What the Heck is a Gauge?
By Rachel – 5 Comments| I’m asked this all the time and yes, gauge is important in crochet and knitting alike.
So what is a gauge? |
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How do you make a gauge swatch?
In all of my patterns, there are pattern instructions for you to follow to make your gauge. Some patterns will tell you to repeat certain rows in the pattern. After creating your gauge swatch, be sure that the finished size is the same as dimensions indicated for the gauge. If you find that your swatch is too big or too small, try using a smaller or bigger sized hook.
Is gauge really important?
Sometimes. Depending on what you’re making, you might not care if your work turns out the proper size. I don’t care if my refrigerator magnet turns out a little too big, but if I’m making a sweater, it better fit me. It’s up to you to determine when you think it’s important, but when in doubt make the gauge anyway.
Do you always make gauge swatches or are you guilt of skipping it?
I used to think working up a gauge swatch was waste of time, but I forced myself to get into the habit to check gauge. Now I can’t imagine working up a project without first checking gauge.
I make mostly Amigurumi, so gauge isn’t really important.
I’m guilty of skipping this step. I think I’ve only checked a few times when I was first starting out.
This is one of the biggest problems I have “Guage”. I’ve gone to the extent of making 5 swatches with different size hooks in order to get my guage to match the pattern. My problem is that sometimes the length comes out right but the depth does not so, after making so many swatches, I pick the one that is closer to the guage size they call for. I don’t know if this is the correct thing to do. I also don’t throw away the guage swatches I make. Instead I pin a lable on them with the size and type of yarn that the pattern calls for and whatever material I used in order to obtain the guage that the pattern calls for. The next time I need to work up a guage swatch, I’ll look to see if I’ve got one already made up that calls for the same measurements.
The few things I’ve made where gauge mattered it was a “create as your along” pattern, so I didn’t do gauge. I just did fittings to the person it was for. But, I do get the importance. I see how different size hooks and yarn can make a difference even in the blankets and stuffed animals I make.