Читать книгу Party Crochet - Sue Whiting - Страница 12

Before beginning the actual item, a tension swatch should be worked. Crochet has a tendency to pull in slightly as the work grows so this tension swatch must be quite large—ideally 6 in. (15 cm) square. Work this tension swatch in the stitch pattern given within the “Tension” section and using the hook size stated and the correct yarn. Once the swatch is complete, lay it flat and mark out 4 in. (10 cm) both across and along the rows with pins.

Count the number of stitches and rows (or pattern repeats if this is how the tension is given) between these marked points and check that it matches the tension stated on the pattern. If there are more stitches or rows than stated within the pattern, the work is too tight and another swatch should be worked using a size larger hook. If there are too few stitches or rows, the work is too loose and a smaller size hook will be needed. Once the correct tension has been obtained, the size of hook required to achieve this tension is the size that should be used for the item.