Gauge swatches are something that students ask me about a lot – “Do I need to make a gauge swatch?”
My general rule of thumb: If you are not making something that needs to fit, you can skip the gauge swatch. If you are making something you want to fit you (or someone specific), you should do a gauge swatch.
But, even if you don’t need to do a gauge swatch for fit, it might still be a good idea to do a swatch for your projects.
Here are some benefits beyond fit:
- Confirm that you like the needles and yarn you are going to use with the pattern before committing to the whole thing
- Get familiar with new stitches before applying them in your project
- Having a “test” for washing
- Confirm you have enough yarn for the project
1) Confirm that you like the needles and yarn with your pattern
Take a blanket as our example – this certainly doesn’t need to fit, if it is a little bigger or smaller, or the stitches are a little looser or tighter, no big deal.
In fact, this is a time where you could even try our more than one combination to see what you like best. First try the suggested needle size to make a swatch. Then use one size bigger needle and the same yarn. Finally make one with one size smaller needle and the same yarn.
With all three of these in front of you, look at which one you like the best. Do you want it to be a little floppy? Do the tighter stitches look more polished? It’s your project, any option is a good one, and part of the fun of creating is deciding what we like and running with that.
TIP: Often I don’t cast off my swatches, especially if I make several and/or I am not sure I will have a lot of leftover yarn for the project. That way I can unravel and use the yarn more easily later in the project.
2) Get familiar with new stitches
It often feels less risky or stressful to try something new on a small scale than on the full project – this is where swatches can help! Cast on enough to do a couple repeats of the pattern, or about 4 inches to test out the new stitch or technique.
Extra benefit: when we are nervous or concentrating extra hard our stitches tend to be tighter, this allows you to get those tighter stitches out of your system before working on the full project.
TIP: Most of these swatches could be turned into a coaster if you want to have something “useful” at the end of your swatch!
3) Having a “test” for washing
I have made many things from “mystery” stash yarn and before making something I sometimes want to know how it will behave when washed. Making a swatch and washing it before I make the full project can save me time and headache later (or at least let me know what I’m getting into – handwashing knits is doable, but not everyone wants that level of commitment!)
It can also let me know if a yarn is likely to “bleed” before combining a light yarn with a yarn that needs the dye rinsed out more still.
4) Confirm you have enough yarn for the project
You don’t have to have a swatch to do this, but if you have a swatch you can use it to help calculate. Using a yarn calculator or just a scale and doing some math can help you avoid playing a losing game of yarn chicken.
There are online yarn calculators like these ones from Jimmy Bean Wool, Crafty Intentions, Yarn Calculator, and The Knotty Lace that can help you know how much yarn to buy, or know if what you have in your stash will see you through your next project. Want to hold more than one yarn at the same time? Check out this yarn calculator!
Don’t know how much yarn is left in your skein? You can do some simple math (with or without the yarn label) to figure that out. Check out this video by Play Hooky with Me that talks you through using your unknown yarn ball to find the information you need (NOTE: it also shows how to do the math if you do know the original length and weight, or can find it on the manufactures website)
I hope this helps inspire you to do more swatching – they can be fun and use, not just for making things fit!
Happy knitting!
