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February 22, 2008
Four banana's worth
For those of you waiting for the pattern for the green top, I apologize. It is ready and waiting for you too. Even so, I can't publish it for about another month. I'm really sorry, but you will still have it before it's warm enough to wear it... or before the snow even thaws for those of you who live near me.
I did a major cleanup recently in the office. Actually, "office" isn't really the right name for what I've got. It's a sort of alcove and there's a desk, but I don't sit at it since it's got Frog's computer on it. Just about every available inch is crammed with shelves and yarn and books and fiber. most of the remaining floor space is used by my spinning wheel. I most often work sitting on the couch so I suppose that is really my office. The "office" is more a storage unit. ANYWAY! I did a major cleanup and in the process found many swatches. I stuck them all in bag and thought I'd share it with you.
These are just some of the swatches that I did in the last year or so. Many more were lost, frogged or thrown out along the way. It fills a grocery store plastic bag to the brim. That long, green swatch? It's nearly 2 balls of yarn. My daughter now wears it as a scarf. It wasn't meant to be one and is a little wonky, but she found it, exclaimed, "Tadpole's caaahrff!" and it's been that ever since. I knit for her rarely enough, how could I deny her a wonky swatch scarf... though I do find it a little embarassing if people notice I made it. The bananas are just there for scale of course.
You think swatches lie? That's pretty common for me too. You don't like doing it? I actually kind of like it most of the time because I have realized how important it is to the end product and it's the point where everything still seems possible. You whine about doing a teeny tiny swatch? Unless your pile rivals mine, I don't wanna hear about it.
Posted by kate at February 22, 2008 03:45 PM
Comments
I think if I was Tadpole I would have swiped the strawberry one too.
Posted by: wendy at March 1, 2008 02:29 PM
That's a great pile of swatches there! I usually unravel my swatches to use in the knitting, unless it is something I'm designing. Even still- when I see a big pile like that I wish I'd kept my old swatches in a box somewhere.
I'm really behind on my blog reading and wanted to make comments on some older posts but the comment thingie is disabled for the older ones. :(
Posted by: Jennifer at February 29, 2008 12:20 PM
That's a pretty pile of swatches - and I think Tadpole's 'scarf' is lovely...
Posted by: Teresa at February 29, 2008 11:03 AM
I wish I kept my swatches, I might just have a bag full. I'm too resourceful (only with yarn) and frog them to use the yarn for the project. I always tell my customers to save them and practice blocking, I should listen to my own advice :)
Posted by: hickory at February 28, 2008 11:02 AM
Have you seen this? The pile o' clap is the best part, althought the poem is cute too!
http://bloggourmetyarn.blogspot.com/2008/02/back-in-saddle.html
Posted by: Bev at February 27, 2008 12:40 AM
That's a lot of swatching!
I'm signed up for your April 20th class and I'm very excited not only to learn 2 socks on 1 circ, but also toe-up!
Posted by: Robyn at February 25, 2008 08:03 PM
That's a lot of swatches!
I'm all signed up for your April 20th class - very excited to learn 2 socks on 1 circ as well as toe up!
Posted by: Robyn at February 25, 2008 08:00 PM
Oooo this post makes me want to make a strawberry and banana smoothie. :)
Posted by: emma at February 25, 2008 01:14 PM
Oooo this post makes me want to make a strawberry and banana smoothie. :)
Posted by: emma at February 25, 2008 01:10 PM
My 5 year old recently sewed paper beads she had made onto a modular knit tutorial. She now wears it around her neck (tied by the yarn ends) like some kind of tribal emblem. She's so very pleased.
Posted by: cricket at February 24, 2008 07:10 PM
The strawberry is cute.
Umm... was that looks-like-half-a-sock thing supposed to be a swatch originally???
Posted by: miss ewe at February 23, 2008 09:51 AM
So, did you ditch 'em or file 'em?
Posted by: Jen at February 23, 2008 12:02 AM
I don't think I have ever swatched a banana's worth, let alone four.
Posted by: Hope at February 22, 2008 08:00 PM
I can just imagine Tadpole wearing her scarf like a fancy feather boa! Being a little girl is the best thing.
As for swatching, well I think it's a necessary evil when I'm knitting a pattern, but man is it fun when you're designing. It's like painting...with yarn!
Posted by: Anna at February 22, 2008 06:20 PM
I have a pile too (though not as large as yours). I recently threw most of the unsuccessful ones away when I moved, but my nonknitting friend retrieved them from the trash and is going to sew them into a blanket. I don't think she'll ever get around to it.
Posted by: connie at February 22, 2008 05:46 PM
