| I bought a knitting design book while ago. it was an easy to follow book. The basic hat design was also seemed easy... I followed the instruction to make 2 hats but I still have to add stretch thread. I didn't want to add that. So, I tried to figure out myself... In the book, it was said that i must substract some inches from the head-round measurement. I did. Even 5 cm! still loose...making the band with small needles, still didn't work...using knit purl knit purl combination on the band part, still didn't work... So here what I do: I measure the gauge by stretching the swatch. How far i stretch it depends on the kind of hat i want to make...a little bit loose a little bit stretch or superstretch. Then I use the swatch length shown as the gauge... so it will be like for example: 10 stitches = 10 cm (stretch). then I use my head measurement and the gauge to get to know how many stitches I should make. I'm not sure myself...but it's again my own theory...each yarn has it's own elasticity...it may be not too stretchy when using acrylic or cotton (non elastic) but when using with wool, it can be very elastic.The gauge may not change with non-elastic type no matter how I stretch it but the gauge will change with elastic type. And, when I want to "include" the "elasticity" in my project, I must consider it in counting my gauge. I did it 3 times and worked! the first and the second didn't give a wanted result but in terms of the height of the head (^O^)...they were still too short... On the 3rd hat, I test my theory...I stretched the swatch only a little bit. The result of the hat? Yes, it's a little bit loose. Not really-really stretchy like beany hat is used to be...moreover, I didn't even use rib k-p accross the row...I use garter for the 3rd hat. But since I used rib for the 1st and 2nd and it was ok, I don't think it will be a big matter which one I use It's unproven, yet but I think it ca be applied to knitted clothes, too...with one design, you may want to make it stretchy? or loosy? (^.^)... but again, i never knit cloth before, so it's unproven. Yarn price is quite expensive in my local rate. So I never buy yarn for making clothes or so... I haven't tried it on fingerless gloves but based on my past making experience. Gauge is important but not as critical as making hats. It's usually fit with ordinary way of counting gauge...but it's not a wrong thing to try my trick (^.^)... Experience sellers may have known my trick long before me but i've never read about it anywhere. I wish I read it somewhere so I don't have to waste a lot of yarn or reuse it. I don't like reusing yarn. Sometimes, it's degraded too much so that to reuse it, i feel embarassed. Unless, may be for bags. Using reused yarn can be cool...but for hat or fingerless gloves, I'm still embarrased to wear it... But at least...I'm glad I found this trick. I will use this trick to make another hat (^.^)  cherio, |
