It’s one of the oldest debates in knitting and usually pits traditionalists against more modern knitters, who see it as a waste of time. But there are many reasons why the argument for swatches remains strong.
Practise New Stitches
If the knitting project requires tricky stitches and techniques, then a swatch offers a chance to practise before you start the real thing. If the technique is particularly tricky, consider making the swatch in a chunkier yarn to practise.
Testing the Yarn
It’s not always easy to get a sense of how the yarn will look and feel with a particular stitch until you’ve started, so a swatch can prevent you from starting a project with the wrong yarn.
To Get the Tension Right
The main reason for doing a swatch is to test the tension or gauge. It will tell you how many stitches you need for a given length, typically 10cm, to create the right tension. Knitting too loose or too tight will result in the wrong size when the item is finished.
Swatches for Knitting Kits
If you prefer to work with a knitting kit, like those from //www.woolcouturecompany.com/collections/knitting-kits, there’s less call to do a swatch, as the techniques are typically easier. However, those doing more complicated kits should still consider doing a small swatch. Knitting kits typically come with enough yarn to allow for this.
Whether it’s to test the yarn, practise the techniques or get that all-important tension right, there are plenty of reasons why you should be doing swatches before you start.
