Enter the gauge stated in the pattern in stitches per 4 inches, your own gauge from a swatch knitted with your yarn and needles, and the finished width you want. To get your gauge, knit a swatch at least 4 by 4 inches, wash and block it as you will the finished piece, and count stitches across 4 inches. The tool scales the number of stitches to cast on for your gauge.
Gauge changes after washing and with yarn fiber, so block the swatch. Stitch patterns need multiples of a repeat, so round to the nearest suitable number. Row gauge matters for length, and the tool addresses width only.
Garments with shaping need adjustments to the whole pattern.
Stitches to cast on from pattern gauge (sts per 4 in)
| Pattern gauge (sts per 4 in) | 20 |
|---|---|
| Your gauge (sts per 4 in) | 18 |
| Target finished width | 20 |
| Stitches to cast on | 90 |
| Difference from the pattern's stated count | -10 |
Common error: Changing needle size to match gauge without checking the fabric. A different needle changes the drape as well as the size.
Knitting & Crochet Gauge: formula
Knitting & Crochet Gauge: changing Your gauge (sts per 4 in)
| Your gauge (sts per 4 in) | Stitches to cast on | Difference from the pattern's stated count |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | 70 | -30 |
| 16 | 80 | -20 |
| 18 (example) | 90 | -10 |
| 20 | 100 | 0 |
| 22 | 110 | 10 |
Knitting & Crochet Gauge: compare input ranges
| Input | Tested from | To | Stitches to cast on: low input | Stitches to cast on: high input | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your gauge (sts per 4 in) | 16 | 20 | 80 | 100 | 20 (22%) |
| Target finished width | 18 | 22 | 81 | 99 | 18 (20%) |
| Pattern gauge (sts per 4 in) | 18 | 22 | 90 | 90 | 0 |
Knitting & Crochet Gauge: individual input comparisons
| Input | Value | Stitches to cast on | Difference from the pattern's stated count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pattern gauge (sts per 4 in) | 16 | 90 | 10 |
| 18 | 90 | 0 | |
| 20 | 90 | -10 | |
| 22 | 90 | -20 | |
| 24 | 90 | -30 | |
| Your gauge (sts per 4 in) | 14 | 70 | -30 |
| 16 | 80 | -20 | |
| 18 | 90 | -10 | |
| 20 | 100 | 0 | |
| 22 | 110 | 10 | |
| Target finished width | 16 | 72 | -8 |
| 18 | 81 | -9 | |
| 20 | 90 | -10 | |
| 22 | 99 | -11 | |
| 24 | 108 | -12 |
Stitches to cast on: Your gauge (sts per 4 in) against Target finished width
| Your gauge (sts per 4 in) / Target finished width | 16 | 20 | 24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 56 | 70 | 84 |
| 16 | 64 | 80 | 96 |
| 18 | 72 | 90 | 108 |
| 20 | 80 | 100 | 120 |
| 22 | 88 | 110 | 132 |
Knitting & Crochet Gauge: values and definitions
| Quantity and definition | Value used |
|---|---|
| Pattern gauge (sts per 4 in) — Stitch gauge the pattern is written for, per 4 inches. | 20 |
| Your gauge (sts per 4 in) — Your actual stitch gauge, per 4 inches. | 18 |
| Target finished width — Width you want the finished piece to measure, in inches. | 20 |
| Stitches to cast on | 90 |
| Difference from the pattern's stated count | -10 |
Your gauge (sts per 4 in): half and double
| Your gauge (sts per 4 in) | Stitches to cast on |
|---|---|
| 9 | 45 |
| 18 | 90 |
| 36 | 180 |
Gauge is how many stitches fit in a set width, and a difference of two stitches over four inches changes the size of the whole garment. A pattern written for 20 stitches per four inches and a knitter who gets 18 need a different cast-on: for a 20 inch width, 90 stitches instead of the pattern's 100. Using the pattern's number at the wrong gauge makes the piece wider than intended.
The fix is a swatch and this arithmetic.
Wash and block the swatch before you measure, since many yarns change size. Measure across at least four inches, not one.
Estimate yarn on the yarn requirement calculator, fabric on the fabric yardage page and pattern resizing on the pattern scaling calculator. The seam allowance and quilt backing pages handle sewing, and the proportion and percentage calculators help with scaling.
Why do I need to knit a gauge swatch?
Because gauge varies between knitters and determines the finished size, so a swatch tells you whether to adjust needles or stitch counts.
Should I wash my swatch?
Yes. Wash and block it the way you will care for the finished item, since yarn can grow or shrink.
What if my gauge is different from the pattern?
Change to a larger or smaller needle to match the pattern, or recalculate the stitch counts for your gauge.