How to Figure the Gauge for Crochet
In terms of crochet, gauge -- sometimes also called tension -- represents the number of stitches per inch as you count across each row of crochet, and the number of rows per inch as you count up and down. The first stage of any crochet project should be working up a gauge swatch to make sure you have the right tension. It’s tempting to skip the gauge swatch and go straight to the foundation chain, but checking gauge is the only way to make sure your finished project will be the correct size.
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Things You'll Need
- Crochet hook
- Yarn
- Spray bottle
- Rustproof T-pins
- Clean towel or fabric-colored foam
- Ruler or measuring tape
Instructions
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Check the pattern you’re working from; it should specify how many inches you’re going to measure across the gauge swatch. Chain enough foundation stitches to make the gauge swatch at least 1 inch wider than the desired measurement. For example: if the pattern specifies that your gauge should be 11 stitches every 3 inches, your gauge swatch should measure at least 4 inches across. The extra width allows you to take a more accurate measurement from the center of the swatch, instead of struggling to account for gauge differences along the edge.
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Work in the particular stitch the pattern specifies, using the same crochet hook and the same yarn you’ll use for that stitch in the pattern, until your swatch measures at least 1 inch longer than the row measurement specified in the pattern. Not every pattern will specify a row measurement; sometimes you only need to know the stitches per inch, reading across the swatch.
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Saturate the swatch with water from a spray bottle, and use rustproof T-pins to pin the swatch flat on a clean towel, or fabric-covered foam. Let the swatch sit until it’s completely dry, which may take about a day, depending on the yarn type and how heavily you saturated it. This step is important for sweaters, shirts and other fitted items that will be blocked as part of the finishing process, but you can skip it if you’re working on something, such as a scarf, where exact sizing isn’t important.
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Measure across the center of the gauge swatch with a ruler or measuring tape, and count the number of stitches per row. If the pattern specifies rows per inch, measure up and down to count the numbers of rows, too. If you don’t match the pattern’s gauge on the first try, adjust the hook size or yarn and try again. A smaller hook gives tighter stitches and thus more stitches per inch; the looser stitches from a large hook yield fewer stitches per inch of crochet. Using a thicker yarn furnishes fewer stitches per inch as well, while thinner yarn creates more stitches per inch.
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Tips & Warnings
If the pattern you’re beginning involves more than one stitch pattern, more than one hook size or more than one type of yarn, you may need to do multiple gauge swatches to make sure you establish the correct stitch tension for each part of the project.
References
- Photo Credit Thinkstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
