Before you knit any sweater, always knit a swatch to determine your knitting gauge. There are three variables that have to be calculated before you start your project.

1. The size of the yarn you selected. Sometimes we will choose a different yarn then the pattern suggests.
2. The size of the knitting needle you choose.
3. How tight or loose you hold the yarn when you knit.

Knit a swatch 24 stitches by 26 rows. The first three rows and the last three rows of your swatch are knit in garter stitch. Garter stitch is created by knitting every row. The middle twenty rows and stitches are knit in Stockinet stitch, which is knitting one row, purling one row. The two side border stitches on each side of the swatch are also knit every row which creates a garter stitch border.

Your Swatch will look like this:


- Cast on 24 stitches
- Begin by knitting the first three rows in garter stitch (knit each row).
- The fourth row, knit the first 2 stitches, purl the next 20 stitches and knit the last 2 stitches.
- Knit the fifth row.
- All even numbered rows are worked as the fourth row. All odd numbers are worked as the fifth row.
- At row 23, knit the next 3 rows.
- Bind off the next row. Pull the thread tail through the last stitch.

This swatch will have a garter stitch border around it to prevent the edges from curling.

Now that you have your swatch, we will measure between the garter stitches and rows to determine how many stitches per inch you knit (SPI) and how many rows per inch (RPI) you knit. These measurements will be compared to the SPI and the RPI in the pattern you are knitting.

For Example lets say...
Patterns Gauge -
20 Stitches = 4 inches SPI - 5 sts.. per inch
20 Rows = 3.5 inches RPI - 5.71 rows per inch

Your Gauge based on your swatch -
20 Stitches = 4.25 inches SPI - 4.71 sts. per inch
20 Rows = 3.75 inches RPI - 5.33 rows per inch

Let's say your pattern tells you to cast on 100 sts. for the back of the sweater. Since the pattern's SPI is 5 sts per inch, and the total cast-on stitches is 100, this sweater will measure 20". 5 divided by 100 = 20. Your stitch gauge is different, and you want your sweater to measure 20" also. Calculate as follows:

(Your SPI) - TIMES - (measurement of the cast-on edge.) = (total stitches you need to cast on)

4.25 - TIMES - 20 = 85

You need to cast on 85 stitches to make your sweater measure 20".