Pattern Swatch

If a pattern that you are knitting or crocheting from gives you the gauge in a stitch pattern, but no swatch pattern to go with it here is how to make one of your own.

This particular pattern then had the mesh stitch listed in the next column and how to do it.

If however, your pattern doesn't, look at the chart, if there is one or look at the first row of directions that is for the pattern repeat.  It may take a little bit of searching to find this row.  Look for clues such as "repeat rows/rounds 6-13..."  So the round you are looking for is Round 6 in this example.

After you have found the first pattern row, you can then use that row to figure out how many stitches you will need for you swatch.  It will contain a repeat section and tell you to repeat that section how ever many times.  Figure out how many stitches are in that repeat section.  If it is 8 for example then multiple by 2 to get 16 stitches and add 6 stitches so that you can have 3 frame stitches on each side.  Work 3 rows plain knit or just single crochet.  Knitters you will then work one row knit 3, purl to last 3, knit 3.  You will now work rows 6-13 to have 8 rows.  Work 3 more rows plain for a top frame.  You can now finish off this swatch as needed to properly block it.  When it is dry, measure what you have and decide where to go next.

If there is a chart, find the section that is the repeat section and count how many stitches are in it.  You can then continue following the directions above using the number of stitches and rows indicated in the repeat sections.

This chart shows the stitch repeat between the blue lines and the row repeat between the black lines.

I know  that the searching, math and the time doing the swatch takes a while, but it will be less time and frustration than having to rip and repeat maybe multiple times.

If you are still having problems or have questions please feel free to contact me.