I checked gauge as I was knitting my swatch. It appeared as if my knitting was getting tighter and tighter. It went from 6 spi to 6.5 spi. I was a full stitch tighter than the pattern gauge. Yet the fabric I was producing was very loose and holey. In my short experience as a knitter, 1 stitch looser or tighter usually means about 2 needle sizes. In this case, I would probably have to go up to Size 7 needles. I worried about what my fabric would look like. Probably not something I would like very much.
I decided I would wash, block and re-measure gauge before I decided on anything, but even this worried me. Usually, blocking tightens things up, right? Anyway, swatch has been blocked. I am at 6 spi. Pre-blocking - I was at 6.5 spi. And somehow the fabric looks tighter than pre-blocking. The yarn softened - which I already knew it would do. But did it bloom?
If my math is correct, I can knit at my current gauge and follow the 39" bust directions, and I will have a finished bust of just under 36" which is what I want. The in-between size problem has been resolved!
I am happy, but nervous. I am going to check gauge A LOT. Here I go - I'm casting on.
5 comments:
If bamboo is anything like cotton, I really recommend washing your swatch. Some patterns expressly call for this because the yarn blooms when it gets wet. I don't remember if this one did, but I'm going to wash and block my swatch anyway -- I'm a tight knitter and don't want to end up with a baby-sized tank!
agggh. I am now feeling stabs of guilt, because I'm basing my gauge on an unwashed swatch, which has already been disassembled and knit into my current work. After all your observations, I guess I'd better buckle down and do an actual washed swatch.
Are any of you worrying about swatching in the round vs. flat? Cause I don't really want to.
My stockinette was knitted back and forth, because the part that concerns me is the bust and that part is knitted back and forth.
excellent. That rationale totally works for me :)
My friend that got me knitting is wondering if Sharon Shoji used the other SWTC Bamboo which is more tape-like and thus less "holey."
In any case, I cast on my 230 stitches and hoping for the best.
Post a Comment