How To Crochet a Swatch

Ready to finally understand how to crochet a swatch? This beginner-friendly guide will walk you through exactly how to make one, why it matters, and how it can actually save you time and frustration in your projects.

A lot of crocheters skip making a crochet swatch, thinking it’s a waste of time or yarn—or just not necessary.

Others aren’t even sure what a crochet swatch is or why they should bother with it.

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone!

But here’s the thing: a crochet swatch is more than just a little test square.

It helps you check your stitch and row size, understand your yarn, and make sure your project turns out just right.

So, grab your hook and some yarn—we’re starting with the basics!

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

What is a crochet swatch?
What stitch should I use to crochet a swatch?
What can I learn from a crochet swatch?
How to Crochet a Swatch
Video Chat

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What is a crochet swatch?

A swatch is just a small sample of a stitch, fabric, or pattern.

That’s it!

Think of a crochet swatch like a sneak peek of your finished piece—without the commitment of making the whole thing first!

What stitch should I use to crochet a swatch?

You’ll crochet a swatch with whatever stitch(es) are listed and used to create the exact fabric in your crochet pattern.

For example, this free Sunhat Crochet Pattern is made with alternating rounds of double and single crochet stitches.

Crochet Sun Hat Pattern in Six Sizes

If you need to crochet a swatch for this project, you’ll work up a small sample using those exact pattern stitches.

And to make a gauge swatch (more on what gauge means next), you will also use the suggested yarn (or something similar), to make sure everything looks and feels just right before starting the full project!

What can I learn from a crochet swatch?

Here are some of my favorite reasons to crochet a swatch, outlined in this video (or, read all the tips below): Do You Need To Crochet A Swatch?

Swatch to Practice

Just like any other skill in life, if you want to really master something you’ve got to practice!

In crochet, creating a swatch can help to practice in advance, before you start your project.

A practice swatch in crochet can help you to:

even the tension of your stitches and fabric,
get a feel for the stitch and row repetition of a pattern, and
learn or practice new and special techniques before using them in a project.

No matter how long you’ve been crocheting, starting with the absolute basics is always a good idea.

You can find basic tutorials for stitches, techniques, and more to try right here: How to Crochet: A Step-By-Step Guide for Beginners

How to Crochet: A Step-By-Step Guide for Beginners

Swatch for Color

Will color enhance or hide your fabric?

Color combinations can make or break a project, so creating a swatch will help you to choose the best colors for it.

Seeing how colors look together with a swatch of your project will help to decide the order, placement and total number of colors you’ll use.

Each crochet swatch above has the same number of stitches and rows, but the colors are arranged differently in each one.

The goal?

To see which color combo best highlights the stitch pattern!

If I were making a full blanket, I’d want to be sure the colors I choose enhance the design rather than hide it.

Testing it out on a swatch first makes that decision so much easier!

Swatch for Yarn and Fabric

Before starting a big, expensive, or time-consuming crochet project, wouldn’t it be great to know if the yarn you’re using is actually a good fit?

Will it be easy to work with?

Will it complement your pattern?

And how will it hold up after washing and wear?

A simple crochet swatch can answer all of those questions!

By working up a small sample first, you can test the yarn’s texture, feel, drape, and durability—helping you make the best choice before committing to the full project.

The image above showcases six crochet swatches, each made with 10 double crochet stitches and 10 rows.

While the color varies between them, the real difference lies in the fabric and texture.

These swatches are made from different fibers—acrylic, wool, cotton, and blends—each creating a unique look and feel.

By making a crochet swatch, I was able to test how each yarn worked up, how it looked as a fabric, and even how it might hold up after washing and wear.

It’s a simple but powerful way to make sure a yarn is the right fit before committing to a full project!

You can learn more about yarn substitution in this Easy Reference For Crocheters.

Understanding Yarn Substitution: An Easy Reference For Crocheters

Swatch for Gauge

There are a few reasons a swatch is a good tool in crochet, and gauge (size assessment) is just one of them.

Gauge is a measurement of the stitches (wide) and rows (tall) within a fabric, typically offered in a 4″x4″ square.

Not every crochet project is size essential, so you don’t always have to swatch for gauge; it’s only crucial if size is essential to your project.

Crocheting a swatch for gauge will display your stitch and row measurements, which will determine the finished size of your fabric.

Example: 16 Dc Sts = 4″, 8 Dc rows = 4″

Another way of explaining the example gauge listed is:

4 double crochet stitches measure 1″: for every 4 double crochet stitches worked, 1″ of fabric will be made.
1 row of double crochet stitches measures .5″: for every 1 row of double crochet rows worked, .5″ of fabric will be made.

The image above shows three crochet swatches, each made with 10 double crochet stitches and 10 rows.

While the colors differ, the main point I want to highlight is the size variation.

These swatches are made from different yarn weights—3, 4, and 5—which results in a noticeable difference in both stitch width and row height.

This clearly demonstrates how the size of the yarn and the crochet hook you use can significantly impact the overall size of your stitches and fabric.