Obtaining Gauge

[iamacellist]

I'm getting ready to start a sweater made from Tahki Cotton Classic. The pattern was done specifically for this yarn, so I thought obtaining gauge would be a cinch! I tried the pattern stitch on #6 needles as recommended. I'm supposed to get 28 stitches to 4 inches. I only got 24. I tried again with #5 needles. This time I got 26 stitches to 4 inches. Obviously, if I go down to #4, I'm probably going to get gauge. I am, however, a little concerned that I'm having to go down TWO needles sizes to do this. Should I be concerned? I've never had to adjust more than one size either way to get gauge. Anyone got any advice? Many thanks for your thoughts and experiences.

[Ingrid]

It could just be that the person who knit the sweater at that gauge is a loose knitter and you are a tighter knitter. As long as you like the fabric that the size 4 creates, then that's what's going to work.

Some people automatically have to go up or down 2 sizes for every pattern, so it's not an unusual thing.