Tools & techniques
Knitting and Crochet Gauge: What It Is and How to Measure It
Gauge is the number of stitches and rows in a set width and height of fabric, and it's the line in a pattern most people skip. It's also the reason a sweater comes out two sizes too big. Here's what gauge means, how to measure it properly, and what to change when yours doesn't match.
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What gauge means
A pattern's gauge line reads something like: 20 stitches and 28 rows = 4 in (10 cm) in stockinette on US 7 (4.5 mm) needles, after blocking. It tells you how big the designer's stitches were. Every measurement in the pattern, from chest width to hat circumference, is that gauge multiplied by a stitch count, so if your stitches are a different size, every measurement changes with them.
- Stitch gauge is the number of stitches across the width. It controls how wide the piece is, and it's the one to match first.
- Row gauge is the number of rows up the height. It matters wherever the pattern counts rows instead of measuring: raglan and yoke shaping, colorwork charts, and most crochet.
Why half a stitch matters
Take a sweater with 200 stitches around the chest, designed at 20 stitches per 4 in. At the pattern's gauge that's 40 in. The table shows what happens when your gauge is slightly off:
| Your gauge (sts per 4 in) | Stitches per inch | Finished chest |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | 4.5 | 44.4 in (113 cm) |
| 19 | 4.75 | 42.1 in (107 cm) |
| 20 (pattern) | 5 | 40 in (102 cm) |
| 21 | 5.25 | 38.1 in (97 cm) |
| 22 | 5.5 | 36.4 in (92 cm) |
One stitch per 4 in moves the chest by about 2 in, which is a full size. For a scarf, a blanket or a shawl, that's rarely a problem. For a sweater, a hat or a sock, it's the difference between a good fit and a gift for someone else.
What affects your gauge
- Yarn. Yarns sold as DK run anywhere from about 240 to 299 m per 100 g, and that spread shows in the gauge. Our guide to substituting yarn explains how to compare them.
- Needle or hook size. Bigger tools make bigger stitches and fewer stitches per inch.
- Needle material. Yarn slides faster over metal than wood, so many people knit looser on metal.
- Your tension. Everyone's hands are different. That's why the pattern's needle size is a suggestion and the gauge is the target.
- Stitch pattern. Ribbing and cables pull in; garter stitch compresses rows; lace opens up. Swatch in the stitch the pattern specifies.
- Flat or in the round. Many knitters purl looser or tighter than they knit, so a flat stockinette swatch can differ from the same fabric knit in the round.
- Fiber and washing. Superwash wool, alpaca and cotton often grow when wet. Wool can bloom and tighten. Only a washed swatch shows it.
How to knit and measure a gauge swatch
- Cast on enough for at least 6 in (15 cm). For a gauge of 20 sts per 4 in, that's 30 stitches, plus 3 garter stitches at each edge to keep it flat.
- Work at least 6 in in the pattern's stitch, on the suggested needle size, with the yarn you'll use.
- Swatch in the round if the project is knit in the round. Or make a speed swatch: knit a row, slide the work back to the right-hand tip, strand the yarn loosely across the back and knit again.
- Wash and dry it the way you'll treat the finished piece, and let it dry completely.
- Measure in the center, away from the edges, over a full 4 in (10 cm). Count half stitches: at this gauge, half a stitch over 4 in changes a 40 in sweater by about an inch.
- Measure in two or three places and take the average. Don't stretch or squash the swatch to make the number come out right. Use the gauge calculator to convert your counts to stitches and rows per 4 in or 10 cm.
Our blocking guide covers the method in full. Wash swatches in cool water with a no-rinse wool wash like Soak, press out the water in a towel and lay them flat. For lace and anything blocked open, pin the swatch out exactly as you'll pin the finished piece.
Measuring crochet gauge
Crochet gauge works the same way, but row gauge matters more, because crochet rows are tall and patterns usually count them. Count single crochets as one stitch each; for taller stitches, count the posts. Patterns for motifs often give gauge as a measurement instead, such as "first 3 rounds = 3 in". Measure across the motif, and match it.
Standard gauges by yarn weight
| Yarn weight | Knit gauge (sts per 4 in) | Needles | Crochet gauge (sc per 4 in) | Hook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fingering (#1) | 27–32 | 2.25–3.25 mm | 21–32 | 2.25–3.5 mm |
| Sport (#2) | 23–26 | 3.25–3.75 mm | 16–20 | 3.5–4.5 mm |
| DK (#3) | 21–24 | 3.75–4.5 mm | 12–17 | 4.5–5.5 mm |
| Worsted and aran (#4) | 16–20 | 4.5–5.5 mm | 11–14 | 5.5–6.5 mm |
| Bulky (#5) | 12–15 | 5.5–8 mm | 8–11 | 6.5–9 mm |
| Super bulky (#6) | 7–11 | 8–12.75 mm | 7–9 | 9–15 mm |
How to fix gauge that's off
- Too many stitches per 4 in? Your stitches are small. Go up a needle or hook size.
- Too few stitches per 4 in? Your stitches are big. Go down a size.
- Stitch gauge right, row gauge off? Keep the needle that gives you stitch gauge, and work lengths by measurement instead of by row count. Where a pattern shapes over rows, such as a raglan, recalculate the spacing of the increases.
- Can't get gauge with any needle? The yarn may be the wrong thickness. Try a yarn with a closer length per 100 g to the pattern's.
- Gauge changes partway through? Tension often loosens as you relax into a project. Measure again after a few inches.
Unlabeled needles in the drawer? An addi needle gauge confirms the size before you swatch, so you know which number to write down. More on choosing them in our guides to knitting needle types and crochet hook types.
Questions
Do I need to swatch for a scarf or blanket?
Not for fit, but it helps. A looser or tighter gauge changes the finished size and how much yarn you'll use, and a swatch shows whether you like the fabric before you knit hundreds of rows.
Should I measure gauge before or after blocking?
After. Most patterns give gauge after blocking, and many yarns change when washed. Measuring an unwashed swatch is the most common reason a finished piece comes out the wrong size.
Is stitch gauge or row gauge more important?
Stitch gauge, in most knitting, because it sets the width. Row gauge matters when the pattern counts rows for shaping or charts, and in crochet, where rows are tall.
