how closely do you observe gauge guides when knitting a jersey?

[warthog]

i've tried 2 different yarns and gone up a needle size and i'm still 0.5 of an inch short.

gauge is 18 sts = 4 inches in st st.

Is that half an inch on 4 inches?If so, that's a lot, 1/8th or 12 1/2 %.
I try to find yarn that agrees with the tension of the pattern, because I know that I knit pretty well to average tension. You can adapt the pattern by adding another 10 % or so. So in your tension square, try 20 stitches and see what happens. Have you knitted the required amount of rows? that sometimes makes a difference to the width. Is the length out as well? If so, by how much?

i don't usually worry about the length because the pattern usually says 'knit until work measures x cms'. perhaps i should though!

i'm just annoyed because i can't get the wool recommended in the pattern and i've knitted 4 swatches now and still can't get close to 4 inches. i can't believe i knit that tightly!

what do you mean by 'tension of the pattern'? do you mean yarn that's not too thin or thick?

Why don't you try going up a size in needles?
(am not exactly an expert so no idea if thats a good idea or not!)

done that already. was supposed to be on 4.5mm needles and have tried 5 mm now. hence asking the question. seems a bit much to go 2 sizes up....

What I mean by matching yarn and pattern is that the pattern specifies 18 st to 4" for instance, then I look for a yarn that also says 18 stitches to 4".

I don't usually knit the whloe swatch either for the same reason as you, but you have to have a fair bit, I think probably at least ten rows in whatever pattern it specifies to have a fair idea.

If you've already got your yarn and you can't knit it up to the tension required then the only way to deal with it is add stitches until it comes up to the required size. I agree that going up to 5mm is probably going to make your knitting look too loose and scrappy.

ok thanks.

i've not actually bought all the yarn - i thought that was too risky! so it's not too late to change.

rather spend time pfaffing at this stage than get a whole jersey wrong!

I would take the pattern to the yarn store, as I say, match the tension on the pattern to the tension on the ball band and have another go.

Are you on Ravelry?

yes but haven't spent much time there. will search for the pattern.