Avoid spooky surprises and get your tension just right! ๐งถ๐ป Before we dive into the magic of the #MoonlightMagicCAL, thereโs one important thing we need to take care of: the gauge swatch.
Swatching is a great way to get familiar with the yarn, test out the stitch combinations, and ease into the project โ like a warm-up before the crochet adventure truly begins.
And in this case, itโs especially helpful. The #MoonlightMagicCAL wreath features 3D shaping, yarns held together, and multiple hook sizes, so getting your tension right will help everything come together just as the designers intended.
It only takes a few minutes, and it can save you from some hauntingly off proportions later on. ๐๐ธ๏ธ Are you ready to get started?
Youโll Be Making 3 Swatches
Each swatch tests a different yarn and hook combo used in the final project. Work them in a spiral (no joining rounds) and measure the finished circle across.
What Youโll Need:
- The yarn from your #MoonlightMagicCAL kit
- A 2 mm hook and a 3 mm hook
- A stitch marker (optional but helpful)
- A ruler or measuring tape
Good news: The kits include enough yarn to make a few of these swatches without needing to unravel them later โ so you can keep them as handy little references as you work through the CAL.
Pattern for All 3 Swatches
Each swatch uses the same pattern โ just switch yarn and hook size as listed below.
Swatch Pattern (worked in a spiral):
Rnd 1: start 7sc in a magic ring [7]
Rnd 2: inc 7 times [14]
Rnd 3: (1sc, inc in next st) 7 times [21]
Rnd 4: (inc in next st, 2sc) 7 times [28]
Fasten off.ย
Swatch 1
Yarn: Yellow cotton + yellow print held together
Hook: 3 mm
Your swatch should measure approx. 4.5 cm / 1.75โ across
Swatch 2
Yarn: Lilac cotton + lilac mohair held together
Hook: 3 mm
Your swatch should measure approx. 4 cm / 1.5โ across
Swatch 3
Yarn: Black cotton (single strand)
Hook: 2 mm
Your swatch should measure approx. 3 cm / 1.25โ across
My Swatch Is Too Big/Too Small โ What Now?
No worries! Thatโs what swatching is for. Hereโs how to adjust:
- Swatch is too big? Try a smaller hook size
- Swatch is too small? Try a larger hook size
Your goal is to get as close as possible to the suggested size. Donโt worry if youโre a tiny bit off โ just make sure your tension is consistent.
A Few Swatching Tips
- Donโt skip the yarn combos โ holding strands together can change your tension a lot!
- Work in the round as described, just like in the final project.
All Set?
Once your swatches are done and your tension is on point, youโre ready to jump into the CAL with confidence! Part 1 drops on September 3! ๐ป
Need help or want to share your swatches? Join the Hobbii Make-Alongs Facebook group to show off your progress and chat with fellow makers.
Now youโre really ready to work some yarn magic. ๐งโ๏ธย
Canโt wait to know more? Ilaria and Irina share just a liiittle bit more about the project in this blog post. ๐
