The Importance of Gauge Swatches

Anybody who knits well knows that the most important thing to do before you start is gauge swatch. It’s also the most boring thing I can think of doing, especially when you’re itching to start a project. My first “knitting phase” project (that is when I started knitting for real a couple of years ago) was a jacket for Logan. It was pre my wool snobbery phase (where only 100% wool will do) and it was to use up some swapped acrylic. I justify the use of acrylic now in that it’s really easy to wash and the jacket was only meant to be for mucking around in. “Patricks Jacket” a Lionbrand pattern was made with cotton but I wanted acrylic. To be honest I don’t even know if I had the right weight yarn. I started knitting with one strand but it was just knitting up too loosely. Two strands and it was the perfect weight for a rough and tumble jacket AND it matched quite closely the single strand of a different brand contrast I was using for the sleeves and stripes. Knit, delay, delay, delay, seam - try on for size. LOL. Okay, it’s a little big. Try on Zoe - okay it’s a little big for her even LOL. I call it my three year jacket. If it doesn’t wear out it will fit him until he’s five! He loves it though. Roll up the sleeves and he might swim in it but it serves it’s purpose.

Longies. Did I mention how much I hate gauge swatching. It’s a patience thing. I didn’t have the right sized circulars to practice on longies so I started these and when I learned half way through how to use circs and realised how much I hated seaming I realised I would have had a lot more fun if I’d waited - nevermind. He SWIMS in these and will probably be out of nappies by the time he fits them. Oh well they were always supposed to be pj pants so I’m not too worried.

Kiddie Cadet Cap. The first one. I DID gauge swatch - in fact I think I did that twice. The problem was that a gauge swatch doesn’t really let you know how the item is going to turn out and it was very obvious part way through the actual item after each gauge swatch that it was the wrong combination of yarns and or needle sizes. The last time I didn’t swatch at all but was loving the combination of yarns and needle sizes and it was knitting up very nicely. Unfortunately it was massive but served as a great guide for Zoe’s Cap which came out perfectly. Much to my dismay though we lost Logans cap (which again he loved) at Tawharanui Beach a couple of weeks later. Still, that gives me the opportunity to knit another one that will actually fit - although I think I’ll look at it for next year - considering his matching Milo Mitts are not his cup of tea (he prefers his sisters ones) I’ll choose to just move on!

Zoe’s Pinafore. You would think I’d learn wouldn’t you. I actually gauge swatched this one too. It came out several stitches larger than the pattern recommended. I’d just invested in the needles the pattern suggested and really couldn’t afford to buy more (it is recommended that you gauge swatch BEFORE you invest in needles - I did have the right size in flats - I just had to buy the circs). Oh well, Zoe’s chest measurement was 3cm bigger than the largest pattern size so blow it - I’ll just do it. LOL. I can’t see her wearing it properly before winter next year however much she protests that she likes it.