Sunday, January 04, 2015

52 Weeks of Swatches

When my sister Betsey told me she's planning to make a swatch every week during 2015, I thought, what a fabulous idea. Swatches are a great way to try out unfamiliar stitch patterns and/or new yarns. They definitely get the creative juices flowing. So I asked if I could join in, and she said sure.

Here's Betsey's first two, one in Woolen Rabbit Emma (left) and one in Paton's Grace (right):


Lovely, aren't they?

Over the weekend, I got started by swatching the lace pattern from the Windsor Cardi by Amy Christoffers. I've got a sweater's worth of Woolen Rabbit Grace in this chocolate-y Godiva colorway and think maybe this pattern is what it should become. I got gauge and like the fabric—that's a good start.


My sister Jenny has decided to get on the bandwagon, too. Her first swatch was knit with some blue Knit Picks Wool of the Andes. I love the all-over texture and strong diagonals:


Another one I made this weekend was knit with Shibui Cima and Silk Cloud held together:


I was so pleased with this swatch, I immediately made another to tweak a few things. After that I did some measuring and some math ... and a new design is under way!

If you're up for swatching this year—whether just for fun or to make gauge swatches for patterns—feel free to post your swatches on Instagram with the hashtag #52weeksofswatches. Knitting, crochet, weaving—anything you like. As Betsey said, "the more the merrier and inspiring."

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Such a great idea. The Shibui Cima and Silk Cloud swatch looks marvelous!

airali said...

Great Idea!!! From now I follow you on Instagram :)

Lee said...

What a great idea! I might even have to get on Instagram to show them off. :)

Bonnie said...

Come on over! I'd love to see your swatches.