Gauge magnifiers, like this KnitPicks View Sizer (available in the UK through Get Knitted) not only make your stitches bigger, but also show you exactly where to measure to and from.
If we zoom in closer, you can see exactly how it works. Of course, it's not blurry when you look at it in real life!
The red line marks out a 4in (10cm) length and there's a ruler in case you're swatching to a different size, such as stitches per inch. The magnifier makes it ease to see the stitches in fine yarns and is combined with a needle sizer, making this a great multi-purpose tool to have in your knitting bag.
4 Tips for Getting the Right Tension
- Do a tension square or swatch. Make sure it's as close to the pattern as possible - your tension may change if you use DPNs or circular needles rather than straights, or if you're knitting Fair Isle patterns or in the round.
- Measure both stitches and rows. Many patterns are fairly forgiving of problems with row tension and instruct you to 'continue until the work measures 4in (10cm)' or similar, but it's good to know ahead of time.
- Measure your tension after you've started knitting. You'd be surprised how many people's tension changes once they've cast on for real.
- If your garment needs blocking, knit the back or front and block it before knitting the rest. It's worth the effort to catch any problems early.
