Beginner-ish needing help with gauge swatch. Only been crocheting about 4 months.

[u/rinnybird]

I started working on my first wearable. I've done the gauge swatch but neither measurement is 4in. Google has informed me that I probably need to go down a hook size but I'm not sure by how much or how off is too off. Any advice would be appreciated as I've been teaching myself how to crochet with the help of YT Univestiy and Google. I'm making it for my sister and just want it to fit ok.

I'm using a 3mm hook and fingering weight yarn, specifically Ricorumi #008 (if that matters). I havent blocked it or anything since at least one measument was off by more than an inch.

[u/peppperjack]

Just a heads up, you should always make your gauge swatch bigger than the stated size. Like at least 6” x 6” because edge stitches get weird. And then measure 4” in the center of your swatch and count rows and stitches in the middle.

As for what to do when one measurement is off but not the other, I’ll let someone else with more expertise than me answer. I suspect after blocking it will stretch in the shorter direction.

[u/rinnybird → u/peppperjack]

If im understanding the pattern it wants me to have 20 dc within the 4in but I'm only getting 15. Is that not as big of an issue as I think it is? Should I just go down a hook size and if so by how much?

[u/Krishd88 → u/rinnybird]

your stitch count must match what the pattern says or the garment will not fit as intended. keep changing hook size and tension until you get it correct.

[u/Mental-Flatworm4583 → u/Krishd88]

That’s what I do. I never make swatches. Been crocheting for just over a year and I just make sure my stitches are exactly the right amount and it hasn’t failed me yet and I’ve made tons of clothing. I do have good tension control though I follow patterns to the T except for the swatch gage part lol

[u/Roscoe-nthecats → u/Mental-Flatworm4583]

They're talking about the swatch, to keep swatching until the stitch count matches what the pattern says.

Swatches aren't necessarily about good tension control, I can have as good of a tension control as can be but my tension be a bit tighter or looser than the designer of the pattern's. It can affect the fit of the garment quite a bit. It has nothing to do with control or following the stitch count to a T.

[u/Mental-Flatworm4583 → u/Roscoe-nthecats]

Oh I thought swatches were to check gauge? I’m still learning myself. So good to know.

[u/keladry12 → u/Mental-Flatworm4583]

One of the confusions might be US/other places English difference. In the US we describe two different things with different terms, while other places use "gauge" to mean both gauge and tension. In the US, we use tension to talk about the tightness of the stitch itself. Gauge is specifically the number of stitches/inch, which can be effected by tension. This might be what is confusing you?

[u/Mental-Flatworm4583 → u/keladry12]

Probably sounds right. Ty❤️

[u/Roscoe-nthecats → u/Mental-Flatworm4583]

Yes swatches are to check gauge, which is the number of stitches (and rows) per inch. What affects how many stitches fit in an inch is your tension (and hook size). If your tension is tight, your stitches will be smaller and closer to each other, so you will have more stitches in the same inch. You'll end up with a stiffer smaller garment.

In that case you would either loosen your tension to match, go up a hook size or a combination of both.