What is a Yarn Combination and Guages Chart?
When you knit from a pattern, it will tell you the gauge (also called tension) the designer used—usually written as the number of stitches and rows over a 10 cm / 4" square.
This gauge is important because it helps ensure your finished item ends up the right size.
The chart from Knitting for Olive shows you which yarn combinations and needle sizes typically produce specific gauges.
In other words, it helps you answer the question:
“What yarn thickness and needle size should I use if I need to reach this gauge?”
Here’s how to think about it:
Each row in the chart lists different yarn combinations (for example, a single strand of Merino, or Merino + Soft Silk Mohair).
Each combination tends to produce a certain gauge range, depending on the needle size you choose.
By finding your pattern’s gauge in the chart, you can see which yarns and needles are likely to get you close.
You still need to knit a swatch to check, but the chart gives you a reliable starting point so you don’t have to guess.
Knitting for Olive - Yarn Combinations and Gauges Chart
|
Gauge (10x10cm or 4x4”) |
Yarn |
Needle Size |
| 28 sts and 38 rows |
1 strand Merino 1 strand Pure Silk 1 strand Cotton Merino 1 strand No Waste Wool 2 strands Compatible Cashmere 2 strands Soft Silk Mohair |
3 mm I US 2.5 3 mm I US 2.5 3 mm I US 2.5 3 mm ;-us 2.5 3 mm I US 2.5 3 mm I US 2.5 |
| 21 sts and 33 rows |
2 strands Merino 2 strands Pure Silk- 2 strands Cotton Merino 2 strands No Waste Wool 2 strands Soft Silk Mohair 1 strand Merino + 1 strand Pure Silk 1 strand Merino + 1 strand Cotton Meri"no 1 strand Merino + 1 strand No Waste Wool 1 strand Merino + 1 strand Soft Silk Mohair 1 strand Merino + 1 strand Compatible Cashmere 1 strand Pure Silk+ 1 strand Cotton Merino 1 strand Pure Silk+ 1 strand No Waste Wool 1 strand Pure Silk+ 1 strand Soft Silk Mohair 1 strand Pure Silk+ 1 strand Compatible Cashmere 1 strand Cotton Merino + 1 strand No Waste Wool 1 strand Cotton Merino + 1 strand Soft Silk Mohair 1 strand Cotton Merino + 1 strand Compatible Cashmere 1 strand No Waste Wool + 1 strand Soft Silk Mohair 1 strand No Waste Wool + 1 strand Compatible Cashmere |
4 mm I US 6 4 mm I US 6 4 mm I US 6 4 mm I US 6 4 mm I US 6 4 mm I US 6 4 mm I US 6 4 mm I US 6 4 mm I US 6 4 mm I US 6 4 mm I US 6 4 mm I US 6 4 mm I US 6 4 mm I US 6 4 mm I US 6 4 mm I US 6 4 mm/ US 6 4 mm I US 6 4 mm I US 6 |
|
20 sts and 29 rows |
2 strands Merino 2 strands Pure Silk 2 strands Cotton Merino 2 strands No Waste Wool 2 strands Soft Silk Mohair "· 1 strand Merino + 1 strand Pure Silk 1 strand Merino+ 1 strand Cotton Merino 1 strand Merino + 1 strand No Waste Wool 1 strand Merino + 1 stra·nd Soft Silk Mohair 1 strand Merino + 1 strand Compptible Cashmere 1 strand Pure Silk+ 1 strand Cotton Me-rino 1 strand Pure Silk+ 1 strand No Waste Wool 1 strand Pure Silk+ 1 strand Soft Silk Mohair 1 strand Pure Silk+ 1 strand Compatible Cashmere 1 strand Cotton Merino + 1 strand No Waste-Wool 1 strand Cotton Merino + 1 strand Soft Silk Mohair 1 strand Cotton Merino + 1 strand Compatible Cashmere 1 strand No Waste ·Wool + 1 strand Soft Silk Mohair 1 strand No Waste Wool +-1 strand Compatible Cashmere |
4.5 mm I US 7 4.5 mm I US 7 4.5 mm I US 7 4.5 mm I US 7 4.5 mm I US 7 4.5 mm I US 7 4.5 mm I US 7 4.5 mm I US 7 4.5 mm I US 7 4.5 m·m I US 7 4.5 mm I US 7 4.5 mm I US 7 4.5 mm I US 7 4.5 mm I US 7 4.5 mm I US 7 4.5 mm I US 7 4.5 mm I US 7 4.5 mm I US 7 4.5 mm I US 7 |
|
19 sts and 29 rows |
1 strand Heavy Merino |
4 mm I US 6 |
|
18 sts and 27 rows |
1 strand Heavy Merino |
4.5 mm I US 7 |
|
15 sts and 20 rows |
1 strand Heavy Merino + 1 strand Soft Silk Mohair 1 strand Heavy Merino + 1 strand Compatible Cashmere 1 strand Heavy Merino + 1 strand Merino 2, 3 eller 4 strand Soft Silk Mohair
|
6 mm I US 10 6 mm I US 10 6 mm I US 10 6 mm I US 10 |