About the rulers

Some knitting machines were shipped with colored rulers used to measure gauge swatches. These rulers are easy to use if you understand how they work.

The rulers come in three sizes: green for standard gauge machines, yellow for mid-gauge and blue for bulky. One side of the ruler is labelled “S” and is used for measuring the number of stitches over 4″ (10cm). The other side is labelled “R” and is used for measuring the number of rows over 4″ (10 cm).

How to use these instructions

The main instructions are for the standard gauge machine with instructions for the mid-gauge and bulky inside parentheses in that order. For example, when it says CO 60 (50, 40) needles, you’ll CO 60 needles on the standard, 50 on the mid-gauge and 40 on the bulky.

What you’ll need

• A green (yellow, blue) gauge ruler.
• The main yarn for the swatch.
• A contrasting yarn of the same thickness as the main yarn for marking rows and stitches.

Knitting the swatch

• CO 60 (50, 40) needles with the main yarn and knit 10 rows.
• Knit 2 rows with the contrasting yarn.
• Knit 30 (20, 15) rows with the main yarn.
• Use two scraps of contrasting yarn to mark the stitches on the 21st (16th, 11th) needle either side of center.
• Knit 30 (20, 15) rows with the main yarn.
• Knit 2 rows with the contrasting yarn.
• Knit 10 rows with the main yarn.
• On the left side of the swatch, transfer stitches to adjacent needles to make eyelets indicating the tension setting on the carriage. For example, if your tension dial is set to 4, transfer the stitches from needles 3, 5, 7 and 9 one needle to the right or left to make 4 eyelets. If your carriage has intermediate dots between the whole numbers, skip a few stitches and make eyelets indicating the number of dots.
• On the right side of the swatch, transfer stitches to adjacent needles to make eyelets indicating the tension setting on the yarn mast.
• Knit 5 more rows with the main yarn and bind off.

Finishing the swatch

• Remove the knitting from the machine, stretch it lengthwise to set the stitches and let it rest for several hours.
• Wash and/or block it the same way you intend to finish the garment.

Measuring the swatch

• Lay the swatch flat without stretching.
• Lay the green (yellow, blue) ruler on top of your swatch with the “S” side up.
• Line up the ruler just beneath the left and right stitch markers with the left end of the ruler just inside the left marker.
• Locate the mark on the ruler that appears just inside the right marker. The number at that mark is the number of stitches over 4″.
• Turn the ruler over so the “R” side is up.
• Line up the ruler between the two center stitches with the left end of the ruler just inside the two contrasting rows at one end of the swatch.
• Locate the mark on the ruler that appears just inside the two contrasting rows at the opposite end of the swatch. The number at that mark is the number of rows over 4″.