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July 23, 2024 4 min read 6 Comments
Swatching. At the very mention of the topic, most knitters close their eyes, put their fingers in their ears, and say "La la la la, I'm not listening." I get it, but I promise post will be fun and not boring.
My dating days are long over, but I remember how utterly stressful and not fun it was for me. It felt like a waste of time when I really just wanted to get married and start my actual life. Not the best plan, and except for my beautiful kids, the marriage was a disaster. Of course, it could have all been avoided had I taken the time to get to know him.
Knitting is like that too, of course. We're in such a rush to get started on our actual project, the swatch feels like a stumbling block with no real purpose. But Your swatch so important - it's the courtship. It's you taking the time to get to know the yarn so you can decide if you want to settle down and knit a sweater with it. I have talked about this kind of swatch before, which you can read about here.
But there's another kind of swatch I want to talk about. This swatch isn't like dating. It's more of an arranged marriage.
This is the swatch you do when you are using the exact yarn called for in the pattern, or something you know to be a nearly identical substitute.
Since it's a done deal, you don't have to swatch around to see if you like the yarn.
You're only trying to answer this one question:
What needle do I need to use to get the gauge specified in the pattern?
So how do we swatch to make answering that question as simple and easy as possible? Here are some tricks
How do you feel about swatching? Tell me in the chat. Also, join me for a fun look at swatching myth vs fact on YouTube this week.
Warmly
Ellen
ps
Swatching is essential for knitting, much like getting to know someone before marriage. Here's how to make swatching easier:
July 23, 2024
Sigrid, you are absolutely correct! Always check to see what stitch the pattern wants you to do for the gauge.
Polly, I’m glad that tip is helpful for you!
Cathy – wet blocking means different things to different people. I always pin my swatch first and then either steam or wet block, which is different than many knitters’ interpretation of “wet blocking”
July 23, 2024
Should the gauge swatch be wet blocked?
July 23, 2024
The other trick you have taught us Ellen, is to make the purl ridge as many stitches as the needle size…GENIUS!
July 23, 2024
I’m convinced!!
July 23, 2024
Just want to point out that you should check to see if the gauge instructions say “in pattern stitch”, In which case do your gauge swatch in pattern stitch rather than stockinette.
Carole Perry
July 23, 2024
I also use swatching to make sure the colors don’t run. I have a box full of swatches so I can use the information for future projects. I check to see if I like the fabric and then use that gauge to knit my sweater.