Knitting guage help needed

[SuffolkBargeWoman]

I've had great help with guage questions here before, under a different username, hoping someone can help again.
The pattern says 8 stitches by 12 rows should = 10cm by 10 cm
My 12 rows give 10cm
But my 8 stitches give 8.75 cm.
It's a very chunky wool on ridiculously large needles.

Any ideas how to fix the guage?
If I go up a size in needle won't I end up with my row guage being wrong?

I don't have much faith in the pattern tbh.

Thanks!

Hi there,

I usually make the swatch and figure out how many stitches are in 1cm. (You can do that by measuring how many fit in to 5cm then times that by 2 and divide by 10). This gives you stitch count for 1 cm.

I then measure my chest to figure out what size you are and then times this by the number you figured out earlier.

and then whatever number I get I see what is the most closest number at the end of reglan in the pattern. Then I knit that size instead knowing that at the end of reglan increases I would have the right size.

Hopefully this makes sense! Let me know if it doesnt ☺️

If you 'block' the square you've knitted, does that bring it up to size?

@Ladywithacat that does make sense, thank you.
@StarInTheHeavens 😶I shamefully admit I didn't block it, given the fact it's 100% wool that's pretty stupid of me! I will do that and see what difference it makes.

Thank you both!!