So needle gauge in the case of what you are knitting is the constant for determining how the cable pattern stays within a set measurement. If you go with a gauge different than what the designer recommends (going with the cable stitch instead of the seed stitch) your size and dimension will be off.

cable stitch. The size of the needle is one of the constants to diminish the variables in figuring out the size. Here's two pics. The intricate design included an increase of 20 stitches, while the minimalist only required the increase of 5 stitches to maintain the 12x12 size.

stitches (to account for how cables take in the the width of the square). For the more minimalist cable patterns I may increase a much fewer number of stitches or none at all. What the designer understands is that to maintain the overall 12x12 size, more stitches are required in an intricate

border, but then almost every design requires me to increase a set number of stitches before starting the cable design. Some of the cable designs are very intricate, some are more minimal. For the cable patterns that are intricate, the pattern will likely tell me to increase more

schematic they are working with. I'll give you a different example. I'm currently knitting a wedding blanket made up of 12"x12" squares. Most of the squares are cable designs. Each square uses the same yarn and has a garter stitch border. When I cast on, I start with the garter stitch

Go with the pattern writers recommendation of gauge in the seed stitch. They've used that measurement for the grading of the entire pattern. The designer understands that gauge is different for different stitches but in the process of designing their pattern they have an overall

Stick with it, brioche is beautiful. Love the colors! Here's a wedding blanket I made for my niece and her partner: