#Knitting question: when a #pattern says “knit to 9 inches” do you knit to gauge? Meaning - do I knit to the point that after #blocking the garment will be 9 inches… or do I knit to preblocked 9” (~8.5”). Current project blocks with a 5% increase. #knittersofbluesky #knit #flaxdk #sweater - ThreadSky

wefficans.bsky.social • 44 days ago

#Knitting question: when a #pattern says “knit to 9 inches” do you knit to gauge? Meaning - do I knit to the point that after #blocking the garment will be 9 inches… or do I knit to preblocked 9” (~8.5”). Current project blocks with a 5% increase.
#knittersofbluesky #knit #flaxdk #sweater

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spyferret.bsky.social•44 days ago

Great question… I have always measured as knit, but I think I’d say after blocking, because people use all kinds of different yarn, superwash vs no washable vs acrylic, so the designer couldn’t know how your yarn would act.

wefficans.bsky.social•44 days ago

Right! They wouldn’t know my yarn grows about 5% in both directions after blocking. I’m thinking the standard may be that a knitter must take into account how much the yarn blooms and subtract from the pattern.

wefficans.bsky.social•44 days ago

But since I’ve not seen that specified on a pattern before, I wasn’t sure if it was a good assumption.

spyferret.bsky.social•43 days ago

I've actually seen once something like, "ahem, keep in mind the length of the arm after blocking will probably be a little stretched." But each designer has their own thing in mind, I bet. It's a toss up.

ohknitknitting.bsky.social•44 days ago

Good question - I usually just knit it to the pre blocked size, but it could of course be interpreted the other way. I would say it’s a judgement call for you based on what bit of the pattern you are knitting & what impact pre vs post block length would have on the design. Not very helpful, sorry!!

wefficans.bsky.social•44 days ago

It’s helpful just to know how other folks understand it 🙂 my halibut sweater for example ended up being too long despite meeting gauge on swatch and I think it’s related to me knitting it to the body length called for in the pattern and not taking into account the increase after blocking. 😑

musingmaker.bsky.social•44 days ago

Superwash yarn almost always grows in length—I’ve learned that the hard way! If it’s non-superwash, the recommendation is to block the swatch the way you plan to block the sweater, to see how the yarn behaves…

maureenott.bsky.social•44 days ago

I always block my swatches, measuring before and after to calculated growth. Any ‘knit to’ instructions I calculate the number of rows I need to do based on my row gauge and just knit to that number of rows. Works every time and I find it’s quicker because you don’t have to keep measuring.

madelts.bsky.social•44 days ago

Great question! I have never thought about this, just always measured preblocked😂 if you find out, please let me know!

wefficans.bsky.social•44 days ago

Will do! 😆 Have you found that your garments match the pattern size after you’ve finished?

madelts.bsky.social•44 days ago

Not really, but I am terrible at actually checking the gauge so the reasons could be many😂

wefficans.bsky.social•44 days ago

😂 I didn’t gauge swatch my first color work project (a cowl) and because of that it doesn’t fit 😭 I have yet to frog it. Ever since then I swatch 😂

musingmaker.bsky.social•44 days ago

It usually just means knit to 9” (if the pattern factors in a 5% increase, it will be 9.45” after blocking).

The pattern schematic for the size you’re knitting should say what the finished size is supposed to be, so that might help clarify.

If not, maybe contact the designer to double-check.

wefficans.bsky.social•44 days ago

I should clarify: blocked 9” would be ~8.5” preblocked.

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