July 16, 2004

Endless swatching ahead

When did I become such a loose knitter? I have pretty new yarn and I want to knit with it, but gauge is elusive. I swatched my Beyond cotton on several needle sizes before settling on 4's for my Shapely Tank (Beyond recommended needle size: US6). I swatched my Jaeger Sienna, aiming for 28 sts per inch. The pattern recommends 3mm so I tried 2.75mm and got 23.5 after washing. 23.5? 28?! I don't think 2.5mm will do it, and the 2.25mm needles are in the doily. So much for that one. Maybe I'm just destined to knit on 0's for the rest of my days.

Swatching just isn't that exciting, and I feel like I just end up with a lot of washed yarn wasted in swatches. And if I start off too loose in the beginning, unraveling the swatch to try again will leave me with too little yarn. (And since it's been washed, I assume it behave differently than if it was "fresh".)

I'm feeling panicked about my knitting prospects. I packed most of the yarn already, and now I'm torn about what I should take with me for the next week vs. what I should ship straight home so that I'll have it when I get there. Wool will be too hot in Colorado, though it would be fine in the rain we have here now. I should have enough tencel wound to finish the front of that sweater and maybe a sleeve. The Segue is close to done -- I just need to choose a neckline -- and will be finished soon. I swatched some new cotton for a baby piece, but I bet it will be too big, too. I haven't put the books away yet; I worry that as soon as I do I'll want something out of them, but maybe I'm safe.

I guess I should start swatching down two sizes. No wonder Johanna is so shocked when she comes over and finds me with a couple projects on 13s (Segue) and 10 3/4 (tencel). I'm starting to wonder myself how I got up to those!

(Pictures next week, I hope? I'm just too shot to try to take them and deal with them lately. And the rain, the singing, and the packing don't help.

Posted by sesamest at July 16, 2004 12:34 AM
Comments

I may have an idea why you are having gauge problems. You are packing, packing, packing. Trying to decide what to ship and what to take can make you crazy. I know this from several moves with children, the last with a 3 year old and a one year old. All of the things going on with you right now are sure to mess with your gauge. My gauge can change just with the mood I'm in. Just a thought. Have a safe trip home.

Brenda

Posted by: Brenda at July 16, 2004 02:02 AM

I usually start swatching 2 needle sizes smaller than the pattern recommends and usually it works out to be just right. If the swatch isn't very close to the pattern gauge, I rip out and do it with a different size needle before I wash it.

Posted by: judy at July 16, 2004 02:13 PM

You may just be getting looser as you get older and more relaxed? I usually go down at least one needle size, but we all know my problems with gauge hardly make me competent to comment at all! :)

Posted by: Nancy at July 19, 2004 04:56 PM

I've never *not* gotten gauge with the suggested needle, but that might change as soon as I start knitting continental all the time...I knit much more tightly that way.

Posted by: Jaimi at July 21, 2004 09:12 PM

I hope you are still getting email from your blog, or that you check in occasionally. I didn't get your message until after I was at Tanglewood, but as usual, I was running to the minute, and it didn't look as though our minutes would match up. I would love to have seen what you bought! I haven't made a Colorful Stitches purchase yet (aside from needles and a magazine), and next week will be my last trip for this summer. It has been a great summer, I have seen alot of concerts and it has been fabulous for Meg. Hope you are setted in. Talk to you soon.

Posted by: Teresa C at August 6, 2004 08:48 AM