40I want to calculate my gauge
Convert between stitch counts, measurements, and pattern gauges
- A knitted or crocheted swatch, ideally washed and blocked the way the finished piece will be.
- A ruler or tape measure. Nothing in the app needs switching on.
- The toolkit is under Tools → Calculators, which Simple View also shows.
What is gauge? Gauge (also called tension) is the number of stitches and rows in a standard measurement — typically 10 cm (4″). Every knitter and crocheter works at a slightly different tension, so your gauge determines the final size of your project. A pattern that says “20 sts = 10cm on 4mm needles” is telling you the fabric density it was designed for.
Why does it matter? Even one stitch per 10cm off can add several centimetres to a sweater. If your gauge is tighter than the pattern, the piece comes out smaller; if it's looser, it comes out larger. The gauge calculator helps you measure, compare, and adjust before you commit to a full project.
Navigate to Tools → Calculators → Gauge Toolkit, and stay on the Gauge Swatch tab. Enter how many stitches and rows you counted, and the width and height you measured over.
The calculator converts your raw count into a standardised gauge. For example:
- You counted
- 24 stitches over 12 cm
- Your gauge
- 20 sts / 10 cm
It does the same for rows, so you get both stitch gauge and row gauge in one step.
Your own gauge previews live as you type. To get the adapted stitch and row counts you tap Calculate, which stays disabled until all four numbers are in: your swatch gauge, the pattern's gauge, and the pattern's total stitches and rows.
Enter the pattern's recommended gauge to see how yours compares. The calculator shows the difference and suggests needle size adjustments: go up a size if your gauge is too tight (too many stitches), or down if it's too loose (too few stitches).
Matching gauge exactly? You're good to go — cast on with confidence.
Off by half a stitch? Usually acceptable for most garments. Consider swatching once more to confirm.
Off by 1+ stitches? The finished piece will be noticeably different in size. Change your needle size and swatch again before starting the project.
Row gauge off but stitch gauge correct? This is common. Most patterns give length instructions in centimetres rather than row counts, so stitch gauge is usually more critical. Adjust row counts if the pattern relies on them.
Switch between Inches and CM with the two buttons at the top. The toolkit handles the conversion, so you can work in whichever system your pattern uses.
Not sure if your gauge is in the right ballpark? Here are typical stitch gauges per 10 cm for common yarn weights:
- Lace
- 32–40 sts
- Fingering
- 28–32 sts
- Sport
- 24–28 sts
- DK
- 20–24 sts
- Worsted
- 16–20 sts
- Bulky
- 12–16 sts
- Super Bulky
- 8–12 sts
These are guidelines — every yarn, needle, and knitter combination is unique. Always swatch.
The toolkit's second tab, Adapt Pattern, answers the question a swatch actually raises: my gauge is not the pattern's, so how many stitches do I cast on? Give it the pattern's gauge, your gauge, and the pattern's stitch and row counts, and it returns the numbers to work to - Cast on N stitches, Work N rows - along with the stitch and row ratios and a needle-size suggestion.
A gauge you have measured is worth keeping. Save it with a name, the yarn weight, the needle size, the project type and a note, and load it back the next time you use that pairing - so the second cardigan in the same yarn does not need a fresh swatch to remember what worked.
- Gauge (tension)
- How many stitches and rows fit in a measured square - usually 10 cm or 4″. It is what decides the finished size.
- Swatch
- The test square you knit to measure gauge. Bigger than 10 cm is better: you measure the calm middle, not the edges.
- Blocking
- Washing and drying the swatch as you will treat the garment. Many yarns change measurably, so an unblocked swatch can flatter you into the wrong size.
- Stitch gauge vs row gauge
- Stitch gauge sets the width, row gauge the length. Row gauge is the one patterns most often let you fudge - until shaping is worked over a row count.
- Needle size systems
- Metric millimetres, US numbers and UK numbers all describe the same needles. The conversion chart in Needle Manager translates between them.
Available on iPhone, iPad, Android, and web at app.stash2go.com