Swatching

I’m not knitting much on actual projects these days – the red shawl for my grandmother is finished, except for blocking, and the lace cape is being stupid and is on time out to think about what it’s done…

I’m in the mood for summery projects, and have been swatching for Daylight by Martin Storey, using Rowan Summer tweed in the colour Oat.

 

The chart in the book (Rowan Kasbah Collection) is a bit difficult to follow, because it has all three sizes, front AND back on the same chart, so I have redrawn the chart for my size in Excel.

The top is very short, so I will be using a provisional cast on, and knitting the lace pattern bottom up first, then picking up stitches, and knitting the waist rib top down afterwards. As I have one extra skein of yarn, I will probably be able to make it a bit longer.

The second project I’m swatching for is the Bubble Pullover by Norah Gaughan. As many others, I would like a more fitted version of the sweater (it’s really oversized), so I have been trying to figure out the right gauge and measurements. I’m using Marianne Svit Supersoft yarn, in Crocus (which is beautiful). Two strands will make worsted weight, and I tried that first, on 4.5 mm needles. The pentagon got too large, though (I’m aiming for 12.5 cm sides), so I tried again with a single strand on 3.5 mm needles.

That seems to be about the right size, which is a bit annoying, as I don’t have a 40 cm circular in 3.5 mm (and I just bought 2.5 and 3 mm to make baby stuff, forgot the 3.5, apparently!)

And last, but not least, I’m knitting a vest ‘Inderst inde’, in Filcolana Merci, 50% merino wool, 50% cotton, in Lavender. It is for my stepsister’s daughter, who will be born in July. Three of my friends/relatives are having babies in June/July, and I have had a hard time coming up with ideas on what to knit for summer babies, as I can’t knit with 100% cotton (always knit too loose). The Merci yarn is working out, and since it’s just a vest, it hopefully won’t bee too hot, even with the wool content. It’s really soft too.

I don’t have a picture though, as I had to unravel it because I was converting it to knit it in the round, and I messed up something (well done for 2x2 rib!) so that the rib wouldn’t go with the lace pattern on the chest.

Also, I bough A LOT of yarn, and will post about that in another post.