gnomi | Massachusetts gnomi and the Quest for the Elusive Gauge

I set out on Monday to do the prep work for a sweater I plan to make for myself, and my first step was to knit a gauge swatch (I don't swatch for all projects, only the ones where gauge actually matters). But using the needles and yarn recommended by the pattern (a pattern, I note, from the company that produces said yarn), I could not get the swatch to come out at the correct gauge (my gauge was too tight). As I have a track record, as long as I'm using bamboo or other wooden needles, getting gauge on the first shot, this was frustrating. So, using the same yarn, I pulled out the next size up of needle and tried again. And, again, I had too many stitches to the inch.

To add a complication, the yarn I bought for my sweater is black, so I was having a hard time counting stitches. So on Tuesday, I went out and bought identical yarn in a different color, and last night I resolved to keep trying until I found the combination that will give me gauge.

Gauge Swatch...and swatch...and swatch...

So here's the thing. The ball band on the yarn says 18 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches. So why does the pattern say 16 inches and 32 rows = 4 in inches using the same #8 needle. I'm glad I figured out the combination I need to get gauge, but it would help if the yarn and the pattern didn't contradict each other so wildly.