First Crocus of the Year

February 7, 2013

I spied the first crocuses for this year:

Sewing Milestone: Invisible Zipper

I successfully installed an invisible zipper on my A-line skirt muslin yesterday!

Stepped Flowers Stole by Kaffe Fassett

I just started my knitting project, Stepped Flowers Stole by Kaffee Fassett (Rowan Knitting & Crochet Magazine Number 37 Spring/Summer) yesterday by knitting a swatch using Bryspun 5mm / US 8 needles. My swatch (14 st / 7 rows ) did not measure up to gauge (16 st / 23 rows over 10 cm /4 in), but I did learn several important things along the way.

Swatches are Important

Even though the stole is not a fitted garment, after reading about gauge, I realized that because my swatch had fewer stitches than required, there is the possibility of  running out of yarn during the project. I also learned that swatches are made with the needle size that will be used for most of the project, so although I was freaking out about needing to know the gauge for the other two needles I will be using in my project, there was probably no need to panic... hopefully.

Pre-Launder the Swatch

I dislike waiting, but in order for the project to be true to size even after it has been laundered, it is important to pre-launder so that future shrinking is eliminated (the more times the better, I suspect). Another important tip is to check the gauge after laundering the fabric. I will be using Rowan's Summer Tweed yarns which are a silk/cotton blend, so I plan to toss this into the washer on gentle cycle with a bit of Woolite and dry it on a rack in the dryer on low heat. Unfortunately, I ripped out my swatch before realizing that I should pre-launder it before checking for gauge, so I'll have to make another one. Live and learn. 

Don't be Stingy

Since several swatches may need to be made and pre-laundered, it is a wise idea to have a separate ball of yarn of the same brand to create test swatches. Creating swatches with project yarn may mean that there will not be enough yarn to finish the project. Since there can be slight color variations between different batches of yarn of the same brand and color, buying new yarn to compensate may introduce subtle color differences.  

Knitting Ease 

Bryspun needles and Summer Tweed yarn do not make for a good combination. Although these plastic needles have the advantage of being slightly flexible, the nubby silk and cotton texture of the yarn created friction which slowed down knitting. Also, I'm not so sure I like the tips on the Bryspuns. There is a little indent on the base of the tip where it connects to the rest of the needle which acts like a bumper when pulling the new stitch onto the right needle. I plan to create my next swatch using aluminum needles, keeping in mind that the type of needle can also affect gauge. 

At first, I thought it would be nice to be consistent and use white yarn when knitting swatches to use as future reference, but I think that I will use different colors instead. When I have collected enough, I can sew them together to make a nice multi-colored couch throw one day. 

References:

Swatches

Swatch Out! Marilyn A. Roberts.

http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring03/FEATswatchout.html

An exposition on everybody's favorite dirty word. Jenna Wilson. http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer05/FEATsum05TBP.html 

Gauge 

http://www.vogueknitting.com/pattern_help/how-to/learn_to_knit/gauge.aspx

Gauge issue + first sweater + impatience (forum) 

http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/techniques/121936/1-25

Silk Care

Cleaning and Washing Silk. 

https://texeresilk.com//article/silk_care_cleaning_washing

Handwashing 101 

http://www.ktcampbell.com/domesticity/hand_wash.html