In the knitting and crocheting world, there is one word that divides us all: gauge.
There are some who positively refuse to create a gauge swatch before a project, because: “They’re a waste of time.” Or, “I already know my gauge on XYZ brand of yarn.” Or, “It’s a blanket, for God’s sake. Who cares if the length or width is off a bit?”
Then you have the people who not only make a gauge swatch, but also launder and block the square before they measure the gauge.
I’m definitely pro-gauge, and here’s why
Gauge swatches may seem like a colossal waste of time, especially for knitting. A swatch can take you an entire evening to knit—crocheting one is usually a lot faster. However, you need to weigh this against spending at least a week ripping out and redoing a project because you’ve discovered that your four stitches-per-inch versus the pattern’s five stitches-per-inch results in a 100-stitch sweater piece that’s five inches wider than you’d anticipated. With 200 stitches in the round, that translates to a sweater that’s 10 inches larger all around! Some patterns call for that much ease, but yours probably isn’t one of them.
You only think you know your gauge on XYZ brand of yarn. Keep in mind that you may have used XYZ yarn months ago, when your mother-in-law was visiting for a month. You need to do a gauge swatch as a general bring-it-up-to-date now that no one is swiping your mantle with a gloved finger, remarking that you need to dust more.
I don’t care if it’s just a blanket. If you’re aiming for a specific measurement to fit a bed, a sofa back, or your Uncle Fred who’s freakishly tall, then you need to know your gauge.
How do you create a gauge swatch?
You knit/crochet a square that’s at least 4” x 4”. The average pattern specifies using either the pattern stitch or a basic stitch (knit = stockinette, crochet = single crochet). I often go with 5” x 5” to make it easier to measure the four-inch span, as edge stitches can be a different size than regular stitches.
Then get out a ruler and determine the stitches-per-inch and rows-per-inch you’re creating. You need four inches because the stitches can vary, and you want an average.
If you’re off? If you’re getting too many stitches per inch, use a larger needle/hook and try another swatch. Too few? Use a smaller needle/hook.
Remeasure, and if necessary, try again.
Note: If you’re getting the stitches-per-inch, but not the rows-per-inch, that’s usually acceptable, as you can always knit or crochet more rows. The opposite is true if it’s a piece where you’re working from side to side. In this instance, row gauge matters.
It’s tedious, but trust me, so is reworking an entire project!
Happy gauging!