Have you ever had an experience where you learned everything new and there’s information overload and the brain just shuts down? I think that’s what’s happened to me. Today I’ve worked on my swatch. I should say . . swatches! There have been several.
For so many years, every aspect of my knitting was done my way. That way worked, and for all practical purposes, my knitting was great. But, there’s so much more and much better ways to do everything! Yes, I could go on forever knitting like I’ve always knitted and it’s not a problem but I can knit so much better.
My Way:
Buy a pattern. Said pattern will suggest the weight of yarn to use, as well as the gauge (say . . 5 stitches per inch). I buy the yarn, I make a swatch using the size needles suggested. If my stitches per inch are incorrect, I go up or down a needle size and do a swatch til I get the right number of stitches per inch . . with no regard to how the fabric created looks.
Suzanne’s Way:
Make the swatch using several size needles. Decide which fabric you like. Sometimes it’s too dense. Sometimes it’s too loose. Sometimes, it’s just right. But, instead of making your knitting conform to the pattern, you make the pattern conform to your knitting.
The Yardage:
My first dilemma is that I absolutely want to use stash yarn. With Suzanne’s method, the swatch is made first. The stitches per inch are counted and that’s when you figure out how many yards you need for the pattern. Then, extra is added for the cables and pocketfs. This is totally backwards (but MUCH better) than the way I’ve been doing it.
My Yarn Options:
I went to the yarn stash, found 5 or 6 yarns that should work. I knew I needed about 1900 yards, but that’s for a plain cardigan. Add cables and pockets and I need more yarn.
My first choice was Madelinetosh Vintage. The yarn I wanted to use has 9 skeins – that’s 1800 yards. I figured if I make the sweater shorter, it would work but I wouldn’t have enough yarn for the pockets which I want to use. The color I have is Moss and it’s a discontinued color. So, there’s no more yarn to be had. By the time I swatch, I’m probably down to 1,700 yards. Scratch that! The only Vintage I have that would have enough yardage is a mottled green/brown – not what I want to use for this. To order new yarn would be close to $300. Not doing it.
My second choice is Berroco Ultra Alpaca. It isn’t bad. It isn’t scratchy. I do feel like little hairs are coming loose and making my eyes itch but I look for little hairs and I don’t see them so maybe that’s all in my head . . because I really want to use Vintage.
Another option is Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd’s Wool. I have 3,200 yards of that which is probably enough to make this cabled sweater and have enough left to make a plain cardigan. Today I’ll probably swatch with that.
My Swatch (So Far):
I ripped out the Madelinetosh Vintage before taking a picture since I knew I was short on the amount of yarn needed.
Berroco Ultra Alpaca Swatch
The swatch made with Berroco Ultra Alpaca has not been soaked or blocked. It’s just pinned there for a photo. I’ll get the Stonehedge swatch done today, soak and block both of them and decide which one I am going to use.
The Berroco yarn is also a discontinued color so if the 2,190 yards I have will not be enough . . this one isn’t going to work either.
Once the Stonehedge swatch is done, and both are dry, I’ll post pictures of both of them. Then, when we know exactly how much yardage we need, I can figure it all out.
Rebecca says
Judy–
One word of caution about the Stonehedge Fiber Mill yarn. It pills like CRAZY with even moderate use. It’s super soft and wonderful to knit, but I haven’t had it hold up well in sweater uses. I made a sweater out of it for my littlest boy when we was about a year old. He was not hard on it, because he was so little, and I only washed it (carefully, by hand) once before it looked awful. It was matted and pilled everywhere. It was so bad that when he outgrew it I actually cut the buttons off and threw the sweater away. I NEVER do that. At this point, I only use it for hats and accessories. I just hasn’t held up well for me. 🙁
Dawn in NL says
You xan also knit the pickets with a coordinating yarn, or if it’s completely out of sight, use a scrap yarn.
dezertsuz says
So many decisions! That is a pretty green. I kinda hope that one works, because I think it would be so pretty.
Pat Anderson says
I don’t know if you are familiar with Craftsy (it is now called Bluprint and has been bought by a big corporation, but Craftsy is still there!)….I really liked the old Craftsy before they were bought out and have taken classes from Lucy Neatby. She also is so good at explaining what you are doing when you make a stitch and how to fix mistakes, etc. There are several really good knitting instructors on Craftsy. I really like Susan Anderson, too. They put their classes on sale regularly so you can get classes for under $20. I have learned so much there! Just FYI.
Judy Laquidara says
Yes, I’ve taken many classes at Craftsy but not knitting classes. I am familiar with Lucy Neatby and Susan Anderson. I have and use some of their patterns but I don’t know if either of them are “Master Knitters”. I joined the national knitting guild to think about taking the master knitter course and it’s so far beyond what I can do that I never started it. I’ve never come across anyone who knows as much as Suzanne Bryan.
Suzanne Bryan says
I vote for the Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherds Wool. One of my favorites.
Can’t wait to see the swatch.
Theresa says
I have been looking at yarns to use for this sweater. The only thing I have in my stash that I have enough of is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes. I have 1300 yards of green and 1500 yards of brown. I’m thinking about using both colors. The cables and maybe ribbing at wrists and the whole outer edge would be done with the contrasting color. I have had this yarn in my stash for several years and need to use it. Thing is I have never used any of this wool. Does anyone have experience with Knit Picks Wool of the Andes? I would love to know what you think of it. I might have to splurge and buy yarn for this cardigan. What is everybody else using?
Judy Laquidara says
There seems to be a lot of people using it WOTA for this project. If you follow along in Suzanne’s Ravelry group, especially the one talking about swatching, you will see people mentioning what they’re planning to use. Some of us still aren’t sure though.
Chrystal says
I just knit a poncho with wool of the Andes tweed. I will never use it ever again. It is wound so loose I was splitting stitches like crazy. Look at swish instead…or one of the more expensive yarns WoTA is definitely a yarn that you get what you pay for.
Theresa says
Thanks. I’ve been looking on line at some Malabrigio. Now, how much will I need is the question. I would like to go ahead and have it swatched before we get started. 3,000 yds? more? I’m going to use worsted.
Eva says
I’m making this also and using Malabrigo Dos Tierra’s DK. I have ve 6 skeins, and I’ll buy a few more to make the sweater. Since they’re only sold in lots of 5 for the dye lot, I think, I’ll just alternate skeins. It’s variegated anyway, so I think I should be fine.