BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Knitting Problem with gauge

I'm knitting booties and using baby yarn with a size 1 needle. I have small, tight stitches, but the booties keep coming out HUGE. What am I doing wrong?

I don't have an answer for you since my knitting experience is scarfs, scarfs, more scarfs (hey, they are getting better little by little) and half a sock <g>. I'll be happy to see what the "real knitters" have to say. Good luck! How about giving this pair to a bigger baby? ;)

Did you make a swatch to measure gauge using that yarn and size needles?

"Baby" yarn comes in many different thicknesses. I have some "thin" enough to use on a knitting machine and others that are so "thick" they can only be used on needles or looms for sweaters and blankets.

There was a pair of booties in a bag of yarn I was given, that just needed to be seamed. I finished them and they actually fit my friend's toddler, even though they appeared way too large.

I would finish these. Children grow like weeds and I'm sure they will fit sooner than expected.

The only gauge says 7 stitches per inch. It doesn't say how many rows per inch. I have 7 stitches in 3/4 inch. The pattern calls for size 3 and I've tried, 3, 2 and now 1. Guess I have to knit for Baby Huey. :)

They want 7 per inch and you are getting (roughly) 10 per inch so that's why they are bigger. You are knitting tight, thus getting more stitches per inch--When you have more stitches per inch you should use LARGER needles. You are going backwards, going down to size one.Try a swatch with larger needles.You can always try adjusting the pattern but that takes more math. than I could ever handle.

Thanks! I'm a needle newbie and haven't attempted booties or socks yet. I make swatches when using a pattern, (simple ones) but haven't quite grasped the needle/yarn/gauge concept. I usually blame it on the yarn

One would think smaller needles = smaller item, but your simple explanation makes sense.

Thanks Neni, that is exactly right, Laura try using larger needles! Larger needles will get you to fewer stitches, but your based on this theory your booties should be really small. Are you sure you are casting on the correct amount? Is this a pattern that is readily available? I have an article about Knitting a swatch or checking your gauge that gives a more detailed explanation. I'm so glad everyone pitched on this one!

Thanks, everyone! I'm off to try bigger needles with a test swatch.

Keep us posted!

Wow! Now I'm using a size 7 and the results are fine. That's so weird: if the test is too big, use a bigger needle. If the test is too small, use a smaller needle. But it works!