I am starting a new sweater and the yarn should have a gauge of 5-5.5 sts. per inch.

I knit loose or os it appears but I kind of disagree with this! However, I knitted several swatches in the round and I never go by needle size I get gauge and carry on. Even down to a size 3 needle was still not getting the right gauge. 4.625 sts. to an inch.

I casted on and this sweater will have a hem--I like hems they look nice on me! I like ribbing as well and may be pulling this out for ribbing---will see on this!

I put in some color work and low and behold all of a sudden I have 6 sts. to an inch urgh!!!!!!!!

Now I am kind of messing around and will most likely frog this thing in a few more inches.

I increased after the color work and will knit for a bit. Check the gauge again! I did put the knitting on two circulars and tried it on and what I have does fit fine but . . .

THE GAUGE is way off . . .

UGH venting over the lack of GUAGE!!!!!!!!!

To frog or not to frog . . .

Yes knitting is relaxing! Oh humbling craft that I love so much is driving me nuts!

Sorry to ask the obvious questions but was the gauge given for the stitch pattern? And are you using the yarn called for in the pattern? Even if you are using the same "weight" yarn, we all know that the weight can actually vary from yarn brand to yarn brand, and even among colors from the same brand.

As to getting a larger gauge with your color work, I am a lousy stranded color work knitter -- need to do a lot more practicing. I'm so afraid of pulling the yarn too tight across the back that I have loose, sloppy loops that I am sure affects gauge.

I think I would do the gauge swatch with the color work since having the correct gauge on that is probably important to making the pattern come out right. I tend to be fairly casual about gauge unless there is a pattern that would be affected by stitch count. By the way, years ago in VK Meg Swanson had an article on modifying patterns if you need to. I don't remember when, but they have a good index on line.

Thanks----I am going to keeping knitting as I am off to an in-service for our school district. We fly to another site and sleep in classrooms with our staff from 7 other schools sounds wonderful! So I have to have something to knit. I figure if I can get about 5 inches into the sweater and if it fits fine---The design is not going to be effective at all.

It is knitting in the round, norwegian sweater with snowflakes across the top so it is simple--I can mess with the design to make it work--but it will work out----

It is therapy knitting for sleeping with other couples on the floor of classroom and eating industrial school food for 4 days yikes! I love to camp but in a tent and outdoors---positive attitude and all I am trying to have----that is why I need to knit!

Doesn't making you sleep in a school room with a group of strangers for work purposes constitute cruel and unusual punishment?

I agree with KT-is this where the hazard pay applies? Knitski-the thing about knitting being relaxing-that's only AFTER you get gauge.

Funny--this is kind of a normal thing for us who teach off the road system here in Alaska. You can not get to any of our schools in this district which is the size of Minnesota unless you are in an airplane that is it! So we do these kind of things with out extra pay!

I actually love my job out here.

I am just knitting my sweater and will see after tomorrow if this is going to work---

I agree sheepish gauge and relaxing should not be used int he same sentence!

It kind of sounds like a professional pajama party to me. I am down in the big city for a week at a training as a Patient Navigator. So I too am away from my usual environs and sleeping on the floor of my son's apartment.
I found that if I thought about gauge swatches as the beginnings of nice bags for small gifts I got better results. Sounds like you got what you needed to get on with the sweater anyway

I tried on what I had knitted and well it fits with what ever gauge it is . . . I will not rip it out----I just keep knitting away!