A Question of Yarn ...

Make a swatch. Make a swatch My mantra is........makeaswatchmakeaswatchmakeaswatchmakeaswatch.

This is the only way you can find out. Different people knit in different gauges. I ALWAYS make a swatch first, as I find that even using the same yarn and needles, if perhaps it is in a different color, it will knit up differently.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

p.s. the only silly question is the one you didn't ask.

Well done for deciding to have another go Murielle.

This link is for a Patons Astra stockist where it gives full information about the yarn itself - weight category and how many yards/metres you should be able to knit from a 50 gram ball of Astra. You could either order from them or, better still, use the information on that page to compare the details of Astra's thickness and yardage to the thickness and yardage of the yarn you are thinking of using.

the easiest way to test would be to use the needle sizerecommended for the pattern and knit a swatch with the yarn you want touse. You will then be able to tell if it will knit up to the correct gaugegiven in your pattern. Good luck with this and do let us know how you get on. :-)

Thank you! I'll do that asap. :-)

Murielle

I will make a swatch, asap. That way I'll know right away if it will work.

Thank you! Murielle (Love your sigline!)

Aha Murielle that is quite a novelity a Thread that works :>:>:>:>

If you make the swatch and it doesn`t simile the same as the one in the pattern , you can recalculate it , [which i would do ] or do what other people do and change needle size ,, PLEASE LET US know !! and we can help you ,,,, mirjam

Aha Murielle that is quite a novelity a Thread that works :>:>:>:>

If you make the swatch and it doesn`t simile the same as the one in the pattern , you can recalculate it , [which i would do ] or do what other people do and change needle size ,, PLEASE LET US know !! and we can help you ,,,, mirjam

Hi Mirjam!

Well, I did *two* swatches. The pattern calls for 3 1/4mm and 4mm needles. So I did a swatch for each size. The 3 1/4mm needles didn't produce the correct gauge, but the 4mm needles were just a tiny titch off. So, I decided to go for it.

I've chosen to make the sweater a little larger than the baby ... what am I saying she's almost two! ... might normally wear so that it will be wearable a little longer. I'm hoping that will give me a little wiggle room.

Cheapskate that I am, I made my swatches without breaking the wool. I need every stitch of it. ;-))

I know I'll be writing again for advice. (Times like this, I miss my mom a lot. I used to just be able to call her and she always knew ... you know? Moms are the best!) And, while I don't have a digital camera I'm hoping that I'll be able to get a picture when it's finished and share it with all of you.

Thanks so much, Murielle

That is the easiest way.

Re: sigline - LOL. As soon as I saw it I knew it was meant for me! It describes the way I see life. :-D

I'm thinking that the smaller needles are used for ribbing or edging, in which case the larger needles would be used for the body, and it looks like you've gotten the gauge you want with the larger ones.

Oh, definitely make it bigger. Give the little darling more time to wear it out before she outgrows it.

Heh, I'll often do the same, even though I know I should save the swatch for future reference. I've been pretty lucky so far. Of course, now that I've said that my next major project will go horribly awry...

You know you can always pop in here and ask for help. We're friendly :-)

The Other Kim kimmeratsoylentgreenfielddotcom

That's it! It's such a simple stocking stitch sweater. But believe me, if I could knit with my fingers crosssed, I would.

I hope she enjoys it. It would be a warm sweater because the yarn is so light, but it will be nice for cool spring, summer evenings.

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who does that. But, I didn't realize you had to keep the swatches. It's a good idea, I'm sure. Though, to be honest, I'm not sure why. ;-)

Thanks, Murielle

And it worked out all right. I'm so happy about that. Really didn't want to have to buy more yarn.

Mine too! ;-))

I know that feeling very well too Kim, LOL. I'd started a lovely cable and fisherman's rib sweater for my son, using a pattern he loved, when I decided it would be far too warm for the part of Texas he is in. He tells me that he needs a couple of medium weight sweaters because in the winter there are a few quite chilly weeks (by his standards) - he wants to come and try out Scotland! ;-) I unpicked all the back of it and made it up again using a plainer design.

I think the idea is that if you keep them you will have a ready made one if you use the same yarn again Murielle.

I must admit I never keep them either as I'm sure my tension varies depending on the time of day, what mood I'm in and whether I'm relaxed or belting it through to get it finished. I find it easier to make a swatch just before I start the garment and that seems to work for me.

Bernadette

You don't *have* to of course - I don't either. It's to refer to that yarn and gauge again someday, but some people keep a notebook with that information.

sue

If i can i keep my swatches and use them later in all kinds of ways, as pockets as parts of a bigger work. Murieele , there are NO RULES NORE LAWS , and i never heard that one HAD TO KEEP the swatches, it is ENOUGH to keep the records that say wool named XXXXX [ add number of color bath if you want] worked on needle size X , 20 st=3D X cm [or inches] ,,, i also write down any problems i mmet in the working and my patterning thoughts. I found out that i Have to make a new swatch over the years anyway , my working ways changed , Threads were differently spun , many things changed. mirjam

Our tension at different times of the same day can change, for that matter.

sue

And that is whay we like to say SWATCH SWATCH ,,,,,, mirjam

I know my tension changes, depending on the type of yarn I'm using, the size of the needles. These needles are quite small so I tend to knit a little tighter. Also, I'm getting older, my fingers aren't as nimble as they used to be so changed there too.

I actually meant to write that the sweater wouldn't be too warm because of the lightness of the wool. Because of that it would be perfect for cool summer nights and spring and fall--if it fits. ;-))

Murielle

I've seen that here before, the idea of keeping a crafting journal. What a wonderful idea! I'd love to do something like that. I used to take pictures of finished items, but didn't keep them all in one place--there's a project for next winter. ;-)

Murielle

If i can i keep my swatches and use them later in all kinds of ways, as pockets as parts of a bigger work. Murieele , there are NO RULES NORE LAWS , and i never heard that one HAD TO KEEP the swatches, it is ENOUGH to keep the records that say wool named XXXXX [ add number of color bath if you want] worked on needle size X , 20 st= X cm [or inches] ,,, i also write down any problems i mmet in the working and my patterning thoughts. I found out that i Have to make a new swatch over the years anyway , my working ways changed , Threads were differently spun , many things changed. mirjam

This is such a terrifc idea! I'm going to have to start keeping a journal. I've made little notes to myself on patterns, but of course by the time I come around to that pattern again I've forgotten what the notes are about. So, keeping a journal would be ideal.

I don't know if I'd go as far as keeping swatches. I'm a little bit to tight with the purse strings to do that, but I used to take pictures of finished projects and I could certainly do that again.

Such a great idea!

Murielle

I haven't noticed that, but I'll watch for it. I can certainly tell you that the number of mistakes I make are directly related to what's on TV. ;-))

Murielle