Denise Knits!

She likes to swatch it up on me...

Have finished a mostly responsible swatch for the KP Shine. I've used size 4 12" plastic circs. The gauge comes to about 5.5 spi, but mostly 6 spi. In the intrests of being fair, I'm going to knit up another on Addi Turbos to see how the size (5) and different type of needle (a very freaking slick metal) affects my gauge.

Am I really that dedicated? Fuckin' A, I am.

Not so much...the truth is, I am in postal hell waiting on my Addi's to arrive, and I will use any plausible excuse to knit with this KP Shine & Addi Turbos.

I also heard from my SP7 mystery buddy today! Woot! I am so very excited to hear from her. I did finally put up the questionarre.

Hmm, I need to come up with a groovy set of stitch markers for the pal that I'll be spoiling. Sumthin' Special.

Knit-Blocker!

As promised, I steam blocked my swatch following instructions on Knitty to the letter. I was *so* proud of myself. I felt like an accomplished, disciplined knitter. Just to let you know, disciplined isn't a word most folks would use to describe me. I know this, because I asked.

While most of the swatches stitches looked more normal after blocking, I did not get the gauge I wanted to. I was hoping that the gauge would change after blocking, but it didn't. I'm not sure if this means that my blocking was unsuccessful or not. So, I frogged the swatch and I'll reswatch this weekend. I need some size 5's to swatch with, and I have to wait until payday to get them.

I'm a little bit bummed that I won't be able to start my top right away, but T suggested that I do a chemo cap while waiting to buy the needles. After searching the web, I found a pattern that had caught my eye before. And, it's the same gauge that I got with the aforementioned swatch. So, all is not lost with this unfortunate experience!

I'll be casting on very shortly, like right about now! Stay tuned for updates on this cap and the swatch saga.

Sonata Swatch, Part Deux

So, the knitting stage of the sonata swatch is finally complete. My PREblocking measurements are:

20 sts and 30 over 4 inches on size 6 needles. The label calls for 22 sts and 28 rows over 4". We shall see what changes after blocking.

I'm not sure how wet blocking affects cotton yarn, I really wonder if there is going to be any change at all. I'm ashamed to admit that I have never blocked for gauge before. This certainly won't be my favorite part of the project, but if the end result is a well-fitting garment, then I might just change my mind!

   

Sonata, Soleil maybe?

I've begun to swatch up the new yarn for prospective chemo caps and maybe a top for me out of what is left over, there is a lot of yarn here and I plan on mixing some of my personal stash with the donated stash.

Endless Summer Collection by elann.com, Sonata.

The label reccomends a gauge of 22 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches with size 6 needles. I'm about half way done with the swatch, and I can already see that it might be a just a little bit loser than the stitches are intended to be. I will be diligent, though, and finish this swatch as promised.

Confusion is not just a state of mind...

It's pretty much my way of LIFE right now! So, like a good domiKNITrix, I have been swatching away at this softee yarn. Thus far I have done a swatch on size 10 needles, size 9, and size 8. Well, guess what? When I did swatch numero dos (no, i don't really speak spanish) I came out with the same gauge as I did on the size 10 needles. Does this USUALLY happen? Well, I don't know, because I'm not the most disciplined swatcher in knit USA. Another problem with these two swatches is that the stitches were pretty distorted and unevenly sized. I suppose there is something to blocking the swatches before you measure them, eh?

I did another swatch (without blocking) on size 8 needles and got about 14 sts over 4 inches and a row gauge of 22 rows to 4 inches. But again, the stitches were very distorted. I suppose this is a lesson learned for me. Another thing that I wonder, even though that I followed Knitting for Dummies directions for swatching to the letter, I think maybe the lack of a garter stitch border around my swatch may be helping the stitches pull out of wack as well. There isn't one straight row in sight...it appears the curling edges are pulling the stitches outward like an accordian. Another theory, on the size swatch I did with the size 9 needles, I used straight needles. I haven't used straight needles in at least 2 months if not more. Why? Because I am spoiled with circular needles and now I hate them. I have been liquidating my straight needle stash and knitting round and flat with circs. Why? Because I hate straight needles!

So, the moral of this story is...Denise needs to refine her swatching skills. I am going to redo all three swatches with garter stitch borders, properly block them before measuring, and then check my gauge again. I'll post the results here so you can see what I find out. I also need to do some hard core googling on checking gauge for cables. Most cable patterns have a gauge in stockinette, but what gauge do you use when designing your own patterns? This I do not know, but will find out.

Bernat Softee Chunky

I did a swatch for this yarn last night.

I used Natural, pictured below.

Yarn Label information:

15 stitches and 20 rows over 4 inches on size 10 needles. I casted on 21 stitches (15 stitches plus 6, giving me a border for possibly distorted stitches) and knitted 26 rows on size 10 circular needles. I knit the swatch flat, I just like using circular needles better.

My stitch gauge came out to be 12 sts over 4 inches with the reccomended needle size. No surprise there, my stitch gauge is always bigger.

Thoughts on this yarn? It is very nice to work with. The yarn does feel very soft while knitting up and after it's bound off. The only drawback that I could think of is that it's not very stretchy, but stretchy isn't what I'm looking for.

Future destiny...I think this yarn will become a bag. I have finally got the pattern written for it and I'll be doing a swatch for that tonight. Stay tuned for updates.