Swatch Wizard
A few months ago, there was a discussion that at our Yahoo! Group that lasted for several days. I hadn’t realized how difficult both the concept of gauge and the measuring of a swatch are for many new and intermediate knitters.
While the discussion was taking place, it occurred to me that I might assist by writing a tool for both knitting and crocheting that would calculate gauge and also provide a place to keep a running history of swatches that were knit or crocheted.
Swatch Wizard takes the math out of determining gauge, but it cannot help knit the swatch or help the knitter understand what gauge really means.
Over the next several days, I will be writing about swatch knitting and what a difference an accurate gauge can mean to a finished project.
Swatch Wizard assists you in swatch knitting by not requiring you to count stitches or ruler between ruler ticks. There is no trying to determine whether there is 1/4 or 3/8 of a stitch before the next inch begins.
Swatch Wizard works on the premise that you will cast on a given number of stitches and work a given number of rows. You will then treat the swatch as you would the finished garment or piece by blocking.
Measure the width and length of the swatch. Enter the number of stitches, rows, width and length into Swatch Wizard and the program will calculate your stitch and row gauge.
Filed under: Software, Techniques by cwulster
Thank you, thank you, thank you! This is just what I needed. I’m so excited.
Will you be doing one for crocheting too?
Hi Peggy,
Swatch Wizard can be used for both knitting and crocheting.