How The Swatch Saved The Day, or At Least, The Bonsai

In Which Sandi Visits The Frog Pond

Knitting Daily — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 11:02:01 GMT

Bye-bye to the Blue Tank... I was very amused by your suggestions of cross-stitch pictures and tee-shirts

re: How The Swatch Saved The Day, or At Least, The Bonsai

NancyB — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 21:52:27 GMT

Thanks to your advice, I dutifully knitted a swatch prior to starting my current sweater. (It's one from the Knitters Stash book.) It was good, as I found that I actually needed a smaller needle than the pattern called for. But now, I have found a new use for the swatch - or rather my cats have! I left the thing on my coffee table one day, and someone seems to have taken a liking to it. Every day when I come home from work, I find the swatch somewhere else! It is so funny. It's not even some kind of fluffy yarn, just Brown Sheep's Cotton Fleece. They're not destroying it, just apparently carrying it around!

re: How The Swatch Saved The Day, or At Least, The Bonsai

SharonF@4 — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 11:49:13 GMT

Brilliant story Sandi. I am guilty of never making a swatch and then not wearing anything because I'm just not happy with it. Terrible I know, the one time I did knit a swatch I just couldn't get the tension correct even after switching needles numerous times.
I have to say I love your newsletter and it's probably the only one I really read. I love the way your write and the way you entertain us avid knitters. Keep up the good work. :)

re: How The Swatch Saved The Day, or At Least, The Bonsai

Boothacus — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 02:23:55 GMT

Every little bit of informations helps to make us better knitters. Now I will knit a larger swatch and wash it. I'm sure this will be quite a helpful lesson and save me time, money and grief.

The top looks SOOO much better that you have sewn up the v-neck a tad. Though I like that designer and the top seemed cute, the overly open V neck wasn't speaking to me especially not being svelte of form. Your adaption has peaked my interest and improves the look!. Translating these patterns for us breastier women is a challenge. While at first I raised an eye brow, Celia, has a interesting point about how our bras effect the look of our clothes. Especially for us gals who are shall we say ample of bosom. I am just starting knitting sweaters and such and finding patterns that flatter the larger chesty lass isn't easy - just cause you've got a little bit more to love doesn't mean you wanna look like a grandmother even if you are one. I want a nice shape without looking like I am thwarting the laws of physics by not falling forward. I'd love to see an article on how some people have learned to adapt patterns and knit to work with full figures in a world that rarely designs or designs elegantly for us full figured beauties of all ages and the odd thing is there is more of us these days than models or those under weight or even exact weight. I'd love to read some tricks and ideas of how to best knit to compensate for a less than perfect figure and what to look for in a design to see if it would flatter us or at least not make us look worse. Thanks! I enjoy the column!

re: How The Swatch Saved The Day, or At Least, The Bonsai

KellyF — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 02:12:27 GMT

You know, I was kind of lukewarm about that whole pattern, but it looks great!

re: How The Swatch Saved The Day, or At Least, The Bonsai

Elizabeth — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 16:55:00 GMT

To Tamara K: I have seen this blocking board in one of the mail order catalogs such as Patternworks, Woolworks. Try looking online at www.patternworks.com or www.woolworks.com. It cost about $80 when I saw it.

re: How The Swatch Saved The Day, or At Least, The Bonsai

Elizabeth — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 16:51:46 GMT

To Cherl G: Are you knitting something in the round on your circular needles? Or something flat? If it is in the round, you can start with the sleeve and use that as your swatch, or cast on enough stitches to make a 4-5 inch swatch in the round, like the beginning of a sleeve and use that. Gauge changes in the round, so you should do the swatch in the round. A local highly skilled teacher of Norweigan ski sweaters taught her class to make the sleeve first to get the gauge. Hope this helps.

re: How The Swatch Saved The Day, or At Least, The Bonsai

Elizabeth — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 16:44:35 GMT

I once made a very expensive 100% llama vest from yarn hand dyed yarn from a local knit shop. I swatched it BUT DIDN'T WASH THE SWATCH. I knit this vest in a class, where the teacher taught us to rip out our swatches and use that yarn in the project. (No mention of washing and blocking of said swatch). When I finished the vest, it fit (wonder of wonders), but the first time I washed it, it STRETCHED 4 INCHES and WAS HUGE. When I returned to the shop where I took the class, the owner (not the teacher) said I had FELTED !! it. I pointed out that felting makes things SMALLER not BIGGER. She told me I had ruined it. Said vest went to a charity group where I hope someone larger than me could use it. I noticed at the time, however, that the feel of the vest had gotten MUCH softer after I had washed it.

NOW I KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT VEST.

I never went back to that knitting shop again.

re: How The Swatch Saved The Day, or At Least, The Bonsai

CherylG@3 — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 14:19:29 GMT

Swatch question ! Okay, I need to do my swatch on circular needles because that's how I will be knitting the garment. How the heck to I do a swatch on the circular needles that I will be using for the project without casting on a gazillion stitches? This has always had me puzzled, so I thought I'd finally ask!

re: How The Swatch Saved The Day, or At Least, The Bonsai

Betty L.C — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 14:10:28 GMT

I have learned to love audio books.....they help to make the stockinette (spelling?) stitch just fly along.....your public library has wonderful selections....Betty Collins

re: How The Swatch Saved The Day, or At Least, The Bonsai

elliottmah — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:33:30 GMT

Your Bonsai looks great! Thank you for sharing your experience. You mentioned possible fading problems. Have you had that trouble? I had a mixture of colored and white yarn that faded. Yet, other people I talk with have never had a fading problem. (I used cold water, washed by hand, mild soap as suggested.)

re: How The Swatch Saved The Day, or At Least, The Bonsai

SusanF@4 — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 16:17:27 GMT

Hey, Sandi, I also love the way the tunic came out and how it looks on you! I'm still confused, though, about the effect of your using the wrong (larger) needle size on the end result. Did it not make a difference, in the end, did blocking 'fix' it, will you have to keep blocking to adjust each time, was it the fiber that 'forgave' the oversight...? and the questions continue ;-)

re: How The Swatch Saved The Day, or At Least, The Bonsai

RhondaS — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 12:31:59 GMT

Sandi you are a gem .. you make me smile ..alot
Aussie reader

re: How The Swatch Saved The Day, or At Least, The Bonsai

SaraJ — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 01:04:50 GMT

I am so pleased that the frog did NOT have to make an appearance this time!

The Bonsai looks so beautiful on you, and I like how you sewed up the bottom of the V so that it ends a little higher, to suit your individual figure.

re: How The Swatch Saved The Day, or At Least, The Bonsai

SharonC — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 23:53:53 GMT

William D., did you really mean 12 feet? Or 12"? Either way...bless your heart!