I didn’t check gauge for using different thread, but I did decrease hook size to 1.8 to get the fabric I liked. The only change to pattern was to increase the length of the holes to fit the rod I was making the valance for, from ch5 to ch10 and on the third chain which is the chain to bring the lower two together to a bundle of three, I did a ch6, sc (on the connection), ch6. I love it! Wonderful, easy pattern.