How do I measure my crochet gauge?

Crochet a swatch at least 12 × 12 cm in the pattern's stitch and hook, block it as you will block the piece, and count the stitches and rows across 10 cm in the middle. Half stitches count: 17.5 stitches is a gauge of 17.5.

Why is my answer rounded?

You can only crochet whole stitches. The calculator works the exact number out from what you typed, rounds it to the nearest whole stitch (a half up) and shows the width that count gives at your gauge.

What if the pattern needs a multiple of stitches?

Fill in the pattern repeat, for example a multiple of 4 plus 1. You then get the two nearest counts that fit, each with its width, and the nearer is chosen; at exactly halfway the larger, as crochet had better be a little too wide than too narrow.

Should I change my hook instead?

If your gauge is far from the pattern's, a different hook size is usually better, as it keeps the fabric as the designer meant it. Converting the count suits small differences, or a pattern where the drape does not matter much.

Free crochet calculator

Convert a crochet pattern to your gauge

Enter the pattern's count and gauge and your own. You get the stitches or rows to crochet, the width they give and, with a pattern repeat, the two counts that fit.

Stitches in the pattern

Pattern: stitches per 10 cm

Yours: stitches per 10 cm

Pattern repeat: a multiple of

Gauge

Crochet 91 sts

Width about 45.5 cm at your gauge.

Worked out: 91.11, rounded to the nearest whole number.

Make the foundation chain

CrochetBuddy works out your gauge on your phone and sends the count straight on to the foundation chain. It is with App Review now.

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How to work it out yourself

Example: the pattern says 82 stitches at 18 stitches per 10 cm, and you crochet 20 stitches per 10 cm.

Multiply the pattern's count by your gauge and divide by the pattern's: 82 × 20 ÷ 18 = 91.11.
Round to the nearest whole stitch, a half up: 91 stitches.
Your width is the stitches divided by your gauge, times 10: 91 ÷ 20 × 10 = about 45.5 cm, nearly as wide as the pattern's piece.

Crochet 91 sts Width about 45.5 cm at your gauge.

With a pattern repeat of 4 + 1 the nearest counts that fit are 89 and 93; 93 is nearer, so you crochet 93. For a measure the same rule works from centimetres: 45 cm at 20 per 10 cm is 45 × 20 ÷ 10 = 90 stitches.

Questions

How do I measure my crochet gauge?: Crochet a swatch at least 12 × 12 cm in the pattern's stitch and hook, block it as you will block the piece, and count the stitches and rows across 10 cm in the middle. Half stitches count: 17.5 stitches is a gauge of 17.5.
Why is my answer rounded?: You can only crochet whole stitches. The calculator works the exact number out from what you typed, rounds it to the nearest whole stitch (a half up) and shows the width that count gives at your gauge.
What if the pattern needs a multiple of stitches?: Fill in the pattern repeat, for example a multiple of 4 plus 1. You then get the two nearest counts that fit, each with its width, and the nearer is chosen; at exactly halfway the larger, as crochet had better be a little too wide than too narrow.
Should I change my hook instead?: If your gauge is far from the pattern's, a different hook size is usually better, as it keeps the fabric as the designer meant it. Converting the count suits small differences, or a pattern where the drape does not matter much.

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