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Yarn Gauge Calculator

Turn your yarn swatch gauge into cast on stitches and row counts for any project width and length.

Gauge to project

Measure your blocked swatch, then enter the project size.

Cast on
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Enter your gauge and project size.

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From swatch to cast on

Divide the stitch count by 4 to get stitches per inch, then multiply by the project width. A gauge of 20 stitches per 4 inches is 5 per inch, so a 20 inch wide scarf needs 100 stitches cast on. Rows work the same way against the length.

Why swatches must be blocked

Unblocked swatches lie about gauge because washing and blocking relax the yarn and change dimensions. Always wash and dry the swatch the way you will treat the finished piece, then measure the relaxed fabric.

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Yarn Gauge Calc FAQs

How many stitches do I cast on for a scarf?
Multiply your stitches per inch by the scarf width. At 5 stitches per inch, an 8 inch wide scarf needs 40 stitches, plus any edge stitches your pattern needs.
What if my gauge does not match the pattern?
Change needle size first: go up a size if you have too many stitches per inch, down if too few. If you keep your own gauge, recalculate the cast on with this tool.
Should I measure the swatch edge stitches?
No, measure the middle 4 inches. Edge stitches are distorted by the selvedge and give a false gauge reading.
How do I convert gauge to cm?
Divide stitches per 4 inches by 10.16 for stitches per cm, or just work in inches throughout since the ratios are the same.
Do I need to adjust for pattern repeats?
Yes. Round the calculated cast on to a multiple of the pattern repeat plus any edge stitches, so cables and lace line up correctly.
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