Since my list of crafty resolutions for the year is so ambitious, I figured while I was trapped indoors by the latest snowstorm in my area, I might as well make use of the time and get a head-start. So I soaked my swatch, and it’s drying now.
I’ll be checking it tomorrow to see if I made gauge for my first adult sweater. Yes people, take it from me — swatching is important! Trust me, it’s not for the birds! It can make the difference between a wack project and an awesome one.
Sidebar: Wack meaning:
Something that just plain sucks, or isn’t cool at all. Lame.
Don’t be fooled by the following:
Got it?!! Okay then!!
Obviously, being trapped indoors is making me loopy! LOLOL!!! 😛
My goal this year is to make at least two sweaters for myself and I think Flax is a good place to start. It’s part of TinCanKnits Simple Collection and another one of my goals is to work through the entire collection so this project will be a two-fer. 😛
Last year (2013 — it feels so weird saying last year) I conquered my fear of knitting in public. In December, I knitted on my subway rides to and from work and that’s how this sweater is going to be done. Since it’s mostly stockinette stitch, something mindless that I can do on the train, I have no doubt that I could finish this project in good time.
I did the swatch just before the year closed but I need to see how much the yarn will grow when wet. I also need to see if I’ll have to do down a needle size. I want to get all that done before the end of the weekend. Cause Monday, if you’re in NY, and taking the train, I’ll be that woman with a million bags, knitting needles, serenely working on her sweater in the chaos that’s her transit system. I can’t think of a better way to pass my commuting time; can you? 😀
D'NALI 
I am also knitting my first sweater EVER!!!!
Yay!!! 😀 Have you started yet?
Yes ma’am!!!! Almost skipped the gauge swatch but i figured that it was kinda important 🙂
My swatch grew like crazy; I’m glad I took the time to do it.
P.S. which pattern are you doing?
I am doing French braid cardigan by Tanis Lavallee
Ooooooo, I just looked. It’s really nice!
You know… I never even knew about swatching until around three years ago. It’s something I never did, since that wasn’t how I was taught and it’s something I still haven’t done with the small or large items I’ve made.
I have met a few others like myself, but they are mostly older. For example, most of the ladies in my quilting group (they are all over 70) knit and none of them swatch. I only know that, because a few years ago, I asked them about it and they were a bit puzzled by the process. I will say that even though those ladies were swatchless knitters the garments they created were exquisite.
For me, it’s a bit puzzling since I never ran into any issues not swatching for the small or larger articles of clothing I’ve made. I measured as I went, and the items weren’t oddly formed… because of that I haven’t felt the need to add that step? 🙂 So yeah… I most likely won’t be swatching anytime soon. I guess I’m set in my ways, eh? 😉
My friend Elisa doesn’t swatch either, and she measures as she goes along also. But she credits that to favor from the “Gauge Deity” so maybe you’ll highly favored that way also! LOLOL!
All kidding aside, I guess everyone has to do what works for them. It must be awesome to not have to swatch. I don’t swatch smaller items like hats etc, but I’m glad I swatched for this sweater. The cotton fabric bloomed tremendously so I would have ended up with an over-sized sweater if I’d just depended on my unwashed swatch.
What a great sweater! And agree that it is a perfect way to spend a commute x
Thanks Sam! I can’t wait to get started! I have to swatch again since my cotton grew, but I’ll do a blog post about that later this week.
This is going to be awesome in that Colorado. I’m going to knit the same sweater for my son this month. I’m using navy blue acrylic. (Knit picks brava)
I meant color. Stupid a/c even gets me on my tablet.
LOLOL! I feel you friend! 😀 My Knit Picks Simply Cotton yarn grew ridiculously after soaking and blocking so I’m going to swatch Brava worsted in FairyTale.
That’s my favorite colorway from KP. I bet it will be beautiful. I picked Brava because I knit a Wallaby for my DS and it’s only gotten better every time we’ve washed it. He loves it very much and I think that’s partially because he thinks the yarn is so soft and comfy.
LOLOL! I saw Colorado and thought … is she predicting my future? Am I moving to Colorado? LOLOL!
^ Miss Cleo. 😉
LOLOL! 😀
First time I tried to make a sweater it came out so bulky & heavy I ended up giving it away. It wasn’t just gauge I had to learn, but also the weight of yarn. I may attempt a sweater again if I see a pattern I like and find a bargain on a bulk pack of yarn. Speaking of which, Vogue Knitting Live is coming up in a couple of weeks. Maybe I’ll find something there.
Yes! I agree, even with this simple one, I’m learning so much about gauge and yarn content. It’s definitely going to be a learning experience and I’m glad for that.
Vogue Knitting Live, I doubt I’ll be attending. Let me know if you’re going though. Maybe I might just meet you for the company and to pick up another yarn bowl.
I do plan on going since I totally missed it last year. I’m thinking of making a bunch of christmas gifts for folks this year, so I don’t have to worry about shopping, LOL. Simple stuff like scarves & hats for the men, and maybe some fancy cowls for the ladies.
I might look into some yarn bowls too. I hope they have some for big skeins ’cause a lot of my skeins like the ones I bought at Rhinebeck are really huge and would never fit into a regular yarn bowl.