How to Crochet a Stitch Swatch

Let’s talk about how to crochet a stitch swatch and why it’s important to add stitch swatching to your crochet repertoire.My inheritance from my grandma was a few well worn crochet hooks and her bag of crochet swatches.  They are like snapshots of days gone by.  I remember the afghan she made mom in the 1980’s.  Her “fisherman” afghan phase.  All the doilies and lace.  I see part of a slipper and a scrap afghan piece.  And patterns here and there that I don’t remember at all.  I hold them in my hands and I think of her hands working the yarn and hook.  And I feel her with me, teaching me, talking to me.

If you read Everything I Needed to Know I learned from Grandma, you know that Grandma’s first language was not English and she couldn’t read a written crochet pattern.  But she was very gifted at looking a photo and figuring out how it was made.  

So for Grandma, her crochet swatches were her patterns.   And when she wanted to make something, she would pull out her bag of swatches and she had everything she needed.

So fast forward to today.  Sure, swatches were great for a grandma would couldn’t read a crochet pattern, but are they useful for people today? You betcha!

Here’s why:

• A stitch swatch is a great way to learn a new stitch pattern and to see if you like it.
• You can test out a specific yarn with a specific stitch pattern to see how it moves, drapes and behaves
• You can test out how a specific pattern works in different size hooks or different weight yarns
• You can use a swatch as a spring board to a new project–like an afghan pattern, for instance
• Practice your swatch patterns by making them into dishcloths
• Or make your swatches bigger and make a patchwork afghan
• A swatch is a good way to explore new things in crochet and to develop your crochet skills.

Here is the best way I’ve found to crochet a stitch swatch.  Work enough of the pattern so you can see any necessary repeats and so that you can really touch and feel the finished fabric.  Purchase sales hang tags.  You can pick these up at the office supply store, or buy them on Amazon.  On one side, write the name of the stitch.  On the back side write other important information.  You may want to write out the stitch pattern.  Or perhaps write the source of the stitch pattern so you can find it again. Then just slip the hang tag on the swatch and you’ll have the information you need right with the swatch!

We’ve covered a lot of crochet basics and I thought it would be fun to share stitch patterns now and then on the blog. Here are some important things to know before we get started:

• Be aware that the same stitch pattern often goes by many different names.  Also know that sometimes 2 completely different stitch patterns will be called the same name.  I will always try to list any name variations.  If I miss one, just leave a comment on that post and I will add it to the “also known as” list for that stitch.
• Think about where you will store your swatches.  A bag, basket or small box will work fine.
• The stitch pattern will be listed in “multiples” “Plus”.  So if the pattern says a multiple of 3 + 2, that means the pattern repeats over 3 stitches, but you also need to add 2 for the pattern to work correctly across the row.  So if you want 3 repeats you would chain 9+2 for a total of 11 (3 times 3 = 9, plus an additional 2).  Sometimes the pattern may also instruct you to add a couple of chains on the foundation row.  This is to account for the starting turning chain.  The math works the same.  First you multiply the number of times you wish to repeat.  Plus the “plus” number and then plus the extra on the foundation chain.  This information is mostly so you know how to use the stitch in your own projects

We will be starting the swatches soon.  So pick up some hang tags so you can mark the stitch swatch when you are done.  You may also want to purchase some special yarn just for your swatches.  Or designate some yarn scraps for this purpose.

I’m excited and I hope you are too!  Let’s take our crochet to the next level!

I love seeing your finished projects! If you enjoyed making one of my patterns I’d love to see yours on Instagram, be sure to tag me @crochet365knittoo.  If you are on Facebook, stop over to the Crochet 365 Knit Too Facebook page or pop over to the Crochet365KnitToo Club and share a photo!  I’d love to see your work!