November 14, 2011

Yarn: Tivoli Celtic Aran, 100% Superwash Aran Wool, in Taupe, and KnitPicks Wool of the Andes, 100% worsted weight wool in Chocolate

Needle: 4.5 mm / US 7

Gauge: approximately 6 stitches and 7 rows per inch - this one is hard to measure!

Stitch Pattern: Chain of Triangles

Source: BW2, p. 100.

Comments: I had intended to knit this one with a dark background and light triangles, but the pattern didn't specify which of yarns A and B in the pattern corresponded to the dark and light colours in the photo (That's a complaint I have about many stitch dictionaries. This is useful information to have when deciding how to knit a particular stitch pattern!).  This pattern is a little hard on the eyes.  When you see the swatch up-close, its easy to focus on the light colour and blur out the rest - you have to step back a little to see the stacked triangles that give the pattern its name.

November 13, 2011

Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Merino, 100% Worsted Weight Merino Wool, in Plum Heather, and Tivoli Celtic Aran, 100% Superwash Aran Wool, in Taupe

Needle: 4.5 mm / US 7

Gauge: 5 stitches and 6-ish rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Barred Stripes

Source: BW2, p. 52.

Comments: Its hard to measure row gauge on this one, because the slipped-stitch horizontal bars technically count as rows.  I think this one could be dangerous in an overall pattern - in the top left corner, you can see the results of this swatch's run-in with an errant pin.  I can see how this could easily snag on other things as well.  I wonder how it would look felted? That would remove the problem of snagging, while maintaining that horizontal bar.  Hmm... I need more time, and more feltable yarns! :)

November 10, 2011

Yarn:  Rowan RYC Cashsoft DK, 57% Wool, 33% Microfiber, 10% Cashmere, in Mirage, and  Pingouin France +, 50% Acrylic/50% Wool (DK) in Tweedy Blue

Needle: 4 mm / US 6

Gauge: 5.75 stitches and 7.5 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Swiss Check

Source: BW1, p. 90.

Comments: This is such a pretty little pattern - simple to work, and with just a little bit of texture to go along with the colour changes.  You could do a lot with this kind of a pattern, depending on the colours you choose.  In the book the example is white with dark spots, similar in tone to this one.  I'd like to see how it looks with white spots on black.  This would also be a great pattern for trying out colour combinations - you could use one background colour for a few different spot-colours, and then switch out the background for something different, and go through all the colours again.  Hmm... now I have some interesting ideas for more swatches! :)

October 6, 2011

Yarn: King Cole Merino Blend DK, 100% Superwash Wool, in Slate Blue, and Elann Peruvian Highland Sport, 100% Wool in Oxford Grey Heather

Needles: 4 mm / 6 US

Gauge: 4.25 stitches and 7 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Beaded Stripe Pattern

Source: BW1, p. 71.

Comments: I think this pattern is more often knit using one pale colour and one darker one, but I decided to use two darker colours, just to see the effect.  Technically the grey yarn is a bit thinner than the blue, which makes those sections a little more see-through, but I think it works out pretty well anyway.

September 23, 2011

Yarn: Rowan Wool Cotton, DK weight 50% Cotton/50% Wool, in Citron and Moonstone
 
Needles: 4 mm / US 6

Gauge: 5.5 stitches x 7 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Dice Check 

Source: BW2, p. 51.

Comments:  This three-colour pattern only ever uses one colour at a time, so it doesn't require you to carry a yarn across the back... pretty ingenious, really!  :)

September 2, 2011

Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Merino, 100% Worsted Weight Wool in Natural Marl, Cascade 220 100% Worsted Wool in Orange, Knit Picks Merino Style, 100% DK wool in Pine, King Cole Merino Blend DK, 100% Superwash Wool in Raspberry, and Elann Peruvian Highland Sport 100% Wool, in Oxford Grey Heather.

Needles: 4 mm / US 6

Gauge: 5 sts and 7.5 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Four-Colour Blister Stitch

Source: BW2, p. 110.

Comments: I ran out of the pink after 4 rows, so I cheated and made this five-colour blister Stitch.  This is such a fun little bubbly pattern - I am so going to make it into mittens this winter - just you wait!  :)

September 1, 2011

Yarn: Tivoli Celtic Aran 100% Superwash Wool in Beige and Blue

Needles: 4.5 mm / 7 US

Gauge: 6.5 stitches and 9 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Fluted Fabric Stitch

Source: BW2, p. 23.

Comments: I like these slip-stitch colour patterns, although I think the regular fabric stitch was more effective overall.  Sorry the pic is a little blurry - I didn't notice that till just now, and I'm too lazy to go take a new photo!  :)

August 29, 2011

Yarn: Elann Peruvian Baby Cashmere, 60% Alpaca/30% Merino/10% Cashmere 4-ply, in Rose Heather and Peacock, and Elann Peruvian Baby Silk - 80% Alpaca/20% Silk, in Parchment

Needles: 3.5 mm / 5 US

Gauge: 7 stitches and 7.5 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: American Beauty Tweed

Source: BW2, p. 39.

Comments: This is an itty-bitty swatch, because working tweed in 4-ply yarn is a real pain in the butt time suck.  :)  Its a pretty pattern though - I'm such a sucker for tweed, whether its in yarn form, or stitch pattern form!  By the way, I've used both of these Elann yarns for baby wear, and I have to say that I prefer the Baby Silk - its much softer than the Baby Cashmere, and seems to have less of a halo to it, despite having a higher alpaca content.  Maybe it has to do with processing? 

August 28, 2011

Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Merino, 100% Worsted Weight Wool in Plum Heather, and Tivoli Celtic Aran 100% Superwash Wool in Beige

Needles: 4.5 mm / US 7

Gauge: 3.5 sts and 6 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Hexagon Pattern

Source: BW1, p. 67.

Comments: I'm using this beige yarn in a sweater at the moment, and since I know I'll have lots of leftovers of it, I decided to feature it in a swatch.  The hexagon shape in this pattern is made by the upward pull of the slipped stitches that divide each block.  Takes a little blocking to make the top and bottom straight, but maybe it would balance out better if you used in in a full garment...

August 27, 2011

Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Merino, 100% Worsted Weight Wool in Old Gold, and King Cole Merino Blend DK 100% Superwash in Raspberry

Needles: 4 mm / US 6

Gauge: 5.5 sts and 9 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Colour-Seeded Pattern

Source: BW2, p. 39.

Comments: This is what happens when you choose your colours by randomly pulling something out of your stashbox, and then realize that you only need two colours instead of three, and toss one back without thinking about it (the colour I tossed was grey - it may have been a better one to hold on to!).  Anyway,  you get the idea of the stitch, even if it is a little bright (although it does look better in person - the camera is not nice to these colours).  :) 

August 25, 2011

Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Merino, 100% Worsted Weight Wool in White, and King Cole Merino Blend 100% Superwash Wool in Avocado and Wine.

Needles: 4 mm / 6 US

Gauge: 4.5 stitches and 5.5 rows per inch 

Stitch Pattern: Three Flowers

Source: BW2, p. 111.

Comments: How cute is this pattern?!  Ms. Walker suggests repeating it in horizontal bands, alternating between light and dark backgrounds, but I like it just in one band on its own - maybe at the bottom edge of a little girl's cardigan or purse or something?  The flowers are little bobbles, and I love the way the top stitch is twisted, making these look like tulips.  You do have to watch the slipped stitches though - the centre flower stem tends to pull upward, and is only partially fixed with blocking.  :)

August 24, 2011

Yarn: DROPS Karisma 100% Superwash DK Wool in Black, King Cole Merino Blend 100% Superwash DK Wool in Wine and Avocado, and my very last little bit of Cascade 220 100% Worsted Wool in Gold.

Needles: 4 mm / 6 US

Gauge:  4.5 stitches and 6.5 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: String of Purls

Source: BW2, p. 91.

Comments: Must do more colourwork to use up all the wee little balls of yarn that are in my stash!  These 'purls' are made with short-rows of garter stitch, spread over 2 main rows of knitting.  there are big holes on either side of the purls, and I couldn't figure out how to make them go away - you'd have to sew them up or something, if you used them in a piece that would need to take a beating.

August 21, 2011

Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Merino, 100% Worsted Weight Merino Wool, in Plum Heather, and Patons UK Fairytale Colour 4 Me DK, 100% Wool in White


Needles: 4 mm / 6 US

Gauge: 5.75 stitches and 7 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Star Tweed

Source: BW1, p. 67.

Comments:  Last of the cheater swatches, which is probably why its so teeny!  :)  When I started working on this one, I was convinced I had knit the pattern already - it reminded me so much of the Daisy Stitch.  But the way it is worked is quite different, and when you compare them they actually look quite different too.  Personally, I think I also prefer the daisy stitch, but that may have something to do with the colours I chose to use.  :)

August 15, 2011

Yarn: Cascade 220 Heathers 100% Worsted Wool in Yakima Heather and Orange Heather, and Patons Classic 100% Worsted Wool in white

Needles: 4 mm / US 6

Gauge: 6 stitches x 5 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Carrousel Check (sic)

Source: BW2, p. 38.

Comments: I wonder how much different this would look in three colours that were much closer in colour and/or tone?  Its a little scary like this, but I think it could be fun in, say, several tones of grey or brown.  I love the green in this swatch - I bought it as part of a Dr. Who Scarf I made for my brother last Christmas (yes, one of those crazy 12-foot ones!), and I fell in love with this one and the Pumpkin Spice Heather.  Actually, those two together might work well in this kind of a pattern... remember how good they looked in this swatch?  Now I just have to find a 3rd colour to put in with them.  :)

August 14, 2011

Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca 50% Wool/50% Alpaca in Oregano, King Cole Merino Blend DK in Wine, and some Generic White-ish DK yarn

Needles: 4 mm / US 6

Gauge: 4.75 stitches x 7 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Stripe and Spot Pattern

Source: BW1, p. 56.

Comments: I sorted out my swatching-stash box the other day and unearthed about 20 little  0.5g - 6g balls of yarn, in a bunch of different colours  - which means its time for me to start knitting colourwork patterns!  :)  This one might be fun as just one stripe across the yoke of a kid's coat or something.  Its a little thin to do it just as one stripe on an adult sized garment - maybe it would work better on the cuff of a larger item?

July 29, 2011

The swatching hiatus lasted almost 2 full weeks - that's crazy!  What little knitting time I did have was devoted to teaching my 6 year old nephew to do finger knitting, and then knitting with one of those french spool knitting things.  Anyway, back to the swatches:

Yarn: Tivoli Celtic Aran, 100% Superwash Aran Wool, in Blue and Taupe

Needles: 5 mm / US 7

Gauge: 4.25 sts and 6 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Stripes

Source: n/a

Comments: I had two balls of the blue in my stash from ages ago, and then I saw the taupe in the sale bin at work, so I had to get it.  I'm thinking v-necked, varsity/grandpa style cardigan, with this stripe pattern at the bottom and cuffs.  Size 12-18 months, perhaps? (or whatever 600 yards will get me!) :)

July 1-3, 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: Double Knit Maple Leaf

Source: KBB, p. 109

Comments: I'm putting this swatch in for three days because that's how long it took me to knit - not because its a big swatch, or because I was that busy, but because the instructions are THAT confusing!  Double knitting is where you knit two pieces of fabric at once, in this case with wrong sides together.  There are several methods of doing this - here, for the plan bits at least, you move both strands of yarn along together - from the white side, for example, you K1 white with both yarns in back, move both yarns to the front, then P1 red, move both yarns to the back, K1 white, and so on, all the way across the piece.  You can also do this one yarn at a time - *K1 white, slip 1 with yarn in back*, repeat from * to * all the way to the end - the catch there being that you have to use a circular or DPN, so that you can then turn the piece, slide the work back to the other end of the needle, and do the same the other colour of yarn. purl the stitches that were previously slipped and slip the ones previously knit.  When slipping stitches, make sure to hold the yarn such that it ends up between the two pieces of knit fabric - if you wrap it on the wrong side of the stitch, you'll see it from the outside of the knit fabric.


Okay, so that part is pretty straight forward.  What is odd in this pattern is that the instructions switch from 24 rows of working with two colours at once across all the stitches (I think you should have 70, although I only did 42), to suddenly using only one yarn at a time, and only on the center 34 stitches of the piece - no explanation is given of how to deal with the 18 stitches left on either side of the motif.  I tried to work across to the motif using both yarns and then switch to using only one at a time, but I couldn't make it work - you can't turn the piece and slide it to the opposite ends of the needle because the 18 side stitches always get in the way.  I tried this many different times, and even consulted several other sources, and still couldn't make sense of it all! 


Add to this the fact that a) there are typos in the written pattern, b) the chart (which is dizzying in its complexity) doesn't match the written instructions, c) there is no indication of which colour in her example is the Main Colour (MC) and which is the Contrast (CC) - which makes a difference because d) I think they have you start the motif with the CC when it should be the MC that you start with (given that white is your MC/background on the front, if you work the specified 24 rows, and then start the motif with the CC as stated, you get a red rectangle/white maple leaf inside of the white main background), and finally e) the number seem to be off slightly such that the leaves won't be identical from one side to the other.  But of course this last point is rather hard to determine, because I couldn't get past the first 9 or so rows of the pattern as written!  Oh, and dont' forget f), that this pattern has clearly suffered greatly from the attempt to squash the instructions for the block into a single page of the book - given that this is marketed as a book that can teach you new techniques, even two paragraphs of instruction on how to do double knitting would have been very valuable - they could've easily put them in the back alongside the instructions for colour stranding, intarsia, and how to knit on circular needles!


Anyway, after many hours of frustration from fighting with this, I gave up and just made it up as I went along - I graphed out the maple leaf by counting the stitches in the photo, and then worked the piece using two yarns at a time, knitting the stitches facing the front, and purling the ones facing backwards.  And now that I've had a day or two to cool off, I think I may go email Ms. Epstein and have her review this pattern so the corrections can be added to the list of errata for this book - there are corrections for several other patterns already but not this one - which makes me suspect that few people have actually tried to knit this block!.


ETA: I should mention that part of my frustration with the poor instructions for this block is due to the fact that the rest of the book (from what I've knit so far!) is so good.  Its annoying to have such a great book wrecked by one badly reviewed pattern - imagine if this were the only block attempted by someone - it would put them off the whole book! 

June 27, 2011

Yarn: Patons Classic Merino Wool, 100% Wool, in Plum Heather and Natural Marl, and Noro Kureyon, 100% Wool in colourway 156

Needles: 4.5 mm / 7 US

Gauge: 5 stitches and 8 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Sherwood Pattern

Source: BW2, p.50.

Comments: I had to cut this pattern short because I greatly misjudged how much yarn I had in each of these colours.  I must remember that when in doubt, fewer pattern multiples is always better! :)

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... :)