<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dictionary definition is \u201ca standard measure or scale of measurement\u201d but if you are working on a sweater it\u2019s definition could mean disaster! When I first started to crochet, gauge meant nothing at all to me until I made a sweater jacket that wasn\u2019t quite right. I will admit that I didn\u2019t figure it out for another 2 \u2013 3 years later what was wrong. I had used the exact same color, yarn, and hook. Followed the directions very carefully and ended up with a nice surprise for my little sister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We need Gauge. Crochet gauge definition \u2013 stitches per inch and rows per inch. If you are having trouble with it\u2026don\u2019t worry, there are a few tricks to get it correct. Taking a few minutes to make a gauge swatch can save you hours of frogging (ripping out stitches, maybe even rows) and frustration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. To get a good swatch it should be no less than 2 inches square (2 x 2). I always use 3 inches but you can do 2 inches to save a little time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Always make a square swatch. By doing the square you will get an accurate count for your stitches per inch and your rows per inch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Try not to \u201cForce\u201d your tension. What I mean by that is to crochet just like you always do. It is perfectly fine\/OK if you are not getting the same gauge that the pattern calls for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. If you naturally crochet tightly, use a size larger than what is being recommended for your swatch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. If you naturally crochet loosely, use a size smaller than what is being recommended for your swatch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. If your foundation chain is too tight or too loose use #4 & #5 above then begin pattern with another size hook. Example: use size H hook for foundation chain, switch to size G hook to begin pattern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
7. Always measure the swatch on a HARD FLAT surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have experienced times when I haven\u2019t been able to get the correct exact gauge that a pattern calls for and usually use the hook that gives me the closest results. Example: My sample swatch is 5 3\/4 stitches = 3 inches pattern needs 6 stitches = 3 inches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The Dictionary definition is \u201ca standard measure or scale of measurement\u201d but if you are […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[55,54],"tags":[21,22,39],"class_list":["post-829","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-learn-to-crochet","category-learn-to-knit","tag-crochet","tag-lessons","tag-techniques"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/crochetqueen.co\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/829","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/crochetqueen.co\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/crochetqueen.co\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crochetqueen.co\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crochetqueen.co\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=829"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/crochetqueen.co\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/829\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":830,"href":"https:\/\/crochetqueen.co\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/829\/revisions\/830"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/crochetqueen.co\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=829"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crochetqueen.co\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=829"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crochetqueen.co\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=829"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}