gauge: two many stitches per 4"

[quiltbugj]

I have gone as large as I can with the needles for a sweater I'm making. I'm getting 18 stitches/4" and the gauge is 16 sts/4". I'm going to risk it and go ahead anyway. Here's my question, because I jsut can't wrap my mind around it for some reason: do I follow directions for one size bigger or one size smaller to minimize the difference in gauge?

Thank you so much.

[redwitch]

Do you mean that you don't want to buy a size of needle you don't have? You have more stitches in the same space, so they are smaller, so you need more stitches than the pattern states, so a larger size. But I really recommend working out the maths. You don't know whether to go one size up, or two sizes, or inbetween, or what.
What measurement do you want at the bust/waist etc.? At 4.5spi, how many stitches will be required to make a piece of fabric that wide? That's the best number of stitches. Plus two for seams, if knitted flat and then sewn.

Sarah

[quiltbugj]

Thanks. No I just received my options, so I have different size needles! I can't go up in size because of the yarn I'm using. Thanks for your input.

Edited: I just did the math, I need to go up a size. Thanks so much for your quick response.