The annotated gauge swatch
Annotated gauge swatch
My favorite solutions to any kind of problems are usually low-tech. After throwing out dozens of gauge swatches for which I had lost all references, I ran across a simple tip in one of my knitting books — if only I could remember which one. As Woodrow Wilson said: “I not only use all the brains that I have, but all that I can borrow.”
The tip was to leave a long tail when casting on for the swatch and then tie as many knots in it as the number of the needle used to knit it. Since I am strictly a metric girl, I adapted the system to my needs.
I tie a series of knots close to the swatch where each knot stands for 1 mm, then a little further away another set of knots, each of which stands for 0.25 mm. As you can see in the picture above, the 2/2 rib part of the swatch was knit with 3.25 mm needles and the part above the rib with 4 mm needles (click the image for an enlargement).
Now my needle size is embedded in the swatches themselves and I don’t have to fiddle with safety pins, labels, and such. The best part is that I can embed the information immediately, before putting the swatch through the wash.
What about information other than gauge? I am still working on that.
Holst Garn Supersoft worked double with different size needles
Derya
Ahh, I LOVE low-tech! This is a great tip. If you’re knitting a st st swatch, you could also work the needle # as corresponding purl bumps somewhere in there.
Lorette
Ok, I’m stealing your brains, too. I have a whole pile of little pins and string tags, but can never find them when it’s time, and they don’t go through the wash very well. ;-)
Annie
I’m with Woodrow Wilson on the borrowing of brains … a great idea shared is all the better for being so … thank you again Francesca, henceforth all my swatch tails will be knotted ones :o)
A thought re adding in more technical info … where it’s not immediately obvious from the swatch a third set of knots for yarn weight using the Standard Yarn Weight System 0-6 ?
How are you finding the Holst Garn? I recently bought some Holst Garn Samarkand – same weight as the 100% wool, but 75% wool and 25% silk – and although so far I’m only swatching it’s knitting up a dream.
dada
Annie,
I love Holst Garn Supersoft. It’s perfect for color work: light fingering weight, low twist, a hundred colors, all gorgeous and heathery. It has a faint sheep odor that goes away with washing and because of the spinning oil it blooms only with the wash. I know some knitters dislike that, but the yarn is still beautiful to me and I love how it changes with washing. I have also been very happy with the seller in DK, prompt and helpful. I like this yarn so much that I am going to use it for all sorts of projects, not just stranded color work.
Off to check the Standard Yarn Weight System.
Annie
It does sound very like the Samarkand, beyond the difference in fibre content. I certainly don’t mind some spinning oil residue in yarn, which the Samarkand also has. Can I ask where in DK your Holst Garn came from? I bought mine from Laine & Tricot in France (www.laine-et-tricot.com) … they stock some really interesting yarns not generally available in the UK.
dada
I buy directly from Holst Garn (http://holstgarn.dk/en/). Ordering from the US the shipment costs are steep, but there is no sales tax.
Italian Dish Knits
Well, that is just brilliant. And so simple. Thanks for sharing!
Asplund
What a great system! I’m borrowing your brains, that’s for certain. Swatching will be even more fun now!
janel
That’s a pretty cool system. I’ve also seen people encode the needle size by purling the number of stitches of the needle size into the swatch, but I think your method works no matter what kind of swatch you’re doing.
Claudine
Super cool tip. I am stealing that one! :-)
fleegle
I think it was the Aztecs who wrote actual books by tying knots. You’re on your way!