The Swatch

All I’ve learned from a couple of hours of digging and swatching is that I don’t have a clue what  yarn to use for Rose Cardigan. First, I swatched with Madelinetosh Sport in Firewood.

My concern, other than getting gauge, was that the cables would not show up. I find that cables do not show up well in very dark yarns or in yarns that aren’t solid. Sure enough, those cables do not pop. A casual glance of this sweater and you wouldn’t even see them. I love cables and I want them to show.

Another drawback to using this yarn is that the reverse stockinette is going to be what’s shown on the right side (top photo) but I love the stockinette side of this color. I can see this in a plain cardigan and I think I’d rather save it for that type project.

I used 3.5 mm needles, as suggested by the pattern, and row and stitch gauge is almost perfect but the fabric is very dense and not as drapey as it should be for this pattern.

Next, I moved on to the Handmaiden Casbah.

Gauge is perfect on size 3.0 needles.

This is the side that will be the right side. My only reservation about using this yarn is the cashmere content. Cashmere adds “fuzz” and with the reverse stockinette being the right side, all those little “bumps” on the stitches may wear and look bad.

I think what I’m going to do is wait . . see what yarn others are using, see how it all shakes out for them. It isn’t like I have nothing else to knit on but I’m so excited to get started on this project. Patience!

But, I am leaning towards watching with Madelinetosh Twist Light or Blue Moon Socks that Rock, Mediumweight. I have both of those here so I can swatch and see what I get but I think I’m swatched out right now.