Swatch Fest

Confession time. I haven't always been a swatcher. I used to figure if I was going to make a big swatch I might as well just start the arm or some other piece and then check it every so often.  And this isn't necessarily bad if you are ok with ripping or planning to felt it or something else drastic. As I keep knitting and I want to make perfect sweaters this isn't the best method.  Between starting to use Customfit and Amy Herzog's sweater methods plus learning about the power of water, it started to become clear if I wanted a great sweater I would have to swatch better.  

Water isn't just the universal solvent it is also a changer of wool.  At some point in the life of your sweater you are going to get it wet.  If not right after knitting to even out stitches then later when it needs to be washed.   When that happens, the fabric is going to change.  Natural fibers have a tendency to bloom, some fibers shrink, other grow, but no matter what it does usually your fabric will look so much more professional and even that you can't help but give it a bath.  

I generally fill up a container, either a dough bucket* for small things or my top loading washing machine for larger things, with cold water and bit of wool wash.  I really like Eucalan in the wrapture scent. Let is soak for the length of a tv episode (really scientific) and then squeeze out the excess water by rolling it in a towel. NEVER ring out the fabric; this will cause too much strain and stress out the fibers. No one likes to be stressed out, fiber included. I then lay out the fabric on a towel. If this is the finally product then I will shape the sweater pieces to fit my desired end measurements and pin the corners.  As you can see below I just let the swatches lay there. I don't try to block them to specific measurements; this would defeat the purpose of swatching.

After a few snow days and over the last month I have been collecting swatches so that I can put them all into Customfit and get my sweaters ready to go.  I have two more swatches in process and more that I need to start**.  As for the ones I finally gave a spa day to yesterday my plans are:

Capretta - Amy Herzog's Afterlight

Sliver Moon DK - Customfit basic v-neck 3/4 sleeves

Silky Wool - Amy Herzog's Coracle

Jill Draper - Customfit mashup with Wool + Brick's Whiteleaf

Owl - Amy Herzog's Charlie's Cardigan

Chickadee - Customfit mashup with Gudrun Johnston's Empire

* A dough bucket even comes with a lid to keep curious cats out.

** Hopefully this method of prepping a bunch at a time will mean I will knit my stash down and  not be tempted to buy any more sweater quantities this year. Cross your needles for me.