ShihKnits » swatch

The Complete Practice Swatch

winnie — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 06:32:00 +0000

It’s done, sewn in and blocked out. And it’s small.. and I knew that. The swatch started as a foray into fairisle practice, then slowly made its way to a steeking practice. I didn’t have the right yarn for it, so I picked up a few balls of fingering weight Knitpick’s Palette yarn just so I could play with it. I made it in the 34″ size too… since I want to experience the whole she-bang once… figure out what I can do better if I had the actual DK weight yarn.. and where I should pay particular attention to.
Initially, I only wanted to show you this.

But I got carried away and stuffed myself into this too-small too-tight cut-off-my-circulation vest just for kicks… (yea I need to pay attention to picking up stitches.. see where it’s wonky and holey? That’s not gonna happen when I have my real yarn)
The giant practice piece here is better suited for a 32″ bust.. if you use fingering weight yarn and sz 3 needles like I did. My next piece is so going to ROCK!

Edit: Silly me.. totally forgot the most important part. I followed Eunny’s directions to the tee… her diagrams and instructions were very well-written and made this an easy knit. Can you knit and purl? Then you can knit fairisle! Eunny, thanks for the explicit instructions and impeccable pattern.

Moment of Truth

winnie — Sat, 11 Feb 2006 00:57:00 +0000

Ahh..the moment of truth..will it unravel? Hey…so far so good!
Is this the largest practice swatch you’ve ever seen or what?

Knitting just for the heck of it

winnie — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 19:39:00 +0000

Ever since Eunny published her Deep Argyle Vest pattern, I’ve been itching to try it out. But the search for suitable yarn has so far been unfruitful…should I go with Dale of Norway Heilo? Or Rowanspun DK? Briggs and Little Regal? Ah… choices. So while I wait to make a decision.. I decided to just knit a practice swatch with whatever I have.. you know.. just to see what it’s like..

Knit knit knit.. ah.. crap.. I’m knitting too tightly.. I need to loosen up my tension…
Knit knit knit.. ooh.. check out that argyle pattern…
Knit knit knit.. Oi.. I have gone this far.. might as well go all the way..
Knit knit knit.. yea.. I should totally practice steeking on this while I’m at it…Yea..this thing definitely won’t fit me when I’m through with it.. but who cares? I knit for fun. And this sure is fun.. and when I finally decide on a suitable yarn, you can be sure that I will have gotten the steeking down pat. Oh.. the yarn is KnitPick’s Palette by the way, in Blush and Fog. Sz 3 needles.. Photos taken under natural light.

I blame it on Diana

winnie — Thu, 29 Sep 2005 04:30:00 +0000

That’s right, girl, it’s all you. 13 balls of Den-M-Nit in Dark Indigo to make Raspy. Let’s hope I have enough, or else I’m gonna cry.
Inspired by Wendy, Terhi, Joy, Kris and Crafty Wench’s detailed analysis of the denim yarns. But all in all, I blame it on Diana. There I’ve said it. Come and get me.
Update: Uh oh.. are my eyes playing tricks on me? Shouldn’t I get wider swatch with the sz 6′s? Should I resort to Sz 4 and 5 for my Raspy?