There has been much knitting of squares of late. Diagonal garter stitch squares for my blanket and swatches for John's Aspinwall sweater, in the Fiber Company Terra yarn. The swatch on the right is the standard stockinette swatch, knit on US 7 (4.5 mm) needles. My gauge is pretty much bang on for that one, even after a good soak and blocking. The swatch on the left is the half-brioche stitch swatch, knit on US 6 (4.0 mm) needles. I liked the flow of the stitch pattern (it's a K1P1 variant, but it moved a little faster for me than K1 P1 ribbing generally does) but my gauge is off. I'll be ripping and re-knitting on US 5 (3.5 mm) needles next, and hoping for the best.
It's a real joy to knit with the Terra. You might think that a yarn that is made up of 60% mostly inelastic fibers would be less than comfortable on the hands, but that didn't turn out to be the case. It's delightfully soft, and the variations in both the color and texture of the yarn as I went along made it an interesting yarn to knit with. I really love the qualities that silk brings to the yarn party when its blended with other things. This yarn feels strong without feeling heavy, soft without feeling underspun or as if it is going to be a pilling nightmare. I still have high hopes that it is going to make for one most excellent and durable man garment.
Time to rip out that brioche swatch and get back to work!
It's a real joy to knit with the Terra. You might think that a yarn that is made up of 60% mostly inelastic fibers would be less than comfortable on the hands, but that didn't turn out to be the case. It's delightfully soft, and the variations in both the color and texture of the yarn as I went along made it an interesting yarn to knit with. I really love the qualities that silk brings to the yarn party when its blended with other things. This yarn feels strong without feeling heavy, soft without feeling underspun or as if it is going to be a pilling nightmare. I still have high hopes that it is going to make for one most excellent and durable man garment.
Time to rip out that brioche swatch and get back to work!
I might not enjoy the idea of swatching, but I almost always worry when I don't (even if everything turns out fine). You are much better than I at accepting the trial of the swatch.
Only because man sweaters are big... and I really don't like to rip and re-knit big things. Usually the swatches don't tell the truth, but at least they usually give me an approximation.
True, but if you don't swatch and it doesn't come out then it's like shooting yourself in the foot. It might lie, but doing the swatch feels like insurance for the project going well.
There is new yarn EVERYWHERE on this blog. Nice work.
I just finished something in a related stitch pattern. I think you're smart to go down a needle size as this type of rib stitch has lots of squooshy body. Not familiar with the yarn but love the color.