Betty and Helene

Maybe you noticed my little spurt of FO's in March and April. And maybe you noticed that my WIP's have been somewhat sparse.  Just what have I been up to?  I have been doing a lot of swatching.

On some days, I have spent all of my knitting time with design work swatching.  I must keep my design work a secret when I think it is great and might actually go somewhere.  More often, I do not share my design work because it is not going anywhere.

Truth be told, I do like to spend considerable amounts of time just knitting.  I swatched for, and started, a new sweater "Betty" from Rowan 50 by Marie Wallin.

I am making it in the Rowan Pure Wool 4ply with most of the same colors used by the designer.  The main color is a beautiful shade of blue called 'Eau de Nil'.  (I had to look that up.  It is French for 'Water of the Nile'.)

I am expecting several modifications on this one.  There will be three in the bottom ribbing alone.  (1) I am knitting most of the sweater in the round.  Normally I do not mind seaming, but after weighing in the length of the ribbing at the bottom and the small gauge overall, I will be skipping the side seams.  (2) The pattern calls for waist shaping in the 1 by 1 ribbing.  Sorry, but there is no way that would work for me.  (How would that even look?)  I simply cast on the number of stitches the ribbing would be at after the completion of the shaping.  (3) Though I expect to increase the overall length of the sweater, I will reduce the length of the bottom ribbing (from 43 rows which would be 4 to 5").  I am thinking more like 3".

I have also swatched for, and started, a "home decor" project to gift to someone who occasionally reads this blog.  ("Now who could that be?" she might wonder if she reads this.)  Secret secrets.  (No photo at this time.)

I truly can't wait to start swatching for "Helene" a Quince & Co. design by one of my favorite designers, Veronik Avery.

The yarn just arrived in my mailbox Saturday.  It is Sparrow, made of 100% organic linen.  "Helene" is knit sideways in two identical front and back pieces.  The pieces are joined from neckline to cuff with three needle bind off.  I am expecting no modifications.  I want to experience what was in Veronik's mind...maybe I can channel some of that in the future.