December 25, 2011

Yarn: Schoeller + Stahl Merino Mix, 51% Merino/49% Acrylic Worsted Weight yarn in Beige (it looks a little green here, oddly).

Needles: 4 mm / 6 US

Gauge: 5 stitches and 7.25 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: O Christmas Tree

Source: St5, p. 138-139 (stitch 134)

Comments: I had rather a busy knitting day on Christmas Day, but didn't actually get to knit this swatch till the next day.  But I'm posting it for Christmas Day anyway, just because I can.  :)

September 29, 2011

Yarn: Cascade Yarns Ecological Wool, 100% bulky weight wool in Gunmetal

Needles: don't know

Gauge: 3.5 sts and 6 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: "How to make a bobble" swatch

Source: Darcy!

Comments: Today's swatch is a guest swatch! :) Apparently she made it as a means of showing her friend Sam what a knit bobble looks like.  Thanks Darcy!  :)

September 22, 2011

Yarn: Tivoli Celtic Aran 100% Superwash Wool in Beige 

Needle: 4.5 mm / US 7

Gauge: 5 stitches and 6 rows per inch 

Stitch Pattern: Clamshell

Source: BW2, p. 129.

Comments: I made a mistake in this pattern, and fixed it half way through - look closely, and you may be able to see it.  Basically, I reduced the increased stitches by knitting the 5 stitches together, instead of knitting them together through the back loop as I was supposed to do.  You can see how the stitches in the top two rows of, um, "clams" twist slightly to the left rather than to the right.  I thought maybe this would affect how well the clams stand out, but I don't think it does.

September 18, 2011

Yarn: Patons UpCountry 100% bulky weight Wool in Olive green, and Lamb's Pride Bulky 85% Wool, 15% Mohair in Khaki

Needles: 5 mm / US 9

Gauge: 3.5 sts and 6 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Picot Stripe

Source: BW2, p. 117.

Comments: These look like little Christmas trees to me... I think this one, like the flowers from the other day, would make an interesting border along the bottom edge of a sweater or something.  Or maybe in a felted item, where it would bring some texture to the piece?

September 14, 2011

Yarn: Tivoli Celtic Aran 100% Superwash Wool in Beige 

Needles: 4.5 mm / US 7

Gauge: 4.5 sts and 6 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: The Anchor

Source: BW1, p. 288

Comments: To round out the sailing vacation that took me away from swatching for ten days, I thought I'd knit this anchor motif.  Good for a blanket square or themed project, I think, but perhaps not so useful elsewhere.  :)

August 22, 2011

Yarn: Dale of Norway Heilo, 100% Sport weight wool, in Goldenrod

Needles: 3.5 mm / 5 US

Gauge: 4.5 stitches and 8 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Margaret Murray's Pattern - Filler Square

Source: Knitting Counterpanes: Traditional Coverlet Patterns for Contemporary Knitters by Mary Walker Phillips, p. 65.

Comments: This book is really making me want to knit an entire counterpane (also known as a bedspread).  I'm loving these little knit from the centre squares that are used to join the larger panels together (many of the panels are hexagonal/octagonal, hence the need for the filler squares in the middles, and filler triangles for the edges).   Maybe I'll make some of the main panels next - if I make them in cotton, they'll make lovely dishcloths!

July 8, 2011

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

Needles: 4.5 mm / 7 US

Gauge: 4 stitches and 6 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Blackberry Bobble Pattern

Source: BW1, p. 145.

Comments: There are many ways to make bobbles, most of which involve making 3 or more stitches out of one stitch, turning the work and knitting or purling across the work on or more times, and then passing one of those new stitches over the next until you're back to only on stitch.  This one is pretty typical also - make 5 stitches out of one ([k,yo, k, yo, k] into the one stitch), purl across, knit back, and then pass all the stitches over the last one, one stitch at a time.  Yet for some reason, these bobbles don't work so well.  I think they're sloppy-looking, a little too flat, and not bobbly enough... maybe its because of the yarn overs?  I've done other bobbles that have you knit and purl into the stitch to make the increases (its like doing a kfb, but you do several of them into one stitch), and somehow that looks better... maybe I will have to take on 'find the perfect bobble'  swatch project or something! :)  (I'll have to remember to do it in a lighter-coloured yarn - this purple stuff doesn't photograph very well!)

May 8, 2011

Yarn: Patons UK Fairytale Colour 4 Me DK, 100% Wool

Needles: 4 mm / 6 US

Gauge: 5.5 stitches and 8 rows per inch 

Stitch Pattern: "Cable Motif F"

Source: Aran Throw pattern, from the Step-By-Step Knitting Workbook by Debbie Bliss (the new version has a slightly different title)

Comments: This wasn't the motif I intended to knit - the pattern doesn't have a diagram or picture of the entire blanket indicating which motif goes where, nor does it offer any charts for the motifs (hopefully they fixed this in later editions!).... so I read through Motif F quickly, saw the bobbles, and assumed I had the right one.  So much for my assumptions!  :)

April 18, 2011

Yarn: King Cole Merino Blend DK, 100% Superwash Wool in Chocolate

Needles: 4 mm / 6 US

Gauge: 4.5 sts and 7 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Cathedral Windows

Source: KBB, page 204.

Comments:  I shortened this pattern slightly, and managed to finish with exactly the right amount of yarn - I don't think I'd have had enough for even one more row!  :)  There are little bobbles at the top of each window - can you see them?

February 13, 2011

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

Needles: 4 mm / 6 US

Gauge: 4.5 sts and 7.5 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Growing Flowers

Source: Nicky Epstein's Knitting Block by Block.

Comments:  This is the old version of this yarn, the kind that actually contained pure merino wool.  I used smaller needles to get a firm fabric which helps the flowers stand out.  Admittedly, this is more of a block/panel than a swatch, but at least I learned a new way to make bobbles! :)