I truly wonder sometimes why I bother swatching at all. I’m supposed to get a gauge of 12 stitches in four inches. The size nine needles gave me a gauge of 12.5 stitches. Now, you’d supposed that size ten needles would give a person the needed 12 stitches per inch, right? Or something close, anyway? Nope. I got 14 stitches per inch with the tens. More stitches per inch than with the smaller needles. So I tried 10½s. I got 13 stitches per inch with those. What’s up with that?

What’s a knitter to do?

I went back to the size nine needles, and cast on. I hope I did the right thing. I hope my swatches weren’t lying through their little needle-y teeth. But they probably were.

Naturally this sweater is knit back and forth in one huge piece, so my row has 118 stitches in it. At this rate, even with size nine needles, the four inches of 2×2 ribbing will take a little while. After I get past that I’ll knit a few inches of stockinette, and measure again.

Keep your fingers crossed for me.

I wouldn’t be at all surprised if I end up ripping out the whole thing and starting over with the tens.

Meanwhile, my Knit Picks booty arrived this afternoon. Woot! The big, big splurge was Clara Parkes’ book, The Knitter’s Book of Yarn. I’ve been drooling all over the descriptions of this book ever since I first heard about it. I’ve been busy packing (!) so haven’t had a chance to peruse it yet, but I’m hope to be able to soon. I can’t wait. All that fiber-y goodness inside one of my other favorite things in the whole world, a nice book. Score. While I was at it, I got two more sizes of the Knit Picks Options Harmony needle tips, sizes four and five. I figure these will be very nice for lace knitting. And, yes, I got a little more lace yarn, Alpaca Cloud, three hanks, in Stream Heather.

I’ve used this yarn before. To knit Kiri, the shawl that I gave to Julie at Christmas. I also knit Mountain Peaks out of it. Both of those shawls were in the Moss Heather colorway. I’d forgotten just how soft and fine this stuff is. I was reminded of its softness when I gave that shawl away, and Julie kept petting it. I’ve been pining over this pretty blue for eons. When I was moping about the house a little over a week ago, because I couldn’t go to Stitches, I decided to buy myself a little yarn-y present. Well, this was it. And you know what? Now that I’m leaving for Stitches tomorrow, I don’t feel one little bit guilty about my purchase. I deserve it! Besides. I’m planning on knitting up a new lace pattern to sell, so it’s really an investment. Teehee.

You won’t be hearing from me while I’m gone. I promise to report when I get home, and share photos of yarn-y goodness, and hopefully some friend shots, too! I’ll be seeing quite a few local knitters up there. You know who you are. I’ll also be seeing my old friend Karen. She promised to come down from the city to play in the yarn visit since I’ll be so close. And she mentioned that she mourned the loss of a teach-yourself-to-knit book that she lent out years ago that never came home. Maybe we can find a replacement book for her. And some needles. And a little yarn. Whatcha think?