Last week, I talked about some of my favorite things and this week, do I really need to gauge?
Today we are going to be talking about the importance of doing a gauge swatch.
So you find a pattern that inspires you and you are ready to jump in and make it immediately but the project is beginning to frustrate you because it is either too small or too big. That’s when you realize whoops I should of checked my gauge and now you have to frog and start over.
I don’t like to gauge either, I want to just crochet my project! But checking that gauge will save you sometimes hours of reworking a project.
Now there are times you don’t have to do a gauge swatch!
Are you working a project like a blanket and if it comes out 5 inches wider is that going to bother you, if not then don’t worry about the gauge. Remember though you will need more yarn than the pattern calls for.
But if your project is sweater or hat you definitely want to check you gauge because you want it to fit properly.
So, everyone has a different crochet tension, some are super tight, some are super loose, and some are in between, me I’m in between.
So, let’s say you are crocheting a swatch and you get the stitch number right on but your rows aren’t matching the gauge, that’s okay! The most important part to look at is the number of stitches.
Why?
Well lets say you are making a hat for a 6-12 month old baby and the pattern says there are 12 rows but the length for the hat is 6 inches long and you get to the 12th row and it is 5 3/4 long, well that’s okay, just add an extra round because the measurements are what is most important!
Same thing if it comes out a smidge too long, you can frog a row or two to get to your measurement! So, don’t let having to gauge overwhelm you but remember there are times like when you are making a hat, a sweater or basically anything you would wear when the gauge becomes super important!
Because gauging saves you from frogging!
Ribbit!
We have reached the end of episode 3 so until text time, grab your yarn, your hooks and get hooked!
~Ashley 