One of the worst culprits for tight tension are patterns which give a
specific tension for a specific yarn. Too frequently one finds
garments in thrift shops & boot sales where the knitter has made up a
garment which can stand up on its own because the knitter has followed
the pattern to the letter. Many pattern-makers use the same stitch
measurement for their designs without taking into consideration whether
or not the expensive designer yarn they want you to buy is the same
weight as a fine 4 ply for machine knitting.

People, please - go in to your local knitwear shop, feel the looseness
of the knitted stitches. These garments are not knitted up tightly and
then loosened with a steam iron - they are knitted loosely in the first
instance.

Tension 6, 7 & 8 are used for Toyota, Brother & Knitmaster machines
using FINE 4 ply yarns. FINE 4 ply is bought on the cone. 4 ply yarns
found in balls or skeins in a Wool shop are not FINE 4 ply, but more
like Double Knitting, and will not knit nicely on the 6, 7 or 8
Tensions.

It is better to knit up a swatch with the looseness that looks
professional - then measure that and get to work with calculating your
tension to match the measurements of the finished items.