The issue of gauge---knitting gauge that is

At every knit-one-one class the teachers talk about gauge. Even in the beginning knitting class Kate emphasizes its importance and makes the fledgling knitters do a gauge swatch. Kira, Kate and Julie always ask me to mention to students that they should bring a gauge swatch to class---which I do---good Sile! Kira even wants me to have a phrase on the studio walls about the importance of the gauge swatch---which I will---in time.

If you remain unconvinced of the importance of THE GAUGE SWATCH,---just look at the 2 pics above. Next weekend Kate will be teaching this adorable little hoody and a few weeks ago she knit up the blue and red cutie. Then she liked it so much that she knit up the other using yarn from her stash. (She doesn't have the nickname Speedy Needle Freeman for nothing!) She used the same pattern, cast on the same number of stitches but.....different yarn and different needles. And just look at the variation in sizes. One is for a little baby and the other is for a far older, chunkier child. So gauge does matter---really it does.

A few weeks ago at a knit-out, one of our knitters--- who will remain nameless---was not getting the correct gauge for a sweater she was going to knit-- she thought it didn't really matter. We quickly disabused her of this notion---but of course--- and convinced her to go down a needle size. We hope she remembers us when her sweater is finished and actually fits her!