Aren't you proud of me? I've managed to go three whole days without acquiring any new yarn. Not only that, I've started my next project out of yarn from my stash -- granted, it it's yarn that's been in my stash for only three days, but I think it should count.
To be honest, I had to cast some Phoebe on to my needles almost instants after getting it home. Because I didn't want to waste any of this luscious yarn, I swatched and then ripped it out. On size 8 (5.0 mm) needles, the pattern calls for a gauge of 18 stitches and 22 rows to 4" square. My swatch worked out, so I cast on the zillion stitches requred and got started.
And then I discovered that my swatch had lied to me. I wasn't completely off, but my 4.5 stitches/inch had become more like 5 and my 5.5 rows/inch had become more like 6. This was after I had knit through my entire first skein and part of the second. The piece stretched to the correct dimensions, but I started to get worried about yardage and decided that I needed to test out another swatch on the next needle size up (US 9). This resulted in 4 stitches/inch and 5.5 rows/inch. Right row gauge, wrong stitch gauge. Sigh. My swatches weren't going to give me any easy answers.
So I set the piece aside and worked on Clapotis while I considered what to do next. The thought of ripping the whole thing out and starting over didn't appeal to me, but I figured the wrong row gauge would result in a yarn shortage. And by now everyone should know that if there is one thing I don't do well, it's deal with a yarn shortage.
In the end, I decided that maybe my original swatch hadn't lied to me -- maybe my fingers had. rather than rip, I decided that I'd consciously force myself to knit more loosely and see if I could achieve my original gauge.
To my very pleasant surprise, thinking loosey-goosey worked. This is just after starting my third skein of Phoebe. And here's an up close look at the difference in my stitches:
Can you see the difference? It's small, but real. It feels a little strange to knit this way, but I think in the long run it might be a good exercise to keep me from choking up on my needles.
This yarn is absolutely delightful to knit with. The plies, however, have a tendency not to want to stick together, so it is very easy to knit through a stitch and split the yarn, meaning that it doesn't make for completely mindless knitting. But it's still a pretty good option for working on while my boy indulges in a little Half Life 2.
You too have lost a boy to Half Life 2? Good to know I'm not alone.
I haven't, but I will if my roommate and this 3 copies have anything to say about it!
Hi, really enjoy your blog. One suggestion about splitting yarn - use a blunter-tipped needle if you have one. It helps.
knitting too tightly was my problem for soo long! it was actually making my hands cramp! once you realize it, its a short road to healing.... :)
Glad to hear I'm not the only one who needs to loosen up my knitting gauge -- and even more glad to see that it can be done!
I'm glad that you didn't rip - you will want to bottom to be slightly tighter, anyhow, so it will work out beautifully. Three days and no new yarn? I hope you won't run out - I mean, you knit so quickly that you might! (Just trying to give you a reason to pick up the next skein that catches your eye). :)