Definition
Gauge
The number of stitches and rows a knitter or crocheter produces over a fixed distance, almost always measured over 4 inches or 10 centimetres. Gauge is the single measurement that decides whether a finished piece fits, because a pattern is written for one gauge and produces a different size at any other.
Measure it on a blocked swatch, over the middle rather than the edges, and in the stitch pattern the project actually uses. Two people working the same yarn and the same needle can differ by two stitches per 4 inches, which is more than an inch across a 40 inch panel.
Tools that use this term
Gauge Calculator
Turn a measured swatch into stitches and rows per inch and per centimetre, and see the stitch count for a width.
Stitch Calculator
Work out how many stitches to cast on or chain, and how many rows to work, for any width and height.
Yarn Calculator
Work out how much yarn a project needs from its finished size, your stitch gauge and the yarn weight you plan to use.