Measuring Knitting Progress Without a Measuring Tape

Often when I'm knitting, I find that I need to measure my progress but don't have a tape measure on hand. Whether I just don't want to break my rhythm and go looking for one in the house, or I'm in the car or traveling and one isn't available, I've found it useful to learn to measure my knitting without a tape measure. Measuring without a tape measure isn't just guessing, though I have been known to do that as well! No, measuring without a tape measure means using tools you always have around, your hands, and remembering specific measurements they can represent.

It's very useful to measure your hands, and remember what measurements they represent, so then you will always have a way to accurately approximate small measurements, even without your tape measure handy. For instance, I know that the first joint of my thumb, from the tip to the bend of the knuckle is just about one inch long. This is true for most adults and is a great reference, not just for knitting, but also for reading maps. My index finger is about three inches long, which also happens to be a good width for ribbing on sweaters and hats.

Specific items are also easily measured with my hands, so I don't need to always check with a ruler. For example, my hand is seven inches long from the heel to the tip of my middle finger, but this also happens to be a great height to make a hat before starting the top shaping decreases. I can happily knit a winter hat without a pattern by knitting around on a sixteen inch circular needle, making a 2x2 ribbing until it's as long as my index finger, then knitting going around and around in stockinette until the knitting is as long as my hand from the cast on edge, and making the decrease rounds to finish.

Socks are another item that I often knit, and using my hands to judge my progress gives me a very convenient way to know when to start shaping for heels and toes. Most patterns call for the toe shaping to start when the knitting from the heel measures an inch and a half to two inches less then the length of the foot. This measurement happens too also be the distance between the tip of my thumb and index finger when they are outstretched. The distance between my outstretched pinky finger tip and thumb is nine inches, which I've learned is a nice length of cuff for my taste, before beginning the heel flap on a sock.

By knowing the measurements of specific parts of my hands, I don't need to dig out my measuring tape as often while knitting, and can knit some items without a pattern. This is very useful to me, and it's convenient as well, since, of course, my hands are always right there and available while I'm knitting.