Tag Archives: try try again

Feather and Fan Shawl, Swatching

Feather and Fan Shawl

This shawl has been a process of chart, knit, rip, repeat. I finally found the formula I needed to make a half pi shawl with the feather and fan stitch.

This is the first version of this shawl. I am using 100% non super-wash wool in DK weight. I am adding beads to this one. Beads are always optional.

I will be making a second version, holding 100% non super-wash fingering together with a suit silk blend lace yarn. This will give the piece a slight halo and be so soft!

As always there will be tutorial videos to support you along the way. Including one on how to place beads, when to place beads and tool options for placing beads.

Happy making!

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Swatching

Unpopular opinion: Swatching is helpful

Warning you may disagree with this post.

Swatching is helpful and prevents heartache later on down the knitting and crocheting road.

I recently recorded a video about why I think seatching is helpful and thought I’d share some of the stills I took during that shoot here.

These swatches are examples of some of the swatches I’ve done over the last couple of years. Some are knitted and some are crocheted. I think three, we’re experiments for actual projects I wanted to make.

You’re probably wondering if I swatch for projects before I start and the answer is yes. Click the “Swatches” category tag above this post to see other examples. Usually those swatches are ripped out after notes and photos so that I can reclaim the yarn for the project.

What are all these other swatches for then? Various things. Learning new techniques, trying out colors and even long term stretch tests or felting limits.

Swatching helps to save heartache by learning earlier that those colors don’t work together or that fabric is too stiff or too loose. If possible look for a piece of the project that can be a swatch, such as the sleeve. For socks and hats I usually just get started. Blankets and shawls, swatch.

It’s all knitting, crocheting, yarn, needles and hook so why not do it? Just swatch!

Happy Making!

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Las Cruces Shawl Vest, Swatching

Swatching board

I went back to swatching board for the Las Cruces shawl crochet version, see previous post to catch up if needed.

As promised on my Instagram Live, see IG bio to watch replay, here are the pictures I took of my progress.

First attempt in actual colors.

This is the one I started after lying to myself about the swatch being okay.

The pink one is a pattern from a book. The red and green isn’t quite right but looking at it now I could have lied to myself again…

I got smart and have at this point started asking my daughter for help and her thoughts. She told me to keep trying.

Here are the 3. The bottom is my final pattern.

I have now worked the first 5 rows of the pattern in the final colors. My daughter is pushing me not to really look at the work until I have worked as many rows on it as I did in the swatch in the photo above. I’m about half way there. Stay tuned.

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