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Tension drama!

by Helen
(Caerfyrrddin, Wales)


I am knitting a coat from a gorgeous pattern I bought about four years ago 😀. I bought the forest yarn, and it sat until now waiting to be knitted. Normally my tension is pretty good, and I do (mostly) use a tension square. I started with a tension square and it was too small so I switched up a size to 6.5 mm, great. Then I started knitting the sleeve (in the round) on the dpns I knitted the tension square. I checked about half way up the sleeve, and while my stitches are still fine .. I have too few rows. 12 sts 10cm and 20 rows (instead of 16). I am a bit stumped. I have currently knitted four swatches on different needles and different sizes and am blocking them to see if that makes a difference but not sure if I have over blocked. Also the pattern says 12 stchs to 10cms but the yarn band says 14. Sigh.

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Feb 28, 2020
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starstarstarstarstar 		Knit/purl tension difference
by: Anonymous

Tension often varies with stockinette between a knit and purl stitch. Since the sleeve is in the round it’s all knit stitches.
Is the sleeve stitch appearance within range to the stitches of the body? If yes, I would continue making the two sleeves on the same size needle. If there is an obvious difference, you make want to start the sleeves over with a needle size that matches the body. Or, knit the sleeves flat, that way your tension will match.
I purl much tighter than I knit. I have to change needle sizes in situations like this.
I hope this helped.
Feb 27, 2020
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starstarstarstarstar 		Tension Drama!
by: Ratchadawan

Yep, tension can be quite a drama! Keep on trying. I would find the needle that gives the right or closest number of stitches rather than rows when working with sweater. Since it is much more practical to add rows to get the length you want.

Good job there, you'll get it!

Ratcha

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