I've been knitting 2 years and I do believe this is my very first swatch. I've checked gauge before (and only once) but the project was already started. Saturday I start a Knit to Fit Sweater class. A swatch is required - washed and dried no less. Here is my swatch in the yarn I'm going to be using. The ridges separate the different needle sizes. I used sizes 6, 7, and 8 for the swatch. I generally like a pretty tight fabric. The 6's are too tight and I feel the 8's are too loose.
Those of you who know me, won't be surprised by my yarn color. I love black. The photo above is actually lighter than the actual color but the stitches show up better in this picture. It's really about 2 shades lighter than black. Hey, I figure if I'm only going to knit one sweater, it probably should be one I can wear often. Right?Last week my blog friend, Linda, sent me 4 knitting magazines she found while organizing her home and she sent them on to me. I had no idea that Fons and Porter had put out a knitting magazine. Linda, thank you, I'm enjoying these a lot! Check out Linda's blog, she's had over 5 feet of snow this winter and her husband is still smiling while shoveling snow. She is also a fantastic quilter!
Happy Stitches!
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18 comments:
Your class sounds like a fun one! Black is practical to wear, I am wearing a sweater in your yarn color right now and I sat I like bright colors! :))
Happy knitting!
You have been a knitting macnine here lately!~! Gotta love that!~! Thanks for your nice words on my blog....Quakers and reds...my favorites!~~ Faye
I hate swatching! lol! I also hate knitting in black -- but that's probably because I tend to knit cables and things and black makes it hard to see. I love wearing black though. :D I didn't know Fons and Porter put out knitting mags either! Who'da thunk it!
Huh? did you say swatching? I don't like to swatch and usually just do the gauge thing..I'm a new knitter so I'm sure that "attitude" of mine will catch up with me someday.
I have seen the knitting magazines and I do like them also.
Love your yarn color and I hope you have a great class.
I sooo want to take that class, but the Clone has some sacramental prep things going on that would cause me to miss at least one of the classes, if not more. I'm one of those students that can't miss class or I miss too much to continue. I hope she offers a class like it again soon.
I'm happy to hear you're enjoying the knitting magazines. For those who may not know, Fons & Porter's shop and offices are in Winterset, Iowa, about 35 minutes from Des Moines, so we have access to a lot of F&P stuff, including Liz Porter who is the quilt guild president this year.
Knitting for gauge looks about as much fun as practicing free motion quilting on a sample, before starting on a quilt - a necessary evil. Have fun with your project.
YGG on the swatch! I love black, too. Good for you on the knitting mags!
Even when I do a swatch, my sweaters never seem to fit right. Hope you have better luck! And good lighting to see the black!
Have fun with your knitting class! I hope you share progress photos of your sweater. Black has always been one of my favorite colors to wear!
I checked out your friends blog and I think that I'm going to enjoy reading it. I love that yard you picked for your sweater. I'm a black wearing person too, so I'm going to be anxious to watch your progress on it! And I just saw those knitting magazines by F&P a couple of months ago. If they're as good as they're quilting magazines, they should have some great patterns in them.
You continue to amaze me with your oh so neat and precise work! It is beautiful and perfect. I don't really know what swatching is, but I'm guessing it is a way to check out your stitches to see if they are coming out the right size?
The mags will be great to have and peruse!!
I love black too...in fact I wear so much of it, my youngest thinks it's my favorite color, LOL! At least I can get away with wearing all those funky stripey socks that way :)
Is this simply to decide on which size needles you will use for the sweater? I do love the yarn. I don't knit and when I want something, I beg my mother to make it...lol.
Please stop in at my blog. There is a surprise for you.
Hugs from Holland ~
Heidi
Can't wait to see the sweater. Your swatch is looking good.
yes swatching is important in ensuring the garment will fit - I just completed almost the whole back of a sweater and when measuring for the armhole decreases I thought - HUMMM - this looks huge and EGADS - it was huge -it is about 5 inches TOO WIDE! No way I can just make an oversized jacket - it's huge plus I would run out of yarn before completion - AAACCCKK - I'm faced with a rip back and I'm just sick about it - I'm sure I checked gauge I always do - so I guess the next hard lesson is to check your work once the garment has started to make sure you are still on target - Good luck with the class
Mel
I just browsed and my goodness at how busy you have been..knitting..quilting..stitching! All beautiful..your applique looks fantastic. I also need to practice that on my machine. Looks like so much fun!
I never knew Fons & Porter put out a knitting magazine either.
I don't think I have ever made a swatch before either. I like the size 7 needle section best.
Your swatch is just lovely! Um...checked out Linda's blog with all the snow. Oh man...I'm gonna stop complaining about it being cold around HERE! Yikes, that's alot of the white stuff!
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