Picture this: you found a beautiful crochet project and you’re so excited to get started on your project. But before the instructions there’s a gauge. It’s going to take you time to finish and you start to wonder, is this really necessary? Well, I am here to tell you, it is. You want your crochet projects to look beautiful and, especially when making clothing, you want it to be the correct size. This is where a gauge comes in. Spending the hour or less it takes to complete your gauge is totally worth it, because it will save you time and tears on your actual project.
What is a gauge?
A gauge is a small sample of crochet stitches, usually single or double crochets, your pattern will say which stitches to use. These stitches are counted to see how many are in one inch. Typically you will crochet about 4″x4″ to make sure you have enough to measure accurately. You will check your pattern to make sure this is the size they want you to gauge. Then you count how many stitches it takes to crochet 4″. Ideally this number will line up the gauge listed on your project.
Why should you do one?
When you have a properly size gauge, you can make sure your project is the correct size. This is especially helpful when you’re crocheting clothing, since this will ensure your clothing is the right size. Your project will also look closer to the picture of your project. If your stitches are too tight or loose, your project won’t look right.
How to fix your crochet gauge if it’s not the right size
If you do your gauge, and it isn’t right, you have a couple of options. You can try to loosen or tighten your stitches. This can be hard because you will have to continuously remember to keep your stitches tight/loose. The option I recommend is changing your crochet hook size to fit the gauge. This can take some trial and error, but ultimately, once you have the right hook, you can follow your project exactly and don’t have to worry about your tension as often.
