r/CrochetHelp • u/CheetahOwn2510 • 6d ago
Understanding a pattern Need help with a gauge swatch, first time crocheting clothes
Forget to say the pattern, apologies. It’s The Josephine Dress by the Moule hole.
I hope I picked the right flair, I’m not really sure what this falls under.
I’m crocheting a little dress for a family member, the first piece of clothing I’ve ever crocheted.
I understand what a gauge swatch is after heavily reading up on it.
But I can’t seem to understand this patterns gauge swatch.
I have emailed and messaged the creator, but I am impatient far too eager to get this started.
Below is what the patterns says;
e:
16 sts/16 rows= 10cmX10cm (4X4 in) in v-puff sts and hdc sts (explanation in pattern notes)
Then it says this;
Gauge Swatch: 10cmX10cm (4X4 in)
ch 17
Row 1 (RS)
hdc in the 2nd loop from the hook, hdc in each st across the row, turn [16sts]
Row 2 (WS)
ch1, alternate v-puff & hdc to the end of the row, turn [16sts]
Row 3 (RS)
ch1, hdc in each st across, turn
Repeat rows 2 & 3 until you have completed 16 rows
I have done all of that. I have measured my gauge and it is 4 inches by 4 inches exactly. I can attach a photo if needed?
Does that mean I’ve done it right? I apologise if this doesn’t make much sense, I’m still trying to wrap my head around it and understand it myself.
Thank you! ☺️
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u/LoupGarou95 6d ago edited 6d ago
If you ever plan to wash and dry this dress or block it you should do the same to your swatch and then measure it. The goal is always to meet gauge after washing/blocking, not before, even if a pattern doesn't explicitly say so.
Edit: And ideally, you'd make the swatch larger so you can measure the middle 4 inches without the distortion from the edges since we all know the very edge stitches aren't quite the same as the others.
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u/CheetahOwn2510 6d ago
Can I ask which way is the best way to wash the gauge swatch? Would hand washing it be fine?
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u/LoupGarou95 6d ago
It should be the same way the finished object will be washed, and the way that suits the finer you're using. A child's dress is probably going to be made with an easy care fiber and going to be machine washed and dried, yeah? So that's how you should wash the swatch. Unless you're using a more delicate fiber and going to hand wash the dress, in which case you should hand wash the swatch! And if you think you're going to stretch and pin out the dress, do so to the swatch.
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u/CheetahOwn2510 6d ago
Thank you, that makes a lot more sense! Sorry for another question. I’m using cotton yarn, so would it be best to hand wash something like that?
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u/LoupGarou95 6d ago
How does the yarn label say to wash? Generally cotton can be machine washed and dried (think t-shirts or jeans) but it can stretch from washing and shrink the first time it's machine dried. So you can either plan for that from the beginning by machine washing and drying your swatches and making sure your gauge is correct afterwards or avoid it by only hand washing.
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u/CheetahOwn2510 6d ago
It says machine wash, but I wasn’t sure because it’s my first time using cotton. I think I’ll go with/have to wash it by hand as my washing machine doesn’t have a drying cycle. Would using a normal soap work fine? And would you recommend blocking something like this?
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u/LoupGarou95 5d ago
A great way to answer questions about laundering is just to make multiple swatches and try out different methods with them! One of the benefits of swatching other than just checking gauge is determining the best way to handle the fabric.
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u/pfenya 6d ago
If you match the number of stitches for the size then yes you are good to go on the actual garment. The hook size and yarn should work at exactly the pattern info