How to Make a Crochet Gauge Swatch (and Why It Decides the Size)

Gauge is how many stitches and rows fit into a set width and height, usually 10 cm (4 in). Two crocheters with the same hook and the same yarn can make fabric of different sizes, because everyone pulls the yarn with a different tension. A gauge swatch is a small test square that shows you what your gauge is, so you can match the pattern and get the size you want. For toys it matters a little. For hats, clothes and anything that must fit, it decides everything.

Why gauge matters: a quick example

A pattern says the gauge is 16 stitches in 10 cm, and it asks you to make a piece 80 stitches wide. At that gauge the piece is 50 cm wide (80 divided by 16, times 10). If your stitches are bigger and you get 14 stitches in 10 cm, the same 80 stitches give a piece about 57 cm wide (80 divided by 14, times 10). That is 7 cm too wide, which is the difference between a hat that fits and one that does not. If your stitches are smaller, the piece comes out too narrow.

When you need a swatch

• Hats, gloves, sweaters, cardigans and anything that is worn: always.
• Bags, baskets and blankets that must reach a certain size: yes.
• Scarves, shawls and many decorative pieces: not always, since the exact size is not critical.
• Amigurumi: not for the size itself, but a quick test round shows if your fabric is tight enough to hide the stuffing.

How to make a swatch

1. Use the yarn, the hook and the stitch pattern from your project. Do not use a different yarn for the test, because it will not tell you anything.
2. Make the swatch bigger than the area you will measure. For a 10 cm gauge, make the swatch at least 15 cm (6 in) wide and 15 cm tall, so the edges do not distort the middle.
3. Crochet in the same way you will crochet the project: the same pace, the same hand position and the same mood. Tension changes when you are tired or in a hurry.
4. Wash and dry the swatch in the way you will care for the finished piece, if the yarn can be washed. Yarn often relaxes or shrinks after washing, and the size can change.
5. Let it dry flat, without stretching. Do not pull it to make it bigger.

How to measure your gauge

1. Lay the swatch flat on a table. Do not stretch or squash it.
2. Place a ruler or a measuring tape across the middle of the swatch, away from the edges.
3. Count how many stitches fit in 10 cm (4 in). Use pins to mark the start and the end of the 10 cm, and count between them. Count half stitches too, if you can see them.
4. Do the same for the rows: lay the ruler vertically, and count the rows in 10 cm.
5. Compare your numbers with the gauge in the pattern.

How to adjust the hook

Change the hook by one size (about 0.25 to 0.5 mm) and make another swatch. Repeat until your count matches. The sizes are listed in our crochet hook sizes chart. Stitch gauge matters most. If your stitch count is right but the number of rows is a little off, you can usually adjust by working more or fewer rows when you reach the length you need.

Gauge and the pattern sizes

Patterns for clothes list the finished measurements and the number of stitches for each size. If your gauge is slightly different, you can choose a size that matches your own gauge by dividing the finished width by your stitches per 10 cm. When in doubt, choose the size that matches your measurement, and then check the fit as you work, which is easy with crochet because you can try the piece on and rip back if you need to. Our guide on how to read a crochet pattern explains the notation.

Swatches for toys

For a toy, you do not have to match an exact gauge, but you should still check your fabric. Make a few rounds from a magic ring, push a little stuffing behind them and look at the stitches in good light. If the stuffing shows through, your stitches are too loose, so go down a hook size or pull the yarn tighter. This small test saves the whole toy. See how to stuff and assemble amigurumi for the finishing steps.

If you are still learning the stitch, start with how to single crochet, and try the crochet patterns for beginners when you are ready. Our wearable crochet patterns section shows what a pattern with a gauge looks like.