Crochet Foundry CALs

Every month, a new Crochet Along is hosted in the Crochet Foundry Makes Facebook Group!

The Foundry is the place to be! There you will find crochet alongs, sneak peeks, upcoming releases, coupon codes, giveaways, and more! You can post your WIP’s and finished projects using CF designs, and questions if you’re stuck.

The Current CAL

Crochet Foundry CALs

Every month, a new Crochet Along is hosted in the Crochet Foundry Makes Facebook Group!

The Foundry is the place to be! There you will find crochet alongs, sneak peeks, upcoming releases, coupon codes, giveaways, and more! You can post your WIP’s and finished projects using CF designs, and questions if you’re stuck.

CAL Rules

Rule #1: Join the Crochet Foundry Makes FB Group and look for the post pinned to the top of the page. This is where you will ask questions and post your progress photos.

Rule #2: Choose a Crochet Foundry pattern that you would like to make.

  • Choose from our current issue or any past issue!
  • Grab your yarn and hook and make a gauge swatch. Not sure about gauge swatches? No problem! Check out our quick Gauge Swatch tutorial below.
  • Share progress pics in the applicable pinned post. Each comment/completed item equals 1 entry into our monthly giveaway.

 

Rule #3: Get INVOLVED in this community! We’re here to have fun, get inspired, share our progress, and have the Crochet Foundry Team right beside you while working on a project together! Please feel free to ask us questions anytime.

Rule #4: Enter to WIN a prize! Check the official pinned post in our Crochet Foundry Makes Facebook Group and post a picture of your project. At the end of the month, we will randomly choose one participant to win!

Bonus: Join us for a live event in our Facebook Group every Wednesday at 12 noon EST.

Gauge Swatch

A gauge swatch is used to determine whether or not the yarn and hook you chose will allow you to match the designer's tension for the pattern you will be working.

How to make a swatch

For an example, we will pretend the designer calls for this gauge: 12hdc and 10 rows = 4"x4".

For the most accurate swatch, you will want to chain at least 17, then hdc in the second chain from your hook and across, leaving you with 16 stitches.

The reason for this is that the beginning and end of each row is often a little wonky. Tension can change when turning rows, and the middle of the row will have the most even tension. So skip the first and last two stitches when measuring your swatch by adding a few on either end.

Then you will chain, turn, and hdc across. You will repeat the hdc rows until your swatch is over 4" in length.

How to measure your swatch

Next, take a ruler or a gauge swatch tool and measure 16 stitches across, and 10 rows down.

If your swatch has too many stitches, you will want to go up a hook size, and try again.

If your swatch has too few stitches, you will want to go down a hook size, and try again.

Height also matters, unless otherwise stated. If you find you have the correct number of stitches in the row, but not enough, or too many rows in your swatch, you may want to try adjust your tension by pulling up the loops on your hook a little more, or a little less. If this doesn't take care of the problem, you may want to try a different style of hook, or yarn.