Pick the craft
| Craft | Example | Bigger number means |
|---|---|---|
| Knitting and crochet | 20 stitches per 4 in | Smaller stitches over the same span |
| Wire measured in AWG | 20 AWG ≈ 0.81 mm | Thinner wire |
| Sewing machine needles | 80/12 = 0.80 mm | Thicker needle |
| Steel crochet hooks | Numbered steel sizes | Smaller hook |
Knitting and crochet
Here gauge is the number of stitches and rows in 4 inches or 10 cm of your fabric. Match the pattern’s gauge and the piece comes out the pattern’s size. See stitch gauge, gauge swatch and the stitch-gauge calculator.
Wire and needles
In American wire gauge, higher numbers are thinner: 20 AWG has a bare conductor diameter of about 0.81 mm. Other wire gauge systems use different numbers, so keep “AWG” with the size. Sewing machine needle sizes go the other way: in 80/12, the metric 80 means a blade diameter of 0.80 mm, and larger metric numbers mean thicker needles.