How to Choose a Room for Your Home Office

Your home office plays a major role in your comfort, productivity, and even your reputation, so choosing a room in which to build your home office is not a decision to take lightly. You’ll have plenty of time to make gradual adjustments to your office, like upgrading the furniture or painting the walls, but everything starts from the room in your house you choose to serve as your base of operations.
Which factors should you consider when selecting a home office room? And how should you make your final decision?
Factors to Consider
These are some of the most important factors to consider when evaluating the different rooms of your home:
Spaciousness. First, consider the amount of space you have to work with. For most professionals, a bigger office is better, since it provides for more flexibility—but you also don’t want to sacrifice the size of your living room or master bedroom to do it. If you’re not sure how much office space you need, start looking at office furniture from a vendor you trust. Look at the desk and chair options that most appeal to you, measure them, and imagine how they might fit into your desired space.
Positioning. One of the most important priorities to consider is positioning. If there are multiple rooms to choose from, think about the relative positioning of each room in your consideration. For example, would you prefer your office to be directly next to the kids’ playroom, which might be noisy, or next to the spare bedroom, which will usually be empty? Do you want your home office to be in the front or the back of the house? Do you want to have your office on the first floor or second floor? Some of these questions also play into accessibility, our next poin
Accessibility. It’s also a good idea to think about how easy it is to get entry to your office. If you plan on having clients or other guests regularly, you’ll want to make sure your office is easy to reach—like putting it on the first floor, next to the front door. Otherwise, you might optimize for privacy, keeping your office away from the main routes within your home.
Soundproofing. Your home office should be free from outside distractions, meaning a soundproofed or sound-resistant office would be ideal. Consider the acoustics of each room, and how they might affect your work. For example, enclosed rooms with no windows, like those in a finished basement, tend to be quieter than their counterparts. Additionally, you may wish to avoid rooms that are exposed to excessive noise, like if there’s a window facing a busy highway. You can always improve the soundproofing in a room later, but it’s helpful to get a strong start.
Window access. Looking out the window during a busy day can help you destress and relax your eyes, but it can also be a distraction. Consider whether you want your home office to have an available window.
Alternative functionality. Hopefully, you won’t be using your office for much longer than 40 hours per week. What function is the room going to serve in the meantime? You’ll want to think about the alternative functionality this room can have, like doubling as a home gym or as additional storage.
What to Do Next
What do you do after choosing a room to serve as your home office? That depends on your goals, your current assets, and how soon you need this room to be operational. For example, you might:
Shop for and purchase furniture. Many people choose to build their home office around the most ergonomically designed, comfortable furniture they can find. Accordingly, you might start shopping for (and purchasing) furniture as your first move.
Make adjustments to the room. You may also want to make adjustments to the room before you start building it out with furniture. For example, you might replace the flooring, install a new window, or paint the walls.
Invest in décor. The subjective design of your home office is something to seriously consider in addition to the placement of the room. You can make your office more productive and more inviting with things like bookshelves, houseplants, and art.
Set up a temporary workspace. If you need to start working from home immediately and you don’t have anything you need, you’ll have to set up a temporary workspace with whatever furniture you have on hand.
Over time, as you become better acquainted with your new work-from-home environment, you’ll be able to make smarter adjustments that support your comfort and productivity. Start with a strong foundation, and make iterative improvements as you get the chance. In time, you’ll build the workspace of your dreams.

Choosing the Right Cookware Material

Cookware comes in hundreds of shapes and sizes in order to perform the hundreds of different cooking tasks that take place in a kitchen each working week. But it isn’t just the shape and size that needs to be looked at, the material also plays a huge part in a pans performance.
Aluminium Pans
Aluminium is still a firm favourite in the kitchen due to the fact that it is cheap, doesn’t corrode and is a great conductor of heat. It is these combinations that makes aluminium a good pan for boiling and on cost grounds is suitable for very big pans such as stockpots. While there are many advantages to aluminium, there are also disadvantages like any material. Aluminium can react with acidic food to give flavour taint; it also can’t be used on induction hobs and is prone to sticking when food is fried. While cheap aluminium pans are made from a single sheet of metal, the best professional aluminium pans have a thicker base to spread the heat more evenly. Medium-duty aluminium pans with a base thickness of 3mm to 4mm are suitable for open-top cooking ranges, but with the more intense heat of a solid-top range or for hard use, a heavy-duty pan with a base of 7mm will perform better.
Stainless Steel Pans
Stainless steel is an alloy of metals including steel, carbon and chromium, and have risen in popularity with hotels and restaurants. This is because it doesn’t tarnish, it is easy to clean, hygienic, hard-wearing, has a non-reactivity with either alkaline or acidic foods. It is also less prone to sticking than other metals. As with aluminium, the base of the pan will be layered; this normally takes the form of a three-layer sandwich with stainless steel on the bottom, aluminium in the middle to give good conductivity and stainless steel on top. Some top of the range pans will have up to seven sandwich layers.
Cast Iron Pans
Cast iron cookware is perfect for a wide range of cooking applications, from searing steaks to frying meats and vegetables. Cast iron can withstand extremely high temperatures and has excellent heat retention properties, making it an efficient and practical material for use in commercial and domestic kitchens. Cast iron was commonly used in the 20th century, but its popularity fell during the 1950’s due to the introduction of cheaper materials and synthetic non-stick coatings, such as aluminium. However, the potential, quality and durability that cast iron has to offer has seen its popularity and use rise year-on-year since, with it becoming the go-to choice for many amateur and professional chefs. A non-stick coating is achieved by seasoning the pan with oils, which also makes it a healthier option as there are no chemicals used to create the non-stick surface.
Copper Pans
Copper pans have always been a popular choice for their attractive appearance and ease of control thanks to their excellent conductivity. The traditional construction would be copper for the conductivity lined with tin to protect the food from contamination from the copper. These days, copper pans will be found lined with stainless steel as it provides the conductivity with the style of copper. One downside of copper pans is their solid metal handles, which can get far hotter than the tubular handles found on stainless steel or aluminium cookware.
Non-stick pans
Non-stick pans are a must in any kitchen as they are perfect for frying delicate foods like fish. Care needs to be taken with non stick as the coating can be damaged if not properly cared for. The two main causes of damage to the non-stick coating are using metal utensils and overheating. While normal frying is done at 200°C, flash frying over a fierce heat can send the base temperature over 250°C causing splitting.
Tri wall pans
Tri Wall cookware is constructed with multiple layers on metal that work together to increase heat conduction, spread heat evenly. As the name suggests, Tri Wall cookware is made from 3 layers; a layer of aluminium sandwiched between an outer layer of brushed stainless steel and an inner layer of polished stainless steel. This is called Thermocore and makes the pans extremely good at conducting heat whilst remaining easy to clean and safe for all foods.

5 Pieces of Furniture to Gain Space in the Living Room

A small room that is spacious and airy. It seems like a dream, right? Actually, making the right decisions when planning, furnishing, and decorating will make it look bigger than it is. When choosing furniture, do it with your head: think about the space you have, measure well, and assess your needs. Do not get carried away by bargains or a whim without checking if that piece fits in your living room. It is the ‘A-Team’ of small classrooms. If you are looking to get the most out of space, this furniture will solve many of your problems.

  1. SHELF AND BASE UNIT
    They are best for small classrooms. They help maintain order and have storage without reloading the room, for example by placing baskets underneath. With a shelf of sufficient size, covering the wall from side to side, it will seem that the living room is much larger. And painted the same color as the walls, it will be even lighter.
    It is usually a very wasted space in our houses. And we don’t use it much either. Put the piece of furniture low at the foot of the window and you will have created a very cozy corner with an extra space in which to store blankets, shoes, or bags.
  2. A CORNER OR ‘L’ SOFA
    The corner sofas are the best solution to enjoy the comfort and a large number of seats, also taking advantage of the space. It can function as a room divider and, if it is the same color as the wall, it will lose visual weight – essential in a small room. To make the set lighter, choose a light coffee table and space will appear larger.
  3. THE COFFEE TABLE, NEST TYPE OR BUILT-IN
    They are very decorative, but if they stand out for something, it is for their functionality. You can fit them together so they take up less space. And, when you need it, you can move them freely according to your needs.
  4. A LOW CABINET FOR TELEVISION
    Whether we like it or not, television occupies a predominant place in the living room. To avoid that their presence is more striking than necessary, place a low cabinet. It does not need to be very striking and much less large, as it will eat up the space.
  5. SHELVES THAT MERGE ALONG THE WALL
    Painted the same tone as the wall or as a niche, as if standing out. Shelves will seem to blend discreetly and decoratively with the wall. Also, it is another way to dress the wall of the sofa.

The best glasses for your face shape and skin tone

Why do some eyeglasses look attractive on display in the optical shop, but not so great when you try them on?
It could be that the frames are the wrong style for your face shape. Your face shape plays a significant role in whether a certain style of glasses will look good on you.
What is my face shape?
To determine your face shape and which eyeglass styles will look best on you, pull your hair away from your face and look directly into a mirror. Take a close look at the overall shape and contours of your face and head.
Here are the seven primary face shapes and the type of eyeglass frames that look best on each shape:
Oval face shape
An oval face shape is considered to be ideal because of its balanced proportions.
To maintain the natural balance of an oval face shape, look for eyeglass frames that are as wide as (or wider than) the broadest part of the face.
Walnut-shaped frames that are not too deep or narrow are a very good choice.
Heart-shaped face
A heart-shaped face has a wide top third and a narrow bottom third.
To reduce the apparent width of the top of the face, choose frame shapes that are wider at the bottom. Thin, light-colored frames and rimless frames that have a light, airy appearance also are good choices.
Oblong face shape
An oblong face shape is longer than it is wide and has a long, straight cheek line.
To make an oblong face appear shorter and more balanced, try frames that have more depth than width.
Frames with decorative or contrasting temples also add width to the face.
Square face shape
A square face shape has a strong jaw and a broad forehead, and the width and length of the face have roughly the same proportions.
To make a square face look longer and soften its angles, try narrow frame styles, frames that have more width than depth, and narrow ovals.
Diamond face shape
Diamond-shaped faces are narrow at the forehead and jawline, and have broad cheekbones that may be high and dramatic. This is the rarest face shape.
To highlight the eyes and soften the cheekbones, try frames that have detailing or distinctive brow lines. Rimless eyeglasses and frames with oval or cat-eye shapes also can be good choices.
Round face shape
A round face shape has curved lines with the width and length in the same proportions and no angles.
To make a round face appear thinner and longer, try angular narrow eyeglass frames to lengthen the face.
Frames with a clear bridge and rectangular frames that are wider than they are deep also can be good choices.
Base-down triangle
A base-down triangular face shape has a narrow forehead and widens at the cheek and chin areas.
To add width and emphasize the narrow upper third of the face, try frames that are heavily accented with color and detailing on the top half (brow) of the frame.
Skin tones, eye color and hair color
When choosing eyeglasses, face shape isn’t the only factor that determines which frames will look best on you — your skin tone, eye color and hair color also play important roles.
The best eyeglasses will complement the coloration of your face, eyes and hair.
Skin tone
Regardless of the color of your skin, skin tones are categorized as either “cool” or “warm.”
A cool complexion has blue or pink undertones, and a warm complexion has a “peaches and cream” or yellow cast. Olive skin is considered cool because it is a mixture of blue and yellow.
Eye color
Eye colors usually are a secondary element in determining your coloring because of the many variations of eye color.
For example, blue eyes can range from a cool almost-violet to a pale blue-gray, which is warm. Brown eyes can vary from a light cider shade (warm) through a medium-brown to a cool almost-black.
Hair color
Hair colors also are considered warm or cool. Strawberry blond, platinum, blue-black, white, auburn, salt-and-pepper and ash brown are cool. Warm hair colors include golden blond, brownish black, brown-gold and “dirty gray.”
Eyeglass frame colors
Once you have determined if you are “warm” or “cool,” then you can find the eyeglass frame colors that will suit you the best.
Examples of frame colors best for warm coloring are: camel, khaki, gold, copper, peach, orange, coral, off-white, fire-engine red, warm blue and blond tortoise.

Eyewear Trends To Get You Seeing 2020 in Style

Premium optical brands are focusing on quality materials and elegant classic design with eyewear style trends in 2020. If you are shopping the luxury high-end side of the market, eyeglass frames are becoming more intricately detailed: lots of clean lines, mixed with filigree and more exotic materials. But done subtly is the secret.

  1. Seeing New Tints in Translucent Frames
    Translucent frame colors are clear winners. While untinted clear still remains this season, it’s the crystal tints in burgundy, grey, rose, champagne, citrine, green, and browns that are currently catching eyes. The best designs pair the translucent frames with steel and titanium plated in light gold, silver, or gunmetal that’s shiny, or with a brushed patina. These translucent frames almost act as a neutral, and pair well with most outfits: a great classic to have in your wardrobe.
  2. Combination Material Frames go Thin or Bold
    The combination-material vibe stays steady for 2019, but is being combined with exceptionally thin or thick bold looks. Middle-of-the-road constructions are starting to feel bland. Look for very thin translucent acetate combined with thin titanium temples and/or bridge for an on point look. To stand out, spend a little extra and go with higher quality manufacturing. You’ll get thinner frames and more finely-tooled details. Pair these thin frames with a sunglass clip for a functional, on-trend look. Conversely, select a very thick full acetate frame, but not in black—go with crystal pinks, champagne, burgundy and greens. If you go heavier/bold, look for frames with details like sculpted facets, steps, and textures. With these bold looks, don’t go oversize. A tailored fit is best.
  3. Lens Shapes Turn a Corner
    When it comes to eyewear shapes, the style trends stay round, or are deep squares. Thick rectangles are still out. Aviators in both metal and acetate are still in, but this season only in the round lens shape, not teardrop. The retro 70s teardrop styles of a few years ago are feeling dated. The trend now is the round aviator, although not perfectly round. This subtle shape change, make all the difference.
  4. Lens Treatments & Eyeglass Lens Trends
    IN: Lens Wash
    A light lens tint or “lens wash” has been on trend for a few seasons now and is still going strong. This subtle lens color airs more on the “cool factor” or fashion side of things than for function or sun coverage. Most tints will still have UV/UB protection in them but it won’t really help diminish glare like polarized lenses can. The light tinted lenses bring an extra pop to your frames, and you can wear them indoors because your eyes will still be visible.
    IN: Blue Light Filter
    The blue light filter lens or “computer lens” has been a hot topic this season. Many people are reaching for this lens to help reduce the blue light glare caused by your computer, cell phone or other devices and the sun. This lens has an extra filter imbedded that will help relax your eyes and reduce strain.
    OUT: Flat-based Lenses
    These almost look like a mirror, because the lenses are perfectly flat. These, along w/ bright mirrored lenses, are now dated.
  5. Sunglass Trends
    2020 is a mix of multiple decades of style trends when it comes to eyewear: hyper trends that may not last, runway trends, and decade trends. Hyper trends are typically dispensed by lower quality brands trying to churn out the glasses as quickly as possible using the cheapest material and labor available. Runway trends have a bit more longevity, and will last through multiple seasons or a few years. Decade trends are more of your classic styles that stand the test of time and avoid short term trend waves.

Glasses for square faces

It’s hip to be square. And it shows in the wide range of eyeglasses available that complement a square-shaped face. Round and oval glasses are the best choice for people with square faces. These frames will soften and balance your strong jawline and add contrast to your face shape.
Whether you choose round frames for a polished look or go vintage with a pair of browline glasses, your features work best with dark colors and bold styles. But avoid square or rectangular glasses, as they will emphasize the angles of your face. Adding even more angles to your strong and proportioned face can make your face look too wide and rigid.
What is my face shape?
A square face shape has a strong, horizontal jawline, a broad forehead and balanced cheekbones. If this description fits your face, then you are in luck. There are many different eyeglasses styles that will highlight your strong features.
How to pick the right glasses frame for your face
Round glasses
Round frames are a sophisticated, polished look that works well with a square face shape. Try jet black for a modern aesthetic. Or, opt for tortoiseshell frames if you are looking for something more classic. No matter what color you go for, this style works beautifully with a square face shape.
Browline glasses
Channel your inner “Madmen” with a pair of vintage browline glasses. These frames are thicker at the top, mimicking the way the eyebrows frame the face. Their unique design is one of the most flattering choices for square faces.
Oval glasses in a bright color
The best glasses for square faces will soften your strong angles, and oval frames succeed at balancing your face and minimizing your strong features. Look for a pair with some color to make a bold statement.
If you have a square face, you can afford to be adventurous with your eyewear choices. However, there are still some things to keep in mind before you make your selection. It’s best to avoid rectangular or square frames in light colors. Remember to choose frames that balance and contrast your strong features.

Perfect glasses frames for low nose bridges

Do your eyeglasses slide down your nose or rest too heavily on your cheeks? You may have a low nose bridge.
Whether you pick horn-rimmed, Wayfarer or rectangular eyeglasses, there are plenty of stylish frames specially designed to rest easier on your face. And, you can say “buh-bye” to sliding glasses when you pick the best glasses for your unique features.
LOOKING FOR GLASSES FOR LOW NOSE BRIDGES? Find an eyewear store near you.
Do I have a low nose bridge?
If the bridge of your nose aligns with or just below your pupils, you have a low nose bridge. People with low nose bridges may also have higher cheekbones.
How to pick the right glasses frames for your face
Horn-rimmed frames
Add a touch of geek-chic to your everyday wardrobe when you don a pair of horn-rimmed glasses. You’ll be in good company: Actors Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt have both been photographed in horn rims.
Wayfarer frames
Popularized by the 1983 movie, “Risky Business,” Wayfarers are a mainstay among stars ranging from Madonna and Debbie Harry to Elvis Costello and Jack Nicholson. The trapezoidal frames rest easy on low nose bridges while adding definition to cheekbones.
Rectangular frames
Just about anyone can rock a pair of rectangular frames, which is a good thing for those with low nose bridges. Rectangular frames add angle to rounder cheeks with a low profile that’s perfect for any style pairing. Emma Stone and Prince William are among famous rectangular jet-setters.
A low nose bridge is nothing to look down at. In fact, you benefit from a bevy of stylish frame options. Take your pick from a selection of curated low-bridge glasses and benefit from better comfort to boot.
While you’re searching for the perfect pair of glasses, make sure you also select the right size according to your pupillary distance and temple width.

What Are the Differences Between Hanks, Skeins, and Balls of Yarn?

You’ve finally decided to take up knitting! Congratulations, you can now count yourself among an ever-growing creative community of novice, amateur, and professional crafters. Learning how to knit is relatively easy and does not require much in the way of tools and materials, but you do need to know a little bit about yarn or, more specifically, how yarn is packaged and presented for sale either online or in store.
According to Debrah Engstrom, owner of Knit Shoppe LLC, in Mamoroneck, New York, the three most common types are skeins (which is pronounced to rhyme with “rains”), balls, and hanks. In her years of experience with knitters at her shop, Engstrom has found that this important detail often goes unconsidered. “Rarely are they buying the yarn based on how it’s wound or wrapped,” she says. “They’re usually buying the yarn based on the color and the texture.” What are the differences between them, you ask? We’ve broken it down for you as well as given you some tips on how to determine which form of yarn is best for you. Once you get these yarn basics down, you’re sure to be on a roll.
Hank
In a hank, the yarn is rolled into a big circle then folded into itself. Typically, a hank of yarn must be wound into a ball of yarn before it can be used. To create a ball from a hank of yarn, you can try using a swift in combination with a ball winder-the swift allows the yarn to be pulled freely as it’s umbrella-like shape holds the hank and winds the yarn into the ball; meanwhile, the ball winder (which is typically shaped like a spindle) clamps onto the edge of a table and holds the yarn. A friend’s pair of arms will also do to hold the hank while you wind it into a ball. Hand-dyed and artisanal yarns are usually treated and sold in hanks, as they display color better.
Skein
In a skein, the yarn is rolled into a loose, oblong-shaped twist. Pull skeins, wherein the yarn is pulled out of the middle, are most beginner-friendly. Once you find the end, you can cast on and start to knit right away. Skeins are typically measured in yards and meters, and weighed in ounces and grams. In the United States, yarn is mostly sold by weight. Most yarns from big brands are sold in this form. In some circles, “skein” is used to refer to “one unit” of yarn. When most people attempt to conjure up an image of yarn in their mind’s eye, it’s the skein that usually pops up.
Ball
In a ball, the yarn is rolled into a sphere-shaped mass or round shape. With balls, the yarn end is usually pulled from the outside, but sometimes can be pulled from the inside. When forming yarn into a ball, it is recommended that you wind gently so as not to stretch the yarn too much, and wash your knitting upon completion to re-fluff the yarn. A ball winder can assist you in creating the perfect yarn ball, or you can create a ball by hand with relative ease.
How to Choose
Simply put, whether you decide to use yarn rolled in a skein or a hank, it ends up in the form of a ball. If you want ready-to-knit yarn, balls are best. You can begin a project from a skein of yarn, but ultimately you will need to roll your de-structured and shapeless skein of yarn into a ball. Hanks have it the hardest in terms of usability-whereas visually they are the most interesting and appealing, to use them, they must first be wound into a tangle-free ball.
It is recommended that you decide on the project you are going to undertake before you purchase any yarn. It might be a good idea to browse some online stores or visit a local arts and crafts shop to sample the different selections and get inspired. In the knitting world, it’s not uncommon for someone to fall in love with the yarn first, then figure out what they want to create with it after-in fact, the more advanced you become in your practice, the more inclined you most likely will become to kicking of a new project with the yarn selection.

How to Use Circular Knitting Needles

It’s time to add a new, versatile tool to your knitting: circular needles. What makes them different from straight needles or double-pointed needles? Circular needles have pointed tips and come attached with a length of smooth nylon or plastic cord. Because circular needles allow the weight of the work to rest in your lap (rather than on the needles) they put less strain on the hands, wrists, and shoulders. (This is especially helpful when you’re working on heavyweight garments like sweaters, vests, and chunky-style cardigans.) If you like to knit while traveling-a commute on the train or a trip by flight-they’re convenient because they eliminate the risk of dropping a needle mid-transit.
You have two common techniques when knitting on circular needles: join the work to make tubular pieces or work each row back and forth to make rectangular pieces. While they are most intended for knitting in the round, you can easily adapt circular needles for flat knitting by turning your work at the end of each row. The benefit of using circular needles for flat knitting is that it distributes the weight of your knit piece, especially when you’re working with a high number of stitches.
Circular needles come with sharp pointed tips (for detail-oriented lace knitting) up to rounded tips (for bulky-style projects). The needle cables can range from 9 inches up to more than 40 inches. Interchangeable needles can be attached and detached from a set of cables, allowing you to customize knitting to practically any size and length. These should attach firmly to the cord without unscrewing and coming loose. Many sets of interchangeable needles have connectors so that you can further extend the length of your knitting for items like bed-size blankets. Just remember that the length of your circular needles should be smaller than the diameter of the tube you are knitting. Otherwise, the stitches will stretch as you knit.
When choosing circular needles, pay close attention to the join-this is the area where the needle shafts meet the cord. A roughness here can cause stitches to snag, slow down your knitting, and shred your yarn. A cord should be strong enough to support the weight of your knit piece while flexible enough to allow your stitches to move smoothly without kinks. (Here’s a Good Thing: If the cable on your needles becomes coiled too tightly, try soaking it in warm water to relax the kinks.) Some circular needles swivel at the join, which eliminates this problem altogether.
How to Knit with Circular Needles
Cast on the stitches, distributing them evenly. The last cast-on stitch is the last stitch of the round. Place a marker here to indicate the end of the round. In doing this, be sure to keep your stitches even and do not twist them. If the stitches become twisted, the knit fabric will become twisted and once you’ve completed the first round, you will have to undo all of your work to straighten them. Work until you reach the marker again; this completes the first round. Slip the marker to the right needle and work the next round.
Some prefer to knit smaller pieces with two circular needles as an alternative to double-pointed needles. In this method, you cast on the number of stitches as required by your project and slip half of them to the second needle, then slide the stitches to the opposite ends of your needles and join to begin knitting in the round.
Magic Loop is a technique for knitting in the round that avoids the use of double-pointed needles. Using longer-than-average circular needles, you can knit smaller items like socks, sleeves, and mittens. This method is usually done with a circular needle cable that is 29 inches or longer, although the ideal needle should measure up to four times the size of your project. You can even knit a pair of socks or sleeves at the same time.

How to Measure Your Knitting Gauge with a Swatch

It’s an important step if you want your knitting project to come out just right.
Knitters are not all alike. Ask two people to knit the same pattern with the same pair of needles and yarn, and you will find that their work is a signature imprint of themselves. Some of us are loose and relaxed, so our knitting is loose. Others are tense and taut, so our knitting is tense and taught.
Gauge resolves our differences. It’s also the first step of any knitting project to ensure that the dimensions of your finished piece will be correct. This is the number of stitches and rows per inch using a particular stitch, weight of yarn, needle size, and how you control them together. Typically, the gauge is given for a four- or six-inch square. In most gauges, the number of stitches per inch is less than the number of rows per inch. (For example, five stitches may equal one horizontal inch, whereas six rows may equal one vertical inch.) To determine the number of stitches you need to cast on for six inches of knitting length, multiply the number of stitches in one inch of knitting (specified by your instructions) by six. So, for our basic scarf project, which specifies four stitches per inch, you will need to cast on 24 stitches.
Consider yarn substitutions: A different yarn can affect the gauge as well as produce a different texture, especially with bouclé and mohair. Even gauges using the same weight of yarn may differ from color to color. The type of needle you choose can alter the gauge as well. You may obtain a different gauge using metal needles as opposed to bamboo or acrylic ones. That’s why it’s crucial to use the same yarn and needles for your swatch as you do for your project. Each knitter also has a different way of controlling the yarn, so be mindful of how you hold the needles, style of knitting, and the tension in your hands. All of these factors combined will affect the produced swatch.
How to Knit a Gauge Swatch
In a knitting pattern, the gauge will read something like this, “13 stitches equal 4 inches in stockinette stitch.” Using the needles and yarn suggested, cast on the number of stitches required to get at least four inches. Frequently, this is stockinette stitch. However, follow accordingly if a more specific pattern stitch is suggested. If you are knitting many different stitch patterns in one garment, make one large swatch that incorporates all of the stitch patterns. Instead of casting off the last row of your swatch, place it on a stitch holder before removing the needles. This is because casting off will pull in your top stitches and change the size of your swatch. Note that this process is different for knitting in the round. To make an accurate swatch for circular knitting, you must knit every row (and not purl) with double-pointed needles.
How to Measure Your Gauge
Check your gauge by measuring the swatch. Since the stitches at the edges tend to curl inward or become misshapen, we recommend blocking the swatch before measuring it. Measure using a roll of measuring tape or stitch gauge tool. If you use measuring tape, measure just the inner four inches of the swatch. Place the tape parallel to a row of stitches, and count how many stitches fall within these inner four inches, including half stitches. Divide this number by four, and compare it with the specified gauge (four stitches to one inch). If you use a stitch gauge, position it in the center of the swatch, and count the stitches and rows inside the window cut-out.
If your gauge matches accurate measurements, proceed with your knitting. If your gauge doesn’t match, try knitting another one with a different needle size. If your swatch is too small, then try larger needles. If it’s too large, then try smaller needles. Label each swatch with the needle size, number of stitches, and gauge to keep in a knitter’s journal for future reference. Just remember that if you do not achieve the exact gauge, you will be changing the size, texture, and overall feel of your custom knit piece.