House of Gray
Pretty much a life size swatch
Frantic knitting over the past three days after I hit on a stitch/yarn/color combo I like and decided to knit a hat and scarf based on it. The hat did not come out the way I wanted from the shaping and size point of view, so this amounts to a giant swatch. The main problem is that I have no idea about how to decrease and I sort of improvised as I went. Now I have to figure out the math of decreasing and, even harder, see if I can decrease in pattern. Then I’ll have to knit another hat and find a name for the pattern. This naming thing is starting to stress me.
On a happier note, on Friday I met with Lydia, a fellow blogger from Seattle that I’ve known off an on since the days of my old blog. Meeting in person was a lot of fun and I hope to see her again when I travel up north in a couple of months.
And if, like me, you couldn’t attend Woolfest, head over to Knitsofacto to check out some magnificent sheep. While you are there, look around the archives for historical musing on Welsh knitters, thoughts on photography, and more.
Posted by Francesca | 7 comments
Lydia
You did so much since you showed me that little swatch the other day! This is slow knitting? I think you have a name for it with your post title, or you could call Rainy Day, or Rain, or Overcast; Fog. Anybody from Seattle could help out when something is gray and you need a name…..
We’ll definitely have to schedule a visit while your here, especially if you want more of those chocolates.
dee near Berkeley
I understand the need to follow up on an idea, the more complex the better. Great “swatch”, great stitch pattern. Waiting for its arrival in print…
I just discovered your blog. Where have I been??? On your Annotated Swatch – I’ve used the knots-as-needle-size for years. It was the obvious off-shoot from my machine knitting days, using yarn overs at the base of the swatch for the same thing. Too much distortion for hand knitting.
One addition – I always start playing with a new yarn by doing a needle-size strip swatch. I cast on maybe 15 to 20 sts, depending on size of yarn, using needles WAY too small, knit an inch or so, then change needle size by ONE size larger, and, at that point, make a yo to mark the change. Continue to a needle size WAY too big, bind off & wash, being sure to mark the original needle size in the tail of the cast on with knots. As long as I stick to my one-size-at-a-time rule, I can figure out what size needle produces the fabric *I* like. Then and only then do I go on to a “real” swatch. The number of times I’ve been surprised by the results is too large to remember.
Another tip, and you heard it here first – there are times when a tag is absolutely necessary. What to do? The perfect tag should be washable and tough. How about cutting up a Tyvek envelope and using a super-skinny Sharpie for writing, then fasten it onto the swatch with crochet cotton? I tie a loop of crochet cotton, pull the loop through the label then pull the end of the loop through itself, to hold the label; then pull the loop through the swatch and pull the label through the loop. Hey, presto! done. I came up with that (she says, modestly) and it works like a charm. Yes, sometimes the ink gets paler, but never illegible, in my experience. I store the Tyvek envelopes (large size), pens, crochet hook and scissors together in a clear envelope. Easy to see and find in the bookcase when a tag is needed. I record yarn type, color, dye lot, etc. That, plus knots, and you’ve got it made.
And, yes, now that you ask, I believe that I *do* have a form of OCD. I prefer to think of it as “crazy Virgo-ism”, but what’s in a name? Especially amongst knitters of a certain intensity?
MaryjoO
love the stitch — what is it?
Annie
And a very interesting swatch it is too :)
Thanks for the mention x
Cillaann
Love the new hat…
Emmy
That stitch pattern is really nice!
fleegle
Even if you don’t like it, it’s a handsome hat!