Help me with the gauge on this crochet pattern!?

Your target gauge equals about 4 stitches to one inch and 1-1/2 rows to one inch. Before starting the poncho, first make a gauge square using the #7 hook (between a G and an H) recommended or a larger hook if you crochet tightly.

1. Chain 24.

2. Follow the pattern and crochet 8 rows.

3. Lay the resulting square flat and square it up. The fabric should look like the fabric in the photo of the poncho.

4. Measure the full length and width with a ruler or steel tape. It should measure about 8 inches wide and 6 inches long.

Using Cat 4 yarn and a #7 hook, you should be in the ball park on size--no more that a couple of stitches or one row off. What could make the line count too small? If you're pulling the yarn too tight when making a stitch. If you're not smoothing the fabric out on a smooth surface before measuring. If you're using a size 7 *steel* hook instead of aluminum (a long shot, but I'm sure someone has done this at some time).

If you need to go to an H hook, make another swatch to check your gauge. Repeat if necessary until you have the right gauge. You can reuse the yarn from the first swatch one or two times, so you might want to go to another fresh ball for the second swatch. When you get the right hook size and are ready to start on the poncho, re-use the swatch yarn.

If you're using a size 7 aluminum hook, 5 rows of double crochet stitches should be way more than one inch from the base to the top of the last row even if you're using a smaller yarn. This is a real puzzle. Thinking you might be using US sizes in Canada (where the numbering system is different from the US), I checked to see if there's a difference in US and UK sizes, but a 4.5 mm hook is a size 7 in both the US and the UK/Canada.

I hope you figure this problem out!

Are you using the pattern stitch for your gauge square? Or the stitch the pattern says to use to measure gauge? If your pattern calls for dc and you are using sc, it's not going to match. You may not be using the same hook size recommended or yarn, but you're way off this way. The good thing is that differences in row gauge can be compensated for by working more rows, but that's too far off to work well.

All I can advise is to keep trying hooks until you get the guage you need. Not being able to see your work, I don't know if you crochet a tight stitch or a loose one.....Sorry....it looks like a lovely cover-up.