DROPS Children 49 · Lots of new kid designs!

Gauge Tension Swatch

Gauge/tension refers to the number of stitches in width and number of rows in height.
This depends on which stitches used, what yarn, the needles/hook size and your own tension (i.e. how much yarn you allow between stitches).
The gauge can be adjusted to fit recommended gauge in a pattern by changing needle size. Larger needles produce a smaller gauge (fewer stitches per inch) and smaller needles produce a larger gauge (more stitches per inch).
Rib and cables pull in, giving more stitches per width than stockinette, garter or seed stitch. And garter or seed stitch have more rows per inch than stockinette.
Thicker yarns produce larger stitches (reducing the number of stitches per width and height).
Your gauge can also vary within a single garment (typically for beginners) and when you become more familiar with a pattern, you become more relaxed and make the stitch differently, producing a different gauge.
It's very important to check your gauge before starting a project to get the correct measures of the garment. A sample square (a swatch) is made in the stitch pattern and yarn used in the design. The swatch edges affect the reading of the gauge, so it's best that the swatch be at least 15x15 cm/ 6"x6" square. Swatching also makes you used to the stitch pattern, which will help you to a more even gauge in the final garment.

Patterns using this technique

DROPS 252-11

DROPS 252-11
DROPS 221-48

DROPS 221-48
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Video #108, listed in: Other techniques, Extra Tips

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Country flag François wrote:

Bonjour, J'ai réalisé un échantillon en crochet. Il me demande de faire 21m et 14rg en alternant des Br et Ms. J'ai donc fait des rangs de ms puis de Br si j'ai bien compris. Lorsque je compte mes mailles, je suis à 22m, par contre j'ai 18rg. Que dois je faire pour tomber juste dans mes rgs?

06.03.2022 - 23:28

DROPS Design :

Bonjour François, alterner des brides et des mailles serrées doit être (1 rang de brides, 1 rang de mailles serrées) x 7 = 14 rangs au total. Essayez de crocheter davantage de mailles en largeur pour bien mesurer au milieu de votre échantillon et plus de rangs (pour éviter de commencer au 1er rang); si vous avez toujours trop de brides en largeur, essayez avec un crochet plus fin, et si la hauteur pose encore un problème, essayez de tirer vos mailles un peu moins en hauteur. Bon crochet!

07.03.2022 - 10:00

Country flag Laura Principato wrote:

Come mi devo comportare quando il campione ha solo una maglia in più in 10 cm ma molti più ferri in lunghezza per arrivare a 10 cm?

03.12.2021 - 09:17

DROPS Design :

Buonasera Laura, deve rifare un campione con una misura di ferri adeguata che le permetta di ottenere il campione indicato. Buon lavoro!

03.12.2021 - 21:12

Country flag Monique wrote:

Hi, ik heb in de Engelse patentsteek gebreid: 13 steken en 18 naalden: dat zou 10x10 cm opleveren. Bij mij is het 8 x 8 cm. Wat moet ik nu doen? Als ik een kleinere naald neem, wordt het proeflapje bij 13 steken nog kleiner.

09.07.2021 - 11:59

Country flag Claudie wrote:

Bonjour ! J'ai fais un échantillon pour un modèle au crochet avec des brides, en hauteur il fait bien 10 centimètres mais en largeur il manque 1 centimètre, comment dois je procéder. Je précise que je suis débutante LOL. Merci pour votre réponse !

20.05.2021 - 08:00

DROPS Design :

Bonjour Claudie, l'échantillon est indispensable (voir ici) avez-vous crocheté suffisamment de mailles/rangs en largeur/hauteur (toujours plus qu'indiqué dans l'échantillon pour donner une idée plus précise). Vous pouvez ensuite laver votre échantillon et le laisser sécher en suivant bien les consignes de l'étiquette (voir aussi ici) et vérifier les mesures après séchage/blocage. Si vous n'avez toujours pas les bonnes mesures, recommencez avec un crochet plus fin s'il vous manque des mailles en largeur. Bon crochet!

20.05.2021 - 08:30

Country flag Barbara wrote:

Buongiorno, vorrei sapere se la misura del campione che viene riportata sui modelli è stata presa prima o dopo il lavaggio. Grazie molte, Barbara

20.03.2021 - 11:46

DROPS Design :

Buonasera Barbara, può inumidire il campione prima di bloccarlo. Buon lavoro!

23.03.2021 - 18:05

Country flag Lieselot wrote:

My sample is correct in the number of stitches but not in the number of rows. How will this affect my project? And what should I do about it? I have 18x24 for 10cm and in the project it says 18x27 for 10 cm.

13.03.2021 - 09:14

DROPS Design :

Dear Lieselot, remember to wash your swatch and let it dry, then measure it again to check if the number of rows is now right. If it isn't, and if you are working a project where the number of rows is important (circular yoke or raglan) you will have to work some extra rows evenly spaced so that the height will match (you might require more yarn too). If only measurements is important, then just measure your work - but remember this might also affect the required amount of yarn. Happy knitting!

15.03.2021 - 09:59

Country flag Ingvild Nyheim wrote:

Hei! Hva gjør jeg når jeg har riktig strikkefasthet i bredden, men ikke i høyden? Har 3 cm avvik i høyden på en oppskrift med Drops Air.

13.03.2021 - 08:58

DROPS Design :

Hei Ingvild. Er det 3 cm pr 10 cm i høyden eller 3 cm i f.eks en genser i DROPS Air? Er det 3 cm mindre eller 3 cm mer? Om det er 3 cm pr. 10 cm ville jeg nok ha prøv med større/mindre pinner, evnt prøv å strikke litt løsere/strammere for å få strikkefastheten, både i høyden og bredden til å passe. Er det f.eks i en genser der du ikke får riktig mål etter økninger til raglan før ermene, der genseren er strikket ovenfra og ned, kan du stikker omganger uten økninger til riktig mål. mvh DROPS design

15.03.2021 - 07:58

Country flag Claudia wrote:

La muestra de ganchillo se hace en punto bajo o punto alto ? Porque el patron ( darling please ) usa los dos....

19.02.2021 - 15:45

DROPS Design :

Hola Claudia, esto depende del patrón, en el apartado tensión suelen indicar con qué puntos hay que hacer la muestra. En el caso del patrón que has indicado, se hace trabajando el diagrama A.1, que contiene puntos altos y puntos bajos.

28.02.2021 - 16:50

Country flag María wrote:

Hola, cuánto tiempo es recomendable que "descanse" la muestra antes de tomar las medidas?

28.01.2021 - 16:33

DROPS Design :

Hola Maria, puedes tomar las medidas inmediatamente. Buen trabajo!

29.01.2021 - 18:08

Country flag Erica Thomas wrote:

I'm not clear from the video how the tension gauge is being measured. What I did was just knitted the recommended number of stitches and rows and then measured the piece.

16.01.2021 - 05:17

DROPS Design :

Dear Mrs Thomas, working more stitches and more rows will let you work a different way and let you measure the stitches in the middle of piece (as when the whole project is worked) and not only over a small amount of stitches. Happy knitting!

18.01.2021 - 11:39

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