Gauge Swatch-First time-Have a question

[Rennagayle]

I have never made a gauge swatch before. Not having knitted an actual garment before now, it never seemed truly necessary.

I am knitting a child's Hoodie, and the gauge is:

16 sts + 24 rows = 4 in. [10 cm] in St st (k on RS, p on WS).

I knit my swatch, and my horizontal stitches are exactly right on, 16 stitches in 4". However, my vertical gauge (rows) is short by 2". Should I be concerned?

[Ingrid]

Most patterns have you knit for a certain number of inches for the length, so I wouldn't worry about the row gauge. The stitch gauge is the one to pay attention to.

[Rennagayle]

Good to know! Thanks, Ingrid.