and five needle sizes.
after starting my first swatch last night at the point, i began to despair. i can’t believe that the pattern author ever got 5 spi with size US5 needles and tahki cotton classic! it’s just not possible. i swatched with 5s and got 7 spi. then 6s = 6.5 spi, 7s = 6 spi, 8s = 5.5 spi. and that’s where i stopped because the US8 fabric looked like crap and there’s no way that i would wear it. so, about an hour ago, i stopped knitting and had two swtaches to play around with, the 8s and the 7s.
swatchin’
here we have the US7 swatch on top and the US8 on the bottom. the weather here is crappy so sorry about the flash photo. after blocking, the US7 swatch comes out just about perfect and the fabric is more substantial and less loose than the US8. i think US7 is the final contender! which, i may remind you is two needle sizes bigger than called for. hmmmm.. i hope this is the least of my problems.
now, i’m also working on birch too (yes, i finally casted on. it only took 3 hours.. yes, 3 hours) and i have to say that i’m not at all pleased with this yarn’s hairiness.
the start of birch or the end?
when i set it on the table at the point yesterday, jess remarked that it looked like my pet had curled up next to me. many people reached out and stroked it like it was a cat. yes, it’s very hairy. it certainly is pretty and i especially like the color and the way that it looks, but i don’t think that it’s the right yarn for this project. the best part about birch is the leaves and i think that they would be totally obscured by the hairiness. thoughts anyone? i’m prepared to frog and save this yarn for a different project. i have 1000 yards of it so I WILL be using it (that, and i just love sweet georgia and will never diss the yarn for its hairiness.. it will eventually find its perfect pattern soulmate, i’m sure.)
give me your opinion on birch! frog or forge on? i’m thinking frog. it just doesn’t look right to me.
the other project i started, i pretty much finished in one night.
the mighty crochet hook
this is the blackout sleep mask of my own design. do not check your monitor, it IS crocheted but i have a reason for that. last year, i made a sleep mask because during the summer it’s like the face of the sun in our bedroom. so intensely bright it can wake up the dead everyday at 5AM. i just can’t sleep with all that light! hence the mask which i whipped up in sugar and cream cotton. it worked great for a few months until it became soft and so stretched out that it doesn’t really fit anymore (though i continue to use it every night.)
so i started a new one of my own design, crocheted for greater stability and the least amount of stretchiness. i’m using debbie bliss cathay and a 4.00MM hook. so far i like it. what you see here is the last stage before i crocheted a contrasting border on it and it grew by 30%. sigh. WAY too big i think. i’m gonna throw it in the wash and dryer and see what happens. if it’s still too big, then downsizing will take place as i have plenty of yarn left over to try again. this project is also where all of the old bras that i just purged from my wardrobe will come in handy! i cut off all the straps before throwing them out and have plenty of expandable elastic to attach to the mask. huzzah for recycling!
carrie m
oh, i totally need a sleep mask. well, not in this apartment, since i have no natural light, but typically i need complete darkness to sleep.
and i say frog birch. if you don’t like it now, you probably won’t in a few rounds, either. it’s so fuzzy that the stitches aren’t very defined.
Jun 24, 2006 @ 8:53 PM
Jessica
I’m undecided on if you should frog birch. Mine looked like nothing till I had finished a repeat or two, just green fuzziness. But on the other hand, “a repeat or two” is a major time investment on Birch. Sorry I’m no help!
And I’m jealous of your sleep mask. It seems like such a chic alternative to the flannel blanket over my face.
Jun 24, 2006 @ 10:48 PM
Jenn
I say go with your gut feeling and frog it. I’ve never ever regretted frogging anything, but have regretted completing projects I just KNEW weren’t right from the start, and then never wore them.
Jun 25, 2006 @ 3:19 AM
jody
what a pain with those swatches. i would usually use a US 7 to get 5 spi with cotton classic. i wonder if the designer of the pattern knits loosely?
as for birch, i’m undecided too. how would you feel about knitting a small swatch? because i think the leaves might look good once you have a few knitted and you block.
Jun 25, 2006 @ 7:53 AM
Veronique
Was there ever a KAL for Kyoto? I wonder if others have had the same gauge problems. I agree that it’s very bizarre that you have to go up 2 needle sizes!
As for Birch… Yes, your yarn is hairy, so the leaves will be more filled in, if you know what I mean. I think that a subtle look would be nice, but if you want your leaves to pop, you’d have to switch to a different yarn.
Oh, and lovely sleep mask!
Jun 25, 2006 @ 10:34 AM
gleek
yes, veronique, there was a kyoto-along but unfortunately only two people used the recommended yarn! from what i can gather, one of the women went up to a size US7 needle as well, so i think that i’m in the clear. her kyoto turned out lovely! what i’m learning from everyone there is that i should be careful to reverse the instructions betweem left and right front sizes. gotta make a note of that.
http://kyotoalong.blogspot.com/
as for birch, i’m still on the fence. i still want to make a shawl though so i’m contemplating frogging it and starting something else entirely! we’ll see what the day brings.
Jun 25, 2006 @ 11:26 AM
Michelle
You know, being completely off on a swatch is very common for me, but I’m usually going down a needle size or two, not up. I’m glad the blocking worked it out for you. I can’t wait to see more of kyoto!
Jun 25, 2006 @ 11:29 PM
Sarah
I’ll suggest taking the other end of the hairy yarn and swatching a sample leaf or two. That way you won’t have to pull out all that work you’ve already done before you make your decision. Then show us the swatch leaves and we’ll give you the gladiatorial thumbs up (raise your sword and deliver the death blow) or the thumbs down (lower your weapon and let Birch live).
As for Kyoto, choose math over knitting the cotton classic on a needle size it doesn’t like. I went two sizes past what was recommended to knit my Apricot Jacket with Calmer, and the resulting fabric is not as great as it would have been with a smaller needle.
Jun 26, 2006 @ 1:04 AM
pixienyc
I’m glad I’m not the only one to suggest this – you must be sick of swatching by now! – I think your best bet is to swatch birch to see if the yarn will work with the pattern.
They eye mask is cute – what stitch did you use for the border that made it grow so much in size? If you have to start again from scratch, at least you know it won’t take very long.
Jun 26, 2006 @ 10:02 AM
Stacey
I’d frog – a bit hairy I think for Birch….at least you didnt’ get too far in (though the casting on part I hear is the worst!)
Go with the swatch with the best fabric. You can adjust as you go to make ends meet.
Jun 26, 2006 @ 10:20 AM