1. Create the test swatch

The first thing to do is to knit a small swatch (sometimes called a tension square) using the yarn and needles which you intend to use for the main garment. That's right, a test swatch, an often-overlooked requirement!

1. Cast on enough stitches to make at least 15 cm width of knitting. The exact number does not really matter.
2. Now knit enough rows to make at least 15 cm of fabric.
3. Cast off. Your test swatch is completed but not blocked.

2. Block the test swatch

Blocking is the term given to pressing or otherwise setting your work to prevent it from distorting. Depending on your material, blocking can be a simple process. Here is one method which works with Marlyn Alpaca and most natural fibres:

1. Pin the test swatch to an ironing board, ensuring that it is square and not distorted.
2. Spray lightly with water.
3. Leave it to dry (could be overnight).
4. When it is dry, your test swatch is blocked and should be stable.

It is a good idea to label your test swatch with details of the yarn, needle size (hand knit) or tension settings (machine knit).

3. Measure the test swatch

Measuring the number of stitches per 10 cm of fabric gives you a good idea as to how many stitches and rows you will need for your garment.

1. Using a flat rule, place it across the test swatch so you can see a 10 cm portion in the middle of the knitting. Make sure the knitting is not stretched or distorted. Write down how many stitches you can count in the 10 cm portion. Near enough is OK.
2. Rotate the rule now so it is going down the work, and count how many rows you see in a 10 cm portion of the middle of the work. Again near enough is OK.

4. Now make your graph paper

Now that you have the number of stitches and rows for a 10 cm portion of knitted fabric, we can insert those values into the form above and generate a sheet of graph paper which has been customised for your fabric.

There are some additional options that you may find useful such as sheet size, whether you want a darker line every 10 stitches and rows, and whether you want the graph paper as a printable PDF file or whether you intend to do something else with it such as edit your picture onto it, which will be an SVG file.