Working Gauge and Finished Gauge

Accurate gauge is essential for generating a Knit Impression pattern, so please take the time to measure your swatch carefully.

Make your swatch

Knit a swatch at least 15 × 15 cm (6 × 6 in) using the same yarn, needles, and knitting tension you intend to use for your garment.

It is important to knit naturally. Do not deliberately knit tighter or looser in order to reach a particular gauge. The working gauge you enter should reflect the way you will actually knit the garment.

Working gauge

Before washing your swatch, measure both stitch and row gauge over a full 10 cm (4 in).

Please use a ruler or measuring tool that allows you to measure the full 10 cm at once. Do not measure a shorter section and multiply the result.

This measurement is your working gauge.

Working gauge represents the gauge you should maintain while knitting your garment.

Finished gauge

Wash and block the swatch in the same way you intend to wash and block the finished garment.

Allow it to dry completely, then measure the stitch and row gauge again over a full 10 cm (4 in).

This measurement is your finished gauge.

Finished gauge represents the gauge of the fabric after washing and blocking.

Why both are needed

You will enter both working gauge and finished gauge into the Knit Impression system.

Working gauge tells you what gauge to maintain while knitting. The pattern will also include measurement checks at specific points, telling you which part of the work to measure and what measurement it should have at that stage. These checks are calculated using your working gauge.

Finished gauge is used to generate the pattern so that, after washing and blocking, the finished garment reaches its intended dimensions.