How to Measure a Gauge Swatch
A step-by-step guide to measuring knitting gauge swatches correctly, with worked examples and troubleshooting for common measuring mistakes.
Maggie
Gauge calculator
Knitting and crochet gauge calculator
Turn a blocked gauge swatch into stitches and rows per inch or 10 cm, with the calculation shown clearly.
Count across the middle of a blocked swatch.
Optional. Needed for any length math.
Most patterns quote gauge over 4 in.
Live gauge preview
5 stitches per inch, 7 rows per inch
Your gauge
Based on your blocked gauge. Unblocked swatches lie.
What this calculation does not account for
- Lace and openwork, which can open up dramatically after blocking.
- Colourwork, where tension differs from your plain-fabric gauge.
- Gauge drift between flat and in-the-round work. Measure in the way you'll actually make the piece.
Last updated 2 August 2026Found a wrong number? Tell us.
How to use this
- Knit or crochet a swatch at least 6 inches square, in the stitch pattern you'll actually use.
- Block it the way you'll block the finished piece, and let it dry completely. An unblocked swatch will give you a number that stops being true the first time you wash the garment.
- Measure across the middle, away from the edges, and count the stitches over 4 inches or 10 cm. Enter what you counted above.
Need help measuring or interpreting a swatch? Read How to Measure a Gauge Swatch.
Calculate stitch and row gauge from your swatch
Enter the stitches counted across your measured swatch width and the rows counted across its height. The calculator divides each count by its measurement, then converts the result to your chosen inches or centimetres.
Knitting and crochet use the same ratio
Stitch structure differs between the crafts, but gauge math does not. Count complete stitches and rows in the fabric you will actually make, whether it is worked flat or in the round.
Worked gauge example
A swatch with 20 stitches and 28 rows across 4 inches has a gauge of 5 stitches and 7 rows per inch. The displayed calculation lets you check each result before using it to size or resize a pattern.
Use your gauge
Once you know your gauge, the pattern resize calculator converts a pattern's stitch counts to it.
Learn the method
Guides for this calculator
How to Adjust a Knitting Pattern for Different Gauge
A practical method for resizing knitting patterns when your swatch gauge doesn't match the pattern, including worked examples, repeat constraints, and construction risks.
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