Top tips for perfect tension

Techniques to make you an expert

When you’re knitting from a pattern you’ll see tension (or gauge) listed at the beginning. Tension is the number of stitches and rows that makes up a standard-sized piece of fabric – usually 10cm square. To create a correctly sized, similar-looking item you’ll need to knit to the same tension. On smaller projects, like hats or gloves, a small di erence in tension may not be the end of the world because you’re working with a small number of stitches. But correct tension is vital if you’re making a garments because when you’re working with more stitches the impact of a small di erence in tension is multiplied. Whatever you’re knitting, taking 20 minutes to make a tension square can save you a lot of wasted

2 CORRECTING YOUR TENSION

The easiest way to adjust your tension to get the perfect result (A) is to change your needle size. If you have too many stitches or rows to 10cm then your knitting is too tight

(B), so try using a slightly bigger needle, which will give you slightly larger, looser stitches. If you have too few stitches or rows to 10cm then your knitting is too loose (C). Switch to a slightly smaller needle and try again. The tension the pattern gives you may be the same as your stitch tension but di erent from your row tension. If this is the case then go up or down a needle size by the smallest di erence you can. Often by changing needle size minutely you can change your row tension, but your stitch tension will probably stay the same.

1 MAKING AN ACCURATE TENSION SQUARE

Tension is usually given over a 10x10cm square, but knitting a larger area will allow you to avoid the curly edges of stocking stitch. Cast on the given stitches for 10cm plus half as many again, then work until your square is 15cm long. Cast o . Lay your square flat and measure the number of stitches and rows in 10cm at several points. Take an average of these. You now have your tension before blocking. Block your square and then measure again as before. This is your blocked tension, and will probably be a little looser than your pre-blocked tension. If your tension in stitches and rows after blocking is the same as that given in your pattern then you’re on your way, but read Tip 2 if it isn’t… 3 OTHER WAYS TO ADJUST TENSION Di erent kinds of yarns can alter your tension, as can the material your needles are made of. Many knitters find bamboo needles to be ‘sticky’, helping them to keep a tighter tension. Others prefer the smoothness of metal needles, which can lead to a looser tension. If you’ve always been a British-style knitter (‘throwing’ the yarn) and you switch to Continental style (‘picking’ the yarn) you will almost certainly notice a di erence in the tension of your fabric, so you need to be aware of the impact this may have on your finished piece!