the blue blog archives: a swatch a day

Keeps the doctor away, I hope. As promised, there will be no starting new projects this week. But I am thinking about what I will do once the finishing fiesta is over and I'm on vacation! I had planned to start the filly cardigan, but after feeling that little soreness in my hand over the weekend, I'm considering putting smaller gauged, more fiddly projects on hold for a while. In fact, I'm toying with the idea of doing the next project continental style so as to give my right hand a nice long rest. So that meant that I had to knit some swatches to see which of my projects would be the best to bring with me on my vacation/convalescence. Is that cheating??

I started by swatching up some dreamy alpaca I have earmarked to make the Mystical cardigan from the latest Rowan mag, but it wants to be knit on like US#3's, so it's out for now. Sorry, fall/winter sweater knit-alongers, I'm going to be a bit behind!

Taking a dramatic turn away from fine gauge wool, I knit up a swatch of the Colinette Fandango yarn that my mother picked out for her asymmetrical vest from The Knit Stitch. I really liked knitting up this yarn. Big gauge, but not too large as to be awkward. Still, it was too chunky for me to knit continental. Nevertheless, it's a possibility.

Then I had to knit some swatches up for knitting class last night. I didn't know what yarn to use, so I just pulled out some of the yarn for leigh's sweater. I was able to knit it up with my left hand with no problem and the yarn seemed very forgiving of my not quite perfect tension. So I'm also considering this one for the vacation. Not the filly, but a phil'leigh. Hey, it's close.

My hand's doing fine, by the way. No twinges or soreness while swatching. But now that the little swatch interlude is over, it'll be back to the finishing for me. Keep your fiesta hats ready!

posted by alison at 12:05 am | in fandango , phildar filly

Comments

It took me a while to release that you had wrapped the Fandango swatch around the rest of the ball - I was positive you were knitting a little round bag. Any leftovers would look great as hats for the boys.

Posted by: Linda at October 8, 2003 6:28 AM

that fandango looks great, I just bought 2 skeins of it and I have absolutely no idea what to use it for. Maybe the hat idea is the way to go..

Posted by: kerrie at October 8, 2003 7:44 AM

"Still, it was too chunky for me to knit continental." Heresy! Blasphemy!

Perhaps this is the perfect time to perfect your continental knitting skills by using it exclusively for a few weeks! You'll fit in with the natives on vacation and give your right hand a rest.

Come on over to the dark side. You know you want to. ;)

Posted by: shannon at October 8, 2003 8:51 AM

the "phil'leigh" ha! you're too punny today Alison!

added punniness: I'm from Philly! (boo, boo!)

Hope your hand keeps feeling better :-)

Posted by: Leigh at October 8, 2003 8:53 AM

PS--and yes, I'm with Shannon--when in Deutschland you must knit "auf Deutsch!"

continental! continental!

Posted by: Leigh at October 8, 2003 8:57 AM

Why did I never notice that you are a thrower? Like Shannon says, come towards the light...knit like the rest of us German girls!!

Posted by: claudia at October 8, 2003 9:08 AM

Don't do it, Alison! Remain with us throwers! Throwing is good! Don't go to the other siiiiiiiide!

(I hope the soreness goes away soon. I notice that if I knit with my knitting resting in my lap, my wrists don't get sore.)

Posted by: Becky at October 8, 2003 10:29 AM

alison -- i had a bout of cts last year and my doctor advised me to wear one of those hand braces for about ten days. he said to keep it on while i was sleeping for my hand would appreciate the warmth that it generated. i kept it on non stop for ten days and my hand recovered quickly. something to consider?

Posted by: elisabeth at October 8, 2003 10:56 AM

Uh oh, beware the wily CTS! Rest up. Ibuprofen at night (not on an empty stomach) and wrist braces while you sleep. Take frequent breaks, every few rows. Some stretches are good too. There's been a long thread on this on the livejournal knitting community lately: http://www.livejournal.com/community/knitting

Posted by: Becky S. at October 8, 2003 11:38 AM

Thanks for the tips about the hand pain, everyone. The pain is back a little - I think I slept on my hand last night! I've got a little brace to wear on it now.

Posted by: alison at October 8, 2003 6:05 PM