How do you measure?
I don't think I have knit a stitch in over a week, maybe even longer. So last night I sat down on the couch to watch America's Next Top Model & Lost while I knit away in happiness. I knit about half an inch on my socks though sadly enough it looks like 0 progress from the last photograph.
Then I pulled out my other favorite-knit-I-don't-want-to-rush, Salina from Rowan in Felted Tweed. I hate measuring knits. Does it ever get you down? It boggles my mind. I measured it before I started knitting and the arm hole was 7.5" inches tall. Then I knit 4 rows and measured again and this time got 7" inches tall. I held it up, I laid it down, I folded in the arm hole so it was more centered and not slanted. Every-which-way I measured it gave me 7" inches! I can only figure that it was 6.5" before I started but I find that very hard to believe because I remember when I last put it down I was at 7" because I remember thinking "wow only 1 more inch to go!".
I'm not to worried though because the whole length of it should be 21.5" and right now it's 20" and the neck shaping is only 4 rows tall. It just annoys me that I get different lengths!! I like the old "hold it up" technique because it’s more realistic and you don’t stretch it like you would if it was laid out all nice on a towel. How do you measure your knits, do you have any particular method? It almost always stresses me out. I must have measured those Charlie socks 12 times before I started that short row heel, and I thought I had actually gone too long, but it actually fits perfectly so I guess my perseverance paid off.
Comments
stacey says;
I tend to measure both hanging up and laying flat and take the average between them - if it is a particularly drapey yarn, I'll lean towards the hanging measurement.....it is annoying though. One of my least favorite parts of knitting a pattern!
Amy says;
I have that same problem with measuring. Also, simple math will fail me at the worst times in knitting.
I usually hold it up and put the tape measure at the length I want to knit at the top and let the other end hand down. I feel like I'm less likely to pull to make it fit that way. Does that make sense? (words are failing me today)
Pamela Mulla says;
I think you could skew it by holding it up if it is a heavy knit, the weight of the yarn would pull it. If you spread it out on a flat surface, then you can also check the row gauge when you count. I also am knitting the neverending sweater in an aran pattern.
Leslie says;
I just had the exact same experience with my Jaywalker sock! I kept getting different numbers. I hate that! Now, I always measure the same way. I lay it flat and smooth it out. For a sweater, I measure across the knitting from armhole beginning to armhole beginning and place a marker in the middle. Then I measure up from there. The middle tends not to stretch as much as the sides. Good luck!
Anne says;
Er - exactly the same way as you do - and I'll bet you really did have 7.5 the first time round... I just don't get it - gauge (guage? it looks wrong both ways - I'll be British and call it "tension" lol) is the same - I'll knit a swatch - 8 st/in, then ON THE EXACT SAME NEEDLES I'll start the real thing, and it'll come out as 6 st/in.
Hey ho!
jenifleur says;
Flat! I always measure on a very flat surface and from just under the needle holding the stitches. I think it comes from those years of sewing very fitted bodices on costumes. Patterns and instructions are usually giving you the measurement as it's taken lying flat and holding it up can skew the compound curves. Now that's the "rule" and there's always exceptions. I would think particularly where you were substituting yarns and had a different gauge. I should think that holding it up would also become useful if you had doubts about the hand or drape of the fabric or when you're doubting the armhole as given would be to your liking.
I hate when the more you knit, the shorter the thing gets. We call that "the masked unraveller strikes again". It can turn me off a project like that. :snaps fingers: My effin socks are doing that to me right now and it's taking all my will to keep knitting the stupid things.
Natasha says;
As long as both fron and back are the same I wouldn't worry if your off 1" Though I remember when knitting my Salina ( in the green pictured) it seemed to take forever to do some parts yet I'm ready now to knit another it really does make the cutest wee sweater
Brooke says;
I feel your pain, I'm working on Salina right now too and am having the same measuring issues! And by the way you have good TV taste...Lost, Girls Next Door and Top Model are some of my favorites :)
Natalie says;
This happens to me ALL THE TIME!! I heard somewhere that you should let your knitting "rest" before you measure it. If you measure it just after you've knitted on it, it may be stretched out from working on it. I try to employ this advice when I'm not too antsy, but when I want to get on to bigger and better things, i.e., shaping, new pattern repeat, etc., I jump the gun and measure it without the rest period. With this in mind, if my knitting *just* hits the measurement I need, I usually end up knitting 2 more rows to be on the safe side. Hasn't seemed to be a problem yet. And, I usually measure on a flat surface. I've tried the hanging measurement thing, but it doesn't seem to work out as accurately.
April says;
Well, however you measure it, it's really pretty. =)
Sabrina says;
Hello!! I came across your blog in search of an apparantly non-available yarn. Argh,I am so upset. I have a half finished scarf(my first project at that) and this beautiful plymouth yukon print 2004 was bought in Asheville, NC. Well, I live in Ga and cannot find it ANYWHERE!! Online it is non existent. So, thought I may get help from you.HELP ME PLEASE