What Is Gauge in Knitting and Crochet?

Gauge is the number of stitches and rows that fit into a set space of knitted or crocheted fabric, most often 4 inches or 10 centimetres. You may also see it called tension. Two makers can use the same yarn and hook or needles yet produce different gauge, which is why a pattern’s finished size can change.

Stitch gauge and row gauge

A gauge written as 20 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches has two parts. Stitch gauge is the number of stitches that fit across the measured width, and it controls how wide the finished piece will be. Row gauge is the number of rows that fit in the measured height, and it controls how long the piece will be. Both matter for garments, fitted accessories, shaped pieces, and any project with a target measurement.

• Too many stitches in the same space means your fabric is tighter and your project will tend to come out narrower.
• Too few stitches in the same space means your fabric is looser and your project will tend to come out wider.
• A row gauge difference can make a garment or blanket longer or shorter even when the width is correct.

What is a gauge swatch?

A gauge swatch is a small sample of knitting or crochet worked in the project’s yarn, hook or needles, and stitch pattern. Measuring the swatch tells you your personal gauge before you commit to the full project, because the same pattern gauge can produce different fabric in different hands.

How to measure a gauge swatch

Make a swatch that is larger than the area you will measure, using the yarn, hook or needles, and stitch pattern called for by the project. Wash or block it as you will the finished item, let it dry, then measure in the centre rather than along an edge.

1. Lay the dry, treated swatch flat without stretching it.
2. Place a ruler or tape measure across the centre and count how many stitches fit in 4 inches or 10 centimetres. That count is your stitch gauge.
3. Count how many rows fit in the same measured distance. That count is your row gauge.
4. Compare both counts with the pattern gauge. Divide by 4 or 10 if you want stitches or rows per single inch or centimetre.

Measure after washing or blocking

Many fibres relax, bloom, or grow after washing. Measuring only an unwashed swatch can give you a pleasant surprise in a scarf but a frustrating result in a fitted garment. Handle the swatch the same way you plan to handle the finished item.

What to do when your gauge is different

First decide whether the finished dimensions matter. If they do, adjust your hook or needle size and swatch again. If you love the fabric at a different gauge, use the new measurements to calculate a different stitch count instead of assuming the original pattern numbers will still fit.