ince I’ve been stuck on Sleeve Island for a while now, my knitting needles have been eagerly waiting to cast on for something new and exciting. I went delving into my yarn stash and spied some lovelies begging to be made into wearable items. This was when I began a Swatchathon.
Like most knitters, I’m not a huge fan of the gauge swatch. However, I religiously complete this small yet extremely tedious task before knitting a pattern (especially an adult-sized garment). Apparently, swatching is the new black!
Swatch numbers almost never lie. If you’re in doubt, swatch again. Trust me, I’ve learned this the hard way!
So here’s a list of things NOT to do when you’re dealing with the whole gauge swatch business:
* Measure while your knitting is still on the needles. Been there, done that… er, the finished object that came out of that mistake was nothing like the designer intended!
* Stretch out your square and tug at those last couple stitches to make them fit the 4 inch mark. You mean you never do that, am I the only one?
* Knit a swatch that’s smaller than 4 inches square. Guilty…
* Measure and realize that your gauge is just a bit off (like 3 stitches off!) stick your fingers in your ears and go la-la-la. Continue to cast on with the wrong needles!
* Look at the words row gauge and think, “Row Gauge, Shmo Gmauge” and wonder why that’s even a necessary number to take into consideration. Apparently it’s very necessary, ask me how I know that!!
* “Forget” to wash and block your swatch the same way you would wash and block your completed knitting. Let’s face it, you just want to get to the fun part – casting on!!!
* Figure you’re a tight/loose knitter and go up/down a needle size (or 2) than what the pattern recommends and avoid swatching altogether.
Things TO DO when you’re dealing with the whole gauge swatch business:
**** Embrace the gauge swatch. Your knitting will thank you for it!! ****
Lete
Guilty Your Honour 🙂
I almost never knit a gauge swatch 😉
Bobbie in AK
Hello,
Relatively new to your blog. I hate to swatch, but am doing so more and more. Your swatches are perfect. Next time I swatch I will remember to add a garter border on all sides. Yours look so much neater. Thanks for the do’s and don’t’s.
Pearlin J
these are sooo useful hints I will keep in mind.I’ve wanted to knit garments for sometime now. tfs
fridica
I’m guilty of most of the charges. : )
Your swatches look so lovely though, I should really make them properly some time!
lucette
I just finished the world’s biggest swatch–half a sweater. I learnt a big lesson.
great post. so what will you be making?
Kelly
yessss but what are you making?????!!
knitnkanmani
hehehe PPP guilty of every single not to do ,and never do guage for 4 inches ,lovely post ppp
Monique
So very true…all of it!
kavisagi
It was nice of you to put all those points together. 😀 Any knitter is guilty of at least one of them..