New Techniques (to me) & Day 25

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Hi All~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

New Techniques To Me

A list of new techniques I have never, ever done before as a knitter:

1. Swatch & Gauge
2. Block
3. Knit Socks
4. Buy expensive a** yarn
5. Knit in the round
6. Work with needles smaller than 3.75mm

So, here's a little today on swatches and gauges, some knitters love them, some knitters loathe them. I understand their purpose, and today I've created two, I'll tell you the first one came out perfect. Perfect tension, perfect gauge. Although I've never knitted a gauge before for reasons I will go into soon. Perfect or so I thought. I read the e-mail from Dana:

"The gauge for our Sock pattern is 8 stitches and 12 rows per 1 inch/2.5 centimeters using 2.25mm (US 1 ) needles in stockinette stitch.  That is my gauge."

OK so I C/O 8 sts knit for 12 rows. It measures EXACTLY as written. BUT then I read this:

"Knitting in the round is different than knitting flat because there are no wrong side rows, so we will work our gauge swatch without wrong side rows (no purls).   However to make swatching quick, and consume as little yarn as possible,  there is an easy way to work a gauge swatch in the round but flat." 

I watch the video and I am like, shaking my head, palm on face. This is an utter nightmare! So I C/O as video instructed. So I am knitting away I get to Row 23 and I stuff up! Now my pattern is in GARTER stitch which won't help with my gauge. I feel like I am wasting my pretty 100 grams of yarn on gauges. Anyway now I am washing it and I will block it when it's dry tomorrow. The instructions say wash as you intend to (cold machine wash), so that's where it currently is at the moment. I intend to block it to. Which I find hilarious because this is the first pattern where I've actually gone and made a gauge, washed & blocked something.

I'll have to take and upload photos as proof.
Once I've blocked my swatch and measured it I can actually Cast-On the sock dun-dun-dun.

Day 25

Well, I am sorry to say that I have only knitted on the gauge swatch today. It took some time as well, my daughter and I are both still unwell. I am NOT going to make my goal for this challenge, but I am NOT going to let that get me down, I still have EVERY intention to knit my goal even if it takes 2 months and not 1.

I am definitely enjoying this music as I knit though. It has taken me almost a full month to work through this 3 hour relaxing music from youtube.