I can't tell you how much I hate swatching. Well….it's not knitting the little swatch that I hate, it's the delay of starting a new project that I hate. Yes, it's that ADD thing that I will always struggle with…..wanting immediate gratification.
I have learned over the years the hard way that the swatch rarely lies and if you do not swatch, sometimes you pay the piper. Man o' man, my piper must be one wealthy dude!
Saturday night while a few of us were enjoying good wine and company, I sat and did my swatch like a dutiful girl. My gauge width wise is spot on, but in length, it is a bit compressed. Normally I would just go for it and hope for the best, but this time I asked a few more experienced grrls than I. Yep, they agreed…..as long as the width was right, I was golden.
I am going to take a HUGE leap of faith with this sweater. Usually my sweaters end up being waaay too big for me….or they will fit my ample bust, but fall off of my shoulders. Over the last few months, I have lost 25 pounds and hope to lose 25 more, so I am going to knit this sweater in a smaller size than I would usually consider. I'm hoping that between a little more weight loss and not really being as large as I envision myself this sweater will fit.
If it doesn't then I will be ripping….because this yarn is waaaaaaay too nice to have sit in the back of the closet. Have I told you how much I love it? If I haven't……..let me tell you……it is HEAVENLY!
As a foot note……I LOVE Paul Simon and the clips from his new cd are good. 🙂
The Woolen Rabbit 
Your swatch looks sooo soft and lovely. Congratulations on losing weight — I applaud your motivation and determination!
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I feel like a teenager when it comes to swatching…”no, not me! I will not do it!” I know in my heart of hearts that it is better for me to do the swatch thing, I know I know, but I’m easily swayed with Rav talk on how it lies (!) and how it uses needed yarn that would/could/should be used for the knitted project itself. (Eek! And with the cost of yarn these days, I may need ALL of it.) In my head I struggle and fight and the desonance is so great that I think of something else…and knit projects where a wee bit off gauge is not THAT big deal, well at least not yet. Kim, I applaud you for doing the swatch thing. I KNOW your struggle, I live with it daily. When I grow up, I want to be just like you. 🙂 Congrats on the weight loss, you are an inspiration! Your swatch looks like it feels like butter. Mmmm 🙂
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Oh, yes, you must swatch for that sweater!!! That sweater is gorgeous, and you would be so upset if it came out wrong. Congratulations on your weight loss (if it was planned and healthy!). How did you do it?
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I don’t mind swatching. It’s part of knitting the project in my mind. But, did you tell us what sweater you plan to knit? The yarn looks yummy!
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OH! You DID tell us what sweater. I have a short memory span. You’ll love that sweater. Maybe you can make the adjustments you need as you go.
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And you even made a nice square swatch. Mine usually end up as rectangles, because I get tired of swatching and want to get started on the project.
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Wow! 25 pounds?!? Go you!!!! That sweater will be a beautiful color on you.
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Wow Kim- 25lbs- go you!
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Awesome on the weightloss! Very cool. 🙂 That yarn looks yummy 🙂 though so does the fiber in the background.
I to don’t really care to swatch grin but I dutifully swatch…because I’m a budget knitter and don’t to want be surprised in a bad way when I’m done. grin The only thought I had on the row guage – is this the kit sweater you are knitting? And does it have cables? (I seem to remember a texture or cable) You may have to fudge a bit in regards to repeats of the cables. But otherwise – yup golden, cause length is always easier to fudge with than width in my book! Happy Knitting.
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I don’t hate swatching as much as never remembering what size needle I used to knit the swatch! I’ve started making YOs to avoid this, but I still have a bowl full of swatches and I have no idea what they represent.
Congrats on the weight loss!
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That is going to make such a NICE sweater!!
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Good for you for losing that weight! Cheering you on towards your goal!
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