So many wonderful makes, real and imagined! Like you, I am a loose knitter (except on 2.25mm sock needles - go figure!) and here is something I have learned: If I swatch with my beloved Chiaogoos in the recommended needle size, my stitch gauge will be off, guaranteed. As you noted, dropping a needle size might fix the stitch gauge but will throw off the row gauge. BUT, if I switch to wooden needles in the lower size I will generally get the right stitch gauge and retain the row gauge of the larger metal needle. Not sure why - maybe the slight increase in friction on the wooden needles means the stitches can't be as tight? - but it works consistently for me.
So many wonderful makes, real and imagined! Like you, I am a loose knitter (except on 2.25mm sock needles - go figure!) and here is something I have learned: If I swatch with my beloved Chiaogoos in the recommended needle size, my stitch gauge will be off, guaranteed. As you noted, dropping a needle size might fix the stitch gauge but will throw off the row gauge. BUT, if I switch to wooden needles in the lower size I will generally get the right stitch gauge and retain the row gauge of the larger metal needle. Not sure why - maybe the slight increase in friction on the wooden needles means the stitches can't be as tight? - but it works consistently for me.