Category: swatch project
when swatching for gauge, size matters
I know I’m unique in my love of swatches. Many of my swatches are for fun, aka fundamentals; they’re how I get to know a stitch, a yarn, a tool. I approach them in a manner I believe speed dating might be like. These swatches are often very small and worked quickly; I’ll frequently start…
swatch, don’t skip
It’s that time of year. Everyone’s posting year-end lists and hinting toward what you should do when the calendar year changes. I love to be tidy and organized, but often the pressure of “start on day X” is daunting and causes me to rebel by not doing it. January New Year’s Resolutions, I’m looking at…
a swatch can teach you more than a ball band
My newest student knit me a beautiful swatch the other day. Even tension, consistent stitches, a lovely rectangle of garter stitch fabric. There was one just problem: I’d meant for them to knit stockinette. I asked them to “knit for several inches.” By that I meant knit one row, purl one row, aka stockinette. They…
Swatch Thoughts: Focused vs Sampler
There are as many ways to swatch as there are to create. Two of the most common methods are sampler and single swatches. A sampler can combine multiple techniques, materials, or tools in one. A single swatch, by contrast, decides on the variables and keeps them consistent throughout. Is one swatch better than the other?…
Swatching to answer: Why?
A friend who primarily knits with her hand spun, emailed me with a question the other day. She was trying to crochet with her yarn, but the plies would untwist as she worked. Did I have an idea what was wrong? She’d heard something that s and z twist mattered for crochet. Could she use…
Swatch Library Project Update & Stitch Dictionary Review
Today as I work on new swatches and tidy up my notes, I am refining how I organize my information. I have a stack of stitch dictionaries and a large mug of tea to help me prepare for future swatches. This post covers two topics. It includes an update to the Swatch Library Project and…