Gauge, why you need to get it.

What is the biggest stumbling block to a sweater that fits? Leave a comment. I'd like to hear what your stumbling block is.

One of the basic reasons is gauge. There is a myth that the needles recommended by the yarn company are the needles needed to get gauge for every knitter. Not True. There is also the idea that most knitters get gauge. Also Not True.

For the record, I don't get gauge. Not ever. I am a loose knitter so if I used the needles recommended by the yarn company everything I knit would be too big. I have knit lots of big sweaters, sometimes really, really big. Do most of your garments end up bigger or smaller than you had hoped?

Back to Basics.  Gauge works like this:

The yarn company says that this yarn knits to 20 sts = 4" which is the same as 5 sts = 1".
If you are getting 4 1/2 sts to 1", when the pattern calls for you to knit 5 sts to measure 1", you are knitting 4 1/2 sts which measures 1", plus 1/2 st more. Now your 5 sts measures more than 1". Now your garment is big.
If you are getting 5 1/2 sts = 1" and the pattern asks you to knit 5 sts, you knit 5 sts which measures less than 1" for you. Now your garment is small.

WORK A SWATCH. It contains good information. Measure your own particular gauge with the needles recommended. It's good to know which way you lean, loose or tight. If you are off gauge by 1/2 stitch per inch, your adult sweater is 4" bigger or 4" smaller (eek!). It matters!

DO NOT CHANGE HOW YOU KNIT. "I'm going to knit tighter" works for about 5 minutes, until you relax and then you are back to knitting in your regular way. I will address this mysterious phenomenon in the next post.

CHANGE YOUR NEEDLES. I'm a loose knitter so I usually work with needles 1 to 2 sizes smaller than recommended on the ball band. If you are a tight knitter you may have to work with needles 1 size bigger. Continue with your swatch to see if you are closer to the gauge required by the pattern.


Next post:  Swatches Can Lie! Oh, No.

-Deb
P.S. Yes, new yarn and worsted too. I love worsted weight yarn the very bestest! I need to knit something up to show you. So far only grey is in production but more colours coming, one at a time, starting in September. Something to look forward to.

Back from TNNA, new patterns coming up

The TNNA show is the big trade show for our industry. Although we're not allowed to take photos I did sneak one of Eleanor from Kraemer Yarns wearing one of sweaters from the Need A Circular Yoke book in Northern Lights chunky.

Although the knitting industry is still moving along it has a little limp in it's walk. But we, at Cabin Fever, are looking forward to bringing out a brand new worsted wool this fall, yay. In the mean time we haven't been idle. There will be new patterns coming out soon.

Beware, projects in half-baked condition. If you can't stomach them, turn your eyes away!

I started one more pullover for the new Need A Circular Yoke? book. It's a summer top (it's actually orange in colour) with a scoop neck in Hempton by Lanaknits, a cotton/hemp blend.
We're busy in edit mode now. The end (June publication date) is in sight.

Only the sleeves to go on this one, another sweater for the CircYoke book. It's obviously long sleeved or will be soon, in Aran weight Tuffy by Briggs and Little.

A new sock pattern. This one is fun and easy to carry around which I've been doing for a while. This is my second, no third, pair of these. Time to get it written up. It's in Saucon Fingering, a cotton/acrylic blend. Good for spring wearing with sandals.

A second new sock pattern from the cuff down with an interesting stitch pattern. I really enjoy knitting this one although it's not a 'carry around' project. It's in hand-painted stash yarn which is showing the pattern very well.

And just because a woman can't be working all the time I've indulged myself by knitting a short row scarf just for the fun of it. And, yes, those are really straight needles! Something a little different for me but different is good right? Also dug in the my stash for yarn for this, don't you love the colour? I do. I didn't follow the numbers for the pattern or use the weight of yarn it called for so I'm not going to give a link since I strayed rather badly from the original pattern. There are lots of short row scarf patterns to choose from and they're all fun to knit. I'm searching for a new one since I'm rather taken with them at the moment.

I obviously have lots of knitting to do, gotta go.
Deb

Sock knitting weekend

Knitting in groups is so very rewarding. Our group at the Knitting at Lake Lauzon sock knitting weekend in Northern Ontario were helpful to each other, encouraging and just plain fun to be with.

We all know that learning new techniques can be frustrating. Encouragement from other students helps a lot. And look at all the little socks that were knit. Those new to sock knitting worked from the cuff down to the toe in a traditional sock construction. The knitters who had knit socks before worked one from the cuff down with a short row heel and a second sock from the toe up with the same short row heel. I had to throw a curve at them, hee, hee, hee!

There may be some serious sock knitting addicts coming out of this class. Thanks for a lovely weekend.

The project chosen by the group for next year is a hat with I-cord and a steek. Should be very interesting. If you want to join us in Algoma Mills, ON for next year's weekend April 25 & 26, 2015, email me deb.cabinfever@gmail.com and I'll get you on the notification list.

 

-Deb

P.S. From the comments: I agree Liz, any distraction helps. Sharon I would be so happy is my sweater looked even a little bit sexy but I'm afraid that is not the case. Something to shoot for though.

Shirttail

I'm trying to knit my sweaters a little shorter these days. I, along with some of you I'm sure, knit most of my sweaters to the length that will cover parts of myself that I'm not in love with. So this one from the Need A Circular Yoke book (coming out in June) is a tiny bit shorter than usual and has a ShirtTail bottom border. It's worked with short rows and gives a gentle curve to the bottom border.

Fuzzy bathroom mirror shot of sweater in progress. (Only knitters can appreciate this type of photo, at least I hope you will.) Now that I look at it, it's not all that short!

Sleeves next.
-Deb

Preparing Briggs & Little wool

I've started another Circular Yoke. This is my #4 sweater from the upcoming Need A Circular Yoke book. Another testknit. I'm going to try the Shirttail bottom border this time. I should have it done by next week.
I'm using Briggs & Little Tuffy. One of my favourite wools. It takes some prep work but I know this sweater will last. I'm still wearing a B&L sweater I knit in the year 2000!

You can see that this wool has little bits of vegetative matter in it. B&L don't do a chemical burn to get rid of it. Most of the straw falls out during the process of spinning but there is still quite a bit left in the wool.  I spent some time last night picking it out.

I know it would seem a pain to do this but I feel like I'm part of the process. I didn't raise the sheep or spin the wool but I have cleaned it up. The last necessary step before producing a clean ball of wool for knitting.

B&L and I made this possible. A tag team effort.

-Deb

Do you have favourite stitch patterns that you come back to over and over? In the new book you get to choose which stitch patterns you use for your Bands of Pattern work. One of my favourites is any stitch pattern with twisted stitches. These are 2 stitch cables which do not require a cable needle, Yay. They make a raised design on a stocking stitch background which is very effective. I could work whole sweaters using these little tiny cables and be quite a happy knitter.

 I work them like this:
TR (twist right):  knit two stitches together and without taking the stitches off the needle, knit the first stitch again. Take both stitches off the needle. This is really easy to do.
TL (twist left):  knit into the back of the second stitch and without taking the stitches off the needle, knit into the first stitch. Take both stitches off the needle.
And here's a new sock pattern I'm working on. It will be up as soon as I can finish this sock. Lots of twisting on this one. I'm calling in Pine Cone Socks.



Have you used these little cables?
-Deb

We took some photos of the Circular Yoke sweaters for the upcoming book. Early days still but I'll post some photos over the next couple of weeks so you can see how it's shaping up. There will be colourwork:

 

This is a traditional style worked in Northern Lights Chunky weight wool, High neck, 1 Band of Pattern and Raglan shaping worked below the patterning to finish the Yoke. The neckband stitch pattern is the same as the Transition Bands above and below the colourwork. It's almost done, needs some more length on the bottom and then to the blocking board.

 

Here's me in my A-line tunic with 3 Bands of Pattern this time, no raglan shaping and cap sleeves. Worked in Cotton Tweed DK weight yarn with Garter Stitch neckband and Transition Bands (worked between Bands of Pattern).

This circular yoke has a Scoop Neck and 2 Bands of Pattern, one worked in lace and one worked in colour. Interesting isn't it.
There's more to come, stay tuned,
-Deb