It’s fair to say that I am pretty surprised to be dedicating a Things I Like Thursday* post to swatching. I am not not a swatcher… or at least, I wasn’t. But now I am trying to design my own patterns, it turns out swatching is quite useful. I am in the process of designing some neckwear (a scarf I think) and I want a house pattern on it. So I swatched the pattern idea and this is what I learnt…
Slipping the first stitch of each row gives a lovely edge – I can see on my swatch a row that I forgot to do this for. My cable cast on is too loose compared to me cast off edge (I’ll opt for the tighter, long-tail cast on). Also I can see that my pattern placement works, as does the garter stitch edging.
I am really only dabbling in serious swatching here. I should have probably blocked it and also knitted it in exactly the right yarn (I am designing for Malabrigo sock yarn as I just treated myself to a few skeins…) But this is a good start!
*Technically it’s Wednesday today… oops! Got my days a little mixed up!
I’m not a swatcher but I really should start doing it I think. But I’ve always wondered – when you’re watching to check gauge for, say, a garment, and you work up the swatch in the proper yarn – what do you then do with the swatch? Do you rip it out and reuse that yarn in the garment, or is that yarn just gone forever now?
Hi Shanna – not sure as I am not really a maker of garments. If I was to make, say, a jumper, I’d probably treat the sleeve as a swatch so nothing is wasted and unravel it until it is right
Martine
Hi Shana. I’m not a big guage swatcher, but when I do, I frog it and use in my garment.
I’m not a swatcher either… I know, I know, that’s so bad! I should be sent to a knitting corner and forced to knit with terribad needles until I start swatching.
Anyway, I really love the color and your design. You did a great job with the houses. I love Malabrigo sock yarn. I have several skeins of Malabrigo, but haven’t knitted anything with it — yet.
Aww thanks so much! The swatch is in the yarn I used for my Twiglet Mitts as I had some left over. It’s Quince and Co Tern, really nice. The real pattern will be in Malabrigo Sock which I think will have more drape. It’s a heavenly yarn! I will work hard to get this pattern done just so you can knit it with a one of those skeins…
I know! I enjoy design swatching too! Not at all as dull and guage swatching! Beware though, it can become addictive and you never get started on the actual pattern!
x
Ahhh I am learning this! X
Yeah yeah, we know it’s useful, but ughhhhh we just want to DO the project! not a square that takes an hour before we even get to start!
I quite agree – only swatch for my own designs!