In knitting, what happens if I don't follow the gauge?

Question

I want to make a baby's cardigan sweater. The instructions say I should use US size 7 (4.5 mm) needles, and the gauge is 16 stitches and 30 rows= 4 inches. The yarn thickness is 4 (medium-heavy weight).

But I have a US size 8 (5 mm) needle and the thickness of my yarn is 5 (bulky weight). The gauge is 14 stitches and 20 rows= 4 inches.

I don't care if the sweater comes out to be too big or too small, but if I don't follow the gauge, will the parts to the sweater (sleeves, back, etc.) not fit? If so, is there some way I could convert the numbers in the instructions to make it work out? Or should I look for another project? Thanks.

Answer 1

if you don't care about the sweater coming out too big than go for it. as long as you work the whole pattern with the same needles and yarn it will be proportionate. With the size needles and yarn you want to use though you will end up with a sweater for a toddler more than a baby sweater.

Answer 2

The gauge on the yarn is not necessarily the gauge you will get. Every knitter knits differently....some knit very tight, while others knit very loose. The same yarn and needles used by 5 different knitters could come out 5 different sizes!

You'll really make your life a lot easier if you knit a gauge swatch. Just cast on 30 stitches, knit for 30 rows, and then lay it out to measure how many stitches you get per inch. You can unravel the swatch and use the yarn, so you won't lose any of it.
Here are some websites about measuring gauge:
http://www.knittingbag.com/catalog/gauge.php
http://www.vogueknitting.com/how-gauge.shtml

If you never knit a gauge swatch, then you'll never know if you are a tight or loose knitter. Plus, you'll never want to knit a sweater, because it could turn out WAY too small or loose! I have knit several gauge swatches, and have learned that I am a tight knitter. I usually have to use needles that are at least one size larger than the ones called for in most patterns.

If you decide that you don't want to buy different yarn or needles for this baby cardigan, try a different pattern. I looked online and found a pattern that uses needles and yarn closer to what you have.
http://www.knitlist.com/01gift/garter-baby-cardigan.htm

Good luck!

Answer 3

If you use what you have, all the pieces to the pattern should fit together. However, the size will be off.

You can play around with the gauge a bit by using different size needles. You can try modifying your gauge by changing the size of the needle you use. Knit a square that is just larger than 4 inches, then check your gauge by counting the # of stitches in 4 inches and the # of rows in 4 inches. (You shouldn't use the 1st or last row/stitch when checking the gauge which is why your square should be larger than 4 inches). For example, you might get closer to the required gauge if you use a size 9 or 10 needle.

Answer 4

Look for another project. Bulky yarn on size 8 needles is going to be stiff and uncomfortable for baby to wear. You want something that is going to come out with more softness and drape than this will.

Generally if you ignore gauge your garment comes out misshapen or with an unwanted hand (fabric feel). While in some knitting gauge isn't as crucial as it is in others, it still plays a major role in how a finished item comes out. While the worsted/Aran weight yarn called for comes to a 4 to the inch stitch gauge, it's going to be somewhat open fabric, since that yarn usually knits to 5 to the inch on a 7. You can probably get 4 or 5 to the inch with the bulky on the 8, but it will be far more firm and stiff. Bulky usually starts knitting on size 9's and up. The likelihood is that your sweater will be wider than intended and look *off*.

Answer 5

You're better off finding a pattern that matches the yarn you're working with than any other solution, since it's easier to switch to different needles and to a different pattern than to give up the idea of making a teeny sweater out of big fat yarn.

You can make a cute baby sweater out of bulky yarn, but certainly not with size 8 needles, nor with a pattern written for worsted weight yarn and size 7 needles.

Fran gives a really cute, easy to follow pattern here for a bulky yarn baby sweater, but you'll have to switch to size 10 or 10.5 needles.

Answer 6

If you are working larger than the gauge stated, it just makes it bigger and the texture may not be the same. You should do a sample to see what effect the changes will have.

Just do a 4-5 inch square in whatever stitch the pattern calls for and see if it looks the way you want it to. If it does, then you can go ahead and make your sweater. You might need more yarn than the pattern calls for.

Answer 7

The size of the needles/ the size of the yarn/the gauge of
the knitted product....all determine the size of the finished
pattern. Just like making a cake--you must follow the recipe.
In knitting or crocheting, you must follow the instructions.

You will spend a lot of hours and work and be disappointed
and maybe give up--if it turns out to look horrible. Might as
well do it right the first time.

Answer 8

People always say that to me too, but when I offer them lessons, even free, they lose interest. I guess they are just making conversation. I am right now in the process of getting into the spring classes catalog of my local school district to teach craft classes in the adult education section. They pay their teachers from $20/hour, more for more experienced teachers, for a class that runs for 6 weeks, one evening a week, 2 1/2 hours each class. The students pay something like $55 for this class. They already have a knitting and crocheting teacher, so I am proposing yarn recycling as a class, to cover yarn frogging, finding and identifying good items, measuring the yardage, using the yarn, felting, simple pattern making. You might also look at local yarn stores and see what they charge for their classes and what they cover, what is included, and how many hours are included in the class. They usually have this information on their websites. I hope this helps.

Answer 9

As long as you are consistent in the size of your stitches, the parts will still connect, but the size of the sweater will be smaller according to your gauge.

Answer 10

you will end up getting bigger loops, Since you are making it for a baby the sweater loops won't be so small so more air will be able to seep through the fabric. Since you are just using one size up it should still come out looking very good and warm