Project – Fair Isle Cardigan
Bernat Pattern Book #530198 Ready Set Snow
Yarn – Bernat Softee Chunky in Grey Ragg, Grape, Grass, Teal, Aqua
Blogger – DinaPurls
Yeah, you read that right. Unfortunately I thought I was being all smart and thorough, but I essentially ignored the swatch–or at least part of the swatch (Hey, if it can happen to my knitting heroes, then surely it can happen to a mere mortal such as myself).
See my swatch above? Just for kicks, I tried a simple two-colour pattern with the grey and grape to get a “feel” for the fair isle. Sure enough my gauge was spot on at that point, even with 6mm needles. However, since the rest of my swatch–the rest of my ONE colour swatch–was still off, I opted to go one full needle size down. Afterall, I wasn’t going to be working with any fair isle till much later. Stripes are stripes. Each stripe should still follow the grey–or so I thought. Stripes in each of the colours should have been in my swatch for me to get an accurate measure of gauge.
When I took the tape measure to my work (pictured above), the sizing was wrong (as in it was off by quite a few inches). It makes me cringe even now, but I frogged! Ripped back to nothing and started again from scratch. A week’s work down the drain!
Thankfully I’m persistent. At least I’m past where I was when I decided to rip back. And I’m carefully monitoring my tension and measuring every few rows.
Here’s hoping I can stay on track.
DinaPurls :S
I would have been outwitted too! It never would have occurred to me to swatch changing colors. So excited to see your finished project though – I love the colors you chose.
Thanks Jen. I love the colours too.
It is always challenging to have to rip back, but so rewarding when the results of the second try look as good as yours do. Great recovery & great tip!
Thanks for the encouragement Michelle. I guess no one likes to rip back, but the cardi would have been too small at the hips and belly. And I sooooo want to wear it, LOL.
It is looking great! Wonderful idea to swatch the multiple colors as well!
There is nothing more frustrating than having been careful to prepare for a project, only to end up ripping it down because of a simple oversight! I just did that with my knitted shawl…