Let's Knit Magazine - Your knitting, your style

I`ve a confession to make. In all the years I`ve been knitting I have never done a tension swatch. I know it is important & obviously that is why things never come out as planned.    That is why I`ve stuck to blankets & scarves! I`m doing something for myself & want it to fit. Could someone please try & explain in the most simplest of terms how to do one. I`ve also gone by the measurements on the diagrams they show. I have gone down two needle sizes to try & get the same measurements. Help!

netty pooh - 03 July 2008 08:55 PM

I`ve a confession to make. In all the years I`ve been knitting I have never done a tension swatch. I know it is important & obviously that is why things never come out as planned.    That is why I`ve stuck to blankets & scarves! I`m doing something for myself & want it to fit. Could someone please try & explain in the most simplest of terms how to do one. I`ve also gone by the measurements on the diagrams they show. I have gone down two needle sizes to try & get the same measurements. Help!

I have to admit that I have NEVER done one either. But if you knit a square larger than the recommended one from the pattern then it gives you more sts and rows to see clearly. I have some needle gauges and they have small squares in the centres which means you can see the sts and rows as if in a window which make it easy to count. If you go to page 79 of LK JULY there is a whole section on tension squares.

I have not either only once,a couple of months ago.

Me neither but if ‘the professionals’ on here can get away with well.........  x Janet

I’ve never done one eiher and I’ve never had problems. Even when I’ve not used the stated yarn.  Don’t think I’m going to bother starting doing them now either.

Being new to this, I daren’t NOT do a tension swatch - I guess when you’ve been knitting ages, you know what your tension is like. My mum always uses a size smaller needles than stated, as she knows she knits slack.

Plus, it’s kind of like a little treat, for me - “Well, I’ve got a lot to do, I shouldn’t really start this just now, but I could maybe do my tension swatch...”

Well you are very good then x Janet

Phew!  You don’t know how pleased I am to hear you all saying that because I’ve never done one either.  I’ve never blocked anything either, I just sew it straight up.

Clare I’m yet another one who doesn’t do tension swatches or block work!

I once tried to block something and it didn’t make any difference. Another time it nearly ruined the work (both acrylic). So I don’t bother.

When I was taught to knit these were not things that were taught. I soon learnt how to manage my tension and I’ve never had problems yet.

I have done one or two tension squares in my time, usually if I’m substituting a yarn I’m not sure is going to work, or it’s a pattern stitch I’m not overly familiar with just to get a feel fot it before I start. They are very few and far between though. I’m also a very lazy blocker and do it if something comes out smaller than intended or very obviously (which isn’t very often) needs it.

I don’t do blocking either. I tried to do it properly once and it was a total waste of time, so I have never bothered again. I expect there will be cries of horror from the “real knitters” but for me after so many years of knitting I know what works for me and that is the most important thing. I have never had any complaints, perhaps folk are too polite (or scared!!!) to say anything.

redbirdy47 - 04 July 2008 10:24 AM

Phew!  You don’t know how pleased I am to hear you all saying that because I’ve never done one either.  I’ve never blocked anything either, I just sew it straight up.

I don’t block either

Thanks everyone. I don`t block either, just sew it straight up! Fingers crossed to see how it comes out!