I mentioned in an previous post that I’m working on a cardigan and finished a gauge swatch! What’s a gauge swatch? It’s essentially a square that you either knit or crochet (depending on your project) to help you determine if you have the right tension for the project. This is accomplished by counting the number of stitches and rows in a predetermined area (such as 4 inches x 4 inches). The stitches that you knit or crochet for this swatch is dependent on the pattern. If your gauge swatch doesn’t match the number of stitches that the pattern notes it should have, then you need to change needle size.

I’ve admittedly been indifferent about gauge swatches in the past, and it’s no surprise that I later paid the price for my laziness. Now I’m trying to be a little more diligent about them. It’s definitely a boring but necessary process for garment making.

After you complete the swatch, you have to block it – there are a couple of different methods for blocking, but this helps even out the piece and “set” the stitches.

Here’s how to block a gauge swatch (with kittens).

1. Take your swatch and block based on the pattern instructions. My pattern said I needed to wet block, which means that I immersed it in warm water for fifteen minutes (did I do five minutes instead of fifteen? I think we all know the answer to this question).

Bonus points if your kittens, without your consent, decided that your gauge swatch and needle are their toys, and you have dropped stitches as a result.

2. If you’re wet blocking, you’ll first need soak off the excess water with a towel.

3. Next, it’s time to set up your blocking mat. These are technically infant play mats that I purchased years ago at Toys”R”Us, at the recommendation of a local yarn store (they were much, much cheaper).

If you are blocking your gauge swatch with kittens, this is when you realize that you cannot leave this blocking mat unsupervised.

4. Carefully pull the gauge swatch so that the stitches are even, and pin to the mat. Make sure your kittens understand that this is no longer their toy.

5. Haha, just kidding! Your kittens won’t listen to anything you say. Watch helplessly as they defy your authority.

6. Move the blocking mat, pins, and swatch to a location inaccessible to kittens.

7. Let dry and measure once completed. Mine matches the pattern (mostly), so next step is actually getting started on the project!