Sophie scarf length/blocking

Hello!

I completed my first project: a Sophie scarf. It was a hard lesson in gauge because my final piece was too short. My mom is a seasoned knitter and suggested blocking which will hopefully lengthen it. She then taught me about gauge and I went to the store and sized up on my needles and my gauge seemed right. That being said, I’m at the halfway point and it’s coming up a bit short still.

Is this common for anyone else? I don’t want to make the larger pattern because as-is the width is good for my neck.

Thanks for any feedback! May just add some extra rows here in the middle to make it a little longer.