BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Knitting When did you learn about gauge ?

I'm just a little curious, I myself never really payed attention to gauge until I had about 3 years knitting experience and then I realized that you DO need it. Did anyone else take this long ?

Years ago I got this terrific, funky teal yarn with flecks of pink and blue in it (it was the 80's!), and set out to knit a sweater that had these cool batwing sleeves. By the time I was done, the sweater literally stretched from end to end of my parent's massive coffee table with the cuffs hanging over the edge. And THAT'S the day I learned about gauge! That is the first and only sweater that I've ever completely finished, then completely unraveled.

I'm one of those freaky people who seem to magically knit to gauge. After a long time of never checking gauge (assumptions make a you know what!)I whipped out my needles to work on a prayer shawl.

What an absolute mess! My gauge was much looser than the pattern called for, and I had a blanket!

Another stupid thing I did, was not pay attention to the dimensions of the shawl. I knit away, and away, and away- and when I checked back with the book, I could've died! My shawl was twice the size of the actual project.

Ever since then, I check gauge, except for when I'm knitting simple socks.

I learned to knit in 1980. I made a batwing sweater, out of bright orange yarn! I never wore it, it was too bright. I'm sure, it had some lousy finishing on it, but oh well. After that experience, I crocheted most of my sweaters, and knitted small items, like purses and blankets for my dog.

Ahh. The 80s. I have some "kimono style" shirts today. They're really a close cousin of the batwing sleeves!

When I learned to knit I was never talked to about gauge. Then many years later I self-taugh to crochet and then I discovered gauge when doing cabbage patch doll and barbie doll clothes.