The KW Swatch Experiment, Or, Why, Yes, You Need to Knit a Swatch

Kelbourne Woolens is doing a really interesting series on its website with different knitters working up swatches in their yarns, comparing them and then looking at how those different knitters would fare making a garment with that gauge if they hadn’t knit a swatch before starting.

For instance, knitters working with the company’s Arranmore yarn would have ended up with garments ranging from 8.25 inches too small to 1.5 inches too large, and indeed none of them hit gauge for the pattern in question (one did before blocking the swatch, but it came out bigger after washing, which is why it’s important not to skip that step).

I really liked the general post on gauge they included in the series, which discusses tight knitting and loose knitting, and why you still have to knit a swatch even if you think you “always” knit loose or tight as the case may be. I know that I knit somewhat loose, so if you’re knitting from one of my patterns and you think you need to change needle sizes automatically because of how you knit, you’re likely to end up with a garment that doesn’t fit.

Knitting loosely or tightly doesn’t mean there’s necessarily anything wrong with your technique or that you need to change anything; it’s just something to be aware of as you swatch and something that reinforces the need to swatch.

Do you swatch? I’ll admit I don’t when I’m making a scarf or something, but anything that needs to fit a body I do. It’s so important for the success of your finished items!

[Photo via Kelbourne Woolens.]

Next Pattern:

Blankets are a great blank slate project that you can change up in a million different ways. From color to stitch pattern to size, the possibilities are almost endless.

Jared Flood, the designer behind Brooklyn Tweed, was inspired by a log cabin quilt his mother made in 1995 to re-create that design in knitting, which led to more blankets and ultimate Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit and Crochet Blankets, which includes 25 patterns from an array of designers using different skills and techniques to make cozy, pretty blankets.

The patterns are divided into three aesthetic themes: traditions, minimalism and colorplay. The patterns are rated on a scale of one to five, with one being the easiest, and there aren’t any pieces rated five. Two blankets are rated one, 14 are two, eight are three and one is four.

In addition, three of the 25 patterns are crocheted, but they either use single crochet or granny stitch, so they are pretty easy even if you don’t do a lot of crochet. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.

Some of my favorites include Rattan by Rastus Hsu, a chunky blanket worked in knits and purls with simple crossing stitches to make a raised woven look; Homewood by Seth Richardson, covers in dramatic, loopy cables; Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Tessellate, one of the beginner projects that doesn’t really look beginner but is totally worked in knit and purl stitches; Warp + Weft by Aist? Butkevi?ien?, which is mostly knits and purls but makes a fun woven look fabric that blew my mind a little bit; and the same designer’s Canyonland, a multicolored blanket with wavy stripes.

The patterns tell you how to resize them for different dimensions and include information on pattern repeats where it is possible to make a totally custom size.

Many different techniques are included here such as cables, lace, shadow knitting, intarsia and other colorwork techniques, as well as modular knitting and lots of sewing pieces together. The patterns are all presented with charts, but there are line by line written instructions available on the Brooklyn Tweed website if you need them.

The book ends with a deep dive into log cabin knitting, telling the story of the quilt Jared’s mom made and how he made it in knitting, as well as the multitude of variations you can make if you want your own log cabin style design.

The back of the book includes a little written information about some of the special techniques needed, but there are no photos.

This is a lovely book full of inspiration for knitting and crochet blankets for any skill level. If you like to make blankets as gifts or aspire to have a handmade blanket in every room of the house, these designs would be a great place to start.

About the book: 192 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published 2024 by Abrams Books, suggested retail price $24.99.

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