc
    April 13, 2016 @ 5:37 am

    oh, this is such a great post! I love the step by step process- I just pinned it. Will no doubt need to use this in the future! :D

  14. albatobe
    April 11, 2016 @ 4:26 am

    Hello there!
    It’s a really comprehensive explanation, thank you so much. Now I’m intrigued to do a harvest cardigan in a fingering weight. Is it possible? I’m not really sure how to calculate the collar part though..

    • alexaludeman
      April 13, 2016 @ 10:19 am

      For the harvest it is a bit of a jump from worsted to fingering, but it can certainly be done. Use the same formula for calculating the size you want (I would base it on the bust measurements), then I think you can just follow the directions exactly (remembering to knit to the length of your actual size, not the adjusted size)

  15. Elizabeth Ann Olson
    April 8, 2016 @ 2:15 pm

    I’m new to knitting but I was glad see I’m only one changes things

  16. Helen
    April 7, 2016 @ 8:39 am

    This is perfectly timed as I am about to start a lovely litle baby dress where the pattern asks for fingering weight, but the wools I want to use are all DK.

    I have done a test square and this gives me the confidence to get started and get it right! Thank you.