knitting tension square question

[sleepysox]

I'm about to try and knit a jumper for myself. I've done a tension square, and my stitches are too big, so i need to go down a needle size from a 10mm to a 9mm (I think- haven't tried to make sure I def need 9mm). I don't have any 9mm needles, but can easily get some.

Instead of getting smaller needles, could I just knit the jumper with my 10mm needles, but knit it a dress size smaller, so as my tension square was too big, it'll come out larger?

Would this work, or is it a recipe for disaster?

HOpe someone can help a jumper knitting newbie x

do you mean you have too many stitches over 4" or too few?

i think knitting it a size smaller on 10mm needles would end up a disaster

My concern is whether the shapings are going to be in the right place. Would you get a waist shaping round your armpits or something? I also can't get my head around what it would mean for your yarn requirements. Would they stay the same or would they increase or decrease - it would be bad to run out of yarn in case you can't get any more of the same dye lot.

You would also end up with a much more open textured jumper if your loops are bigger especially working with such large needles. It may not hang properly and it would probably look different to what you were expecting.

TBH I would be inclined to just get the 9mm needles and give them a go. You may even find that you need to go down a dress size as well as a needle size to get the drape and the look right.

The pattern says "tension- 9sts and 12 rows to 10cm, (4inch) over stocking stitch on 10mm needles or the size required to give correct tension. Check your tension- if less stitches use a thinner needle, if more use a thicker needle."

My tension square ended up 9sts and 11 rows to 4 inches, so I used less stitches, so need a smaller needle. Is that right?

I think I'll try with a 9mm needle. I was itchign to get started tonight, but will wait until tomorrow when i can borrow some 9mm needles.

Thanks for your advice. if I hadn't asked, I'd have made a big mess up and wasted all this lovely wool!

Can someone just let me know if I've read the pattern correctly and that I do indeed need smaller needles? Just need to make sure. I'm paranoid I'll mess up my first big project! (I've only knitted soft toys before).

Getting the width gauge right is the most important thing - that 9 stitches is what you should aim for because that will determine whether the garment fits you or not. Getting the 11 rows is harder to achieve, but if your pattern tells you to knit x rows before doing some shaping, or something, your length measurements may end up out unless you tweak those numbers a little. If it says to do things after x inches, then it's a little easier and the number of rows per 4" doesn't matter so much.

First thing you need to do is to wash that swatch the same way as you would wash the finished article. You might find that it really grows. If it does, try 9mm or even 8mm needles. Some yarns get wider and shorter after washing because of the way the fibres plump up or mesh together. It's hard to predict. Try the 9mm anyway if you can get them. Different 10mm needles may even give you a better result because of the way they grip the yarn.

Swatches also lie, I'm afraid, because they're so small. Once you think you're happy, start by knitting a smaller section, such as a sleeve. Check your tension once you have enough of it to measure.

The other problem with swatches is that if you have a pattern in the design, a bit of lace or a cable for example or any fancy stitch, you won't get a representative swatch by doing garter or stocking stitch. That can affect the tension and make it different to the tension on the band on the ball. Is the patten tension the same as the one on the ball? It might be that that is where the problem lies.

Thank you for your replies, they're really useful.

I'll try and knit the swatch with 9mm needles and and see how it turns out. I didn't know about washing swatches first, so I'll do that with the next swatch I knit.

I think the pattern tension is the same as the ball, as I'm using the wool recommended in the pattern. The pattern was developed for the particular wool I'm using.

Make sure you keep measuring your tension periodically as you go; as a new knitter your tension will change as you improve xx