Measuring knit gauge sucks
This is why I like gauge-less projects so much. I HATE trying to measure gauge accurately. I know the right way to do it, I know about measuring over a large enough area, I know I’m supposed to launder the swatch, etc etc. It still sucks, and you can still be off, even if you do everything right, because—get this—knitting stretches. Especially if you’re dealing with lace, or stretchy yarns, or certain kinds of patterns… see, there’s so many variables, it’s just really tough to be sure.
Anyway, I’m working on yet another top-down sweater-shrug thingie. I love top-down sweaters since I can measure and adjust as necessary. But this time I decided to go for a loose stitch, which means extra drapey, and also means more stretch to account for. But ah, how much, exactly? Who knows? The Yarn Harlot even just had a blog post recently about gauge and how it generally should be kept appropriate to the yarn weight and not loose. And then I go and flout that perfectly reasonable advice and start another loose-gauge project.
Bleah, I just hate gauge!
great post as usual!