Happy Feet

 

I have knit so many pairs of socks they are fool proof. I can’t remember the last time I ripped a pair of socks…….happy feet.  Sweaters on the other hand I knit and rip and knit again. Hopefully I got it right the second time. I knit the swatch on 3 sizes of needles to get the right gauge but also to feel the difference in the fabric I just created, smaller needles make a firm dense fabric, larger needles a softer drapier fabric. Then I look for a pattern to match the fabric that I like best and not finding one I’m making adjustments. My first attempt fit like a potato sack so start over a size smaller and be consistent with the tension of the yarn.  I started with a 15 stitch gauge (15 stitches over 4 inches of knitting) then I got loosey goosey and was knitting a 12 stitch gauge under the arms. It makes a difference if you are pushing the stitch off the needle or gently pulling it off the left hand needle. Now I have a consistent 14 gauge on # 9 needles.  I also did a lot of math,  # of stitches of circumference of body of sweater (under arms) divide by stitch gauge x 4 inches =  inches of circumference of sweater. The pattern added 10 stitches under each arm to join the front to the back, 20 stitches was like adding 5 to 8 inches to the circumference I cut that down to 4 stitches under each arm. Fingers crossed I’m getting it right. It’s cold here below zero it’s a good day to curl up and knit.  —Ann—