@!#*@ Guage

I haven't posted for a few days, but I have been knitting and happily making progress on my project. The body of my center-cable EZ EPS sweater was close to the needed length to join to the sleeves.

Note that 'was' is the operative word here.

I knit a decent-sized swatch - in the round, with the same needles, in a ball of yarn from the same dye lot. I'm a good swatcher, usually going overboard, if anything. I figured my stitches needed for the various dimensions. Then I started with the sleeves so I could double-check that everything was going OK on smaller pieces.

I actually ended up speeding up my increases on the forearm of the sleeves so they wouldn't feel tight around the elbow. The gauge came out spot on in the first sleeve. The second sleeve fit just the same. Everything looked good.

Yesterday, after a couple of days of some good knitting commute time, I'd reached a point on my sweater body where enough hung off my 32" needle to stop looking like a steroidal ruffle and start looking like the sweater it would be. Last night it occurred to me that it seemed a bit larger than I'd expect.

I measured my gauge. Can you see a difference in the stitches between the sleeve on the left and the body on the right? Neither can I.

But, rather than my original 21 stitches in four inches, I had knit the body at 19. Over the 212 stitches that became 4.3 inches. Added to that, I'd forgotten to do the few stitches of shaping I'd allowed for when figuring out how much ease I wanted - a hazard of doing a design-your-own project without specific written instruction, but who actually writes themselves instructions for one of these? I should have at least left myself a sticky-note reminder.

This is merino yarn, so cutting and steeking the sides is not really a good option. Plus I'd expected a visible difference in gauge, though I will admit I don't seem to have that issue. So, maaaaybe I could steek? But, then there's the ribbing that really needs to be a bit tighter in gauge.

Personally, I know I won't be happy unless I redo it. But I haven't actually ripped yet. I will, I will. Give me a a day or two to mourn first.

And to think about whether I need to wash all of the yarn if I rinse the kinks out of the frogged stuff, given that the swatch didn't change gauge when washed except over the cable pattern. And think about what to do about the gauge difference. The sleeves and the swatch are smaller tubes than the body and knit on two circulars rather than one. Do I try the body on two circulars? Go down a needle size? Just refigure based on the new gauge and go with it since I can't see a g*!!#-@&* difference between the two?

To console myself I bought some new yarn for a scarf I had decided I needed. I've worn my neutral ivory and beiges Silken scarf so much that the silk is starting to show wear along the edges. I need another in similar colors. Plus, I had a full Yarn Card so spent only $4 + tax for a new Silk Garden scarf I 'need' and for a good diversion.

I may utilize some stash for another diversionary scarf, too. I actually have a tendon in the base of my right thumb that would appreciate a few days or more break from cables. Tomorrow I'll try to get up a post on last weekend's workshops and the origin of the tendinitis - right after I rip 18,656 stitches.

Comments

[margene]

How sad you'll need to redo! Do wash the yarn, as the kinks will show in a yarn that smooth. With all the stress and running in your life right now it's no wonder your gauge has changed!

[RobinH]

Ow, ow, ow! How terribly vexing. I sympathize extremely (personally, I *don't want to know* how many stitches I tore out and reknit on the last sweater).

The scarf is lovely!

[Karen]

Aaah - glad you thought of the 'consolation project.'
What a lovely idea, and how nice to just start something whilst the offending object has time to think about what it's done, sitting in a corner.
Sorry I couldn't offer a brilliant solution that would solve everything w/o ripping.... Sigh.
You were all brave lassies yesterday! Such ripping I haven't witnessed in a long time.