How to measure a swatch

swatch, originally uploaded by steel breeze.

I photocopied both sides of my green ruler to illustrate measuring a swatch. You would knit 40 sts by 60 rows (I have left needle 21 out of work on both sides). You would then use the S side to measure stitches, and the R side to measure rows. You put the arrow base on one end, and read the number on the other side - this gives you sts or rows per 10cm

In this instance, the tension is 30 sts and 39 rows to 10cm. Normally you would take an average of 3 measurements each way, and your swatch would be pinned flat - this swatch is distorted because it has been taped down to a piece of paper.