Hi"

Ijust need to confirm the instructions for Swatch 1: Garter Stitch and Swatch 2: Stockinette Stitch. Do I need to make a 4" x 4" square, or does the swatch only need to be 4" high?

I've been trying to make a 4" x 4" square and after a few attempts have worked from #8 needles down to #3 needles. And even with the #3 needles the horizontal stitches equal to about 4 1/2"!

Thanking you in advance for any help you can give me.

Cheers,
FI Knitter

I haven't taken the Basics course, but I will ask this so you might be able to answer your own question.
Do the instructions tell you to cast on a set number of stitches, say 20 or 25? If so, then the width of the swatch doesn't matter. Or, do the instructions tell you to cast on enough stitches to create a swatch that is 4" wide? I suspect that you are casting on a set number, and your confusion stems from the so often stated direction in patterns to make a 4x4 swatch.
I'm also assuming you are using worsted weight yarn, since that seems to be the default yarn for most of the programs here. So use a needle size appropriate to the yarn size, like a 7 or 8.

Hi DianaD:

Thanks so much for your quick reply and your obvious understanding of my issues. Yes, the instructions requested that I CO 25 stitches. So it's great to know that the width of the swatch doesn't matter in this particular case. And you are correct, I was getting confused based on my past experience of making square swatches.

Thank you so much. Now I can start again and make up my swatches to send in for evaluation. I really want to take all the courses but had doubts when I couldn't even make the first required swatch.

Cheers,
Jo-Ann
FI Knitter

Not a problem. That's what this board and its members are here for. If you have any further confusion or questions, ask away. Someone here will surely answer.

I got the info in the mail yesterday for the Basics instruction course. This topic showed up at a perfect time for me. Thanks.

Feel free to ask questions. That's what this forum is for. It's better to ask a question and get an answer than to try to guess. After all, while no one wants to appear "stupid" by asking what they think might be a silly question, which is "stupider", to not ask or to ask and take the risk of looking silly? I'd personally rather ask a question! Because if someone was rude enough to tell you that was a dumb question, they would probably be ignored from now on. And besides, if you don't know the answer, you don't know. There is no shame in asking, just in being afraid to ask.