I'm Swatching As Fast As I Can!

Well then, it seems that some of you are taking entertainment pleasure in my Am Kamin swatching mania, but I think that maybe y'all are starting to *get* me. Well, maybe *get* is too strong a word. It is *get* in that nod and smile to my face, and roll your eyes at each other as you walk away. But it is fun for you to watch, and hey, isn't that what I'm here for?  So, a little backround.  I swatched some DK weight yarns because the buzz around the internet among other swatchers led me to believe that an aran or worsted weight might upsize too much for me and I am going for a cardigan that is a little smaller than the written pattern.  So far I think I am going to try and do it in a worsted, if that doesn't work I will revisit the DKs and resize in a redesign.  I'm really trying to avoid that.  You know, to save the time and effort.  I heard that........

Jo Sharp 8-ply DK
Size 6 needle
Washed swatch measures 9 1/8", 32.5 sts over 4"
Over patt section only measures 7 1/4", 33 sts over 4"

This swatch knitted up beautifully, if a bit stiff. But oh, what it does after a good soaking! It softens up and has a wonderful drape. The stitch definition is incredible and if it would only knit to gauge, I would use this yarn in a heartbeat. As it is, I may stash some for a future project. Here's the sucky part. I had stashed a bunch of this in a great sale sometime in the past and in a fit of decluttering and destashing I sold it all off, probably at a loss for me. Now that I have actually swatched it? (Insert mental head-banging here.)

Sandnes Peer Gynt
Size 6 needle
Unwashed swatch measures 8 1/2" across, 6 5/8" over pattern only
Washed swatch measures 8 3/4" across, 34 1/4 sts over 4"
Measures 6 3/4 over pattern only, 35 1/2 sts over 4"

You know, I have really loved almost every yarn I have swatched, but maybe this one the most. Personal preference plays a big part in this though. The yarn loves being knit and the stitch definition is great. It is a little rough and stiff to knit though, and that may turn some off. Not me though! The great thing about this yarn is what happens in the wash. It softens up a lot and the stitches bloom and a lovely, light fuzz develops giving a gorgeous halo that doesn't obscure the stitches at all. I keep picking it up and carrying it around the house with me and planning a project with the little bit that I have in my stash. It won't be Am Kamin, but it will be something. I'm not sure I have enough for a whole sweater, but I have a couple of ideas in mind. Anyway, this knit up a bit too small for me, and I don't think I would like the fabric if I knit it on a larger needle. Total bummer.

Brown Sheep Naturespun Worsted
Size 7 needle
Unwashed swatch measures 8 3/4" across, 6 7/8" over patt only
Washed swatch measures 9" across, about 33 1/4 sts over 4"
Measures 7 1/8" over pattern only, 33 3/4 sts over 4"

You know, the yarn snob in me always sort of looked at this totally affordable yarn as probably a bit, well, you know. If I don't pay a ton of money for it, how good can it be? How wrong I was! If this swatch is any indication, this yarn is a sturdy, firm yarn that knits up pretty well (the only problem I had was that with all of the twisting and travelling stitches and the really pointy needles I used, there was a little bit of splitting-a pain in the neck as I was fixing stitches a little too often for me. But then again, I'm a whiner and twice in a whole sweater might garner complaints from me). The washed swatch is soft, the stitches are even and soft to the touch. I may swatch this yarn again on a size 8 needle, though again, I worry that I won't like the fabric as much. I may have knit pretty tightly, thinking that I wanted to force the yarn to measure what I wanted it to, so this yarn is in the running. And have you seen the FORTY GAGILLION COLORS that it comes in? The only hard part is finding it, as everyone carries Naturespun and some other worsted work horse. I want this one! I will knit with this someday for sure.  Actually, the more I look at the measurements, the more I think I could get the 37ish inch sweater that I am looking for.  Maybe.

Rowan Magpie Aran
Size 7 needle
Unwashed swatch measures 9 3/4" across, 7 3/4" over pattern only
Washed swatch measures 10", 30 sts over 4"
Measures 7 7/8ish" over pattern only, 30 1/2 sts over 4"

I have waxed all poetic about this yarn before. When knit tightly it is practically bullet proof, hardly pills, shows stitches up loverly, and is *sniff* sadly discontinued *sniff, sniff*. I'm almost ready to cast on with this stuff tonight. I knit this swatch a bit relaxed, I know I could tighten up a little bit and get a jacket/cardi that will be in steep competition with my Rogue Cardigan for the most grabbed sweater in the wardrobe. There is a problem with this swatch that the photography hides. The color sucks for this sweater. Aside from my obvious obsession, I emphatically suggest that you swatch in the pattern stitch and in the color of yarn you want to use for the sweater. This Magpie is really a blue that leans wildly to gray, with a hint of green thrown in for good measure. It really does not reflect the light well and though the stitches are well defined, they get lost in the dull hue. I love the color for another sweater, and I have plenty of it, so back in the stash it goes. Luckily, if I choose to use this yarn, I have a few other colors to choose from. After washing, the bullet-proofness subsides a bit (you know, maybe BB gun bbs, or a handgun, but not a semi-automatic).

I also swatched Rauma Strikkegarn on a size 5 and I really didn't like it.  I have knit with it before, done color work and really liked it, but for this the roughness of the yarn felt too hard for me and there were spaces between the stitches that may have filled in with washing, but I didn't get that far.

Okay, next up:  Cascade 220, maybe another shot at the Brown Sheep.  I want to get going on this, but I also have another sweater that I have been finishing and I want to finish it before next Tuesday.  I may need an intervention here, as I cannot stop swatching for Am Kamin!  If there is a Swatcher's Anonymous, I don't want to know about it.  Yet.

Comments

[Lauren]

You are too fabulous.

[Annie]

You have a tough decision to make! From the photos they all look great! Can't wait to see which yarn earns the privelage...

[Marina]

You can stop any time, right? ;-)

[jennifer]

I am majorly impressed.

[Laurie]

Perfect! That was exactly what I was looking for. Superb demonstration of what each yarn is capable of in complex cabling. Thanks!

[Susie]

I really like the color of the Jo Sharp yarn, but then I've been leaning towards purple a lot of late. They all look good, though. That's some serious cabling, there.

[Jen]

Teresa,
Had to find one of your comments on the CIT blog to find a link to your blog--don't know why it doesn't show up when we make the first post of a thread. Anyway, your swatches are great!!! I'm working on my....I don't know....4th, 5th now. Thought I had a winner yesterday, but the bloom of the llama in the yarn obscures the pattern too much. I need to resize up just a tad, but am seriously considering redesigning after I finish Janet's FLAK, since I'm having such trouble getting row gauge.

All yours look fab! Love the Jo Sharp, too. Your swatch could definitely make me a purple fan.

[Cara]

I'm tired already. ;-) Thank you so much. I should fedex out a skein of the VY so you can swatch it for me! I've got to finish up a few things and then I'm good to go. But first I have to re-write all the charts. And figure out what the hell all the symbols mean. If I'm lucky, this sweater will be done by NEXT winter. Oh well - I think it's worth the wait.

[Carole]

This is wicked fun to swatch, I mean, watch. I love Brownsheep Naturespun Worsted! I also love Cascade 220 and hope you'll share you swatching adventures with that yarn, too.

[Kim]

I love all your swatches--each is stunning in its own right. I want so badly to knit this sweater but I'm scared of it--I was going to wet my feet with the matching hat first and move on from there :)

[Erica]

Swatch on! Brown Sheep is awesome, who cares about the lack of pricyness. I knit a cabled sweater in Brown Sheep's Top of the Lamb fifteen years ago and it still looks wonderful. Too much mohair for Am Kamin, though. I'm leaning toward Cascade 220, but haven't received my book, yet.

Erica

[Jessica]

You know there are medications for this, right? ;)
I'm just sitting back working on other projects waiting to see the results of all your hard work. Then I'll probably start my sweater in C220 without swatching. Which is a sickness of its own...

[Debi]

Terry, if you want Naturespun, get it here:

http://www.woobeeknitshop.com/
the owner's name is Judith - sweet woman with great customer service and a discount and orders over $50.
I love naturespun, the color, stitch definition and wearability is fabulous no matter what the price!

Your swatches are beyond gorgeous!

[Eilene]

You get 6 stars for being such an incredible swatcher!!! I envy you! They all look great!

[LoriG]

I'm using Naturespun for the first time for my Whitby socks (KOTR KAL). Great stuff. I get mine from Suzoo's Wool Works (http://www.suzooswoolworks.com).

[Diane E.]

Hi!
I love richness of the Jo Sharp. You know it's a great color with denim! Thanks for all the details. I was resigned NOT to knit this sweater but it's getting harder to resist after seeing your gorgeous swatches! Quick, Now, Diane, step away from the computer.

[Ruth]

NatureSpun Worsted is a great yarn ... I like the sport weight for color work.

The swatches are all beautiful ... you have a tough decision ahead of you.

[emmy]

I absolutely love the look of that cardigan but I know it is way way out of my league right now. I so admire your patience with the swatches.But I guess by now you have the pattern down. Maybe you could combine them into an afghan or wall hanging or put them into shadow box frames and make a display. They are works of art...for sure.

[mona beavers]

Can anyone tell me where I can find the book the Am Kamin sweater is in???

[Empampapaby]

Two new studies show why some people are more attractive for members of the opposite sex than others.

The University of Florida, Florida State University found that physically attractive people almost instantly attract the attention of the interlocutor, sobesednitsy with them, literally, it is difficult to make eye. This conclusion was reached by a series of psychological experiments, which were determined by the people who believe in sending the first seconds after the acquaintance. Here, a curious feature: single, unmarried experimental preferred to look at the guys, beauty opposite sex, and family, people most often by representatives of their sex.

The authors believe that this feature developed a behavior as a result of the evolution: a man trying to find a decent pair to acquire offspring. If this is resolved, he wondered potential rivals. Detailed information about this magazine will be published Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

In turn, a joint study of the Rockefeller University, Rockefeller University and Duke University, Duke University in North Carolina revealed that women are perceived differently by men smell. During experiments studied the perception of women one of the ingredients of male pheromone-androstenona smell, which is contained in urine or sweat.

The results were startling: women are part of this repugnant odor, and the other part is very attractive, resembling the smell of vanilla, and the third group have not felt any smell. The authors argue that the reason is that the differences in the receptor responsible for the olfactory system, from different people are different.

It has long been proven that mammals (including human) odor is one way of attracting the attention of representatives of the opposite sex. A detailed article about the journal Nature will publish.

[Crationyrat]

Things worth having are worth cheating for.

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