Knitting Gauge Calculator: Adjust a Pattern to Your Gauge
Enter the pattern gauge and your swatch gauge, paste the stitch and row counts from the pattern and get new counts that give the same finished size. Links on to the Yarn Amount Calculator.
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Nothing is sent until you press Send. Your measurements are included only if you tick the box, and you can see the full report below first.
When to use this
- Your swatch has more or fewer stitches over 4 in than the pattern says, and you do not want to change needles.
- You want to keep a pattern's finished size with a yarn that is different from the one it names.
- You want to see how much bigger or smaller a piece would come out if you knit the pattern as written.
How to use
- Enter the gauge from the pattern: stitches, rows, and the width they are measured over, usually 4 in (10 cm).
- Knit and wash a swatch, then enter your own stitches and rows over the width you measured.
- Paste the counts you want to change, one per line, such as Cast on: 100 sts or Armhole depth: 48 rows.
- Press the button, read the new counts and copy them. Add a finished size if you want a yarn estimate link.
Examples
- Pattern 20 sts and 28 rows over 4 in, your swatch 18 sts and 26 rows: Stitches x 18/20 = 0.9, so 100 cast-on stitches become 90. Rows x 26/28 = 0.929, so 140 rows become 130. Knit as written, the piece would come out 111 percent as wide.
- Pattern 22 sts over 4 in, your swatch 15 sts over 3 in: Your gauge is 5 stitches per inch and the pattern's is 5.5, so the factor is 5/5.5 = 0.909. 110 stitches become 100.
Understanding the result
Stitches per inch are the stitches counted divided by the width they were measured over. The stitch factor is your stitches per inch divided by the pattern's, and the row factor works the same way for rows. Each count is multiplied by its factor and rounded to a whole number, with stitches rounded to the multiple you choose. The share of the intended size shows what happens if you ignore the difference and knit the original counts.
Limitations
- Shaping rates, such as increase every 6th row, and cables, lace and stitch-pattern repeats are not recalculated. Check them against the pattern.
- If your stitch gauge and row gauge differ from the pattern by different amounts, shapes such as armholes may stop fitting together.
- Fabric can stretch, relax or shrink after washing and blocking. Gauge from an unwashed swatch can mislead.
- A gauge more than about 25 percent from the pattern is usually better fixed with a different needle or yarn.
FAQ
How do I adjust a knitting pattern for a different gauge?
Divide your stitches per inch by the pattern's stitches per inch and multiply each stitch count by the result. Do the same with rows. For 18 stitches against the pattern's 20 the factor is 0.9, so 100 stitches become 90.
What if my swatch is not measured over 4 inches?
Enter the width you did measure. The tool divides the stitches by that width, so 15 stitches over 3 in is 5 stitches per inch.
Why did a count change by only one or two?
Small gauge differences give small changes. Counts are rounded to whole numbers or to the multiple you set, so the new number can be a little off the exact figure shown in the working.
Should I change needle size instead?
Often a different needle size gets you the pattern's gauge, and then no recalculation is needed. Recalculating works well for small differences and when you like the fabric you have.
Does this change the amount of yarn I need?
A different gauge changes yarn use. The Yarn Amount Calculator gives a rough number for a flat piece, and a pattern's own yardage is better when it has one.
Is my information saved anywhere?
No. Everything is calculated in your browser and nothing is sent to a server. The share link keeps your numbers after the # sign.
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