Today we are going to show you a useful trick so you can adapt patterns to any size. You just have to knit a swatch in the stitch you want to use, a little simple math and a bit of patience, and after that you can adapt the stitches and rows to your size!
We bring you an example so you won’t have any problem adapting your favorite WE ARE KNITTERS pattern … with a simple math equation!
As you know, in all of our patterns, we specify the gauge (or knitting tension) needed to make the garment. This gauge varies depending upon the yarn and needles used, and indicates the tension needed to achieve the right measurements. The gauge swatch indicates the number of stitches and rows that should make up a 10 cm by 10 cm square. You can see how measure them in the photos below:
As you can see, in this example the gauge swatch has 6 stitches in 10 cm and 8 rows in 10 cm.
This will be our gauge.
To adapt your pattern, you need to know the following numbers:
1- The first thing you need to know are the measurements for the size you want to make. You can get them from a garment that fits you well. It is important to measure the width and length of each part: front, back, sleeves….
2- Then look at the gauge in the pattern, and make a swatch at least 10 cm x 10 cm to make sure you have the correct tension. Count the stitches and rows over 10 cm, they should be the same as indicated in the pattern’s gauge.
3- Once you know these numbers, you just have to calculate the ¨X¨ in the following equation:
10 cm —————— Number of stitches in 10 cm of your swatch
Width of the piece in your size —————– X (number of stitches needed for the width of your size)
To do so, multiply the width of your garment in cm by the number of stitches in your swatch, and divide by 10 (the base of the gauge). The result will be the number of stitches you need to cast on to start to knitting the pattern adapted to your size.
Using the numbers from above, if we wanted to knit a sweater that measures 50 cm wide the equation would be like this:
The width of your size (50 cm) multiplied by the stitches in the swatch (6 stitches), divided by 10 cm of the base gauge =
50 x 6 /10 = 30 stitches needed to cast on to reach the 50 cm of your size.
To calculate the length of your garment you have to do the same with the rows:
10 cm ————- Number of rows in 10 cm of your swatch
Length of the piece in your size ————- X (number of rows needed for the length of your size)
Supposing that your sweater should measure 60 cm long:
The measurement of your size (60 cm) x the rows in the swatch (8 rows) divided by 10 cm of the swatch =
60 x 8 / 10 = 48 rows needed to reach the 60 cm of your size.
Use this rule of thumb to calculate the number
of stitches and rows needed for each part of your sweater.
It’s a lot easier than it sounds!
You can use this same method for your crocheted garments and for different types of yarn. Remember to always make a gauge swatch to calculate and have the measurements of the garment you want to make on hand.
We hope these tips are helpful and that you start to adapt your patterns. Try it, it’s easy!
