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Knitting gauge calculator

Gauge is the single thing that decides whether a garment fits. A tenth of a stitch per centimetre becomes several centimetres across a body.

Cast on this many stitches
100
= Exact Knitting gauge
Rows for the target length
168
Adjusted pattern cast-on
100
Width the pattern intends
50.00
Width you would get unadjusted
55.00
Error from ignoring gauge
5.00
Gauge ratio
0.9091
Show the working
  1. Your stitches per 10 cm = 20
  2. Your rows per 10 cm = 28
  3. Pattern stitches per 10 cm = 22
  4. Pattern cast-on stitches = 110
  5. Target width = 50
  6. Target length = 60
  7. Cast on this many stitches = round(50 / 10 * 20) = 100
  8. Rows for the target length = round(60 / 10 * 28) = 168
  9. Adjusted pattern cast-on = round(110 * 20 / 22) = 100
  10. Width the pattern intends = 110 / 22 * 10 = 50
  11. Width you would get unadjusted = 110 / 20 * 10 = 55
  12. Error from ignoring gauge = 55 - 50 = 5
  13. Gauge ratio = 22 > 0 ? 20 / 22 : 0 = 0.909 091

Values are shown to six significant figures here; the arithmetic itself runs on exact fractions and is only rounded where a number is printed.

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    The formula

    • stitches = width x gauge / 10
    • adjusted cast-on = pattern cast-on x your gauge / pattern gauge

    Measure gauge on a washed and blocked swatch at least 15 cm square. Small swatches lie.

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