On Monday night when I got home from work, the Noni blog was up with the first Ella KAL post. As soon as I had a minute, I sat down and cast on.

One of those weeks where I had barely enough time to scratch myself left me with very little Ella time. But then David won tickets to the Renaissance exhibition at the National Gallery of Australia on Thursday afternoon for Friday night, so on Friday we went road tripping, and Ella came along.

It's about a three hour drive from our place to Canberra, doable in a day, and it's pretty, but can get a little boring.

Lots of road.

Lots of greenery!

And we stopped by Lake George to look at the Wind Farm and have a knit. Yes, it really is a lake. I've never personally seen it full, but it happens.

And on the way home in the dark, I finished this weeks KAL section. I was feeling very proud of myself, but there'd been a little niggling thought in my head all week. Last night I pulled it out again and looked at it. Tried it around my body, and admitted to myself that the niggling thought was right.

Ella was too big. I fall smack in between two sizes. I'd decided to size up to be on the safe side, but it was just too big, especially seeing as my swatch had grown when I'd blocked it. So I frogged it.

This morning, it looked like this.

Next section starts tomorrow. I'd best get knitting!

Two socks, two circular needles, one ball of yarn. (And no tangle, hooray!)

I had my first day back at work on Tuesday after the lovely extended Christmas break. On the way to work I stopped at the Post Office. To cheer me up along the way, this was waiting for me.

Luscious. Divine. Soft. Squishy. Droolworthy to the nth degree. I couldn't wait to get home and wind me up a skein to swatch.

I'm going to talk about my method to swatching. Yours might be different. Until I discovered knitting on the internet about 8 years ago, I never bothered. If the pattern called for 4mm needles, I used 4mm needles.

I also never wore any of my finished garments, because they never turned out quite right. I gave up on knitting garments, and knit a lot of scarves instead. And baby garments. If they're a little big, the baby will grow into them eventually, right? It never really occurred to me that the problem might be my gauge.

Until I tried to knit Emily a cabled cardigan about 9 years ago or so. The pattern called for 8ply (DK) doubled and 7mm needles. I ran out of yarn. Like, really, really short of yarn. From memory, I ended up having to buy about 4 extra balls of yarn. I went back to Spotlight and complained about the pattern, assuming they'd got the amount of yarn wrong. The assistant asked me if I'd checked my tension. I'm sure I looked at her blankly.

Then when I googled knitting all those fateful years ago and learned about knitting blogs, a whole new world opened up for me. Swatching? Blocking? My knitting underwent a metamorphosis.

Also, I learned that I'm a loose knitter. I always need to go down at least one needle size, sometimes more. No wonder my knitting had never turned out right!

So I now swatch for every single garment I knit. Every. Time. Scarves, socks, shawls? Bah, who cares! Garments? Always!

Here's what works for me.

First, I collect together every thing I need.

Yarn, pattern, needles in a few sizes. Usually the size called for (just in case), always a size smaller, and sometimes a size smaller than that.

Because I almost always get the correct tension on a needle one size smaller than recommended, I start swatching on that. In this case, the pattern calls for 5.5mm (US 9) needles, so I started with a 5mm (US 8).
Recommended tension is 18sts and 24 rows over 10cm (4").

My preferred swatch size is 15cm square. I think that a 10cm square is a little risky for measuring purposes. Sometimes my first or last stitch is a little loose and can be misleading, so to allow a little room for error, I like a 15cm square.
Also, I don't like to measure plain stockinette. It rolls, sometimes even after it's been blocked, so it's hard to measure. So I always add a little garter border to make measuring easier.

So in this case, I decided to cast on 33 stitches. 18sts x 1.5 (to make a 15cm square) = 27 stitches in stockinette, plus 3 sts either side for a garter border.

And off I go. First observation is that this yarn is so soft it's amazing. Doesn't feel like your ordinary, run-of-the-mill wool. But my swatch?

At this stage, it looks like it's coming out a little small - 5.5 or 5.75" instead of 6". I could stop now and go up to the recommended needle size, but I decide to finish the swatch and see.

I work 36 rows in stockinette. 24 rows = 10cm (4") in recommended gauge, so 24 x 1.5 = 36 rows. I then finish with a few rows of garter stitch for my border and I remeasure my swatch.

Uh oh. Right?

Wrong. It's a little on the small side, and some knitters would now decide to just use the larger needle. But I've been burned before, and I really want my Ella coat to fit nicely. I don't want it to be too small, but I don't want it to be too big, either.

If I'm putting in enough work to make a coat, I want it to fit right!

So the final step, which is just as vitally important as any other step is to block my swatch. Into a warm bubble bath it goes to soak for a little while, then I roll it up in a facecloth and wring out (gently!) the excess water, before I lay it out for a final measurement check.

I guess that warm bubble bath was just as relaxing as it looked. My swatch has grown. Not a lot, but just the right amount! My stitch tension is perfect. My row tension is a tiny bit short, but that's okay, most of the length is done by measurement instead of row count.

If I'd made a decision early on and gone up a needle size and not blocked my swatch, I'd end up with a coat that's too big for me. One stitch per 10cm can make a big difference! If you have 180 sts, and your tension should be 18 sts = 10cm, your garment would finish up 100cm. But if you're getting 17 sts = 10cm, your garment is going to end up nearly 106cm around. That could make a huge difference int he way your garment fits.

I'll probably throw the swatch into the washing machine on a gentle cycle to see if it felts before I finish the real thing. I don't want to ruin my garment later on!

There are no knitting police! Swatch using whatever method works for you. But I really recommend always doing a swatch.

And so the final finished project for 2011 is here! I wore it for the first time on New Years Eve to a knitterly lunch, and Knitabulous took some pics for me afterwards.

Specs:
Pattern: Elspeth by Laura Long, available for free from the Rowan website (You'll need to be a member to get the pattern, but it's free to join)
Size: Small
Yarn: The sadly discontinued Calmer in Plum, pattern called for 4 balls, I only used 3.
Needles: 4.5mm
New Techniques for me: Crochet! Rosered came into the shop one day, and showed me how to do the double crochet and the picot edging.
Mods: I changed the crochet edging around the outer edge, but did it the way the pattern said around the sleeves. It worked fine on the sleeves, but when I did it around the bolero edge, it went all wavy. I emailed Rosered and she suggested a few decreases and picots only every third dc instead of every second. It's sitting better now, but I like the look of the sleeves better! I think it that my tension might have played a part too - I always go down a needle size in knitting, maybe I should have done the same with the crochet hook.
I also didn't bother with the picots on the ties, it seemed a little silly to me!

Otherwise, exactly as the pattern says.

And I love it! I really love Calmer, and I'm so glad I managed to stash some away before it's lost forever. I'm usually not a fan of acrylic at all, but this blend is s o soft and squishy, it's a delight to work with, and to wear.

It's been mentioned to me by a couple of people that I should be blogging my sewing exploits as well as my knitting.
I mention it now because the dress I'm wearing with my Elspeth is one of the more recent ones that I've made. Unfortunately, I can't give you pattern information or anything, because it's a mock up of about three different patterns, and some shirring on the back. Shirring is my new sewing love. Easy, easy, easy! I used this tutorial to learn how, and it's great! Shirring just the back of the bodice is good - no need for zips or buttons, helps with a great fit due to the elasticity and is relatively easy to boot!

This isn't a great picture, but it gives you a better view of the bodice. The fabrics is a lovely light weight cotton I got from Calico & Ivy.

In other news, my yarn arrived for my Ella coat!

The colours are perfect - the colour in the picture is a little off, the pick is a gorgeous raspberry pink. The Shepherd's Wool is divine - maybe the softest pure wool I've ever played with. Gorgeous! Now to swatch...

So, as has become customary, let's wrap up 2011, knitwise!

1. Coco Top, 2. Bogus Hat, 3. Shur'tugal Socks, 4. Pompom Tea Cosy, 5. Lace Edged Cardi, 6. Stripey Cardi, 7. Montego Bay, 8. Nutkins, 9. Grapevine, 10. Spanish Dress, 11. Teddy Cardi, 12. Akomeogi Socks, 13. Stripey Little Mitts, 14. Keyhole Scarf #2, 15. Keyhole Scarf #1, 16. Blossom, 17. Easy Top Down Raglan, 18. Floyd, 19. Smoulder, 20. Edie, 21. Fancy Schmancy, 22. Billy Bruce's Cardi, 23. Mouse Comfort, 24. Lily Cardigan, 25. Plum Frost, 26. Lace Edged Baby Hat, 27. Sophie MkIII, 28. Valentine Cardi, 29. Hitchhiker, 30. Baby Kina, 31. KawKawEsque, 32. Elspeth33. Not available34. Not available35. Not available36. Not available

I was very surprised to see my output this year! In 2010, I completed 35 projects, in 2009, 33. Honestly, I thought this year would prove to be far less productive.

But wasn't I wrong?!? 32 finished projects. A tiny bit less than average. Starting two jobs this year after having been out of the workforce for almost a decade apparently didn't have the impact that I thought it would. Of course, one of those jobs being in a very yummy yarn store, where I got to actually knit, helps. And the commute there and back on public transport is also (usually) uninterrupted knitting time!

Nine full sized adult garments! Lots of little projects and shop samples, but I'm good with that. A little bit of everything in that little selection up there. Garments, scarves, socks, a lace sweater. No shawls, but I rarely wear any of the ones I've made in the past anyway. I think this year my knitting took a more functional direction. More garments that I actually wear, scarves for accessorising. Socks, baby gifts, store samples. It's nice to use/wear the things you knit, and I think this year I've managed that.

You may also notice two finished but unblogged projects up there too. Elspeth is all done, I wore it today and Knitabulous took some pictures for me. There'll be a blog post in the next day or two. And the Baby Kina has yet to meet her recipient, so I'm hoping for a future blog post on that too.

2012? Well, I learned in the past couple of weeks that I've been accepted into TAFE for my Library Diploma in 2012. It's a full time, year long course. I'll be doing that online in addition to continuing to work at Calico & Ivy and at the library job I have now. I'd really like to get something more permanent in the library (I'm only a casual right now) and the Diploma is the logical next step. Will I manage all three? We'll find out when it all gets started in February, I guess! Will I manage to knit as well?

I certainly intend to!

Also, the Ella Reinvented Knit A Long starts in mid January, and I'm looking forward to that. Hopefully my yarn will arrive sometime this week and I can begin swatching. Until then, I've pulled the Camber Cardigan out of hibernation and restarted on that. Last time Camber appeared on the blog was way back in March, and it's sat in a bag, ignored, ever since. I got it out and started working on it again, Why was it ignored so long? No idea, the boring black laceweight stockinette was boring. But since picking it back up, I'm almost finished the body. It's true you see, absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Or it makes you forget that the project you were working on had bored you silly!

See you in 2012!

So a little trickery. A finished project that maybe just isn't quite finished.

See, I really wanted to make a blog post today. But I'm just 14 rows short of finishing the KawKawEsque socks. 14 measly rows. I could've done them now, posted later, but we're having a visitor, and going out to dinner. Then I'd lose the light, and it'd be put off until tomorrow. And Twinkie has a vet appointment in the morning, so it'd be tomorrow afternoon. Then something else would happen, and this is precisely why the blog posts never go up exactly when I plan them to.

Now just imagine you don't know any of what you just read, and we'll all pretend that I'm showing off finished socks.

Look! KawKawEsque!

Awesomeness. I showed them to David when I bought the pattern a while back. "Do you like these?" And his response?

"Aren't they just plain socks?" No, David, they are not. He couldn't see the cleverness of the rib pattern, starting at the central spine and wrapping around the sock. Now he does. Or at least, he placates me and says he does.

That Yarnissima is a clever woman!

Specs:
Pattern: KawKawEsque by Yarnissima
Yarn: Wollmeise 100% Merino Superwash in Lowenzahn
Needles: 2mm bamboo DPNS
Mods: None.

I'm a little worried about how these socks will stand up to wear, being 100% Merino. David is a little hard on his socks, so we shall see.
Yarnissima writes a pattern that delivers a most beautiful work of art. Reading the pattern is somewhat of an art form in itself. I started these socks back at the end of October, and took them along to Sewjourn. Fortunately I didn't drink an awful lot of alcohol while we were there, because reading the pattern and the chart while sober was difficult enough.
The only advice I can offer is don't question it. Just do exactly what the pattern says, even if it doesn't seem to make sense at the time. And trust me, sometimes it won't make sense at all. It's a 9 page pattern. There are 7 charts.

And you'll end up with 2 gorgeous socks. Well, you will soon.

Haven't had a Twinkie update in a while. She was not impressed by this "Santa" caper.

But then she came around.

And me?

Ridiculously spoiled, and completely surprised!

I like the way my blog looks like all I do is finish things. The reality is of course, way different, but I've been blogging less this year, so there's been a lot more posts featuring finished items than works in progress!

I finally finished my Hitchhiker! I know some people rave about this, saying it's a great, fast knit, but for me it just wasn't. It was boring. B-O-R-I-N-G. It took forever, and all that garter stitch drove me batty. Only the gorgeousness of the yarn kept me going. But I'm glad it did, because I love the finished item.

Specs:
Pattern: Hitchhiker scarf by Martina Behm
Yarn: The gorgeous FiftyFifty by Knitabulous. Not sure what the colourway is called.
Needles: 3mm Addi Turbo.
Mods: I had intended to keep going until I ran out of yarn, but 45 points in, I'd had enough.

So, I'm happy with the scarf, love the colours, will wear it often, will undoubtedly never, ever knit it again!

RoseRed came by the shop the other day, and you know what she did? She taught me how to do the crochet edge on Elspeth!

Hooray! I'm super slow, and it's eating heaps of yarn, but I'm managing. I sincerely doubt I'd ever use it for more than just edging, but at least I've managed that much.

And another project in progress photo just to show that i don't just produce the items out of thin air, I've started a Baby Kina.

So quick! So cute! I'm seriously loving these quick, easy projects.

But to counter all that, I've joined in the fun of the Ella Reinvented KAL! This is a longer term project, and I've been asked to be one of the key bloggers knitting along! The KAL will start on January 16, and my yarn is on it's way to me. Can't wait to start this one :)

You know what I love? I love polar bears. And my family. My cutesy bunny rabbit. My friends. Sleeping. Chocolate. Yarn. Knitting.

Oh hang on, I got sidetracked. I do love all of those things, but I really love Elspeth.

What's not to love about a short cardi that I cast on a week ago and is right this minute blocking?

I've seamed the raglan seams and left the side seams until after it's blocked. Then I just have to learn to do some crochet to finish the edges.

A bit worried about that bit. Especially seeing as my crochet hook roll has completely disappeared. I bought a new hook, though. Dedication, guys!

A finished project! A garment! For Me! (Finally)

Loving it!
Specs:
Pattern: Valentine Cardi by Laura Chau for Spud & Chloe
Yarn: Spud & Chloe Fine in Calypso, 4 skeins. I have about 50g left from the fourth skein.
Needles: 3.5mm
Mods: I made the sleeves a little longer, otherwise it was knit to the pattern.

This one had me worried while I was knitting it. I couldn't decide whether to knit the smallest or second size, as I fall right smack in between them. I asked on Ravelry, I looked at the finished projects, and I finally decided on the smallest size. I knit the body first, and it looked tiny. When I'd finished it, I was absolutely positive that I was going to have to rip it and start over.
So I decided to block the body before I frogged it and started over.
And I'm mightily glad I did, because it blocked out to the perfect size! So I did the bands, and left the sleeves until last, becasue I knew I wanted the sleeves longer and wanted to make sure I had enough yarn. Ultimately I had enough yarn to go for full length sleeves if I'd wanted, but I was sick of the sight of it and just wanted it off the needles.

So I'm fickle, sue me!

I wore it to Not Quite high tea last Sunday, and I was very happy with it - except that the elbow length sleeves stretched out around my elbow. The yarn is a silk/wool blend. Lovely to knit with but it did stretch out a bit when I wore it, and it'll be interesting to see how it stands up over time.

Next up int he Knit Parade?

Elspeth, in some of my precious Calmer!

What's been happening at Casa De Random?

Knitting.

I finished Sophie the Fourth.

For a coworker expecting her third baby. I handed it over last night and she was delighted.

Specs:
Pattern: Sophie by Ysolda Teague
Yarn: Rowan Pima Cotton in Pampas, one and a bit balls, from Calico & Ivy
Needles: 2.5mm DPNS.

Started on October 27, languished for a while, then a final burst saw her finished this week. Great baby gift, I've knit bunches of Ysolda's toys for new babies. Doesn't matter what sex the baby is, doesn't matter what season it's born in, and it won't outgrow it in no time flat - what's not to love?

I also knit a baby hat for the shop.

Specs:
Pattern: Bonnet by Erika Knight from Natural Baby Knits
Yarn: Rowan Milk Cotton Fine in Opaque
Needles: 2.25mm

Cute! I stuffed up the lace edge the first time around, but once I got it right, it flew off the needles. This is the smallest size, and it is indeed tiny. The matching bootees may follow. Maybe.

There has been other knitting, but more importantly there has been panic stashing of the (sadly!) discontinued Rowan Calmer.

Preen, 10 balls.

Aquamarine, 10 balls

Garnet, 10 balls

Plum, 4 balls.

Is 34 balls enough? Should I get more? Any other yarn, I wouldn't be quite so panicked, but Calmer is such an unusual yarn.

Dilemmas, I have them!