Swatching Sunday: It looks like Gloss is the winner

It's been a while since I talked about my plans for Decimal. But now I've swatched all the yarns I bought and blocked them. So now it's time to review the yarn.

KnitPicks Gloss

Fingering Weight, 70% Merino Wool, 30% Silk, Color: Cosmos

Gloss is the most likely candidate for Decimal at this point, mostly because I hit gauge on the dot with a needles size that feels good. It has a bit of "fuzziness" with the underlying smoothness of the silk. It's not itchy at all. It's not too drapey, and not too stiff. It seems like a good choice overall. It will make for a good cool weather sweater.

Gauge: 2 inches=
US 3 - 10.5 stitches and 18 rows
US 2 - 12 stitches and 18 rows
US 1 - 13 stitches and 19.5 rows

KnitPicks Shine Sport

Sport Weight, 60% Pima Cotton, 40% Modal, Color: Grass

Shine Sport is one of the yarns used in the original Decimal Cardigans. It's buttery soft and very drapey, yet it's not very "heavy." It seems to be holding the blocking pretty well. The only problem is that I'm having trouble making gauge with it. I may try the pattern stitches with US size 1 needles and see what happens.

Gauge: 2 inches=
US 2 - 11 stitches and 16.5 rows
US 1 - 12.25 stitches and 18 rows

KnitPicks Merino Style

DK Weight, 100% Merino Wool, Color: Hollyberry

Merino Style is definitely out for this particular project. The gauge isn't even close. It's very "fuzzy," but not in a fun fur type of way. I think it "bloomed" quite a bit when I washed it.

Gauge: 2 inches=
US 5 - 10 stitches and 14 rows
US 4 - 10.5 stitches and 15 rows
US 3 - 10.75 stitches and 15.5 rows

KnitPicks Merino Style

DK Weight, 70% Cotton, 30% Linen, Color: Key Lime

Linen has a tendency to be pretty stiff and crisp, but mixed with cotton you get some softness. CotLin is a good happy medium. It's crisp, yet soft with a hint of "fuzziness." Also, the linen prevents sagging with the cotton. (And both fibers are nice and cool.) Too bad I can't make gauge for this project. It's so soft. I'd love to make something else with this yarn, like a nice summery top.

Gauge: 2 inches=
US 4 - 10 stitches and 13 rows
US 3 - 10.75 stitches and 15.5 rows
US 2 - 11 stitches and 16.5 rows
US 1 - 11.5 stitches and 19 rows

Block Party

Cross posted at Sally Comes Unraveled and hot pads! and potholders - the swap.

With my bathroom sink recently cleaned, and some spare room on my bedroom floor, this evening was a good time to do some blocking. I blocked my swatches for Decimal (I tried several different KnitPicks yarns) along with the potholders.

The Decimal swatches took a nice long soak in Grapefruit Eucalan. I have all the info on the yarn and the needle sizes here.

I was concerned about the small amount of lanolin in the Eucalan, however. I don't know if it will make a difference as far as flammability. But everyone in the swap is being extra careful about the materials they use, so I just dipped the potholders in plain, lukewarm water. After a few seconds I gently squeezed out the excess and pinned them to the towel.

I imagine most people won't need to block their potholders. But after I added the edging, these got a little curly. Hopefully this will flatten them a bit.

Swatching Sunday: Classic Elite Premiere Gauge Swatch

Tonight I swatched the Classic Elite Premiere that I got at the Gauge party.

It does feel really nice and buttery soft, although it is a little bit splity. I think it has potential for a summery top.

I started with US Size 4, which gave me 9.5 stitches and 14 rows per 2 inches. US Size 3 gave me 10.5 stiches and 14.5 rows per 2 inches, and US size 2 gave me 11.5 stiches and 15 rows per 2 inches. I used the aluminum needles in my Boye Needlemaster.

As of now, the swatch is unwashed and unblocked.

Swatching Sunday: Kathmandu Aran

As promised, here is my Sunday Swatch, a day late. I knit the big swatch yesterday, but did the little one today at work.

I went to the Knitting Nest on Saturday for their Lucky 7 Sale. A roll of the dice determined my discount. I only got the minimum 15% off (not that I'm complaining about getting 15% off.)

I exercised some restraint. I bought some dpns, a lavender sachet, some roving and a single ball of Queensland Collection Kathmandu Aran for swatching. It was my chance to do the "GKY" thing (get to know your yarn) they talk about in No Sheep for You.

Kathmandu is a tweedy 85% merino/10% silk/5% cashmere blend in two plies. It's a bit uneven, rustic and fuzzy. There is a little bit of vegetable matter in it. While it's not too weak, I was able to pull it apart with a little force. I bought color 158 "Petrol."

Here are the gauges I got on the long swatch:

US size 7 = about 8 stitches and 12 rows per 2 inches
US size 6 = about 8.5 stitches and 13 rows per 2 inches
US size 5 = about 9 stitches and 13.5 rows per 2 inches
US size 4 = about 9.5 stitches per 2 inches

This swatch was knit using aluminum needles from my Boye Needlemaster. This swatch is unblocked and unwashed.

The little swatch was knit with US size 5 with the same needles in the same needle. I intend to wash and block it as soon as I can track down some Soak or some Eucalan

Expect more swatches to come. I want to see how this stuff looks in knits and purls and cables.

Swatching Sunday: Artfibers Kyoto

This week's swatching is kind of sparse, but a lot of fun.

In case you're tuning in late, yesterday I managed to get my hands on a sample of Artfibers Kyoto. Tonight I knit it up.

I used aluminum US Size 7 needles from my Boye Needlemaster set. The swatch is unwashed and unblocked.

The stitches aren't completely even, which is the nature of the yarn, so the gauge varied a little. I'd say it averages out to 9 stitches per 2 inches and 6 rows per inch.

Yesterday I was under the impression that Kyoto was 50% Silk and 50% Merino. I was wrong. I think I was thinking of Ming. Kyoto is 69% Silk, 25% Superkid Mohair and 6% "Extrafine" Wool. However, I think I was right about the plies. The silk is definitely the larger ply. The other ply seems to consist of two plies in itself - one wool and one mohair.

Normally, I think of mohair as "the devil's fiber," because it feels soft to the touch, but it's always itchy when you wear it. I may make an exception if I ever get my hands on some more Kyoto.

Swatching Sunday: Cascade 220

For the record, I did swatch this on Sunday, during the Oscars. I'm just now getting around to posting it.

Would you believe I've been knitting this long and I've never used Cascade 220? At least I hadn't until Sunday.

Both of these swatches were knit using Cascade 220 in Christmas Red 8895 and Black 8555 and aluminum needles from my Boye Needlemaster. They are unwashed and unblocked.

This first swatch is a basic gauge swatch. The bottom section is knit with US size 7 and is about 9 stitches per 2 inches and about 7 rows per inch. The middle section is knit with US size 6 and is about 10 stitches per 2 inches and 7 rows per inch. The top section is knit with US size 5 and is about 10.5 stitches per 2 inches and 7 rows per inch.

You read that right. All the row counts are about the same.

This swatch is knit with US size 5, and is in the classic Ballband Dishcloth pattern. (Csn you believe I've never knit one of those, either?)

Swatching Sunday: Dark Horse Yarn/Super Bowl Edition

I spent Super Bowl Sunday at The Knitting Nest's Souper Bowl party. I had soup and quesadillas, a couple of my non-knitting friends joined us and Stacy was not amused when the Patriots lost.

As is typical for me when it comes to just about any sport, I talked, ate and knit, but basically ignored the game except for some commercials and an underwhelming halftime show. (No wardrobe malfunctions?) And since it was Sunday, I swatched (of course.)

I am making my friend Jen a purse, and after much discussion we (sort of) settled on Dark Horse Yarn Fantasy, a quality synthetic that will take a beating. I decided this would be a good time for a gauge swatch, since I had some of the Dark Horse Yarn left from Jules' Rasta Beanie.

Because it curls so much, I decided to take a picture of this swatch after it is mounted on card stock and ready to go into my binder.

The swatch is unwashed, unblocked and knit with aluminum needles from my Boye Needlemaster.

The bottom portion is about 4.5 stitches and 6 rows per inch on US size 7 needles. The second from the bottom portion is about 4.75 sts and 6.25 rows per inches (9.5 sts per 2 inches) on US size 6 needles.

The top two get tricky, because I seem to get about 5 stitches per inch for both US size 5 and US size 4 needles. The size four is obviously smaller, but I still keep getting the same numbers, with size 4s just a tiny bit smaller. However, on US size 5 I'm getting about 6.75-7 rows per inch, and on US size 4 I'm getting about 7.5 rows per inch.

Another case for bigger swatches. *sigh*

Swatch: Claudia Hand Painted Yarns, Sport Weight

After much debate, I came home from the Hill Country Weavers sale on Thursday with some Claudia Hand Painted Yarn (sport weight.) One skein in "Circus Dancer" was put aside for swatching and a small project, like a hat.

Because I have a more involved project for the rest. I decided to do the whole thing and even wash the swatch. I cast on 24 stitch and worked a portion in stockinette stitch and a portion in garter stitch. I used size 2 needles from my Boye Needlemaster set. I was at my knitting group when I did it, and I was worried about it being too loose. (Again with my loose gauge.) I think it was because I had to make the Knucks so tight. In the ends I ended up with 6 stitches per inch (Officially 24 stitches and 34 rows per 4 inches)



Then I washed the swatch in Kookaburra Wool Wash. The wet swatch is on top and the dry swatch is on the bottom.




I couldn't really tell the difference. Between the two. The gauge stayed the same. It is a bit softer. I don't know if there was bloom officially. I couldn't really tell.

Anyway, I'll put this aside for later. I bought two more colors I plan to use. The dark one is "Argyle Socks" and the lighter one is "Just Plum."



This is the last time you will see them. I have top secret design plans for these yarns.

So I actually swatched and did the whole washing thing. Amy Singer recommends keeping a swatch diary. For now, I post them on my blog. On my livejournal, I already have a swatch for Patons Classic Merino (felted.)