Well here is the deal I knitted up two swatches however not in the round. Got my gauge figured out so I thought.

I started a sleeve first to make sure that gauge was spot on!

Well you guessed it--it is not spot on at all!

I started a sleeve last week as our school had an inservice for a week and I thought that would be a better item to knit during the dreaded inservice!

Now instead of my 5.75 sts to an inch I have 6.5 sts to an inch!

At first I was wondering how to take care of the issue.

Then I realized it is a sleeve knit up the other sleeve check that gauge and see what one I like the best! Easy frog out the one that doesn't win and knit on!

Like my DH said last night, "Won't be the first time you have started over." Which I laughed at because how true is that statement!

With one sleeve just about done I will start another with the next size needles . . . with any luck rectify the problem!

Nancy, if you are knitting your sleeves in the round, have you compared a swatch knitted flat with a swatch knitted in the round to see what the difference is?

I am not surprised at the difference. When you knit stockinette "flat", you work one row of knit and one row of purl. For most knitters, the purl row tends to be just a smidgen looser, enough to make a change in your gauge. When knitting in the round creating stockinette by k only, many knitters tend to tighten up their stitches. If you are using dps, you may be doing it to keep the stitches solidly on the needles. No matter why; for most of us there IS a difference and I am so glad you discovered it before there was TOO much to unravel!

Strikker

Oh I know it is crazy! Swatch in the flat is NOT the same as the sleeve at all!

I am going to go up a needle size and start the other sleeve. I am actually glad as I want to change the color work on the sleeve I now have a better idea. This sweater is for me so I don't mind starting yet again and I am not in a rush since winter is here until April at least if not May.

I usually check the gauge about two inches into the stockinette on a sleave because It is so much less to rip if I am way off. another reason to knit the sleaves first.

The new sleeve or the left one is now much better and I even changed the color work and like it more. It is always amazing how mistakes lead to something better!

I second that notion. Mistakes are opportunities to improve. Sometimes I am overwhelmed by the opportunities I am given, but whatever. Stay well, S.