The Importance of a Gauge Swatch

Those of you who don’t knit probably don’t know what that is in the picture. It’s two legwarmers being worked at the same time, one *inside* the other. It took me several hours to cast on, and then another several minutes to get that first round going properly. But with the help of knitty’s article, Extreme knitting: 2 socks in 1″ by Kory Stamper, I got it all figured out.But then I forgot to do a gauge swatch. In fact, nevermind gauge. These are just legwarmers. All you need to know is how wide around you need them to be. And wouldn’t you know, I thought I could eyeball that. So I’ve been merrily knitting away for a couple of days now and last night I come across this: why a swatch is important. Really it’s just some knitter showing the process of “sweater planning,” but if you go on to read more you find that he finishes the most gorgeous men’s cardigan EVER, all because he started with patience and planning. I may be a convert in the world of gauge swatching.

And since I’m now thinking “hm measuring his legs might have been a good idea,” I got out the tape measure and measured. My legwarmers are an unstretched 7.5 inches. His thighs are 12″. Now that I’m clear on the technique of 2 in 1, I’m going to start again.

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