Help with gauge would be appreciated!

I haven’t knitted anything more than scarfs in years and my daughter has asked for a sweater for Christmas…so…
The pattern is made with Lion Brand Yarn Wool-Ease Thick & Quick. The gauge is 8/12 = 4 inches. My stitch gauge works out just fine but my row gauge is off by a couple of rows. Since the pattern just says to knit until piece measures so many inches, does the row gauge being off matter?
Thanks for any suggestions!!!

The most important gauge is the stitch gauge for most patterns. Since you just knit to measurements in inches as you note, the row gauge won’t be a problem.
(Raglan sleeves are one place where it is more important to come close on row gauge.)