How to Measure to Knit a Blanket
Before you undertake any knitting project, it's important to make a swatch and measure your stitches. Otherwise, the piece you worked so long and hard on could turn out to be the wrong size. If you are making a blanket to fit a particular bed, you don't want to spend a month knitting it only to find out it's not wide enough. A few extra minutes to knit a swatch and check your gauge can save you a lot of time in the long run.
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Instructions
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Cast on at least 28 stitches using the needle recommended and the intended yarn. Knit the first four rows in garter stitch. Then knit for 6 inches in the stitch called for in the pattern with four garter stitches at the beginning and end of each row, Knit the last four rows in garter stitch. Bind off and cut your yarn.
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Hand wash the swatch with gentle detergent or dish soap and lay it flat to dry.
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Line a ruler up with a row of stitches somewhere in the middle, being careful not to stretch the fabric. Measure how many stitches make up 1 inch. Compare this to the gauge on the pattern.
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Check your gauge against the pattern gauge. If your gauge is too large, go down a needle size and make another swatch. If your gauge is too small, go up a needle size.
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Tips & Warnings
Check your gauge again after you've knit a few inches of your blanket. Check once more about halfway through.
References
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