How gauge

[catwoman]

Hi.I was wondering what the right way to gauge.There is you divide sts by 4'' and just count the stitches?Also,does a person have to go by the gauge on a yarn label?Do you have to use the same kind of yarn on the pattern?

[magiccrochetfan]

You don't have to use the gauge given on the yarn label.

 

You don't have to use the exact brand of yarn given in a pattern. usually you will want to use a yarn of similar weight and fiber so that the finished piece will look and drape like the original. But you can use whatever yarn you want, as long as you realize that using different yarn can change the outcome a great deal.

[magiccrochetfan]

to find your gauge, you measure a certain distance on your swatch and count the stitches and rows in that. Usually the gauge is given for a 4 inch by 4 inch section. it is best to make your swatch bigger, like 6 inches by 6 inches, then measure and count in the center 4 inch square.

 

Also, be sure to launder the swatch as the finished item will be laundered, and let it dry, then measure the gauge.

[Becky Morgan]

It also helps to know when gauge matters and when it doesn't much. On fitted clothing, of course it matters, and the smaller the item the more it does matter--the difference between, say, five and six stitches to the inch can make a baby sweater a full size off. That's where using different yarn can be a little bit of a headache, because you need something that will work up the same way OR you need to do the math and figure out what your yarn will do.

But on shawls, blankets, stuff like that--the gauge that looks good to you is the one to go with, and sky's the limit on yarn. Some of the prettiest shawls come from half of an old doily pattern, worked in worsted yarn instead of teeny thread. If you swatch and find the piece won't be either too full of holes or too stiff, it'll work. The more experience you get, the better you'll be at eyeing up a pattern and seeing what you'd like to change and how you'r going to do it. Color, fiber, size--it's all up to you, and that's the fun of it.