Janet Page is your vertical gauge too short? If it is you can make more rows to try to match until you reach the size needed that matches gauge. But, with a garment make sure you are adding rows in a section where it adds length but that parts like your armholes line up.  Another thing too is you will want to measure your actual garment piece for gauge as you work since gauge can change/vary on larger fabric compared to gauge.  Or you can try to pull up a little bit on your stitches as you work them to see if that helps but that could possibly affect your gauge width as well a bit.  Depending how much the difference is you can block your work after as well to help with that. I've seen videos on YouTube that mention how depending the person and how they crochet some pull the stitches up naturally and others don't... the video talked about 3 different styles and how you can modify your stitches a bit depending on what you do while you crochet, one is called yanker, I can't remember the other 2.

I've heard folks say it doesn't make much of a difference to block acrylic but I haven't heard of whether the yarn is machine washable to have any effect on that whatsoever.  Blocking cotton/ bamboo makes a difference but also depends the blocking style you will use and the type of garment you are making.  If the pattern suggests blocking I would block, it does make a big difference. I've steam blocked acrylic and it relaxes the stitches and the end piece looks better.  If you're nervous about it you can always make a swatch with the stitch you are using and just block the small swatch to see how you like it and what you think. 

Sandra Palmer  I know Bag o Day crochet recently came out with a tutorial for one and Make and Do crew also has a free pattern and tutorial for one. I haven't made either of those yet. I've only made the regular bucket hat. Let me know if you need the links to those free patterns or video tutorials.

Tiffany Hansen  you're welcome. I think it might be helpful to mention in one of our calls how we can tag someone when we comment / make a post and how to check our notifications with the bell icon. I think maybe not everyone knows to use those different tools here for this site. :)

Tiffany Hansen

Tiffany Hansen tagging Tiffany in case she didn't see your message.

very cute duck! :)

Beautiful!!  Can you share the pattern please that you used if you used one?  Thanks.  Very pretty yarn too

Sandra Palmer thanks :) very true

Sandra Palmer  thank you so much Sandra for remembering and for the birthday wishes.  :) I'm a bit too tired to do a trip anywhere today but I did decide to try and make Bag O Day's pineapple shawl as a present to myself.