Exploring Gauge in Different Knitted Fabrics

Jill has several swatches to compare. They are:

• Stockinette stitch
• 1×1 (knit 1 stitch, purl 1 stitch) ribbing
• English rib
• Seed stitch
• Garter stitch
• Garter stitch with elongated stitches

All the swatches are 15 stitches wide and worked over 20 rows. She compares the swatches to the Stockinette stitch swatch, as Stockinette stitch is the most common knitting fabric, and often the gauge on a knitting pattern is listed in this stitch pattern. Depending on the stitch construction of each stitch pattern, the fabric swatches are different sizes from the original Stockinette stitch swatch. Jill explains how the stitches affect the size. This is an important consideration when working a knitting project, because changing a stitch pattern can significantly change the size of the finished piece.