How to Make and Measure a Crochet Gauge Swatch for Beginners
In Crochet (and Knitting) size matters and here is why. You want your crochet projects to work up just like the crochet pattern you are following. So you need to create a gauge swatch to do so. This is important for any project, but especially crocheted garments that are to be worn to a fit a certain body size. Surprisingly, it is not uncommon for a lot of people to think the gauge of a pattern doesn’t matter for a hat or scarf, but you might be shocked to know it does! I share why below, so get comfy and let’s learn all the relevant information you need to know about crochet gauge in this blog post!
What is a Crochet Gauge Swatch?
A Crochet Gauge Swatch is a square piece of fabric created using a certain stitch pattern with a certain number of stitches and number of rows that is to be of a certain size.
Usually the gauge measurement is measured over 4 inches by 4 inches but sometimes this can vary.
Crocheting a gauge swatch will let you know if you meet gauge or if you have to adjust it. The best way to check your gauge is to make a square with more stitches and rows than you need to measure. This is explained further below.
What is Gauge?
Your gauge is the number of stitches per inch and per row or what measurement you have over a certain stitch count and row count using a certain hook size (or needle size) and yarn weight. If that matches the gauge (specific size) called for in the crochet swatch pattern, then you have met gauge.
When I first stated to crochet I had a very general understanding of gauge. I understood it, but I didn’t always create a swatch. I now know as a designer it is hands down the most important part of making a crochet project AND designing it.
I need to communicate to you, the maker, an accurate pattern gauge so that you can make the right size project using the amount of yarn recommended. It happens A LOT that I will get messages that something doesn’t fit right or they ran out of yarn…my first question is did you check your gauge and are you using the recommended yarn? The answer is usually “No” to one or both of those questions.
If you do not have the correct gauge you will not make your project the correct size and you run the risk of running out of yarn.
Why do you need to Crochet a Gauge Swatch? Why Does Gauge Matter?
The last thing you want to happen is to spend hours of work on a crochet project and it doesn’t fit right or run out of yarn. By crocheting a quick gauge swatch you can avoid the frustration of having a poor fitting garment, hat, gloves or other wearable.
When you make sure to match the designer’s gauge you will also ensure you have enough yarn to finish your crochet project. If you haven’t dealt with different dye lots on a project, don’t start now, check your gauge so you have enough yarn!
Having the correct gauge will also help to keep your ends and edges straight, keep parts of your project from being wavy or having parts pinched and puckered on your finished item.
Gauge isn’t always the reason for having a wonky item, you can read my post about crooked and wavy projects and this post of my 7 tips to fix these issues!
Doing a gauge swatch will also help you to figure out if you like the yarn and hook you will be using on your project. Just a few stitches will let you know if you want to continue with one or both of them.
What do you Need to Make a Gauge Swatch?
To make a Gauge Swatch you will need the recommended hook size called out in the pattern, the type of yarn used, a measuring tape or gauge ruler and a flat surface.
You may also need the necessary tools you use for blocking if you intend on blocking your project. Remember, treat your swatch as you will treat your finished piece.
How do you Crochet a Gauge Swatch?
To crochet a gauge swatch you will be making a sample swatch that should be designated in the pattern. You might not meet gauge on your first try and might meed to make multiple crochet gauge swatches!
The pattern’s gauge will say something similar to “X Number of Stitches and X Number of Rows” using a certain crochet hook size and type of yarn will be a certain measurement. Usually that measurement is 4 inches by 4 inches, but I have seen designers use 5 inches by 5 inches or stitch/rows per inch. Either way, that small piece of crochet fabric should be designated size.
Follow these easy steps:
- Check the pattern for gauge instructions.
- Make sure you are using the recommended hook and yarn for the pattern you are making. You cannot expect that you will meet gauge with a different yarn, even one of the same weight, and a different hook. Always start at the same baseline as the designer and adjust from there.
- Usually the designer will tell you the gauge as “10 sc by 10 rows is 4 inches by 4 inches”. The pattern materials will list the hook and yarn weight, say “5.00 mm hook” and “Lion Brand Wool Ease – #4 Worsted Weight Yarn” So that is what you should use!
- Now, don’t just do a 10 stitch by 10 row swatch, give yourself some wiggle room because the stitches at the beginning and end of a row form slightly different than the stitches within the row and therefore will not measure properly. Those “Chain 1’s, 2’s and 3’s” make a difference!
- So for this example, make a swatch that is 15 stitches by 15 rows using the 5.00 mm hook and recommended yarn. Then you will be able to measure the 10 stitches and 10 rows easily within the center of the swatch avoiding the end stitches, foundation chain and final row for an accurate measurement.
- Now, a single crochet swatch is easy, but if the pattern uses a more complicated stitch pattern, you may have to do a bit of math with the multiple to create a larger swatch if the instructions only give the stitch and row gauge.
How do you Measure your Gauge Swatch?
To measure your gauge swatch you will need to lay your swatch on a flat surface to see that your swatch measures correctly.
You will then use your tape measure or gauge ruler to check your row gauge (height of your stitches) and stitch gauge (width of your stitches). You want to see that your stitch gauge and row gauge matches to the pattern. Both need to match to for your gauge swatch to be correct.
Making sure that your gauge matches is extremely important as even a gauge that is off a little bit can drastically change the size of your finished item.
For Example, if your gauge is 3 stitches per inch but the pattern requires 4 stitches per inch and you don’t adjust your gauge you will end up with a project that is too large and uses more yarn than planned.
Here’s how the math works:
Let’s say you are following a pattern to make a 10 by 10 inch square with the 4 stitch per inch requirement.
That means to make 10 inches x 4 sts/inch you will need 40 sts (Required Pattern Gauge)
But YOUR gauge is 3 sts per inch so, 10 inches x 3 sts/inch is 30 sts (Your Gauge)
So if you take the required 40 sts needed with the proper gauge divided by YOUR gauge of 3sts/inch is 13.3 inches!! So your square will be 3.3 inches larger than the pattern measurements!
How do you Adjust your Crochet Gauge?
So you measured your small sample gauge swatch and to doesn’t meet the desired gauge for the pattern…
That means your own gauge is different from the pattern designer. Don’t worry, it is very common for crocheters to have different gauges! Things like how we hold our hook and yarn tension affect gauge.
If your gauge swatch is too small then you will need to use a larger hook to create larger stitches. Try going up one hook size and make a new swatch.
If your gauge swatch is too big then you will need to use a smaller size hook to make smaller stitches. Try going down one hook size and make a new swatch.
Maybe you had the right gauge on your rows but not your stitches? Or the right gauge on your stitches but not rows.
If you had the right gauge on your rows but not stitches you probably need to adjust your hook up or down.
If you had the right gauge on your stitches but not your rows then you probably need to adjust your tension. So make a new swatch with the same hook and adjust your tension to see if you can get the proper row height.
What you DON’T do is create extra stitches or fewer stitches to try to get the right measurement. The stitch counts and row counts given to you must remain constant. It is the hook size and maybe yarn that needs to be adjusted.
How is Gauge Relevant to the Pattern?
Gauge is relevant to the pattern in many ways.
- To ensure your finished project will be the right size.
- To ensure you do not run out of yarn on your new crochet project!
- To let you know if you like the yarn and hook combo you will be using for the entire project.
- If you are not using the recommended yarn, a gauge swatch will let you know if your chosen yarn will work for the pattern.
- To see how the yarn responds to blocking or steaming and how much you need to adjust your gauge accordingly.
Should you Block your Gauge Swatch?
Most designers vary on this topic. I say you treat your swatch as you will treat your final piece because this can make a big difference in sizing.
If it is a wearable and will be washed/blocked, then yes because some yarns grow significantly. If that is the case, does it matter for fit? I don’t mind my oversized sweater becoming more oversized. However, I do not want a carefully tailored pullover to become two sizes too big.
When I work with a yarn that can change drastically with blocking I usually like to give a pre blocked and blocked gauge. This is because not everyone will block and different fibers behave differently.
Always check your yarn label for fiber content, wool tends to stretch whereas acrylic will keep more of its dimensions.
I hope you now understand why gauge is so important and necessary. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Everyone crochets differently, gauge isn’t just making something the right size. It’s making sure you have enough yarn and that your stitches are created properly so that the item you are making looks the same as the pattern you are following!
Happy Crocheting!
