Week 29 of the Super Stitches Knitting Project

This week saw me through to the end of the textured section of the book. There were two pages left, with three stitch patterns on each page. I had intended to work up the Diamond Trellis Pattern, the Diagonal Grain Stitch, and the Interlocking Leaves Stitch on Monday. I attempted the Diamond Trellis but found that, again, the stitch instructions given by Karen Hemingway didn't seem to produce the intended result. Diagonal Grain went off without a hitch, but then the same stitches from Diamond Trellis (named Cr2B and Cr2F) were present in the Interlocking Leaves stitch. I decided to attempt it too and again didn't achieve anything similar to the picture after about 20 rows of the 28 row pattern. I abandoned it. There must be something I'm doing wrong, and struggling over the same rows with the same technique isn't going to produce different results. For now I decided to turn the page, which offered the Elongated Stitch, the Woven Butterfly Stitch, and the Cluster Stitch. I skipped the elongated stitch because it just looks like weird gross caterpillars, but here is a link with descriptions on how to perform it in case weird gross caterpillars are your thing. I saved the cluster stitch for another day, which leaves me to introduce my swatches:

1) Woven Butterfly Stitch and
2) Diagonal Grain Stitch

Of the two I rather preferred the woven butterfly as far as the actual knitting goes, but the diagonal grain looks much more attractive to me upon completion. Both produce a nice texture with little effort.

1) Woven Butterfly Stitch

This stitch is worked on a multiple of 10+7 and is a 20 row repeat. However what was really cool is that you didn't have to keep track of anything really and it felt more like a three row repeat. Because the main pattern was worked by slipping a few stitches while holding the yarn in front and then offsetting those slipped stitches in the following section, as long as you got the first row of the new butterflies situated correctly, then following where to slip the stitches was super easy because there was a length of loose yarn there telling you where to slip stitches. And the more loose loops, the closer you were to making your butterfly. Once you have 4 loose strands, it's butterfly time. Furthermore, purlside rows are just all purl all the time, so it was incredibly easy to knit this swatch. There was, frustratingly for me considering my issues with the previous swatches, an illustration showing how to perform the butterfly stitch as well although I believe the instructions were quite clear and the illustration quite unnecessary. (I sure think an illustration for C2RF from the previous page is in order!)

The reverse of this swatch shows that the butterflies do distort the fabric quite a bit. This stitch reminded me of the time I knitted Catching Butterflies by Tiny Owl Knits, and how I knitted three mitts before I got a pair, because these slipped stitch patterns can really distort your tension.It still has a fair bit of stretch, but thinking of a use for a decorative stitch like this isn't easy for someone who mostly makes sweaters. I also think the butterflies look more like cat whiskers than anything else. Gosh it sure would look cute if you only did one, perfectly placed to make a cat stuffy. Or even separated them more and duplicate stitched wee eyes for an allover cat pattern.

2.) Diagonal Grain

So, looking at this stitch one can immediately see that it is like a mock cable formed by holding the yarn in front while you work some stitches. I anticipated that, but what I did not anticipate is that this pattern has you perform the wrapped stitches on the purl rows. That was weird and frankly turned me off of the whole thing. It's a four row pattern, so the odd rows are knitted plain and the even rows are P2's alternated with a wrapped P2 and every other row they alternate to create the diagonal. Which looks great! We can agree that the stitch is pretty. It has multiple uses: a pretty wristwarmer, a hat, a little clutch, even a cozy sweater.. but how impractical if, say, the knitter wants to work the stitch in the round? If you can get the same effect working from the right side, WHY include instructions to work it from the wrong side?
Here's the wrong side

Working it in the round from the wrong side wouldn't make any sense at all- who wants to do all that purling? Still, the website "The Weekly Stitch" includes the same stitch, naming it "Closely Wrapped Stitch (scroll down a little to find it) and it shows the same instructions, working the wrap around two purls. I haven't experimented to see how one would make this stitch on the right side, so maybe it is easiest to achieve this way.

I am skipping the edging section of the book, and next week will move right along to Ornamental Stitches, which focuses on "another sort of texture- of the more theatrical variety." This includes bobbles, embossed leaves and bells, loops, faux cables and smocked patterns.
Next week's stitches are:

Bobble Stitch
Popcorn Stitch
Hazelnut Stitch

Week 28 of the Super Stitches knitting Project (LONG OVERDUE)

So, let's all take a moment to acknowledge that yes, I took a short hiatus from this project. In fact, the last time I posted swatches from Karen Hemingway's Super Stitches Knitting stitch dictionary was in March of 2012. There were a few things that contributed to me ceasing swatching:

1. I had gone in with the idea that I'd use the same yarn and needles for each swatch so I could make a blanket, and a lot of the patterns just didn't look great at the gauge I was forcing myself to work at
2. Some stitches would have looked much nicer in another fiber. I chose wool because I thought it would make everything look good but it really just didn't. Especially since I was using cheap wool.
3. I self-imposed color restrictions, enabling only neutral natural colors and that frankly got boring
4. I started dreading sewing it all together and then once I began the process I dreaded it even more
5. I was nearing the edging section and I didn't know how to incorporate that into the blanket
6. The book does have errors, and if there is am errata/corrections page I've yet to find it.
7. It was frustrating trying to Google videos for how to perform some of these stitches when the author named a lot of them in a wildly different way than the stitches are commonly known.

So I took a few years off. Actually, I quit. I let it die quietly and never gave it another nod. But in my head, I still liked the idea of knitting through a stitch dictionary. I still felt like the project hadn't been completed, and perhaps it never will be in the way I first imagined, but it can be continued.

Gone are the restrictions, any and all. Gone is the thought that I must knit each and every swatch even the ones I already know and the plain edgings or any edging for that matter. With the freedom to use any yarn and any color or fiber in my stash I think it can be exciting again. With the freedom to fail at a swatch, to knit and frog it several times and decide it's OK to just skip that one this time and scrawl a big curse word on the page to warn any of my grandkids against knitting it.

So, without further ado, the stitches I worked this week were:
Ripple Stitch
Double Trellis pattern
Cross stitch

Swatch 1: Ripple Stitch

I have to say this one was  my favorite this week. It is a multiple of 3 stitches, and only has 4 repeats so it's already am easy stitch. Every wrong side row is a purl row so that's easy. It's simple to tell where you are in the pattern. And it looks really beautiful. It's squishy, it has stretch, and it looks a lot more complicated than it is- one of my favorite qualities in a stitch pattern.

 I will say the reverse side is nothing to look at. But I imagine this stitch working up in a sweater or hat where the reverse side stays comfortably in the inside anyway.

Swatch 2: Double Trellis pattern

I did not enjoy making this swatch. I did an entire repeat of the pattern working the "RT2L" incorrectly. (Don't bother go ogling that term for a video I think the author makes up terminology at will. The other stitch used in this pattern, "RT2R" was used in the previous pattern with absolutely no reference to it having a name, she just explained how to do it in each row it appeared.) I was knitting the second stitch through the back loop bringing my needle in from the front of the work, when I should have been knitting it through the back loop working from behind the work. I realize that makes little sense but on the off chance someone is looking for help with this one maybe that can help. Because I did 12 rows incorrectly before I thought, look this really looks nothing like the photo how ELSE can I approach this? Once I figured that out, though, it came along quickly and looks truly adorable. I did use pink yarn on this swatch so that could be affecting my judgement.

 But seriously it is a charming stitch pattern. It gives off a nice weaving in and out effect and looks very clever. I think a hat in this stitch would be nice, if one worked out proper decreasing in pattern. I think wristwarmers would look nice too but it's kind of a gappy pattern as far as warmth goes. It's also not incredibly stretchy. Overall, it's an OK pattern. It's a 12 row repeat but purl rows are plain so that's good for me.

Swatch 3: Cross stitch

Don't Google "cross stitch" and expect to find this. There's apparently criss cross stitch, Indian cross stitch, and quilted cross stitch and none of them are this. I found exactly one reference to this stitch from this book on an old Ravelry forum and according to that poster the stitch is doable but I cast on and frogged after row 4 three times before I felt my blood pressure rising and thought man I am doing this for fun not for fury, and I put it down!! For an hour and then gave it one more go... but this swatch defeated me.

 I'm still not sure how to execute the special stitch it requires and it seems like using a cable needle would simplify things and at row 4 suddenly the repeat is off. Googling for errata proved useless but I did find a review on goodreads where a user mentioned that some stitch patterns just seem to falter and then not line up anymore so... honestly I'd attribute it to that except for the photo and that one ravelry user prove that at least someone made this stitch at one point! It's frustrating for me to come to a pattern I can't knit. The one thing I think I'm good at-knitting- and it beats me! But, rather than stress about it and allow it to consume my life I will just let it be, Mark it on the page as incomplete (OK I put a few other choice words) and move on next week to....

Diamond Trellis pattern
Diagonal Grain Stitch
Interlocking Leaves pattern

Week 27...of the Super Stitches Knitting Project

(In which I knit my way through a stitch dictionary 3 swatches at a time... Used to be a weekly thing but now more like whenever I feel like it.)

This time my challenges were:
1) Overlapping Leaves
2) Bamboo Stitch
3) Woven Ladder Stitch

Week 27 Swatches

 SWATCH 1:  Overlapping Leaves


This pattern was much easier to execute than I had thought at first glance. It was actually quite fun, and because of the center 3 stitches (M1, K1 M1) it was very easy to catch a mistake.

Overlapping Leaves Swatch

I imagine using this stitch pattern for the drapey part of a sleeveless tank. Sort of like this crocheted top with a plain bust area and then this leaf pattern for the part that skirts out. The only problem for using it with a garment is that it is a 24 st (plus 1) repeat, but of course you could work around that.
I think it a nice stitch and the more repeats the more attractive it is. I imagine it in a nice silk blend.

SWATCH 2: Bamboo Stitch
This was an easy 2 row repeat.

Bamboo Stitch Swatch

 I realize this is not the best picture in the world, but it's been rainy over here so I'm forced to photograph indoors. Here's a sort of close-up.

The way this stitch is made is you do a yarn over, knit two stitches, then pass the yo over those two stitches. And then the ws rows are just purled. It is really easy and yet makes this interesting texture. I imagine it at the bib of a sweater, or even as a substitute rib at the neckline. It is rather stretchy, and the more you stretch it the more holey it looks. I find myself wondering if it would look even cooler at a large gauge...

SWATCH 3: Woven Ladder Stitch
Another easy stitch pattern with big results.

Woven Ladder Swatch
(Please ignore the incredibly loose bind off. I bound off purlwise.)

This time, you bring the yarn forward and slip 3 stitches, put the yarn back in place and knit 5. This is repeated with a staggered effect over 8 rows.
Not a stretchy swatch, but still quite attractive and achieved with minimal effort. I've seen a cousin of this pattern used in socks, but really I can't think of much use for it. Aside from afghan squares, although it isn't reversible. Oh well.

That's that for this week.

Next time I am working on:
1) Ripple Stitch
2) Double Trellis Pattern
3) Cross Stitch
All of which look intimidating to some degree, especially in combination with the fact that I have a 2 year old vying for my attention.
Happy Knitting!

Week 26...of the Super Stitches Knitting Project

This post is a bit late because I had some difficulty with some of the stitch patterns.

This week's patterns were:
1) Risotto Stitch (reversible)
2) Waffle Stitch
3) Clam Stitch

SWATCH 1: Risotto Stitch
This is a cute little stitch pattern. You can probably tell where I made some mistakes in this swatch; it isn't very difficult to tell where you are in the pattern but I found that when I did make a mistake it was difficult to fix. 

Risotto Stitch Swatch, RS

I wouldn't call this stitch reversible, because while it does look similar on both sides, one is clearly the purl side.

Risotto Stitch Swatch, WS

 In addition, it curls quite a bit and had to be blocked aggressively to get these flat pictures taken.

SWATCH 2: Waffle Stitch
From this swatch, I learned that sometimes you just have to trust that you are doing the right thing, keep knitting until you have an inch or two and THEN compare it to the picture. After my first attempt (only 2 rows) I was sure I was doing it wrong and put it aside for another day, when I swore I would look it up on the internet.
It turns out that all the videos I found for "Waffle Stitch" were demonstrating a different stitch pattern entirely. So I went back to work at it, and sure enough when I got an inch or so done the pattern was obvious.

Waffle Stitch Swatch, RS

I love this swatch. I like how it looks like stockinette, but doesn't curl as much. I liked how easy it was to see what row I was on, and how it was an 8 row repeat but felt like a 4 row repeat. It is incredibly stretchy, and when stretched I can see all the interlinking chains and it makes me feel clever.

Waffle Stitch Swatch, WS

 The only thing I don't like about it is that I cast on too many stitches and bound off before it was a complete square.



SWATCH 3: Clam Stitch
This swatch was a disaster.

NOT Clam Stitch Swatch

As you can see, I gave up early on. Somewhere in the instruction "*K1, sl5 to RHN dropping extra loops, pass 5 sts back to LHN, (yfrn, K1, yfrn, P1, yonK1) twice) into the same 5 sts tog, rep from * to last, K1" I just got lost. Probably in the "into the same 5 sts tog" bit. I have never done that before and it wasn't clear to me what the author meant. I decided to look for help elsewhere.
 After looking on youtube to no avail, I finally searched on Ravelry and found this forum from 2 years ago. In post 8, rav user Bookcase Hat puts forth a wonderful photo tutorial. I will try this stitch out again another day, because for now I am just sick of looking at it. :(

In my search to find out how to make this stitch, however, I did find a cute cardigan. You can see it here.


Better luck next week, I suppose, with:
1) Overlapping Leaves
2) Bamboo Stitch
3) Woven Ladder Stitch

Of which Overlapping Leaves looks the most impressive and cute.

If I take forever to get the post up, just know that it's likely because I am having difficulty rather than because I am a slacker..... Hopefully.

Week 25....of the Super Stitches Knitting Project.

(Has anyone else noticed how lax I am getting with this?)

This week's stitch patterns were:
1) Ridged Slip Pattern
2) Tucked Stockinette Stitch
3) Gathered Stitch

Week 25 Swatches

 SWATCH 1:  Ridged Slip Stitch
This slip stitch retains a nice stretch, and is easy to produce. The reverse side is unattractive, but the front is reminiscent of a pretty trellis pattern with much less effort involved.

Ridged Slip Stitch Swatch

This 8 row repeat is worked over a multiple of 4 stitches. I imagine this stitch would do well in a hat, and that addition of one or more colors would only increase the visual interest.

SWATCH 2: Tucked Stockinette Stitch
Feel free to laugh at this swatch. This is probably my favorite swatch ever. It is so... UGLY! But you can see how much I improved, from the first attempt at the bottom to the last one at the top. I love when I work a swatch and it teaches me that 1) I am not an expert knitter (at all) and that 2) I can improve my skills. Of course, that is why I embarked on this little project.

Tucked Stockinette Swatch

So yes, this swatch was made by knitting in stockinette for a few rows, then adding in a purl row, and knitting in stockinette again. Then, you fold at the purl row and pick up stitches from the reverse side and knit them together with the working stitches. At first I had difficulty (obviously) with picking up stitches along the same row. This was a very good lesson for me, and one I wish I had taken before I added the hems to my Ski Sweater. (Which aren't as imperfect as that first row, thank goodness, but still not exactly beautiful.) I can't imagine actually using this stitch pattern in a garment (unless it's a skirt, but even then the tucked edges add a lot of weight) but I do like using it to practice for things like picot edges, etc.

SWATCH 3: Gathered Stitch
This is one of those stitch patterns that I've always looked at and thought, "I know how to do that." And it's true, of course, but when you actually DO it, it lends a new perspective.

Gathered Stitch Swatch

I like this stitch pattern in person a lot more than I had thought I would. Again, I can't see much use for it though. I mean, we've all seen the Gathered Scarf on Ravelry that I assume employs something similar, but the reverse side of this stitch pattern is quite ugly so I can't imagine using it for that. Using it for a purse would be acceptable, although would it perhaps be awkward to have some parts of your purse stretch more than others? A beanie? Well, for now it is a swatch and an experience.

Next week (which may or may not actually be next week) swatches are:
1) Risotto Stitch (reversible)
2) Waffle Stitch
3) Clam Stitch

(For those of you who have just started following my blog, the Super Stitches Knitting Project is something I have been doing since June 2011: Every week I knit 3 swatches from this stitch dictionary to try to increase my competence and experience as a knitter. Eventually the swatches will be sewn into a blanket, but for now they take up room in a closet. At this juncture I am almost a quarter of the way done.)

That's it for today~
Happy Knitting!

Week 24... of the Super Stitches Knitting Project

This week's swatches were:
1) Plaited Basket Stitch
2) Trellis Stitch
3) Pebble Stitch

I expected to have quite a bit of difficulty this time around, but that was not the case.

Week 24 Swatches

SWATCH 1: Plaited Basket Stitch
 This two row repeat was quite easy. The woven appearance is unique for a knitted fabric and it really does look like a woven basket. I tried to look up a video of this stitch for you guys, but only found this one from Jimmy Beans Wool. Though my book says to cast on an even number of stitches, the video instructs you to cast on an odd number. There are a few other differences as well, but the result is the same.

Plaited Basket Swatch

The swatch has a little lengthwise stretch, and width-wise hardly any at all. The swatch you see here is barely 2.5" x 2.5" because I did not realize how much the stitch pulls in. (I cast on 22 stitches)
I am working on a larger swatch for use in the blanket and have cast on 34 stitches (which is turning out a bit large.)

I guess it's sort of difficult to guess how many stitches to cast on, and if one were using it in any design work there would have to be lots of swatching going on.
One thing I had problems with- you can see I left the mistake in on the row third from top- was forgetting the first Purl stitch on the 2nd row. Once you do make a mistake it is a bit difficult to put the stitches back where they go, because every row involves Cr2Bs or Cr2F's.
Still, I think it is a very pretty stitch, which has the benefit of being surprisingly sturdy.

SWATCH 2: Trellis Stitch
 This swatch really surprised me. The only type of trellis I have ever done is the one worked in the Nancy and Judy shawl (which I frogged due to it's complex nature and my.... simple one.) so I was expecting a very hard time. However, the stitch was very easy to work, and in fact most of it is a basic k2, p4 rib.

Trellis Stitch Swatch

The cables employed are T3L (slip 1 st onto CN and hold at front. P2, K1 from CN) and T2R (slip 2 sts onto CN and hold at back of work, K1, P2 from CAN) and they were quite easy to perform, even without a cable needle.
An attractive stitch pattern I imagine at the bib of a sweater.

SWATCH 3: Pebble Stitch
Yesterday I was pretty sure I had done this stitch wrong. Though for the life of me I can't see if and where I made a mistake- I followed the patterns directly, of course- it just did NOT look like the picture in the book.

Pebble Stitch FROM THE BOOK

Then this morning, I found this video which shows that I was doing it right. Perhaps the Fisherman's Wool is just a bad choice of yarn for certain stitch patterns. And mine doesn't look like the one in the video either. It must be the yarn.

Pebble Stitch Swatch

My swatch is quite holey, and it leans on the bias and isn't altogther attractive. I can't really see a purpose for this pattern. I thought about using it as a cuff for a fingerless glove, but remembered that the edge curls. I thought about a brim of a hat, but it's so airy it wouldn't provide warmth. It is not reversible so scarves and blankets are out. I don't know, but the swatch in the book is a lot prettier than mine, and that is kind of really disappointing.

Anyways, that's all for this week.

Next time:
1) Ridged Slip Stitch
2) Tucked Stockinette Stitch
3) Gathered Stitch

Wanna see how many swatches I have?

Oh yeah. I am dreading the finishing on this puppy.
Happy Knitting!

Week 23.... of the Super Stitches Knitting Project

This week's swatches were:
1) Woven Brocade
2) Blackberry Stitch
3) Spine Stitch

Week 23 Swatches

SWATCH 1: Woven Brocade
My fear of this stitch pattern is what caused the week's delay for this blog post. The texture looks quite advanced in the book, and it has a 10 row repeat that didn't look easy.

Woven Brocade Swatch

Of course, once I cast on (22 sts- I didn't realize how small it would turn out) it ended up being a very easy pattern. In fact, more than half of the stitches aren't even worked! The way this pattern works is you yarn forward and then slip 3 stitches. Then when you bring the yarn back to it's normal place, you have carried that strand of yarn across the front of those three stitches. The zig zag effect is created by moving the slipped stitches over every row for 5 rows, and then the last 5 rows you move them back.
It is an interesting texture, and an easy effect to pull off, but it is not my favorite look and I don't think I'll be using it again any time soon. This stitch pattern would look best, I think, in a smooth merino/silk blend.

SWATCH 2: Blackberry Stitch
Similar to Trinity Stitch from last time, this is a bubbly stitch created by increasing stitches in one row and decreasing them in the next.

Blackberry Stitch Swatch

A simple 4 row repeat, this swatch went by quickly. I like the look of this stitch pattern, although I think the trinity stitch was easier because every even row was a purl row.

SWATCH 3: Spine Stitch
It took me a few rows before I got this one right. You can't tell because it's curling up at the bottom. (which is also why it is thumbtacked down- ghetto, I know, but that's how I roll.)

Spine Stitch

But once I did figure it out, it made a pretty little pattern. It kind of reminds me of fishtail braids, or overlapping upside down hearts. It is only a 2 row repeat, too, which is a definite plus.

That's it for this week! Next time I'll be working on:
1) Plaited Basket Stitch
2) Trellis Stitch
3) Pebble Stitch
Of which Plaited Basket looks the most exciting and Trellis looks the most troublesome.

I still have quite a ways to go into this book: I'm on page 97 out of 247. It is really taking a while and when I look forward in the book it is intimidating. On the other hand, when I look back at the pages I already did I feel a sense of accomplishment AND familiarity with the stitch patterns. It's really nice knowing which of these patterns I like and which ones I feel are too fussy to be worth it.

I've been kind of slacking on this project, I think because the stitch patterns are getting harder and I'm sorta kinda chickening out. Plus my pile of swatches that need ends weaving in has grown to monstrous proportions. It jumps out at me when I open the closet! I really have to spread them out and take a picture sometime; I'd like to see how much of a blanket I've got here.
Well, 'til next time:

Happy Knitting!

Week 23....of the Super Stitches Knitting project

This week's swatches were:
1) Slipped Granite Stitch
2) Linen Stitch
3) Trinity Stitch


SWATCH 1:  Slipped Granite Stitch

Slipped Granite, RS

This textured stitch is worked by passing slipped stitches, and has a nice stretch. It leans on the bias, though, and isn't very attractive.

Slipped Granite, WS

In the book, the swatch is worked in a nice, smooth, tightly twisted yarn. I think that the yarn choice could make a huge difference with this pattern and that it deserves a second try some day.

SWATCH 2: Linen Stitch
I think this was my favorite stitch pattern in the book so far. It is so easy, and gives a result unlike any other knitting I have done.

Linen Stitch, RS

It really doesn't seem like knitting. Woven fabric, perhaps, but not knitting. It has also lost much of its elasticity, especially when tugged lengthwise. It is very tight and, even though I cast on the same number of stitches as the previous swatch, small. It is a wonderful stitch pattern, and the reverse side is equally charming.

Linen Stitch, WS

I imagine this stitch pattern would make a very nice purse. I think it's also a nice surface for embroidery. I searched Ravelry to see what people have made with Linen stitch and found this wonderful messenger bag, as well as this little purse, showing that I'm not alone in thinking it makes a nice sturdy purse material.

SWATCH 3: Trinity Stitch
Beautiful little stitch.

Trinity Stitch, RS

Much better than the gooseberry and bobble stitch of last time. My favorite thing was that it was SO incredibly simple to knit. Gooseberry stitch was an 8 row repeat with confusing variation between odd rows. Trinity stitch is a simple 4 row repeat, and rows 1 and 3 are just purl rows. The other two rows are just the same pattern, offset by 2 stitches.

Trinity Stitch, WS

 So that's my 3 swatches for this week! The slipped granite is my least favorite, by far, but on the whole I'm quite proud of them. I really need to lay out all my swatches soon and see how big this blanket is getting!

Next week:
1) Woven Brocade
2) Blackberry Stitch
3) Spine Stitch

All of which look like they will have their difficulties. Woven Brocade looks the most intimidating, and I'm afraid I may have to put aside more than one naptime next week...
Thank you for reading ;)

Happy Knitting!

Week 22... of the Super Stitches Knitting Project

Hooray! I have made it to the "Textured Stitches" section! I have been looking forward to this for weeks! (Why, no, I don't have a life, thanks so much for asking)

This week's swatches were:
1) Long Bobble Stitch
2) Trellis Pattern
3) Gooseberry Stitch

 Each of these swatches had its issue, but all in all this was a successful week. I learned quite a bit, and I'm going to be a much more experienced knitter when I get through this section!

SWATCH 1: Long Bobble Stitch
I will forever remember that while I worked on this swatch I was watching Thomas & Friends "Misty Island Rescue." That is completely unrelated to the swatch and I apologize, but it's all I can see when I look at it.

Long Bobble Stitch Swatch

That and it looks like dragon scales. I totally want to use some bright green yarn (that I may or may not have in my stash from a ridiculous dyeing experiment) and knit up a little dragon thing for my son. I'd have to think about how to work the decreases in there, of course, but I think it would be worth it to have a lumpy scaly dragon.
This swatch wasn't fun to make though. The "long bobbles" are created by knitting back and forth on five stitches for a few extra rows. I made a pretty glaring mistake in this swatch, but due to the not-fun-ness of it, I let it go.

SWATCH 2: Trellis Pattern

I did a sort-of trellis pattern when I was working on the Nancy and Judy shawl (recently deceased). The one featured in that shawl was much more attractive, however.

Trellis Pattern Swatch

Not sure if you can see it in the picture, but halfway through the diamond created by the slanting Cr2F's and Cr2B's, there is a change in stitch. For more than half of the diamond, we see reverse stockinette stitch. Then at the sort of point area, it turns into stockinette.
I don't like that.
It's definitely right; the book shows it that way as well.
But I don't like it at all.
Let's see if I can dig up the ol' Nancy and Judy pics....

Much prettier, and it's not just the light. (Although I should apologize for the lighting this time 'round. It's cold outside today. Also.... my neighbors are sitting across the street in a big group drinking beers and I don't want them to think I'm completely nuts. I mean, they see me taking pictures of little squares on my front lawn every week but... today I'm wearing a lot of purple. I don't know why that makes a difference. but it does.) MOVING ON!!!

SWATCH 3: Gooseberry Stitch
This was my favorite swatch of the bunch. It actually reminded me of a hat from a magazine I tried to make for my niece one Christmas. It was the holiday Interweave from 2008. The hat on the cover, actually. I so desperately wanted to make it for my eldest niece and i had some pretty blue yarn and I wrote down every row and crossed them off when completed. I don't know what exactly happened.... I never finished the hat; I ripped it.
I wonder if it was lack of experience, or maybe gauge issues, or maybe the yarn (which was slightly variegated) was just wrong for the pattern. Maybe I should go back and make it now, with Fisherman's. The bobbles turn up really pretty in white...
Anyways here's my swatch:

Gooseberry Stitch Swatch

I think it's so pretty. And really squishy because of all the extra yarn in there. And surprisingly stretchy. I think it would look great as a hat. It was easy to knit as well, a few plain rows thrown in so you're not working too hard.

Anyways, that's all of my swatches for today.
Next week:
1) Slipped Granite Stitch
2) Linen Stitch
3) Trinity Stitch


Happy Knitting!

Week 21...of the Super Stitches Knitting Project

Hello again!

This week my swatches were:
1) Double Rickrack Rib
2) Alternating Cable Rib
3) Feather Rib

And here they are, the last three ribbed patterns in the book:

I'm telling you, my bag of swatches is really starting to grow! I need to take another group shot, but I've been lagging because I hate weaving in the ends.


SWATCH 1: Double Rickrack Rib
Again, I had to look up the twist stitch just to be sure I was doing it right. I couldn't find an actual video showing me how to work the double rickrack rib, just the single. So I'm not convinced I did it correctly, after all.
The picture in the book shows this:

Top swatch is double rickrack.

See how it kind of looks like little O's?
Well when I knitted up a swatch I got this instead:

Reeeeeally not the same, right? I don't know what I did wrong, but if anybody actually knows how to do the double rickrack rib, I would encourage you to put up a video because apparently I need help. That or the directions are wrong, which has been a problem before with this book. Irritatingly, I can't find an errata page on the publisher's website to check. Clearly it's not the same as the picture, though.

SWATCH 2: Alternating Cable Rib
I loved the way this one looks in the book, and to my surprise it looked lovely in real life, too.
I imagine making a hat with this detail. I love the way the cables braid into each other.
Of the three swatches this one is definitely my favorite.

Working this swatch was easy, though I did end up frogging my first attempt because I didn't read the words "Repeat rows 3-6" and instead was working rows 1-6. Always a good idea to read the directions, right?
Anyway my advice for this swatch is to cable with a cable needle. Usually I skip the needle, but the nice tight effect was emphasized when I used a cable needle. (Cable needle, DPN, you know what I mean.)

SWATCH 3: Feather Rib
This swatch was a real pain to knit. Every single row had either a k2tog through back loop or a k2tog through back loop PLUS a purl through the back loop of a yarn over. Not fun.

It is pretty, though. And the reverse side is pretty in a different way. I think this stitch would look quite pretty as a cuff. It would sort of girly up a sweater if you know what I mean.

So that's it!
Next I will enter the realm of Textured Stitches and it looks really fun.
Next week's swatches are:
1) Long Bobble Stitch
2) Trellis Pattern
3) Gooseberry Stitch

The rest of the day will be spent knitting along on my new sweater. I finished the back piece yesterday and pinned it onto my shirt to realize that, though the waist shaping was perfect and lovely, it was far too short. I would never wear a sweater that short. I would never wear a SHIRT that short. Maybe on laundry day, when I've run out of bras. But seriously! I snipped a stitch and am now working downwards.
I'm entertaining the idea of grafting on the garter stitch that I already did.

But that idea is probably stupid.
Hanging onto it just in case.

Happy Knitting!