In Defence of the Humble Swatch

Yes, I said the S word!

Swatching gets a pretty bad rap in knitting circles. I'm guessing the same is true for crochet circles. It's that boring first part of your project that slows you down from jumping into the fun part.

And depending what your project is it can seem a bit pointless. I confess, if I'm working with a yarn I'm very familiar with, in a stitch pattern I've used with it before, I have a tendency to just jump in. Especially if it's an item that doesn't need to fit someone, like a shawl or blanket. Or a tote bag. If these are bit larger or smaller than the designer's measurements, they're still useful. Scarves fit in this category too.

However if you're not familiar with the yarn or haven't used it  with a particular stitch pattern, it's usually best to try it out. This gives you a chance to try the stitch pattern without committing to the full project. Or check if a color combination really looks like you hope it will.

Someone once said to me that as a designer it must be nice not having to swatch. I laughed. 

As a designer I do far more swatching than you'd probably imagine. Do these stitch patterns look good next to one another? Will I have weird floats if I pair stitch pattern X with V and W. Is there enough contrast between Color C and Color D? Do I prefer the single color version or the two color version? This doesn't look "right" in fingering weight, but what if I try it in worsted? I've never tried this technique, *grabs a ball of yarn and some needles, proceeds to teach self new-to-me thing*...

I have a lot of swatches around from my various experiments. And where my back isn't in a good place the last couple days, I'm working on yet another one.

This probably looks a bit familiar to you if you've followed me for any bit of time. It's 3 color 2 pattern double-knitting which I tried out last year with this swatch:

Last year's swatch was to familiarize myself with 3 color double-knitting, both knitting it without creating a tangle and charting it effectively. I used yarns in my stash that happened to be all the same brand and yarn line (Bernat Satin if you're curious) in a worsted weight yarn. I find worsted weight perfect for experimenting like this. It's light enough that carrying several strands doesn't feel cumbersome. At the same time I can see the pattern without straining my eyes or it feeling too delicate to examine.

My current swatch is also yarn from my stash (Briggs & Little Sport) which I'd describe as a heavy fingering/sport weight as that's the weight I want to use for the eventual pattern.

There are other design elements that will be in this swatch as I work on it that I want to see knit up. Having a chart you like doesn't necessarily mean that it looks how you want it to when it's knit. I think this swatch's chart might be included in the pattern as the test piece so it can be used for color selections and to familiarize the knitter before launching into the main project. Double-knitting requires a decent amount of contrast between the colors and that can take playing a bit to find a combination you like and that works. Especially when using 3 colors.

I'm also playing with colors a bit. Not necessarily a color combination either; on that I'm not 100% settled yet. I'm considering if I want to use a variegated for one of them, for instance. I want to see how much of each color is used compared to the others. I'm guessing I'll use more green and purple than yellow, but how more? Will the green and purple be more or less equal in use? Or will there be a clear "this color uses more than the other 2"?

Which of course leads to gauge. How many stitches and rows am I getting to the standard 4 inch (or 10cm) square? And by comparing yarn usage to the gauge and the total stitches in my charts, I can figure out how much yarn this whole project will take. I have a rough idea already, extrapolating from a standard 2 pattern double-knitting design of mine. Is that a  reasonable assumption for 3 color 2 pattern double-knitting? I don't know yet!

And so, I swatch. 

Are you swatching today? Or jumping straight to casting on something new? I've admitted I do it, so absolutely no judgement here :)

Yours in yarn and swatching,

Síle

Light Reel Cowl is updated!

Good morning, everyone!

It's re-release day here at Knit Dance Repeat Designs! And I'm happy to say it's the Light Reel Cowl 🔗 (within site link) that's gotten it's refresh!

Once again I worked with the talented Krista of Krista Dani Photography 🔗 (link to Facebook page), and I'm so pleased with the new photos! It was hard to narrow down which to use on pattern pages and for the main photo in the pattern!! Here's a sample:

What else has changed with the re-release?

Most of it is purely cosmetic: new photos, my logo is in place, I fixed up the headings.

The biggest change is to the low vision pdf. I changed from 22 point san serif font to 24 point. I fully justified everything; my page numbers weren't before, sorry about that!! But the biggest change was eliminating abbreviations and making sure the file is screen reader accessible as well as low vision accessible! It took some time to get it right but I hope it opens this pattern up to more knitters. I have tested this capability using VoiceOver, the built-in voice accessibility tool on iPhones and iPads. 

In honor of the re-release, as I mentioned on Saturday, for today (March 14, 2022) only, the Light Reel Cowl can be purchased for 10% off with the coupon code NEWDANCE. 

That makes two patterns of 12 updated. Which one's next? Stay tuned!

Yours in yarn and lightly reeling through the day 😉,

Síle

Whatever Happened to Pattern Updates...

If you read any of my January posts, you might recall my intention to re-release my current patterns with the photos updated and logo in place. Garden Blooms got its update in January. Unfortunately February got away from me.

But! Monday I'll be re-releasing another. And this one I've not only got new photos to show off. I've edited the large print/low vision pdf from 22 point font to 24 point font, and also for screen reader compatibility. I have checked this using my phone's VoiceOver accessibility function, which I believe is the same built-in feature on iPads. Hopefully that means it will work with other screen readers as well. It's my intention to do this with all of my patterns that have the large print/low vision pdf included, which means future patterns as well.

Because this is a re-release I'm offering a 10% off code on this pattern, good for Monday (March 14) only. The code is NEWDANCE. This is only good on Monday, for this specific pattern.

Check back Monday to find out which pattern has a new look!

Yours in yarn and dropped hints,

Síle

Welcome, March

I can't believe I've been in Newfoundland for 10 years today. That chance to move somewhere I'd never even seen has paid off big time in so many ways. Not that there haven't been rough spots. But that's life. I don't believe anyone goes through without a bump or two in the road. Cheers to us on 10 years together, Newfoundland 🥂

I happily finished the Hornpipe Bag on the weekend. 

I'm in the process of going over the pattern and after photos are done and decided on, it will be off to my techeditor. Keep your eyes open for the test knit when those steps are completed.

What am I working on now?

So glad you asked! I'm preparing the next pattern re-release, to be out later this month. Watch this space!

I put a teaser out on Instagram today for my currently in my hands WIP. Here's the photo and my post:

"My Hornpipe Bag is finished and after I get done going through the pattern and working with my favourite photog to get the best pics, it'll go to my brilliant techeditor. And then will come test knitting.

But until then I'm working on a little something I can't show you just yet 😉 I can tell you it's worsted/aran weight (my sample is in this gorgeous "Blue Mix" Briggs & Little Tuffy (80% wool, 20% nylon)), unisex, and suitable for most knitters. It uses knits, purls, yarn overs (yo), knitting through back loops (K tbl) , purling through back loops (P tbl), knit 2 togethers (K2tog), knit 2 together through their back loops (K2tog tbl), and purl 2 together (P2tog). Instructions will be written line by line and charted, with a separate pdf that is low vision accessible and (hopefully I get this part right; thank goodness for a brilliant techeditor) screen reader accessible. 

I'm aiming for the end of August so we have time to make it together 😉 in time for colder weather.

Stay tuned!

[Image: 3 balls of wool of varying sizes and a hank of the same wool. The color of all is dark denim blue with some black heathering.]

#SíleKnits #SíleAtWork #SíleDropsBigHints #KnitDanceRepeatDesigns #NewDesign #UpcomingPattern #UpcomingMKAL 😉 #CanadianWool #WoolLove #BriggsAndLittleTuffy #BriggsAndLittle #GottaLoveWhenThePerfectWoolsInYourStash"

How's that for a teaser? 

In all seriousness, I'm really looking forward to this idea. The knitting is going fast! I love when a design just flows like this. It feels really good.

As I'm sure you're aware, there's additional conflict in our world with Russia invading Ukraine. Correction: Putin invading Ukraine. Many Russians are completely against these actions, and have been arrested for protesting them. With the continued bombing of Yemen by Saudi Arabia, the US bombing Syria, and Haiti still reeling from last year's earthquake, many people are in dire circumstances around our world.

It's unsettling to see these things from the comfort of our homes. I can't begin to imagine what it's like to experience it first hand. People are in dire situations and I'm a believer in helping those needing it no matter where they are. If you're able to please consider donating to organizations that are helping the people in these awful circumstances that are completely out of their control. I know there are various agencies doing very important work world wide. I'm going to give some links that are located in Canada. Most large aid agencies have sites/chapters in many countries, and replacing "ca" or "Canada" with your own country's abbreviation or name in the url should bring you to the right place. 

Canadian Red Cross🔗 there are campaigns for Syria, Yemen, Haiti, Ukraine, and other places. The Red Cross works directly with the Red Crescent to provide much needed funds for medical supplies and essentials for refugees in Muslim predominant countries as well as their direct works.

UNICEF Canada🔗 There's a campaign for Ukraine on the front page, and campaigns for other places like Haiti and Syria can be found by using the search bar on the site. 

Canada Helps🔗 This site brings together many more campaigns and agencies working around the world to help in war torn areas and those devastated by natural disasters. 

And while we're talking about people that need help, the First Nations people of Canada have continued to find the remains of children near the so-called schools that were sent to after being stolen from their families and communities to be "educated". In truth they were beaten, tortured, raped, murdered, and traumatized. It's only recently come to public light the numbers of children murdered. I believe the current number found is 5,296. This link is to a blog post with links to 10 First Nations initiatives🔗 that can use financial support

Yours in yarn and humanity,

Síle

Beginning of the End

I've started casting off my Hornpipe Bag today! :)

For those of you just joining in, my Hornpipe Bag is a double-knit drawstring bag, worked from the bottom up. I'm knitting it in Bernat Sox in the "Rainbow" coloway and Patons Kroy in the "Coal" colorway. It features a knotwork motif on the bottom and which is repeated four times around the sides on alternating backgrounds. 

As with all double-knits it takes longer than you originally think. You're literally making both sides of a two sided fabric at the same time; twice the number of stitches as appear on either side. Not quite twice the time to knit but it does add extra time to the process. Of course I have the added issue of having several projects on the go at once; some designs of my own, others by other designers that I want the item or it's perfect as a gift for the knit/yarn worthy in my life. I counted 10 works in progress last week, 6 being my own designs. Ah, the glamorous life of an independent knitting pattern designer ;)

If you're not familiar with double-knitting, I wrote a bit of an overview last year here🔗 on this blog, and I also recommend checking out Alasdair Post-Quinn's site (link in the side menu), Fallingblox Designs.

I'm using a bit of a different cast-off method with my bag, and I thought it would be fun to give a bit of a breakdown here for future reference. This cast-off looks decorative which makes it nice for the top of a bag, or really anywhere you'll be seeing the cast-off a lot, like a scarf end.

For the explanation below instead of alt-captioning the photos, I'll be describing them in detail below each photo for everyone. That way if I need more characters and/or words to describe things it won't be cut off.

So to start, this is a photo of what the first 8 or so stitch-pairs look like cast-off:

What's going on? The first section of my bag has a black background of stockinette on the outside, and all of my stitch-pairs are black/multicolored, a black knit stitch and a multicolored purl stitch. In the photo there are multicolored "blips" near the top edge, and a black stitch with a yellow one  collared with it. The collar is the last cast-off stitch. 

Let's back up just a tick. When double-knitting in the basic way with two colors your background will be one color on one side and the other color on the opposite side. Whichever color you knit with, you purl the other stitch of the pair with the other. So here I've been knitting with black and purling with the multicolored yarn for my background. The stitches alternate in the needle, black, multi, black, multi, etc.

Ok, now to work the cast-off. I'm using both yarns as one for the entire cast-off. Knit the first stitch, and purl the second. Now lift the first double stranded stitch over the second and off the needle; this is the usual movements for casting off that you're probably very familiar with. But with double-knitting you have twice the number of stitches and it could splay. (Which come to think of it, would be an interesting way to the shape the bottom of a cowl. I digress!)

What I'm doing on this bag (and other projects in double-knitting) is reducing the stitches to one side's worth and casting-off at the same time.

Ok, we've got one double-stranded stitch on the right needle, originating from one knit and one purl stitches. This is the point the above photo is at. 

Work the next pair of stitches the exact same way: knit one with the double strand, and purl one with the double strand. You have three double stranded stitches on the right needle now; right to left: the combined stitch from the previous stitch-pair, a knit stitch and a purl stitch. First you need to create a second combined stitch by lifting the knit stitch over the purl stitch...

... which leaves two double stranded combined stitches on the right needle. Next we cast-off the first combined stitch by lifting it over the second combined stitch...

... returning us to having one double stranded stitch on the right needle. From here we continue the process set out: knit, purl, reduce to one stitch, cast-off the first reduced stitch on the needle.

Using both colors of yarn leaves a neat sort of braided pattern to the top of the cast-off edge:

I think this a great decorative detail and it happens naturally, no extra work. Always a bonus! 

That's where I'm at with the Hornpipe Bag this evening. Once the cast-off is finished, I can start the drawstrings. Let's here it for i-cord! ;)

Yours in yarn and decorative edging,

Síle

New Year, ... Old Project?

Good Thursday to you!

I just posted my #WIPWednesdayOffRav photo to Twitter and it reminded me that 1) I need to blog because it's been a bit and 2) the subject of projects that take longer than you think they will is a good one. And 3) Um, I'm a day late :' 'D

I recently went over my list of WIPs... *needle scratch on vinyl album* Ok, let's be honest here. I poked around and found as many of my project bags as I could and checked out what was in them. There is no list. I am not going to claim to be that kind of organized. 

And because I'm not that kind of organized I found my sample for the Hornpipe Bag in one of them. And instantly felt bad because I abandoned the poor thing with a bit more than a round to tink back to get rid of my awful attempt at putting eyelets for drawstrings in a double-knit fabric. Poor thing hadn't seen the light of day in a very loooong time. I have since completed the tinking and before me is this:

I've got the first 3 stitch-pairs worked (knit black, purl rainbow 3times), and am ready to start the first eyelet. Again.

All good and back on track. But how did my project get derailed in the first place? You might ask the same question when you come across a UFO (that's unfinished object. No extraterrestrials around here. At least that I'm aware of... Although Jakey was staring at the ceiling last night...) in a forgotten tote/grocery bag/purse: Why did I leave this?

This project I know exactly what happened. I only meant to set it aside briefly after frogging most of 3 rounds and getting the stitches back on the needle to tink back to the point before the failed eyelets were knit. A little break to consider a better way to knit the eyelets, and I picked up something else to keep my hands busy, and then something else just to give my mind a bit more of a break from the issues with eyelets, and then... Well, you know how that went.

And other than the failed eyelets I'm really happy with how it's going. I still love how the color blocking is coming out. I think the size is perfect as a small project bag or small purse. Ghillie bag too. 

The most important thing is I've picked it back up with the intention to get it done in the next bit. We have some blechy weather headed up this way (freezing rain! snow! Ah, February in Canada) for the evening and then another system on the weekend; excellent reasons to stay in, drink tea, and knit. As if I needed much excuse for that! :D 

Personal project update:

My Twist Again is coming along slowly but fabulously :) See for yourself:

What do you have on your needles and/or hook today? Something new? Something recent? Something you discovered and you're now wondering why you set aside? It happens to a good lot of us, so don't feel bad :) You're in good company here.

Yours in yarn and revived projects,

Síle