Needle size and gauge

[siercia]

Do anyone out here know if there's any rule of thumb guide for needle size and getting to gauge?

I'm working with yarn that should get 4.5 stitches to the inch on number 8 needles. When I did my swatch last night, I was at something like 5.6 stitches to the inch on number 8s. So clearly, in my mind, I need to go up more than one needle size (I think) to get up to gauge. But how many? I'm eyeing my 10 1/2s or 11s as possibility, but I don't want to waste an interminable about of time swatching. (Did I mention I hate swatching?)

Comments

I don't know of a formula...

[mamawrites.livejournal.com]

... but I'd try 11s, just because it sounds like you're still really far away from gauge. Are you normally that tight a knitter?

You can knit a swatch with several different needle sizes, without casting off and on again... just do a purl row after about 2 inches, and switch to the next larger or smaller needle, till you get gauge as you want it.