I also saw Mark Vogel demonstrate this. I like the advantage of being able to frog the swatch and reuse the yarn in your project. With the other method you’d have to cut the strands in the back so your swatch lies flat to get an accurate gauge measurement.
Thank you very much for the great demo. Swatching in the round has never been my favorite thing to do. As others have said, it would be good to know what your gauge was with both swatches. Was there any difference? Which one was closest to the required gauge, if any?
I found this recently online as well and it was a game changer for me as less chance of yarn chicken with only the small float in the end!! I find 4.5 times the length of the stitches worked for me when I did a swatch though that took a lot of trial and error
Another reason for WHY that gauge swatch is so important: I measure before AND after blocking, to observe any changes in the actual yarn. Now I know what to expect when the finished project gets blocked. Will it grow or bloom? How MUCH will it change? Doesn't much matter if it fits directly off the needles without this additional piece of information!
This technique was one of my first videos a couple years ago, it just popped into my head as I as working a swatch one time. Just as Elizabeth Zimmerman says - I'd refer to it as "unvented", I was sure it wasn't new, but couldn't find any videos on it, so I made one. I love it for avoiding the strands across the back. :)
OK tried both ways and found it difficult to manage the left end on the Rox method- it got very messy , but the ‘old fashioned way’ was pretty tidy (my first try at this one) Again, I’m new at this.
Thanks for the demonstration. But, shhh don’t tell anyone but I’ve never done a gauge swatch in the round. Yes, I definitely do gauge swatches a must in my knitting. So far so good my sweaters fit as I expected them to. My gauge has stayed on track throughout my projects . I guess we could call it dumb luck or what I didn’t know hasn’t hurt my knitting. I’m not a newbie I’ve been knitting about 40+ years I guess gauging in the round missed my learning curve. 😮. Iris
That was a great episode, Tayler. I have seen people show the first one you did and my brain just couldn’t fathom how they did it, thank you for showing us two ways! 🌼🌸🌻🌵
Hi Tayler. Great video. I have already watched Roxanne’s video as I have been following her for years. She is truly a treasure and I’ve learned so much from her and hopefully will be learning a lot more. My teacher taught me the original way with the floats in the back which is great but I think Roxanne’s method is so much neater. On the traditional method I cut the floats because it’s neater for me. Just one of my idiosyncrasies, lol. Thank you for this clear and very concise demonstration!😊
Thank you Thea! And I’m so glad this was clear. I’m not one for tutorials, but I feel more motivated to do them when folks find them easy to understand. And I totally get wanting to cut the floats. The tidy part of me (almost all of me) really prefers that as well. 😌
@@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS You’re very welcome Tayler. Honestly, I think tutorials by you would be great. You really did a great job. So easy to follow. But you have to do what you want to do. Either way I enjoy your content. I’m trying to catch up on videos and yours are a go to. One question I have as I have missed some lately is this: Do you still do the midweek ramble and the Sunday podcast or has your schedule changed? Thanks!😊
Well I have always said forget swatching in the round, I’m not going to do it. But your demonstration makes it seem much less onerous. The reason for my attitude is don’t think I’ve ever noticed a difference in gauge from my flat swatch to my circular project. A very informative video, thank you. And thanks to Roxanne who I also enjoy watching.
I love Roxanne instructional videos, thank you for sharing this information. I’ve also seen a YT video of Stephen West demonstrating this “long loop” technique 😊 I haven’t had a chance to use it yet, but want to try it.
What I like about the second method is that the swatch lays flap, but also that when I do the first method, my edge stitches get really messy. Maybe I didn't leave a long enough float or maybe the "through the back loop" thing would help with that. I'll have to try the second method next time I have to swatch. My next project is mittens, so they'll be their own swatch tyvm Thanks for the demo!
This looks like a great technique to try, thank you for sharing it! Did the two methods measure out to the same gauge? On camera, the traditional method looks like the gauge is bigger than the Roxanne Richardson swatch.
I've also seen this used to bind off two sides of a garment (of, say, an underarm seam) at the same time, instead of binding off one side on a right-side row and the other side on a wrong-side row
Thanks for the great demo. Just wondering if you could use two balls of wool to do the swatch and avoid floats completely? You'd have to run the yarn up the sides to pick up on alternate rows.
Thanks for this informative video. I have 2 questions. Can I use Roxanne's method if I am a continental knitter? After blocking a swatch can I use the yarn in my project? Will it shrink more when it goes through a second blocking?
I prefer the faux-circular gauge swatch as Roxanne does it so I can reclaim the yarn from my swatch when I'm done with it. It lays flat without having to cut the floats on the back like the traditional method.
The last time you wore that ghost on a bike tee, had to stop and get one, immediately. My 2 year grandson is also mesmerizing by it can't find child size. Similar but not the same.
🎵Yaaaarrrrn chicken....never never know if the yarn will make the row, yeah! Yaaaarrrrn chicken...prayin' every step that my yarn will last the rep, yeah! Yaaaarrrrn Chickiiiiiiiiiiiin!🎵
My concern with swatching is that I’ll end up running out of yarn if I need it. Is there a rule of thumb how many stitches is recommended for each weight of yarn regardless of the needle size? My swatches are never the same width bc I’m never really sure how many I should cast on
I usually make about 6”x6” of swatch… at that size, the amount of yarn used is about the same as the cuff of a sweater. If I run out of yarn to do a cuff, then I can rip out my swatch and cannibalize the yarn. If I need more than that, I should have bought more yarn! Hope that helps. 😊
Personally, I usually cast on however many stitches my pattern (or if I'm not using a pattern, the yarn label) says it should take me to get to 4" on whatever needles are recommended. Usually that gets me pretty close to the intended gauge, since I don't have an especially tight or especially loose tension. I knit my in-the-round swatches with long floats in the back because it makes it easier to rip out and reuse the swatch yarn if I need it (though honestly i don't have to do that very often). I definitely rip out my swatches if they are very off-gauge or if I really dislike the intended fabric, because i would rather than yarn go to a productive use. I also save my swatches in a box so that I have a little bit of extra yarn in case I need to repair or darn an item later on.
I haven't tested this, but knitting from right to left every alternate row would also avoid purling and not require floats at all. Someone new to knitting "backwards" might need a bit of practice to maintain tension in both directions, but that should be achievable; the issue with purling is that slightly more yarn is used to create the stitch. (It's been a while since I knitted backwards, and I did so to avoid turning a narrow scarf, but I certainly don't recall wonky tension; maybe it wasn't wide enough to show!)
Stupid question from a newish knitter: couldn't you just make a gauge swatch with 2 balls of the same yarn? One for each side? As always, great information.
I think you would still end up with the yarn on the wrong side eventually. Because if you're mimicking knitting in the round, you don't want to have to purl. Sometimes (and depending on the knitter) the tension and gauge with purling is quite different.
You would still slide the stitches to the other end and then knit across...no purling. You just wouldn't have all those floats. Anyway,it was just a thought and something I will test when I have to make a swatch. Thank you for your kind response ❤
@@divinelyengineered you are right! Hahaha. I didn't even have to try it, I just had to visualize the process. In that case, I will use the second method. I have made a few sweaters and have never made a gauge swatch and have had good luck--so far. Now that I am making gifts for others, I don't want to risk wrong sizes, especially since my sister's are 7000+ miles away.
The last time i did the first technique i was so mad at how sloppy it was that ripped it all out and made a whole hat just to swatch a stitch pattern for a sweater i want to make. Maybe next time i will try the second way lol
@@Katepwe no, I find that if it’s a more relaxed after I block it, so I don’t worry about it. No one here Ike’s things to tight. I do tend to knit very tightly, and if I cable something it is perfect once I am done.
I love Roxanne instructional videos, thank you for sharing this information. I’ve also seen a YT video of Mark Vogal demonstrating this “long loop” technique 😊 I haven’t had a chance to use it yet, but want to try it.
![10 viral knitting techniques [you've never seen before!]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/2HYMU39bMA8/mqdefault.jpg)
![Twenty One Pilots - The Line (from Arcane Season 2) [Official Audio]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/XCz7WUotXs8/mqdefault.jpg)
In today’s episode, I'm demoing two different ways for knitting a gauge swatch IN THE ROUND a la the lovely Roxanne Richardson! Enjoy. ❤
Roxanne is the knitting Queen 😊
Agreed, I have learned almost everything I know from her videos and the rest is always super interesting too
She really is!
Roxanne is my go to for learning new techniques. I love her weekly podcast too.
I also saw Mark Vogel demonstrate this. I like the advantage of being able to frog the swatch and reuse the yarn in your project. With the other method you’d have to cut the strands in the back so your swatch lies flat to get an accurate gauge measurement.
I absolutely love Roxanne's technique. This way I'm able to use the yarn in my swatch should I need to. 🙂
I am a relatively new knitter, and what you're teaching is soooo helpful. I wouldn't even know to ask these questions
Great video! Thanks for the tip of knitting through the back loop at beginning and end stitches on both types of swatches.
Great technique, I saw a demo from Mark Vogel on this as well. So it’s making the rounds and it’s so good it certainly should!
Thank you very much for the great demo. Swatching in the round has never been my favorite thing to do. As others have said, it would be good to know what your gauge was with both swatches. Was there any difference? Which one was closest to the required gauge, if any?
Great demonstration!!!! So interesting !
I found this recently online as well and it was a game changer for me as less chance of yarn chicken with only the small float in the end!! I find 4.5 times the length of the stitches worked for me when I did a swatch though that took a lot of trial and error
Another reason for WHY that gauge swatch is so important: I measure before AND after blocking, to observe any changes in the actual yarn. Now I know what to expect when the finished project gets blocked. Will it grow or bloom? How MUCH will it change? Doesn't much matter if it fits directly off the needles without this additional piece of information!
Yep! Get ready for Sunday’s video. I echo a lot of what you say here. ❤️
This technique was one of my first videos a couple years ago, it just popped into my head as I as working a swatch one time. Just as Elizabeth Zimmerman says - I'd refer to it as "unvented", I was sure it wasn't new, but couldn't find any videos on it, so I made one. I love it for avoiding the strands across the back. :)
I just tried my first knitting in the round swatch. This was perfect episode for me ! Thank you🎉
OK tried both ways and found it difficult to manage the left end on the Rox method- it got very messy , but the ‘old fashioned way’ was pretty tidy (my first try at this one) Again, I’m new at this.
Fantastic video, Tayler! You actually DID a tutorial! Very clear and concise and I love this new way of swatching, thank you!!!
Thank you! I have learned a lot from Roxanne Richards as well as from your channel. This has been so helpful. ❤
I first saw this (second technique) on another channel a week or so ago. It took a few watches to figure things out, but it totally makes sense.
I’ll be glad to see the second one blocked like the first one so we can see a clear comparison.
This is very useful and educational!👍🏽
Thanks for the demonstration. But, shhh don’t tell anyone but I’ve never done a gauge swatch in the round. Yes, I definitely do gauge swatches a must in my knitting. So far so good my sweaters fit as I expected them to. My gauge has stayed on track throughout my projects . I guess we could call it dumb luck or what I didn’t know hasn’t hurt my knitting. I’m not a newbie I’ve been knitting about 40+ years I guess gauging in the round missed my learning curve. 😮. Iris
I’ve used Roxanne’s method several times-definitely a good one.
That was a great episode, Tayler. I have seen people show the first one you did and my brain just couldn’t fathom how they did it, thank you for showing us two ways! 🌼🌸🌻🌵
This is cool. And it feels like learning to do knitting surgery, but on easy mode. Which is a really helpful skill to learn.
Hi Tayler. Great video. I have already watched Roxanne’s video as I have been following her for years. She is truly a treasure and I’ve learned so much from her and hopefully will be learning a lot more. My teacher taught me the original way with the floats in the back which is great but I think Roxanne’s method is so much neater. On the traditional method I cut the floats because it’s neater for me. Just one of my idiosyncrasies, lol. Thank you for this clear and very concise demonstration!😊
Thank you Thea! And I’m so glad this was clear. I’m not one for tutorials, but I feel more motivated to do them when folks find them easy to understand. And I totally get wanting to cut the floats. The tidy part of me (almost all of me) really prefers that as well. 😌
@@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS You’re very welcome Tayler. Honestly, I think tutorials by you would be great. You really did a great job. So easy to follow. But you have to do what you want to do. Either way I enjoy your content. I’m trying to catch up on videos and yours are a go to. One question I have as I have missed some lately is this: Do you still do the midweek ramble and the Sunday podcast or has your schedule changed? Thanks!😊
Well I have always said forget swatching in the round, I’m not going to do it. But your demonstration makes it seem much less onerous. The reason for my attitude is don’t think I’ve ever noticed a difference in gauge from my flat swatch to my circular project. A very informative video, thank you. And thanks to Roxanne who I also enjoy watching.
Subscribe to Roxanne. She’s a brilliant teacher.
My mind is blown 😃. I just wound yarn to do a sweater swatch and I’m definitely doing it this way! Thanks for sharing.
I also just recently discovered the "intarsia" style for circular gauge swatch. SOOOO prefer it!!
Super clever! I'm about to swatch for a sweater 😇 so I'll definitely give it a try. Thanks for sharing.
Nice!!! I have to swatch tomorrow, I’m going to try the second method! Thanks for the demos😊
I love Roxanne instructional videos, thank you for sharing this information.
I’ve also seen a YT video of Stephen West demonstrating this “long loop” technique 😊
I haven’t had a chance to use it yet, but want to try it.
What I like about the second method is that the swatch lays flap, but also that when I do the first method, my edge stitches get really messy. Maybe I didn't leave a long enough float or maybe the "through the back loop" thing would help with that. I'll have to try the second method next time I have to swatch. My next project is mittens, so they'll be their own swatch tyvm
Thanks for the demo!
This looks like a great technique to try, thank you for sharing it!
Did the two methods measure out to the same gauge? On camera, the traditional method looks like the gauge is bigger than the Roxanne Richardson swatch.
second time i see this technique in less than a week, it’s so cool 😮
This is awesome! Thank you for sharing this!
Interesting and educational episode, Taylor! I am curious - did the gauge swatches in both methods measure out the same?
Yes they did, but I would love to do a demo episode about swatching with different needle materials because that always changes my gauge. 🤔
I've also seen this used to bind off two sides of a garment (of, say, an underarm seam) at the same time, instead of binding off one side on a right-side row and the other side on a wrong-side row
Once again, very educational post! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Jennifer!
NICE JOB !!! I love this method !
That was a great demonstration.
Love your shawl! And the cast off of the MKAL is fun....
Thanks for the great demo. Just wondering if you could use two balls of wool to do the swatch and avoid floats completely? You'd have to run the yarn up the sides to pick up on alternate rows.
GENIUS! Thanks for sharing this tip
Thanks for this informative video. I have 2 questions. Can I use Roxanne's method if I am a continental knitter? After blocking a swatch can I use the yarn in my project? Will it shrink more when it goes through a second blocking?
My pleasure!! And YES! Her tutorial actually shows both methods done in English style and continental. 👍❤️
Sheer magical knitting genius!!
Did each swatch have the same gauge?
I prefer the faux-circular gauge swatch as Roxanne does it so I can reclaim the yarn from my swatch when I'm done with it. It lays flat without having to cut the floats on the back like the traditional method.
The last time you wore that ghost on a bike tee, had to stop and get one, immediately. My 2 year grandson is also mesmerizing by it can't find child size. Similar but not the same.
Great tips…thank you!!
🎵Yaaaarrrrn chicken....never never know if the yarn will make the row, yeah! Yaaaarrrrn chicken...prayin' every step that my yarn will last the rep, yeah! Yaaaarrrrn Chickiiiiiiiiiiiin!🎵
My concern with swatching is that I’ll end up running out of yarn if I need it. Is there a rule of thumb how many stitches is recommended for each weight of yarn regardless of the needle size? My swatches are never the same width bc I’m never really sure how many I should cast on
I usually make about 6”x6” of swatch… at that size, the amount of yarn used is about the same as the cuff of a sweater. If I run out of yarn to do a cuff, then I can rip out my swatch and cannibalize the yarn. If I need more than that, I should have bought more yarn! Hope that helps. 😊
Personally, I usually cast on however many stitches my pattern (or if I'm not using a pattern, the yarn label) says it should take me to get to 4" on whatever needles are recommended. Usually that gets me pretty close to the intended gauge, since I don't have an especially tight or especially loose tension. I knit my in-the-round swatches with long floats in the back because it makes it easier to rip out and reuse the swatch yarn if I need it (though honestly i don't have to do that very often). I definitely rip out my swatches if they are very off-gauge or if I really dislike the intended fabric, because i would rather than yarn go to a productive use. I also save my swatches in a box so that I have a little bit of extra yarn in case I need to repair or darn an item later on.
I love your glass mug. Do you know where you got it?
Thank you! Yes! I just picked it up from Barnes and Noble. It’s a Paper Source product and I think they have them on their website.
I am curious. Is your gauge the same with both techniques? Or is there a discrepancy ?
I make a hat to do a gauge swatch for in the round.
This makes so much sense.
I haven't tested this, but knitting from right to left every alternate row would also avoid purling and not require floats at all. Someone new to knitting "backwards" might need a bit of practice to maintain tension in both directions, but that should be achievable; the issue with purling is that slightly more yarn is used to create the stitch. (It's been a while since I knitted backwards, and I did so to avoid turning a narrow scarf, but I certainly don't recall wonky tension; maybe it wasn't wide enough to show!)
oh my gosh! thank you!
You're welcome!! ❤️
Stupid question from a newish knitter: couldn't you just make a gauge swatch with 2 balls of the same yarn? One for each side?
As always, great information.
I think you would still end up with the yarn on the wrong side eventually. Because if you're mimicking knitting in the round, you don't want to have to purl. Sometimes (and depending on the knitter) the tension and gauge with purling is quite different.
You would still slide the stitches to the other end and then knit across...no purling. You just wouldn't have all those floats. Anyway,it was just a thought and something I will test when I have to make a swatch.
Thank you for your kind response ❤
@@divinelyengineered you are right! Hahaha. I didn't even have to try it, I just had to visualize the process. In that case, I will use the second method. I have made a few sweaters and have never made a gauge swatch and have had good luck--so far. Now that I am making gifts for others, I don't want to risk wrong sizes, especially since my sister's are 7000+ miles away.
I first seen this method almost two years ago, demo'd by Patty Lyons. Since then many others have demonstrated but not given credit to anyone.
The last time i did the first technique i was so mad at how sloppy it was that ripped it all out and made a whole hat just to swatch a stitch pattern for a sweater i want to make. Maybe next time i will try the second way lol
I have a confession 🙈I do not do gauge swatches. I really need to start though.
When you knit scarves it's not such a big deal. Or when you're okay with garments that don't fit.
The second method changes how you’re tensioning your yarn. Isn’t the going to change your gauge.
I call my gauge swatch a sweater…. By the time I get the shoulders done, I know if it’s right or not.
That's lots of work. Where knitting a 4 to 8 inch swatch is much less knitting time.
Do you then wash and block it to get a true measurement?
@@crystald3655 well I’m not usually off gauge, so it’s worth it to me. Everyone is different.
@@Katepwe no, I find that if it’s a more relaxed after I block it, so I don’t worry about it. No one here
Ike’s things to tight. I do tend to knit very tightly, and if I cable something it is perfect once I am done.
I love Roxanne instructional videos, thank you for sharing this information.
I’ve also seen a YT video of Mark Vogal demonstrating this “long loop” technique 😊
I haven’t had a chance to use it yet, but want to try it.