I have a chronic illness, and I don't have a lot of energy. So swatching takes away from my already limited knitting time. But it is usually worth it. Sometimes I know I can wing it, and I can dive right into my project. And I don't post much on Ravelry or elsewhere because of the low energy. Even reading posts can be tiring, so I appreciate your videos; they are so easy and enjoyable to watch. I have been looking at the red tube for years and wondering. Originally I thought it was a red maglite (flashlight/torch), but I never could figure it out. Thanks again for so much content; I always learn something.
I always get hesitant when I have to swatch. But as I continue my knitting journeys, I have noticed the benefits. I don't like following patterns as they are written and always like to change something. Making swatches has helped me with this, so I suck it up and knit the swatch. My biggest pet peeve is cutting the yarn after you finish the swatch. Most times i won't cut it and just study the swatch and then unwind it after I have taken the gauge and taken the information I wanted from the swatch.
I am always using different yarns with different weights and fibers and I learned to swatch the hard way after knitting several sweaters that I had to rip out because they didn't fit correctly or drape as intended by the design. I finally came to grips with my Mother's advice "spend the time up front planning or spend time at the end undoing".
I love swatching. It allows me to get right into the yarn and learn all of its properties without having to worry about the finished product. I can try out the new stitches for my project. In fact, my most recent discovery has been that superwash means that my love of cables are compromised - they flatten out and the fabric goes limp. I keep my swatches in large 3 ring binders - each swatch has its own page protector with details attached with a tag. I also mark my swatches by creating a yo, k2tog eyelet - 1 yo for every needle size (6 yos for #6 needle) which allows me to see at a glance what needle I used. Now I just need to decide if I will file the notebooks by gauge, fiber content or willy nilly so I can page through these lovelies anytime!
Thanks so much for all the useful information in this show. I loved hearing about all the historical information of how knotting and construction are changing over time. I am a spinner and knitter so swatching is really useful to figure out how the yarns I’m making will knit up. Jillian Moreno’s book “Yarnitechture” is a great resource for understanding how “S” and “Z” twists affect the way yarn knits up and how they look on different “fabrics” such as Aran/cables, color work, etc.
I am very excited about your upcoming yarn tech series. This is the biggest question for me, why so many different yarns can came from the same material base- wool (I understand other fibers mixing in sometimes) I get the different spinning and different breeds, but is going on to create such differences, using a scientific method. :) I remember you also mentioning a book all about yarn, but I forget the name of it now. I keep meaning to rewatch your library videos to find it again. Thank you for sharing all of your interests with all of us.
Similar to some other commenters, I didn't used to like to swatch because of the cost. I wondered if it was okay to unravel it and reuse it, but it seemed a bad idea if I went through the whole process of washing my swatch. I also was a much slower knitter at the start and I didn't want to waste the time. Fast forward through my many years of knitting and now I have fully adopted the swatching life. I, like you, am an information seeker, so I appreciate what I learn from my swatch. So now I just plan my project purchases with extra yarn for swatching. If I end up with partial skeins, that adds to my scrap stash. And with the pandemic, there is an abundant supply of scrap projects being shared out there. BTW, my first time watching your channel and I am hooked :)
I am still a new knitter, just coming up on a year now, and I have made some things, hats, shawls, a baby sweater, I am still working out lace patterns and reading charts because I am left-handed and hold my working needle in my left hand, knitting right to left, so sometimes decreases don't always lean the correct way for me so I enjoy problem-solving on that front. But overall for me, I really enjoy the magical quality of knitting. I am still amazed that you follow the steps and you get the object! I love that, and I almost don't want to understand the mechanics too much because I enjoy the magic.
Rox, it's not that I don't care about swatching or learning from the swatch. My aversion to swatching is purely financial. When I have a pattern that calls for a full skein, I don't swatch because I worry I won't have enough yarn for the project. I use my project for the gauge. Love your videos. I find them very informative. Thank you.
Howdy! About swatches... I'm a very new knitter; I'm still learning how I can knit without "strangling the yarn". I'm also very academic: the way I learn is by gathering information (watching youtube videos and Craftsy classes), before I even touch the yarn or needle. I look at your swatches and, even the simplest stockinette ones, they're much more than I've ever knitted (size-wise even). It would take me hours or days to complete something that's not the "real thing". So, at this point in my knitting learning/experience, it doesn't make sense to swatch: I'm not making a garment (I'm not even interested in making one) that needs a precise fitting; I jut want to make "something" from beginning to end, that gives me the opportunity to practice the basics. I also keep thinking: "where am I going to keep all these swatches?" Having said all that, I'd love and be a good candidate for a guided learning experience, structured like the Master Knitter Program because the swatches have a purpose; they are the "real thing" to be shared with a teacher. I think "a purpose" is key for me: be that a finished object or a learning opportunity. I totally hear your approach to swatches as something that help you learn something new; I like that and I'm keeping that in mind. But for me, for now, they would be the "final product" , just because I'm so slow at making anything... About S and Z twists, I learned about them in the context of crocheting (that's my main thing, crochet amigurumi/toys). The common yarns (S-twist) unravel during crocheting and I try to correct that by wrapping it on my hand, before tensioning with my finger. I hope this is helpful for you somehow. I really appreciate your videos and approach to things! Thank you.
I knit LARGE swatches for every project - as in 12" x 12" at least. I learned this from Catherine Lowe many years ago and follow the practice to this day. A large swatch not only gives me a more accurate tension gauge as it is not always knitted in a single session as tiny swatches may be, so that it evens out tension over time, but it gives me a VERY clear picture of the fabric I will be creating. It often involves purchasing an extra skein just for swatching, but when you consider the price of yarn and the value of your time, you may save money in the long run. Never mind getting a knitted object you love and enjoy rather than one that is banished to the nether regions of a closet or drawer somewhere.
I love that you are a totally different yarn personality from me!I am more a collector of artisanal yarn because I have been knitting for years, but I’ve learned so much about construction and use of fiber types. I am dying to spin but I think I will go through my knitting stash first and make more sweaters before I dip into the spinning obsession!
I have always been reluctant to do a big swatch in case I run out of yarn. I always worried that the yarn I used in a swatch would be needed and by the time I realised that I had lost the swatch. If I have plenty of yarn I swatch. If I want to learn a new technique I will make a project like a scarf or hat. I have been learning continental knitting and have just made a garter stitch baby blanket to practice. I am now using a scarf to practise brioche stitch patterns. I liked the idea of Elizabeth Zimmerman to use hats to swatch for knitting in the round. For me it takes away that feeling of wasting yarn as I have a product at the end.
Hi Roxanne. I love learning new things about knitting, and have just been knitting for a couple years. Though I have made a few some 'micro swatches' - 2"x2" ones with leftover yarn - to explore stitch patterns, I am generally resistant to swatching because the whole time I'm making a swatch i feel like I'm wasting time and yarn. Once, I intended to make swatch with a new yarn (I never had knit withthat type and needed to know my gage to plan a scarf properly) but before I got to the end of my swatch I decided to keep knitting and turn it into a potholder glove instead. I was still able to learn my gage with the thread by measuring the potholder, but without the waste of swatch-making. Moving forward, I want wherever possible to likewise make a small, useful object that isn't size-critical and measure that instead of making a swatch that i use for measurement only.
Oh, and about yarn stash (generating a lot of comments for you today haha). My thought process is exact opposite from you :D If I don't have yarn in my hands I will never know what to knit. If i have yarn in front of me, I can always imagine what kind of garment would look good in it. And then I browse some patterns I own and select a pattern that I would then modify to match the yarn and my wishes for the finished item. It would mean, changing all the calculations, adding/removing colorwork or lace or cables, making whatever sleeves and garment length I think would look good in the yarn or fit my closet. I literally use patterns just for basic inspiration. And the actual inspiration comes from the yarn I own :) So it makes sense for me to have a good size stash to "shop" from.
Hello just a note to say how much I enjoyed your episode. As this is my first time viewing and I found your knowledge interesting and helpful. Thank you for sharing.
I am currently going through the MHK program and I actually really enjoy swatching. I love the testing of stitches and seeing how stitches work together. I really enjoy watching your videos bc your thought process is very similar to mine and actually has helped me feel ok with how much testing and planning i do before i start a project. Thanks for sharing your experience and process!
As an autistic person, I 100% recognise the need for gathering information, particularly about topics that are important to me. 😊 Maybe it's silly, but I'm glad you can get hold of and store these packets of information, and that you're not pushing yourself to "make use of" them for projects. Being a reference is a valid use. For me, I swatch a lot partially because I'm an info seeker and partially because I'm an Eastern Method knitter; all the patterns I can find are written for Western Method knitters, and I can never tell upfront whether the pattern will work for me as written. Sometimes it's fine, sometimes the result just looks a little funny and needs a tweak, and sometimes I sit down to knit brioche and end up with a lace fabric! 😂 (On the plus side, it was pretty, but exactly the opposite of the thick, warm scarf I was planning on.) I'm working towards being able to produce Eastern Method patterns and learning materials, but I still have a fair amount to learn first. Thank you for being such a helpful and inspiring knitter and teacher. It's made a massive difference to my projects. 🙂
The yarn plying is fascinating to me. I'm primarily a crocheter, and Z-twist yarn is supposed to be better for crocheting, but I've never worked with it because it's so hard to find. As it was explained to me, crocheters lose twist with S-twist yarn (plus it splits more, apparently, because we yarn over in the opposite direction to knitting, and the fabric has less stitch definition), but we gain twist and stitch definition with Z-plied yarns. I'm now trying to find some Z-plied yarn to try to crochet with it.
I just want to point out that not all, maybe not even most, of us who love buying yarn (without a particular project in mind) and building a stash do simple projects; I myself love lace especially, and most of my projects are not simple garter or stockinette stitch ;) I'm kind of the opposite from you that I plan my projects around my stash or recent yarn finds ("what could I do with this yarn?"), rather than the other way round, and that's the way I love doing it :)
I watch something (I don't remember the company) but they purposefully spin all their yarn z. They were doing it for us crocheter. We twist the yarn the opposite direction when crocheting. So S-spun yarn really unravels alot. They claimed S-spun was made for knitting, and what the commercial companies learn toward. And they really wanted crocheters to have the best yarn for them. Which being both a crochet and knitter I can always tell when I'm knitting with a yarn better for crochet, and visa-versa. I hate the unraveling when crocheting.
I buy Z twist yarn from Girls. It makes a big difference when crocheting. The stitch definition is quite remarkable when compared to S twist yarns. There isn't really any difference when I knit with either yarn.
I crochet, Tunisian Crochet, and knit. I've always hated the unraveling of the yarn when crocheting and when doing a long-tail cast on. The twist makes a difference. Who do you use for crochet yarn? Here's a video from Furls explaining why z-ply is better for crochet. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-1Ek-wXNJ-D8.html
I do not have an aversion for swatches. I like to try out and learn new things, so I make swatches. I even made an old-fashioned 'roll' with all kind of different stitch patterns. I'm surely a 'process knitter', not a 'product knitter'. My recent WIPs are proof: first I thought of reasons to knit something, I found two (friends will have a baby and I want to have a sweater to wear at special occasions), then I thought of construction methods, patterns and yarns (which I then ordered) and I made designs. So the 'product' is the last phase ... The swatches are part of the 'construction methods and patterns' here. I needed the yarn before I could start the swatches. And now I am knitting I can order more yarn for the sweater; before making the swatches and the design I did not yet know the amount needed.
Yep, I was tired, and misspoke. You weren't the first to correct me! (I have lived most of my life across the border from Ontario, so I'm sure that had something to do with it.)
Thanks for this great episode again. I didn't like to swatch because I felt it was a waste of yarn, now I know how much information I can get from swatching, and washing my swatches, so I love it. The type of yarn I prefer is blown yarn because it it so light and warm at the same time. I would love to learn more about linen yarns, especially in chainette construction.
Hi, Rox. Great episode. I do swatch, and yet I resist it for two reasons: First, I'm anxious to get on with the project (but I know it's foolish to proceed without the information a swatch provides) and second, I always worry that the recommended amount of yarn doesn't account for a gauge swatch. I'm a new knitter (about 2 years in), but the patterns I've knitted haven't made clear whether their recommendations accommodate a gauge swatch -- and in particular, one larger than the minimal 4 inches square. I have considered buying an extra skein, but that's ... expensive. So, in the back of my mind, I'm always worried about using up precious yarn for a swatch when I buy the recommended amount. About the value of swatching: I recently had my first experience of knitting a sweater that didn't fit -- and I did swatch! My stitch gauge was fine, but my row gauge was off, and I hadn't paid much attention to that. As a result of that failure, I mapped out my next sweater project to compare the measurements from my stitch and row gauges compared to the pattern's, and I made some necessary adjustments. Worked out well. I'm now knitting a second version of the failed sweater to see if I can fix my problems (with a new gauge swatch). I love your idea of a yarn reference library. I do not want to accumulate a stash. But I do wonder about all of the different kinds of yarns I haven't tried -- especially breed-specific varieties. I'm wary of purchasing a large quantity of an unfamiliar yarn, but I could now envision trying out a skein here and there to see what it's like. Thanks again. Best, Jo
I don’t have a strong resistance to swatching, but I am usually more excited to start the actual project than to swatch for the project. I do love to learn and purposefully pick a project that has something or more than one thing I’ve never done before. I don’t typically test out the new thing on a swatch though, just learn it on the project itself. I always swatch to figure out which yarn and what needle size I want to use and it typically takes me a few tries to get a fabric I like and if that works with the size of sweater or whatever I’m knitting. An example of how I am with knitting- I spent a lot of time this year knitting socks with a different heel on each pair to learn different heel techniques and see which I like the best. I don’t even wear hand knit socks! I’m going to try and start wearing them because I have so many now.
Your yarn project reminds me of Fruity Knitting's interview with Deborah Robson, in which I wondered how in the world so much fiber information could sit inside of one person's head. I put her Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook on one of my lists at Amazon, along with The Field Guide to Fleece (both of these co-authored with Carol Ekarius), but I can't pull the trigger on these purchases without being able to get a look at a copy from the library first. I'm always afraid that I'll get a book like this and then not actually use it, or that the information on paper will be too dry to really grab me (or maybe I'm just not ready to comprehend the value of what I'm seeing). I'm working on my very first sweater and find that one short video tutorial is worth a whole dense page full of words that just aren't getting through to me! So looking forward to your video presentations on yarn. One of my favorite obsessive swatchers is Jillian Moreno, whose offerings I see at MDK from time to time. I would love to be able to experiment the way she does with swatches, but I'm such an achingly slow knitter if I swatched like that I wouldn't be able to do any actual projects.
In the area of south Georgia I live, I'm lucky if the craft stores have more than one brand of wool. Until this year, I've only used acrylic. Everything I've learned about wool and yarn construction, I've learned from you and I'm fascinated. I'd love to hear what you learn from trying different wools and what you find they are best suited for. Maybe even alpaca, possum, etc. blends. I love to swatch. Any opportunity to learn something is worth my time.
I spin worsted for weaving, usually 2 ply, and do one S twist and one Z twist plied either direction. Weaving is multi -directional and this balances better.
Hi Roxanne: as an about 2 year old more serious knitter I am less enthusiastic to swatch for gauge because I feel as if I have exhausted what I learn from it. It’s most helpful when attempting to knit to my measurements when attempting a sweater knit in pieces. Recently I am finding I learn more from pattern knitting (shaping/techniques) and since my sizing is usually not far off from the pattern I forgo the swatch.
Yep, if you won't learn anything from doing the swatch, there's no point. There can be more to learn, aside from stockinette gauge, even from a stockinette swatch. if you're wondering about how much it will pill, or how itchy it will be next to the skin, you can "wear" it (tuck it into your waistband) for a few days. As I mentioned, I rarely swatch for stockinette, if I'm confident I know what needles I will need. I am usually seeking other information or doing experiments.
Hi Roxanne. Like others have already stated below, you are such an interesting person and I could (scratch that) I do listen to and learn from you for hours. Your wealth of knowledge on yarns, patterns, techniques... basically knitting in general is astounding. I have seen several articles you've written, your ravelry group and obviously this channel, but, have you written/had published a book of your own. If so, what is the title? If not, why not? I can only imagine how many volumes you could release; each one bigger and longer than "the principles of knitting." Speaking of books, could you please tell me the names and authors of some of the vintage books you were talking about, please? Thanks in advance! I love, love, love you and I can't believe you don't have more subscribers!
I'm working on something related to my long-term project of knitting my way through the 20th century via sweaters from each decade. Whether or not that will end up as an actual book remains to be seen. There are lots of ways to communicate what I know and love about knitting. At the moment, I've chosen the methods that suit my personality best.
Wow! Lots of neat topics! I dig it! When you posed various questions, I thought, “ Well, there you go! That’s a good question !” (I sorta wish You Tube would have a selection for the presenter to have a little header for response to Beach topics you covered for discussion, instead of trying to sort out in anyone’s mind which topic or topics have responses.) Ancient Yarn: what a lucky find for the archeologists! And how fortunate we are to hear and read for ourselves about it. Imagine figuring out how to spin yarn on your own for the first time without guidance of process or without the same type of animal. Maybe a chance meeting with another tribe wearing a garment but no still no one to learn from. That’s smarts! Like, when did ancient people figure to process wool or fur ( not sure if fur can be processed for yarn) for use in fabrics instead of using pelts and when did they realize the economy of raising the animal versus killing the animal?
From what I remember, plant fibers were twisted together to form cordage long before animal fiber was used, and likely before cordage was then transformed into woven fabrics. Weaving was used first to create things like mats and baskets. So the evolution from all of that into spinning fiber to create yarn which was woven into fabrics would have occurred over a long period of time.
My swatching resistance has to do with these factors: 1) anxiety about not achieving stitch/row gauge (bad knitter tape starts playing in my head); 2) feeling like I'm wasting good yarn -- daughter of depression-era parents -- because the swatch should be washed and blocked for it to be accurate and therefore the yarn can't be incorporated in the project; 3) time to swatch -- I'm not a fast knitter; 4) hate the word "swatch." Similar to some folks' reaction to the word "moist" (!) Thanks for asking! Love the channel.
About swatching. I never swatch for size/gauge, because I do not care about designer's calculations and sizing and numbers inside the pattern. I just create my own based on what I want the finished item to be. However, I would swatch for fabric if I'm not familiar with the yarn (usually I am and I know the gauge/fabric/needle size from my notes on past projects). If it is about finding out whether a technique will work out (own design or modifications), I would try it sometimes. However I would not call it a swatch. I would call it a "test" :) But normally, i would test things out as I go. I can always rip back if it's not what I imagined it to be.
Another comment, this one about yarn contruction. Not long ago I got some chain plied yarn, for the color, and used it for a cable pattern project --- and absolutely loved the results. The cables seem to pop out of the background fabric. So the next time I wanted to knit a cabled project I went looking for chain plied yarn but had little success. You've discussed S and Z ply but not chain ply. So I'd like a brief discussion of chain ply and why it was so perfect for cables.
@@RoxanneRichardson not chain constructed yarns, but chain plied yarns www.schachtspindle.com/pure-colors-chain-plying-a-colorful-colorado-spring-braid/
Great episode. I don't like to swatch. First I want to get started and I don't find the swatch to be fun like picking a project, picking yarn, and casting on. I also have found that a small swatch doesn't always help me know how the yarn is going to behave when it is a large piece of knitting, I can sympathize with people that say my swatch lied. As a new knitter I learned how the material of my needles impacted my knitting experience. Have you tried to experiment using metal, plastic and wood needles with your z plied yarn? I would be interested in those results. Even within the same material a needle with a different tip and feel drastically different to me personally. Can you find acrylic or cotton yarns with a z ply? Oh the possibilities are endless, good luck with your exploration.
I’ve been resistant to swatching because I’ve been more product oriented. But that’s changed as I’ve gotten more knitting experience, wanting better fitting garments and invested in quality yarns. One aspect of swatching that I (learning) love is getting to experiment with the texture that develops from different gauges. Your videos have extended my knitting knowledge and made me more interested in what I can learn from swatching.
I think that there was an advertisement for a crochet needle company (furlscrochet I beleive)that makes z twist yarn which give better stitch definition for crocheting. Honestly I enjoy knitting with chain spun yarn cause I find that the way I tension yarn plies tend to unwind a bit.
I'm definitely a process knitter - like you, I love the learning aspect of knitting. I've even knit whole sweaters to learn the process and then taken it apart to use the yarn for something else. Swatching is part of the process and I enjoy it because it gives me a chance to try new things or techniques.
I know one thing about the Z-plyed yarn: in some Scandinavian countries they make twined knitting for extra warmth. This technique is done by two strands of yarn, which are twisted after every stitch. The twisting direction is forwards. To avoid the strands are falling apart, they use Z-plyed yarn. (I've never understood why they don't twist the yarn backwards with the more common S-plyed yarn...)
I’m a native Icelandic speaker and svæfill is another word for a pillow. I’ve looked in my dictionary and there it says svæfill means “a child’s pillow or a small pillow to put on top of a larger pillow”. Not sure which ones of these meanings the writer intended in the article. Note that this word isn’t typically used in modern Icelandic. The word svæfa means putting someone to bed eg singing a lullaby to a child, and is frequently used. In terms of swatching, I like it and use it to match yarn to patterns, see what fabric I prefer, how colours go together and how stitch patterns come out in yarn. And often I change my plan after swatching eg figure out the intended project is not suitable for the yarn, and I need to replace either yarn or project. But sometimes it can be a bit tedious when a new shiny project is waiting to be cast on. The designer Aroha Knits (I believe she is based in Japan) sometimes run a free swatching course / challenge that helps you understand on gauge, fabric, design, knitting creativity etc which is really awesome. I will try to find a link and put as a comment. Great channel , I really enjoy your videos, thank you.
Yay! A native speaker! It made sense that somehow anesthesia and sleeping were related to pillows, but I could not find anything that could clear this up. It's interesting to hear from a native speaker that the author's intention was not totally clear, either. Thank you so much!
Hi Rox, I taught myself to knit from a book. I did not understand the purpose of a guage swatch. Until l made a vest from a pattern that turned out oversized. As a crocheter a Z twist is helpful. Most times the yarn is wrapped clockwise, which can cause yarns to split badley if they are not played tight. Sorry for any rypos, I had due surgery Monday and vision is extremely blurry.
Yes, I have read often that crocheters do better with z-twist yarn, because the yarn goes around the hook opposite of the direction for knitting, but other than crochet thread, there isn't much marketed to crocheters (never mind manufactured!)
hello and thank you, Re swatching; I am sort of between swatch resistant and swatch reliant and have been thinking about that quite a bit since last Friday's episode. The first thing that started me along the road to understanding my attitude was what Tin Can Knits say in their book, Strange Brew; paraphrased, if you can't stand swatching, do a hat before you do the sweater. That got me pondering, is it because I always want to be producing something? (and a swatch isn't really a something in my head...), Is it because my knitting time is precious and I want to have something concrete to show for it and for me, especially at the beginning, a swatch wasn't that? Somthing I do a lot of is a pattern I love (stuffie, ornament, socks) again and again with different yarns and needles. This is teaching me in a concrete form what I have trouble visualising when reading or even watching a video. As a beginner, knitting was such a lot of info to assimilate that swatching was just one stap too far, I think, and yet now, for a simple hat I'm designing, I have done and will be doing quite a few different swatches, which I shall keep as a reference.
I am eager to see more of your videos on the best uses for different yarn fibers/ constructions! There are so many options out now that it’s a little overwhelming. I am trying to find the sweet spot between yarn softness for comfortable next to skin wear and shape retention and the “stickiness “ need for color work . I am interested in woolen spun yarn for color work, but I don’t know how soft it can be. I learn a lot from your videos, thanks!
Hello! I am a first time viewer and have really enjoyed your video. I never really thought about my reasons for liking or disliking swatching and why I swatch until recently.. I have been knitting for about 10 years and used to knit more for the end product results. I would knit mostly with one color gradually moved onto stripes and so on and on. As I continue to knit more difficult projects with color work and techniques I discovered how important swatching is for color, texture, gauge, yarn feel and shiny or matte look, stitch definition, etc. and I also needed to wash and block the swatch to see how the yarn reacted to all of that. It has really helped me knit better products both aesthetically and fit wise. So I still am a product seeker but leaning more and becoming more of an the information seeker to better enjoy the process and result. Thank you very much and I am excited to watch your other videos. Also really interested in watching upcoming videos you mentioned your working on about different sheep to make different yarns and how it affects the products made.
You are such an interesting lady, I learn so many things from you. I can keep listening to you for a few hours. About swatching: yes I do. And I knit or crochet several kind of stitches to see which one looks great. Once I know how many stitches I need for 10x 10, I also knit/crochet the whole ball of wool, because I want to be sure I have enough. Knowing that, I can easily start another project without being afraid I have not enough wool. So yes, my stock is large. But I always finish my projects, even if it is a year later.🥰🧶
I would love to see comparative critter/breed yarn analysis. I've only been knitting for about 18 mos, but have begun a little branching into different fibers. It would be great to see BFL vs Merino!
I used to be resistant because I always felt stressed about time and worried about running out of yarn. And like you I am usually right on with suggested needles, etc. But it came back to bite me with a hat I made this spring! So it was a VERY expensive hat in yarn and time and I had to gift it to my favorite little boy! Oops. So now I swatch! And I've started to swatch to experiment and try some things out. It's been good! Maybe its how young musicians think they don't like Bach but as they mature they realize how essential he is! 😊🎶
There is no spezial meaning in s or z ply with wool but for linen. Because of the Fibre structen of linen u get a smoother finish with a z-ply then with a s-ply.
I made my firat sweater with Malabrigo Rios, wonderful yarn but here in Georgia I'm not to sure how often I will be able to wear it. I would love to learn about your suggestions for wool yarns.
I don’t tend to swatch for things that I’ve done before like socks for myself or even a friend. I do swatch stitch patterns to figure out how they work or what they might look like at different gauges and with different yarns. I often go off pattern and swatch then too so I’ll knit following the directions of a pattern kinda loosely but using whatever yarn I feel like using for me and I’m happy to do the sweater math. I’m a mix of a process and product knitter, I’m more a product knitter for gifts and I enjoy swatching and trying new techniques for new things but I’m also not adverse to ripping back or restarting a project if it’s not going right as long as I’m learning. I’ve tried improvising a lot in more recent years and for that I’ll tend to swatch. When I was knitting first I remember thinking swatches were a waste of time but now I tell new knitters they’re a learning opportunity with little risk and you can always rip it out and reuse the yarn.
I swatch to see what the fabric looks like with the size needle I'm using. Even sock yarn I've never tried before, I swatch so I can see what looks best on what size needle. Depending on the needle size, some stitches will look uneven or wonky and the fabric not very smooth. Sometimes the purl bumps on the inside will feel bumpy and not very smooth, so I'll go down a little in the size needle I'm using. I will swatch for gauge also to see if I'm close when planning a sweater, as I'd like it to fit me. But I'm often off with the row gauge even when the stitch gauge is correct, so it gets a little discouraging making swatch after swatch with different size needles, so I usually adjust the sweater pattern as I go along when I can't get gauge.
Here is a topic suggestion for a future video: how about something that explores ease and how to quantify it it, at least for socks? For example, 64 st stockinette sock vs. a 64 st sock with mock cables won’t stretch the same. Even if I swatch, how do I determine what is the right amount of ease for the final measurements I want to achieve-particularly if I’m making a sock for someone who can’t try it on and I’m only working with their measurements? I’d like to start using some different stitch patterns and have swatched various patterns in the round with various stitch counts, but how can I determine that this pattern at this stitch count is the right one for this calf measurement? Is the rule that the unstretched measurement is ALWAYS 10% of the wearer’s measurement or should you compensate for stitch combinations that aren’t as stretchy as stockinette? If so, how?
Even when working in plain stockinette, the 10% rule doesn't always apply. The August Sock KAL tutorial discusses some of the reasons why you might vary that percentage in stockinette, although it doesn't cover other stitch patterns.
I hate swatching but have, over the years, realised it's worth. I used to machine knit for speed when I had a young family, but now I'm retired I've fallen in love with hand knitting. When I knitted an Aran sweater for my husband I completed it 3 times, ripping back twice, before getting the result I wanted. When I did one for myself, again to my own design, I swatched ! Small projects - I probably wouldn't bother - falling back to ripping out. My husband would say of my "method", "It's not worth doing if it hasn't been done 3 times"! What's the difference between worsted and woolen?
Worsted and woolen are two different ways of preparing the fiber, but also of spinning the wool. I will do a video on that at some point in the near future.
When I first knitted, I didn't like too much plain stockinette or garter so I got a stitch dictionary and tried out different stitches and planned afghans with different designs. I didn't think of making swatches because I didn't know about it. I then did shawls since that was smaller, then hats, then lace, entralac, brioche then hats, mittens, socks and now sweaters. I like learning new but also am trying to do with what I have. So after the projects I have queued, I may go back to swatching and designing. However, I am no way in your league of discovery.
When I first started knitting I did not make garments typically and didn't understand why you needed to swatch. Made or should I say tried to make a sweater with yarn that wasn't listed as an option. But thought it would work....guess what...it didn't work. Wrong type of fiber, it did I not knit to the gauge that the sweater pattern. Started watching and making sure if pattern knit in round my swatch needs to be done in round as my gauge is different straight vs round. It's my insurance that I will get the correct gauge.
I'm an eastern purler and i have never noticed which side the yarn is twisted in, nor have i ever had any ysrn i used untwisting while i knit. This is complete news to me.
About swatching. I never swatch for size/gauge, because I do not care about designer's calculations and sizing and numbers inside the pattern. I just create my own based on what I want the finished item to be. However, I would swatch for fabric if I'm not familiar with the yarn (usually I am and I know the gauge/fabric/needle size from my notes on past projects). If it is about finding out whether a technique will work out (own design or modifications), I would try it sometimes. However I would not call it a swatch. I would call it a "test" :) But normally, i would test things out as I go. I can always rip back if it's not what I imagined it to be.
If you have more recent videos with updates about yarn twist I'm interested please. I recently switched to eastern mount and really like it, but am nervous about how my projects will hold up over time. I read that they'll be more prone to pilling though your idea that they might bloom more sounds nice. Also, not sure if anyone's mentioned this, but it sounds like right handed crochet also untwists an S twist yarn and theoretically crocheters would do better with a Z twist yarn (unless crocheting left handed in which case the S is good). It looks to me like this is probably accruate when I look at how the hook and motions go and compare that with the two mount styles for knitting and what happens with each twist.
I have a playlist of videos on my channel called Yarn which might have some videos that you would find interesting, including one on yarns with a final z-twist.
I know the difference between woolen spun and worsted spun yarn but what I don't understand is what types of stitch patterns are projects are better for each. I've heard that worsted spun is good for if you want the stitches to pop but when would you not want them to pop other than felting. I may be totally wrong with this but I would love more clarity.
My resistance to switching occurs when I am working with a yarn that I have worked with before or one identical in fiber content, twist and construction and needle size that I have used . Then I'm like "no need to swatch, known guage & fabric info" regardless of pattern. Yarn type especially fiber content and needle size(s) that I have not used before, then I swatch.
I never used to swatch when I started knitting only because I didn’t know I was supposed to or what I could learn from it. Now I swatch all the time. FYI Custom Woollen Mills is in Alberta, Canada.
I don't like swatching, but I know I have to for garments. But even swatching lies on my needles sometimes. I find that i slowly relax when knitting a garment and my gauge changes. Also, i have very little interest in designing my own garments. I love that someone has figured out all that stuff for me. Now, where's that gauge swatch..
The only Z plied yarn I have used is this one: www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/the-wool-company-utiku-possum-merino-8-ply. It is (surprise!) a woolen spun yarn made from Merino and possum fiber. It is very plump and round for a woolen yarn, however. The first time I knit with it, I was knitting stranded colorwork with one yarn in each hand. I discovered that the stitches knit with my right hand looked flatter than the stitches knit with the left. My usual knitting style is a bit unusual; i knit continental, but I throw the yarn rather than scoop it with the needle. With S plied yarn, I remove twist as I knit, and the extra twist builds up in the strand I am knitting from. I knit with this Z ply yarn again today, and I noticed that periodically my stitches started looking flatter, because I had taken so much twist from the yarn that the strand I was knitting from was nearly unplied. I had to keep adding twist to the yarn as I worked. I find that I generally prefer when my knitting removes twist from yarns. The fabric seems more cohesive and relaxed. It might also explain my preference for knitting at a tighter gauge than most people.
In my spinning class I learned that z-ply yarn was best for crochet because S-ply yarn untwists as you crochet. But as far as advantages in knitting I'm not sure.
Yeah, I get that z-ply will lose twist when knitting and gain it when crocheting, but what I'm wondering about is if there is an advantage to losing some of that twist in a woolen spun yarn. Given that there are so few z-ply yarns, and yet so many crocheters, it can't be that much of a disadvantage to lose a bit of twist.
I resist swatching because good yarn is expensive. It’s hard to know how much yarn you will need for swatching. Ideally I would love to make things and have no ( or almost no) yarn leftover. I don’t have a lot of space to store extra leftover yarn and swatches. What do you do with all the leftovers anyway? I buy things for projects and because yarn is expensive, I shy away from buying yarn that does not have a purpose. (Very hard because there’s such beautiful stuff out there. Have same problems with fabric) I have swatched and frogged and reswatched and then frogged and used the yarn in the project, but that is not ideal and leads to swatches that lie. I’m coming to terms with the need to swatch to ensure fit but still have issues with “wasting” yarn.
When I do a swatch, it is usually to see if I can get the gauge called for in the pattern without having to go up too many needle or hook sizes. I usually rip it out immediately so I do not have to risk playing yarn chicken and, also, because I have very limited storage space and would have to choose between having swatches or having yarn. On the topic of z-twist yarns, Lion Brand has an acrylic z-twist called ZZ Twist. The z-twist contains 3 s-plied strands. I tried it in a crochet shawl project and ripped it out because I did not like the result I was getting. I am left-handed, I knit and crochet with the working tool in my left hand, and I think that affected the result. I am currently using it in a knit shawl project, and it is working out much better. ZZ Twist does work up slower than s-plied yarn, for me, and it definitely looks different than regular s-plied yarn.
I had tried finding some ZZ twist locally about a month ago, but couldn't, which led to me sourcing it from other places (I was able to find some z-twist crochet thread)
Very interesting again! Have you tried to do any spinning with z plying to get more information about the results? I have not yet so I would be interested to know the outcome
Beaverslide Dry Good Mule Spun Yarn is the best. I'm knitting with it now. Cables look great. So why does Z twist yarn lend itself to twined knitting? I was thinking about your video about s and z twist - does a z twist yarn have less effect on color dominance? Hmmmm. Thanks for all of the excellent information and inspiration.
The act of knitting adds s-ply, and the act of twisting the yarns around each other causes the addition of more twist. I bought some Swedish z-ply yarn that was milled specifically for twined knitting. It'll be interesting to compare that yarn to other z-ply yarns, as well as s-ply yarns.
I already commented, but I'll comment on swatching too. I am the type of person I want to know why everything works not just that it does. That's why I love your videos. But I resist swatch cause I'm eager to just try it. I never really just follow pattern, I enjoy just making it up as I go. I guess I veiw my project as my swatch. Its hard for me to see a small sample and relate it to the big picture. I need the big picture and if it doesn't work I learn from that the way you would a swatch. I back up and rework it. I started with crochet so I'm use to measuring with my starting chains, I pick the needle or hook I want and yarn. I just size it to myself or whoever, then I adjust as I need. I am more resistance to gauge I think. I'm really just too impatient for swatches. I find it fun to think up and idea jump out of bed and throw it on the needles. I think I enjoy the challenge of getting it to behave the way I want it to. Mostly I play with the stitch pattern and counts and if it doesn't work, then I still had fun trying. But it is kinda just a big swatch in away.
@Imchatwin77 I'm just like you or a lot! ;D I don't thjink I've ever really followed a pattern to the ltter, I just use patterns for ideas & inspiration, and I also just *hate* swatching, this being one of the reasons :D
I’m such a SLOW knitter and resistant to giving a lot of time(for me) to swatches. I appreciate the benefits of swatch but that is out weighted by time spent.
Well, you can knit with the yarn in either hand. (I sometimes knit English, although I mostly knit Continental these days.) If there is a difference, I think it's in the way the yarn interacts with the working needle. So if by "left handed people" you mean mirror knitters (knitting off the right hand needle onto the left hand needle), then the yarn twist situation would definitely make a difference.
I’m guessing that the erroneous translation may come from a mixup of word meaning sewing, aka “sömnad” and the word “sömn” = sleep. At least in swedish these two words are very alike. Sömnad, sömna are older words for sewing, to sew. Nowadays we say sy instead. I tried to google but could not see any explanations.
I hate swatching. I Iike colorwork and stitch patterns so need to test, and of course I check gauge, but I but everything before I actually start the item is a tiresome chore.
You can answer this yourself! Hold up a strand of yarn and look at the direction of the twist. Now turn it upside down. Has the direction of the twist changed?
@@RoxanneRichardson I agree with you now. I played with some yarn just now and working from the other end does not actually make the s into z or z into s. HOWEVER, I have noticed that some yarns work up differently from different ends. Why, this is so, I don't know.
I have a bag of Australian Possum fiber in my spinning stash...information seeker here. I was curious, I purchased it...I think it is going into rolags with other super fine/soft fiber eventually. I like to dye my fiber/yarn. I don’t swatch because I’m not into prep...this is prevalent in all aspects of my project life. My life as a whole involves tons of prep. 😏
Yep, NZ. Now I have to go dig through my stash and figure out what fiber I purchased from Australia. 🤔 I purchased fiber from around the world for my 50th birthday then got busy with school and never spun any of it.
Other people have suggested reknitting the sleeves or re-using the yarn or various other things, but I'm more interested in keeping the sweater as it is, in its original form. I'm interested in re-creating the sweater (with new yarn, including some that I dyed myself) for its aesthetic and functionality, but I'm not interested in changing or destroying the original. I'm keeping it for sentimental reasons as it is. It has been retired from its job as a useful sweater.
I thought I remembered that fiber for twined knitting is generally spun S and plied Z. Found this article in Spinoff that might interest you spinoffmagazine.com/twist-analysis-twined-knitting/
One of the yarns in the thumbnail is a Swedish z-plied yarn created for two-end/twined knitting. My friend Olle-Petter tells me that you can do twined knitting with s-plied yarn, and by twisting the yarns in the opposite direction, but you can't called it "traditional Swedish twined knitting" if you do! :-)
It's a group I joined through the Weaver's Guild. It's called Whorling Spinsters. I'm not sure how to get on the email list. I met someone at retreat who told me about it and put me on the email list. During non-COVID times, they meet at the Textile Center the first Tuesday of the month at 6:30 pm. You can probably find out more via the Weaver's Guild website. The guild has a number of different special interest groups, for weavers, dyers, and spinners.
I also need the technical too. It is all interesting. I learned in grade school age 2nd grade knit purl a dish cloth by my grandmother. Now almost 60 picking it up again. Looks warm your sweater.. Question furless muff knitted patterns? Thanks.... I do like reality best. Not fanstyland, for sure... an original Republican a northern whig....antislavery proeducation fiscally conservative party. Not a flipped dixiecrat at all..a now flipped Democrat.. I knew nothing about the Thurmond party until the nonradification of the impeachment processes... sorry I digressed the populus knows nothing about this for dacades negative supremist, only law students are taught it.
