Swatching for Boxy.

Have you swatched for Boxy? How'd it go?

I ended up knitting two swatches. I started on US 4's and thought it was too tight, so I ripped and started again on US 5's. Once I'd blocked that swatch, I thought it was too loose, so I went back to the 4's. I felt a little bit like Goldilocks :-)

By the way, here's a little trick I use to keep track of the needle size. I put eyelets and purl bumps in the lower right corner (knit an eyelet as a yarn over followed by a knit two together).

Once both swatches dried, I hung them overnight (this is what I referred to in my last post as "weighting").

And today, I took my final measurements.

Yep, the US 4 wins.

Planning for Boxy

Yes, it's finally time. Our Boxy KAL officially casts on next Friday, August 16. This KAL is not only our first sweater, but also our most epic project to date, requiring about 1,600 to 2,000 yards of yarn. Right, that's a LOT of knitting!

Because this is a sweater - even a loose-fitting one - gauge and size matter. This week, we're going to knit gauge swatches and make sure we're planning the right size.

yarn wound and ready to swatch (I'm using Meadow in the Pokeweed colorway)

Swatching

Joji has provided instructions for both a seamed and seamless version. Before you knit your swatch, you need to decide which version you'll follow...because you need to swatch the way you'll actually knit the garment.

Undecided? Here are a few points to consider:

The seamed version is a front and a back knit flat, back and forth, knitting the stitches on the right side and purling the stitches on the wrong side. The front and back are seamed at the sides with mattress stitch. Because these two pieces are worked the same direction (from the bottom edge up to the shoulders) for the same length, it's the easiest kind of mattress stitch. This would be a great "first seaming project" (promise!)

I'm going to knit the seamed version (I know, you're shocked aren't you?!) for two reasons: 

first, knitting and purling. The seamless version starts with 16 to 18 inches of stockinette in the round...just knitting (yep, poke me in the eye with a needle!); and

second, straight needles. I love them! For sure the stitches are going to be crammed on tight, but that doesn't bother me!

If you're planning to knit the seamed version, you should knit your swatch flat. Cast on 30-40 stitches and work 4-5 inches of stockinette (knitting the right side rows and purling the wrong side rows).

As I mentioned, the seamless version starts with a big tube...several hundred stitches of stockinette knit in the round. And that means just knitting. No purling. Many of us knit and purl at slightly different gauges. So if you're just knitting, your work might be smaller or bigger than if you're knitting and purling. Boxy is a loose-fitting rectangle, designed with about 25 to 30 inches of ease. It's big enough, then, and you don't need to make it bigger by knitting at the wrong gauge! 

If you're going to make the seamless version, you should swatch "in the round". I promise it's easy (after all, it's just knitting and no purling!) and it's a helpful technique to know (think hats and socks and other seamless sweaters). If it's new to you, here's a great video (you only need to watch the first few minutes to learn the technique). You should cast on more stitches, say 40-50? and you'll still want to work 4-5 inches of stockinette; knitting all the rows.

In summary - for Boxy, I don't think there's a technical reason* to choose one version over the other. You should choose the version that makes you a happy knitter. We've got a lot of stitches and a lot of yarn ahead of us; let's make it fun! 

And finally - I strongly recommend you wet block your swatch and weight it once it's dry to see how your finished piece might grow. If you want to learn more about gauge and swatching, check out this article; it's excellent!

Sizing

Joji states (on page 2 of the pattern) "The biggest difference among the different sizes is the sleeve circumference [at the elbow]." Measure your elbow. That's right, put the measuring tape right around and see how many inches it is. Find the size whose Sleeve Circumference at elbow most closely matches (I'd go up if you're between sizes). Then make sure you're OK with the resulting Body Circumference. I think this probably only matters if your elbow measures between 10-1/2 and 11". The 10-1/2" sleeve is a 68" body circumference and the 11" sleeve is a 76" body circumference. Choose the better body circumference; you can always adjust the sleeve size if you need to.

*While I don't think there's a technical reason for Boxy, but there might be a technical reason for another project. We're knitting at a fairly loose gauge. The resulting fabric is going to be really drapey, which means the piece will have a tendency to lose its shape as you wear it. Side seams would help it keep its shape. If the sweater were designed with a lot less ease, meaning it really needed to "fit", I'd suggest the seamed version. But a big boxy rectangle? if it loses its shape, who cares?!

An Eye Candy Tour.

Yes, consider yourself warned. This post is full of pretty photos guaranteed to tempt and hopefully to inspire. But no worries, I promise this is a calorie-free treat!

First, on the wall behind the yellow table, our just-arrived shipment of Treenway Silks Kiku, a silk laceweight in a generous 100 gram/1,100 yard put-up. We have two color collections of seven colors each, plus two neutrals. The great thing about the color collections is mixing and matching for multi-color projects like Color Affection . The 100 gram skein has enough yards to be a Main, Contrast 1 and Contrast 2 color.  All you need to do is find two friends to join you; everyone chooses a different color and you'll end up with three different shawls. Of course the company and encouragement of friends will be helpful for the knitting, too; the laceweight version of the pattern is a lot of stitches!

collection one is on the left and collection two is on the right

these are the two neutrals; that cream would make a lovely wedding shawl or even a veil

Next on our tour is the back wall, now stocked with Shibui, Swan's Island and Manos. We've added new yarns across all three brands and have lots of different weights and fiber combinations.

And now the side wall behind the sales counter. No longer the "Cascade Wall", it's now full of Malabrigo! I am so happy we have a place to show these yarns hanging.

Because really, you need to see them displayed like this to really see them!

And yes, we have a full shipment of Rasta ready to be knit into cowls for holiday gifts.

The final stop on the tour is the area formerly known as the Library. There are a few patterns left, but mostly it's now full of Habu and Shibui fingering, with sample knits to show off the different fibers. 

Funny, as I look over this post, I realize I should've also thought to take a photo of the interior... no worries, it's still chock full of yarn, too!

Hope everyone gets to visit us soon so you can see it all in person. Happy Knitting!

SweetGeorgia.

Probably the prettiest, most colorful display we've had at the shop entrance...maybe ever? or at least in the past few months. Last week our first shipment of SweetGeorgia yarn - all 81 colors of Tough Love - arrived and took over the cubbies and baskets.

SweetGeorgia is actually not a local company; it's based in Vancouver, Canada, founded in 2005 by Felicia Lo. Check out her video here and you'll get a taste of why we're so excited to carry the yarn. Felicia talks about color and how it can bring healing, comfort, and joy...and express love. That pretty much sums up what I love about needlecraft, and how perfect to use a yarn designed and dyed for that same purpose.

Tough Love is a washable 3-ply merino/nylon blend fingering weight yarn with a generous 425 yards per 115 g skein. It's perfect for socks, drapey shawls, sweaters and - held doubled - a great worsted weight substitute.

Here are a few of my favorite project suggestions.

First up - socks. The variegated colorways are stunning on their own. I'd use the Churchmouse Basic Sock pattern with a simple 2x2 ribbing at the cuff and a stockinette leg and foot. Or choose a tonal colorway to show off pattern and/or lace, like in the Cherry Lane Socks or the ever-popular Monkey Socks.

a very small sampling of the variegated color ways that scream Socks! or Summerflies!! 

And then the shawls. Summerflies is still our favorite single skein shawl (suggest a size 7 needle for the "average" tension). 425 yards should be enough to add another butterfly repeat or make that last knotted openwork section a little longer if you want a bigger shawl. I used 430 yards a few years ago for mine (project notes here) with added repeats and more knotted openwork.

Of course colorwork shawls like Color Affection would really shine. The hard part would be picking three colors! And if you're looking for something similar, but not quite the same, how about Happy Street . It's a new design by Veera Valimaki who designed Color Affection.

And finally sweaters (of course there are sweaters!). Ravelry seems to be overflowing with fingering weight sweaters these days so there are plenty of patterns that will work; it makes narrowing this list to three a challenge!

Joji Locatelli's Boxy . If you follow our forum on Ravelry you know this is going to be our next Knit Along, likely starting in mid-August. Most of the sizes call for a little over 1,600 yards of yarn...four skeins of Tough Love. Our shipment included four skeins each of those 81 colors so if you think you want to use it, you need to move fast!

These next two are designed by Jane Richmond. She suggests SweetGeorgia yarns for both...maybe because she's also from Vancouver? (or maybe she and Felicia are just good friends!)

Georgia  and Grace  . These are both top-down seamless cardigans with a contiguous sleeve that looks like a traditional set-in sleeve - not a raglan. The smaller sizes up to 36" take three skeins and the larger take four to five.

Remember - you will need to alternate skeins if you knit a project with multiple skeins of the same colorway.

Convinced? if only to see the yarns in person?

As always, happy knitting!

Revive.

Are you familiar with Rowan's Revive? It's a DK weight blend of recycled cotton, silk and viscose, which makes it a perfect three-season yarn for our climate. It comes in gorgeous tweedy colors. It's nice to knit (it is Rowan after all). Can you tell it's one of my favorite yarns? ...and I can't believe I haven't blogged about it before!

But maybe that's ok - because now we have a beautiful sweater to show off the yarn.

This is Julie Hoover's Insouciant . We're not the first ones to use Revive; the FO's on Ravelry are all pretty and encouraging.

There are plenty of other sweater patterns that would work, too. One of my favorites is Thea Colman's ("baby cocktails") Vodka Lemonade . It looks so pretty with the tweed.

I also love Heidi Kirrmaier's Peasy . I've knit it twice already, but the gallery of Revive FOs, especially this one, might entice me to knit a third one!

Revive is also beautiful for lace. I used it for Traveling Woman and that shawl is one of my favorite summer wraps; it looks great with jeans and a t-shirt or a dressy black linen top. Check out all the FO's on Ravelry.


Or if lace isn't your thing, how about the Churchmouse Folded Poncho ? The pattern calls for a DK weight wool, but if you've been around the shop lately, you know we're knitting it out of EVERYthing! And it works up great in Revive.

Convinced!? what would you knit with Revive?

5,580.

...that's my answer.  And you ask, "What's the question?"

How many stitches can four knitters work on a Friday afternoon?

Here's the work in progress on four linen stitch scarves...two of them have 450 stitches and two have 480 stitches. My scarf is the one center right; I worked three rows of 480 stitches. I think the others were at least that productive*. And that makes 5,580 stitches. Pretty amazing!

It's also pretty amazing how different those four pieces look up close.

*or maybe not. Sandy stopped by and shared her work in progress; she's knitting the alpaca silk version. It's lovely. 

The four of us working the linen version might have gotten a bit sidetracked thinking about alpaca silk....and then one of us pulled a few skeins of yarn...so maybe the answer is closer to 5,000. That's ok. It's still an impressive number!

 

Meadow has arrived!

...and I promise: it's even better in person.

I met with Theresa this afternoon to talk over some new ideas for this blog (if you have any suggestions, we'd love to hear them!) and at the end of our meeting I asked if she'd heard any more about the much-anticipated Meadow shipment. She told me it was here...and she was waiting for us to open the box together (can I say how much I love her??!!). So we did.

with Butchie's help!

It's lovely.

But it's even better on the shelves!

all twelve colors. gorgeous.

And now the tough decision...which color to choose for the Mystery KAL?