303. The Swatchbuckler

The Swatch Nazis in Utah, when I was visiting last summer, told me I have to swatch. Cripes. So I've been a regular little swatchbuckler lately, to get ready for a sweater I'm planning to make. Well, as usual, I got perfect gauge. I swear to you, I'm not bragging (If it's the truth, it's not bragging, right?) when I say I always get perfect gauge. One of these days the gauge gods will smite me, I suppose, for being so smug. And then there are those who say that gauge swatches lie, so the mere fact that I get perfect gauge might actually mean nothing. 

So why exactly do we do this again?

I LOVE this yarn. I definitely definitely DEFINITELY want this for a sweater for ME. It's Rowan Magpie Tweed, in an oatmeal color.  I don't think it wants to be this sweater for this person, though.  (Besides, I don't want to share.)

This one is, yes, perfect gauge.  It's local Vermont wool, the concept of which I love.  You know me and how I feel about "local."  I love this color for this sweater and this recipient. But this swatch is more like a loofah than a sweater.  I did not know this when the yarn was in the skein, before I knitted it up.  It'd be more appropriate as an exfoliator in a pedicure package.  One of you is going to get this with a bar of soap and a jar of foot cream for Christmas. (You think I'm kidding?) Or it could be a pot scrubber, come to think of it.  Don't use it on your Teflon pans, or it will mar them. 

Also, I have learned, through interviewing the intended recipient of this future sweater, that he is a little bit of a princess-and-the-pea kind of person, and also that an Aran-weight sweater might be too heavy and hot for him, so we might be switching to a Plan B.  Plan B is in the R & D phase at the moment, and let me just say that now is a far, far better time to find this out than after I started (or, horrors, finished) knitting a man's sweater. 

So.  I have learned something here:

I should swatch to find out what yarns I don't want to use in my sweaters.

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Today is Another Winner Day!  We have some winners to tell you about. 

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1 skein Berrocco Ultra Alpaca Fine + 14 oz Soak + $20 gift card to Kaleidoscope Yarn Shop goes to: Leah
 
Black Bunny sport 100% superwash merino in Brazilwood, organically dyed. 350yds + mini quilt goes to: Cheryl M.

The Secret Life of a Knitter + 100 yds Lobster pot 100% cashmere + handwarmer pattern + $10.00 Gift Certificate to Anne Hanson's online shop goes to: Jane L.
 
2 x 430 yds, superwash sock yarn -  'Fire on the Mountain' and 'Twilight' goes to: Katie C.  (Katie is another one of those lucky ones like Cynthia!  She already won in an earlier draw.  That's the way with random chance.  It is truly random.)

Check your email boxes, winners.  Paula will be writing you soon, if she hasn't already, asking you for your mailing addresses.  Thanks again to everyone!
 

The current total reported to us is $2,795* from 86 donors. Can we make it 100 donors, do you think? 

*This differs from the much larger total reported to me by the OFA. (Yay!)

 

Comments

[Cheryl S.]

There you go. A perfect reason to swatch.
We really do know everything here in Utah.

[Sarah]

Sorry about the local yarn. The first yarn will be a yummy sweater for you.

[Kristen]

Perfect gauge. Bah! A pox on your house!

[Opal]

We'll see how long your streak of perfect gauge swatches lasts now that you've shouted it out to the world! You're tempting fate, sister. ;-)

[sandy]

PSHAW! There. I spewed some of my precious diet coke on the screen with the loofah sweater. I did. You don't doubt me, do you?
I love the pedicure package. It should be a prize, doncha think?
[URL=http://www.millan.net][IMG]http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/evilgrin.gif[/IMG][/URL]

[sandy]

rats. it did not work. Try this:

[sandy]

Yes, there it is. :D

[Nora]

Snort. Perfect gauge, my ass. Mine is perfect, too, as long as I go up at least 2 needle sizes from recommended.

What?

[gayle]

I've never had a gauge swatch that wasn't a filthy rotten liar. But I make them anyway just to see what the yarn will look like (or feel like) knit up. So, not a total waste of time. I guess. Probably.

[margene]

NEVER put a garter edge on your swatch. It will make the swatch lie. You must knit it as you would the sweater...flat, in the round, in pattern, etc. And don't forget to wash your swatch.
Swatch nazi signing off.

[Gretch]

Don't give up on the Vermont yarn yet. Try giving it a nice bath to see if it soften and puffens up. I hear tell this is likely, but have no personal experience (still working on it...). Gauge is good. Unless you really want to get started. Use a sleeve...!

[Teresa C]

Well, I usually put a garter edge on my swatches, but I make big swatches, like 6x6 or larger and I have to agree: WASH your swatch. Wools and other animal fibers bloom when wet, so the gauge may change, but most importantly you may find that the fabric changes altogether and that scratchy in the skein and swatch yarn will soften up and be just lovely in the garment.

[Marilyn]

Please, please, please swatch the Lauren's Coral Peace Fleece. I'm planning on ordering enough for a sweater but I'd love to see what it looks like knit up first....

I hope I'm not asking too much?!? I AM a loyal lurker. :)

[Marcia]

A) WHY did they discontinue that Magpie Aran Tweed, why??!!
B) All the healthy things you are doing for your body and you are still using Teflon pans?!

[Diana]

So happy to be able to send another skein of cashmere to someone who gave.
Diana

[sara]

Swatch, smotch. I think I've made it pretty clear on my blog how much I like swatching. LOL

[marianne]

I've swatched a few times, heh, they DO lie but sometimes they're spot on. It's a crapshoot.
Congrats to the winners!

[Imbrium]

Swatchbuckler...hee!

And I'm with Gretch...give that Vermont yarn a good washing before you give up on it. I've seen wool do amazing things once it hits water.

[Lucia]

I have proof that swatches do in fact lie.

[Seanna Lea]

Even with doing a swatch sometimes the stitch pattern in one section is just different enough to make one area have a different gauge than another (or the last project I finished where I used 3 sets of bamboo needles and some Denises... all with slightly different gauge changing properties). I don't like doing the swatch, because I tend not to buy the extra skein very often so I'm always wondering if I am going to run out (hasn't happened yet).

[Cookie]

One can never be too smooth. Just sayin'...

You know what I think about people who claim swatches lie. /ahem

Must question Margene about swatch styles now. xo

[Stephanie]

I read "Another Winter Day" at first, and almost ran to the hills. Not looking forward to cold so much this year.

And yes, swatches tell you what you you don't want to use in a sweater. I agree with that more than with gauge. Plus, it's a more fun reason to make a swatch. In my weird world.