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Whether you’re using thicker yarn or creating an open, airy fabric, gauge is measured from the finished stitches, not the needles used.

I’m knitting over every other needle. How do I swatch?

Count stitches, not needles. Knit a generous swatch, let it rest overnight, block it as you’ll treat the finished project, then measure the actual stitches and rows.
knitting worked on every other needle of a knitting machine

Working every other needle gives stitches more room and can create either a heavier fabric or a light, open fabric, depending on the yarn and tension.

Why This Works

Knitting on every other needle changes the spacing between the stitches, but it does not change how you measure gauge. You might use every other needle to give thicker yarn more room or to create a lighter, more open fabric. If your swatch contains 50 stitches, count all 50 stitches, even though they are spread across every other needle. Once the fabric is off the machine, rested, and blocked, measure the marked stitches and rows in the finished fabric.

Try This

  • Bring 50 needles to work in an every-other-needle arrangement. This creates 50 stitches spread across 100 needle positions.
  • Knit several rows before beginning the section you will measure.
  • Place markers around a specific number of stitches and rows in the center of the swatch, away from the edges.
  • Knit several more rows after the marked section, then remove the swatch from the machine.
  • Let the swatch rest, then wash or block it exactly as you will treat the finished project.
  • Measure the width between the side markers and the height between the row markers.
  • Enter the marked stitches, marked rows, measured width, and measured height into the Knit It Now Gauge Calculator.
  • Click Calculate Gauge and let the calculator do the math.
Gauge swatch marked to measure stitches across and rows vertically

Measure the width and height between the markers, then enter those measurements in the Gauge Calculator.

Make sure the yarn fits comfortably in the needle hooks and that there is enough room between the working needles for the stitches to form properly.

Calculate Your Gauge

Member Lesson

Go deeper with step-by-step guidance.

  • Every other Needle Knitting

    Often knitters will use every other needle to knit a heavier yarn on a standard gauge machine. Learn the why and how of this technique