Calculating Stitch Count

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https://doradoes.co.uk/2019/05/22/crochet-design-basics-how-to-use-gauge-to-crochet-to-measure-adjust-to-fit/

Work out your stitch count

I want to know how many stitches I’ll need to work 28cm for the width of my scarf.

My stitch gauge is 18 stitches in 10cm, so dividing 18 by 10 tells me that each centimetre of fabric across requires 1.8 stitches.  

So to meet the required width of 28cm, I need to multiply 1.8 by 28 which is 50.4 stitches.

Now obviously you can’t work part of a stitch so you’ll need to round off to the nearest whole number which, in this case would be 50.

We’re not done yet though. Remember our stitch multiple of 3? 50 is not a multiple of 3 so I’ll need to adjust to the nearest multiple which, in this case, would be 51 – giving me 17 stitch pattern repeats (51/3=17).

So let’s summarises the formula for stitch count:

stitch gauge (18sts) / gauge measurement (10cm) x required measurement (28cm) = number of stitches needed (51)

A note about rounding

You can choose whether to round your stitches up or down. For me it depends on the stitch pattern and item that I’m making.

With a garment I am more likely to round down because crochet fabric tends to stretch. But with something like a scarf, I’d rather go a little bigger so I round up, as I have with the final stitch count here.

You discretion as a designer comes into play here. It won’t be the last judgement call you’ll need to make!

Work out your row count

Now we do the same calculation for your rows using your row gauge.

Let’s start with the formula first this time. I’ve added the example numbers into the brackets. Remember you’re looking for a scarf length of 150cm.

The formula for row count:

Row gauge (13) / gauge measurement (10cm) x required measurement (150) = number of rows to be worked (195)

As you can see, each cm of length requires 1.3 rows (13/10), so to find out the number of rows needed to reach your desired length of 150cm, you multiply 1.3 by 150cm, which gives you 195 rows.

We don’t have a row multiple here, but if you do, remember to account for it in your rounding.

Put it all together

So now you know that you need to work 51 stitches and 195 rows to make your scarf measuring 28cm wide by 150cm long.

All there is to do now is get comfy, pick up your hook and start crocheting!

You can use this method to work out the stitch and row counts for any crochet fabric.

Using gauge to adjust patterns

You can also use this method to adjust existing patterns to fit your needs.

You just need to make sure of your gauge and the stitch and row repeat multiples.

Decide you want to increase the width by 10cm, then you can make the calculations to decide how many stitches (or rows) to add to adjust the pattern.

How to use gauge for shaping

Once you’ve got the basics of using gauge to calculate your stitch and roe counts using the method described, you can use it to shape crochet fabric.

I have outlined the basic approach to shaping below;

This time, lets you’re making a skirt in rounds and you want it narrower at the waist than the hem.

Use the method above to work out the number of stitches you need around the waist and the number you need at the hem.

Subtract the waist count from the hem count and you’ll know how many stitches you need to increase by (assuming you’re working waist down) over the length of the skirt.

Calculate the number of rows you’ll need for the skirt (based on how long you want it to be).

Decide how you distribute those increases over the length of the skirt. For example, 1 increase row every 4 rows (this is designers prerogative again!), and you are away!

That is a basic introduction to shaping only as the focus of this post is to learn the principle of using gauge to work out your stitch counts. I have added it just to give you an idea of what is possible once you understand the basics!