June 26, 2011

Yarn: KnitPicks Essential Kettle Dyed 4-ply, 75% Superwash Wool, 25% Nylon, in Spruce

Needles: 3.25 mm / 3 US

Gauge: 6.75 stitches and 9 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Stockinette, with some random embroidery

Source: N/A

Comments: After several hours of trying to convince myself not to buy a very fun sock yarn at work today (I think it would make the cutest kids' sweater!), I came home and dug out some sock yarn from my stash, which was also purchased with kids' clothes in mind.  If I make this one up quickly enough, maybe that other yarn will still be there when I'm done, and I can buy it then! :)  (yarn Karma is a powerful - and very useful - thing!).  I have some ideas for how I want this one to look, I'm just not sure if I'm on the right track yet.

June 25, 2011

No swatch today...  on the plus side, I did manage to get my stash closet organized.  It's amazing what a shelving unit and a few plastic boxes can accomplish!  :)

June 24, 2011

Yarn: GarnStudio Drops Alpaca - 100% Alpaca, in blue/turquoise mix

Needles: 3 mm / 2.5 US

Gauge: 6 stitches and 7 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Diagonal Fern Lace

Source: BW1, p. 211.

Comments: I am quickly losing my appreciation for Alpaca.  The long (guard?) hairs that come off the knitted fabric drive me crazy (mostly because they make a garment look old and worn out well before its time!) and I'm not entirely sure that the prickly feeling I get in my fingertips and on the backs of my hands as I knit aren't actually a developing allergy to the stuff (I'm staying in denial on that factor, because sometimes you can't not knit with alpaca).   Part of the problem may be that many of my alpaca yarns are heathered and/or variegated in some way, which further detracts from the stitch definition.  I will have to dig out my off-white alpaca, and see how it looks knit up on a very small needle!  :)

June 23, 2011

Yarn: Green 4-ply yarn, in some kind of wool/acrylic mix, and Dazzle HT Sock Yarn from the Natural Dye Studio, in colourway Old Gold

Needles: 3.5 mm / 4 US

Gauge: 6 stitches and 10 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Woven Stripe Pattern

Source: BW1, p. 60.

Comments: This swatch got the official nod of approval from Mike (an unsolicited one, even!), so you know it has to be good... :)

June 22, 2011

Yarn: Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed, 85% Wool, 10% Silk, 5% Cashmere, in Dove

Needles: 4.5 mm / 7 US

Gauge: 5 stitches and 6 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Purl-Twist Fabric

Source: BW1, p. 125.

Comments: This yarn was sent to me as part of a swap - it was the leftover bit from a skinny scarf that my SP made for me.  I didn't think much of the yarn at the time, but now that I've used it, its lovely - too bad its only available in Australia!  After blocking it bloomed really well, and now its soft and squishy, and I'm sure it would be really warm too.  It works well with this fabric too - dense without being heavy, and thick enough to enhance the squishiness of the yarn...  Hmm.. I wonder if anyone in North America happens to be selling this via Ravelry... :)

June 21, 2011

Yarn: Noro Silk Garden, 45% Mohair, 45% Silk, 10% Wool

Needles: 4.5 mm / 7 US

Gauge: 4 stitches and 6.5 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Baby Cable Ribbing

Source: BW1, p. 40.

Comments: A little variation on your standard 2x2 rib. As usual, the colour changes in this yarn detract from the pattern a little, but at least the twists aren't entirely hidden.

June 20, 2011

Yarn: 100% Jacob Wool, heavy DK/light worsted weight, in natural dark brown 

Needles: 5 mm / 8 US

Gauge: 4.5 stitches and 6 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: stockinette with a ribbed middle section.

Source: N/A

Comments: I <3 this yarn too!  :)  I bought this at Woolfest, a British Fibre Festival, way back in 2008.  I have 6 skeins of it, but for the life of me I can't figure out the exact yardage - which is why its next to impossible to decide what to do with it.  But thanks to Darcy, I think I may have a solution, and then hopefully I can make this into a wearable sweater already! :)   (This swatch was meant to give me an idea of gauge, so I can start looking for pattern ideas.)

June 19, 2011

Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Merino, 100% Worsted Weight Merino Wool, in Plum Heather

Needles: 5 mm / 8 US

Gauge: 4 stitches and 6 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Double Knotted Lattice

Source: BW2, p. 207.

Comments: Okay, so I have to stop saying that the new version of this yarn isn't as nice as the old stuff.  This is really nice yarn - soft, durable, and as you can see it has great stitch definition.  And its cheap - especially when you buy it from Michael's using one of their 40% off coupons! :)  I have this leftover from a cabled sweater I'm working on at the moment, so I thought I'd use it for more cables.  This particular stitch can be used as seen here, in a 30-stitch cable panel, or you can extend it, and make it an all-over cable pattern.  Its quite big though, so I think you'd want to use it on an adult-sized garment rather than a kids' one (at least in worsted yarn, as seen here).

June 18, 2011

Yarn: Dazzle HT Sock Yarn from the Natural Dye Studio (I think - I got it as unmarked mini-skein.. I also don't know the exact colourway)

Needles: 4 mm / 6 US

Gauge: roughly 7 stitches and 9 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Feather and Fan Stitch/Old Shale

Source: BW1, p. 205.

Comments: Sometimes the best stitch for a variegated yarn is a simple lace pattern.  :)

June 17, 2011

Yarn: Rowan Wool Cotton, DK weight 50% Cotton/50% Wool, in Gypsy and Moonstone

Needles: 4 mm / 6 US

Gauge: 4.25 stitches and 5.5 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Elongated-Stitch Waves

Source: BW1, p. 81.

Comments: This is an odd one... the elongated stitches are made by double-wrapping the knits and purls, but then dropping off one of the wraps when you come to knit or purl it again.  I think it would be really hard to use this in a garment - first off, I think the needle should be smaller than normal for the yarn, to keep the regular stitches nice and tight, and then you'd have to make sure it was blocked evenly both horizontally and vertically - there seems to be a lot of play in the stretched stitches.  Also, don't make my mistake - remember to carry the contrast yarn up the side all the way along so the selvage doesn't get stretched tight like mine did! :)

June 16, 2011

No swatch today either, although I really have no excuse... :-(

June 15, 2011

The Stanley cup playoffs were too stressful to allow for knitting, and then I just sat in shock watching those morons riot downtown, so I didn't knit a swatch today...

June 14, 2011

Yarn: King Cole Merino Blend DK, 100% Superwash Wool in Wine, Cascade 220 100% worsted weight wool, in Gold, Knit Picks Merino Style, 100% Merino Wool in Moss, and Berroco Vintage Worsted, 50% Acrylic, 40% Wool, 10% Nylon, in Breezeway

Needles: 4 mm / 6 US

Gauge: 5 sts and 8 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Striped Check Pattern

Source: BW1, p. 59.

Comments: I grabbed these four colours out of the box without paying much attention to how well they matched with one another - I guess I got lucky, because they don't look too bad!  Not sure I'd make a garment out of this combination, but I think its fun for a swatch at least! :)

June 13, 2011

Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Merino, 100% Worsted Weight Merino Wool, in Red

Needles: 4.5 mm / 7 US

Gauge: 6 sts and 6.5 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Rank and File Stitch

Source: BW2, p. 21.

Comments: This swatch demonstrates the dangers of randomly putting a border on a stitch pattern without first working out the tension - and that's why the garter stitch border is all wonky! :)

June 12, 2011

Yarn: Unknown acrylic DK yarn

Needles: 4 mm / US 6

Gauge: 5.5 and 7 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Rib and Braid Pattern

Source: BW2, p. 201.

Comments: Barbara Walker suggests this as a creative alternative to the standard 2x2 rib pattern... on that suggestion, I thought I'd try it out to see how quick it is to work.  Turns out, I'm not convinced.  But its nice anyway...

June 11, 2011

Yarn: I think its Dazzle HT Sock Yarn from the Natural Dye Studio, in colourway Old Gold...  better known to me as a mini-skein of fun birthday yarn, sent to me by my good friend Claudia! :)

Needles: 3.5 mm / 4 US

Gauge: 6 stitches and 9 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Brocade Chevron

Source: BW2, p. 148.

Comments: I call this one the 'Charlie Brown Textured Stripe' because it can't help but make me think of Charlie Brown's yellow shirt.  I'm so wanting to make a little kiddie's top with one of these around the middle! :)  It would have to be a teeny top though - or at least knit in a chunky yarn - or else it wouldn't be the right proportion to the rest of the top...  :)

June 10, 2011

Yarn: Elann Peruvian Baby Silk - 80% Alpaca/20% Silk, in Parchment

Needles: 3.5mm / 4 US and 5.5mm / 9 US

Gauge: roughly 5 stitches and  6 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Banded Insertion Pattern

Source: BW1, p. 16.

Comments: The stockinette sections of this stitch are knit with the larger size needles - it makes it a little hard to get a proper gauge count, but it gives a nice drapey look to the fabric.  I wonder how it would look if you used something like a 3.5mm and a 10mm needle.

June 9, 2011

Yarn: DROPS Karisma, 100% Superwash Wool in Black

Needles: 4 mm / 6 US

Gauge:  4.5 stitches and 7 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Horseshoe Pattern

Source: BW1, p. 209.

Comments:  I seem to be knitting a lot of lace out of this yarn... weird how that's working out.   I think this pattern could make a nice shawl/wrap - but you'd want to knit it from two sides and then graft them together in the middle so you get the pointy edge on both ends.

June 8, 2011

Yarn: Cozy Toes Woolens, 100% Wool, in Green

Needles: 4 mm / 6 US

Gauge: 4 stitches and 6.5 rows per inch 

Stitch Pattern: Close Braid Cable

Source: BW1, p. 249.

Comments: I LOVE this swatch!  :)  That's helped by the fact that this is my absolute favourite yarn at the moment - its a 2-ply pure wool in a heavy DK/light worsted weight, which comes from Sunset Farms Studio on Salt Spring Island, one of the little islands just of the coast of Vancouver.  The wool is so soft (especially after a bath in Eucalan!), it comes in great colours, and just look at how well it shows off cable stitches!  I've made 2 pairs of socks for Mike out of this yarn and he still says they're his favourite socks.  Having seen this lovely little cable swatch, I am so making myself a cabled jumper from this yarn!   :) 

June 7, 2011

 Yarn: Patons Beehive Shetland Chunky, 75% Acrylic/25% Wool, in Dark Teal

Needles: 5.5mm / 9 US

Gauge: 3.5 sts and 5.25 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Seaweed

Source: BW2, p. 10.

Comments: This stitch could be a good one for a scarf, since there is no proper "right side" - the image on the left has the even-numbered rows, while the image on the right shows the odd-numbered rows.  It also benefits from not being harshly blocked, because once you flatten it, you lose much of the wavy nature of the stitch.  I think this could be really striking in a yarn that shows stitch definition really well!

June 6, 2011

Yarn: Pingouin France +, 50% Acrylic/50% Wool (DK) in Tweedy Blue

Needles: 4 mm / 6 US

Gauge: 4 sts and 8 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Gull Stitch

Source: BW1, p. 248.

Comments:  So if you ignore the number of purl background stitches between each cable, the main difference between this stitch and the Mock Gull Stitch from yesterday is that there are two extra rows of slipped stitches between each cable twist.  (And of course, traditionally, this one is worked with a cable needle, but given that there were only three stitches in each twist, I just cabled without the needle for most of this).  I like this version better, but then it may have something to do with the yarn - I always think that tweedy yarns were meant to be used in cable sweaters!   :)

June 5, 2011

Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Merino, 100% Worsted Weight Wool, in White

Needles: 4.5 mm / 7 US

Gauge: 6 stitches and 7.5 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Mock Gull Stitch

Source: BW1, p. 106.

Comments: There aren't enough cable swatches in my collection... not that this one is a real cable, but at least its close. Stay tuned tomorrow for the non-mock version of this one. :)

June 4, 2011

Yarn: Koigu Painter's Palette Premium Merino (KPPPM) in colour P334 (they don't have names, sorry).


Needles: 3.25mm / US 3

Gauge: 6.5 sts and 9 rows measured in garter stitch

Stitch Pattern: Quilted Lattice

Source: BW1, p. 182.

Comments: I saw a version of this stitch used with very bright variegated yarn, and loved the way the lifted bars really made the colours pop.  I found this bit of leftover Koigu in the stash, and thought I'd try it out.  I like it, but I think you'd have to cut down on the number of lifted bars to put this into a garment, otherwise it would be much too busy.

June 3, 2011

Yarn: Unknown acrylic DK yarn in off-white, and King Cole Merino Blend DK - 100% Superwash Wool, in Wine

Needles: 4 mm / 6 US

Gauge: 6.5 stitches and 6 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Simple Vertical Stripes

Source: BW1, p. 51.

Comments: Normally, alternating colour stripes require all kinds of fancy fair-isle.  This approach is so much easier! :)  The white stripes are much wider than the burgundy ones - I'm not sure if that's the yarn's fault, or if its due to how tight I pulled the yarn as I slipped the stitches - it blocked fairly flat, so I think its the yarn's doing.

June 2, 2011

Yarn: Shepherd Classic 100% Wool in Orange and Brown

Needles: 4 mm / 6 US

Gauge: 5.5 stitches and 7 rows per inch 

Stitch Pattern: Stripes Test

Source: N/A

Comments: I was inspired by yesterday's ripple stripes so I threw them into the mix on this test swatch.  I have a plan... now I just have to finish a current WIP so I can start this one.  :)

June 1, 2011

Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Merino, 100% Worsted Weight Wool, in White and Red


Needles: 4.5 mm / 7 US

Gauge: 4.5 stitches and 5.5 rows per inch 

Stitch Pattern: Ripple Stripes

Source: BW1, p. 55.

Comments: Stripes with a twist!  :)