A few weeks ago I asked which of two skirt projects I should knit first: Blue Moon Socks That Rock in the Antiquated System colorway (left) or Shibui Cima and Pebble in the Fjord colorway (right).
The responses were pretty evenly split and I couldn’t bring myself to make a choice. I decided that if I swatched both I might have an easier time deciding which to knit first.
To begin, I wound the yarn into balls. Because I was afraid that the hand-dyed Blue Moon yarn might form color pools or stripes, I plan to alternate skeins as I knit. I wound three skeins each into two balls and tied small knots in the ends to indicate Skein 1, Skein 2, and Skein 3. I’ll alternate one round each of Skein 1 and Skein 2, then Skein 2 and Skein 3, then Skein 3 and Skein 1, and so on. It’s a little more trouble, but is the best way I know to even out any color inconsistencies.
I also wound the two Shibui yarns. I don’t have to worry about color inconsistencies in this commercial yarn, but I will be holding one strand each of Cima and Pebble together when I knit.
Then I swatched. I hesitate to show the swatches because they are so much smaller than I recommend in my classes. However, I’ve knitted with both yarns before and have a good feel for my gauge.
I’m getting 6 stitches/inch on size US 4 (3.5 mm) needles with the Shibui combo. That’s close to the gauge I got for Traveling Pleats, so I plan to follow the numbers in that pattern but add a new stitch pattern in the pleats.
I’m getting 7 stitches/inch on size US 3 (3.25 mm) needles with the Blue Moon yarn. I’m going to make modifications to Putting On The Pleats to allow for the difference between my gauge of 7 stitches/inch and the pattern’s gauge of 7.5 stitches/inch.
Because I love the way all the yarns feel in my hands, I’ve decided to cast on both skirts and work them simultaneously. That’s a bit of a stretch for this monogamous knitter. Want to place any bets on which I finish first?
Those are going to be two gorgeous skirts! Have fun with the knitting (but no bet from me on which will finish first!)
That BMFA colourway is beautiful!
I’m currently knitting a sweater for my husband out of 3 skeins of BMFA Targhee worsted. I was also worried about flashing/pooling, so I am doing helical striping with the three skeins instead of alternating rows. I am very pleased with how it’s working out.
I’d bet on the blue being finished first, (only because I love, love, love that blue – so it’s the one I’d have trouble putting down)!
Hi Ann,
Helen from skirt class…Am ready to start pleats , and the pattern M1pwise,
is it to be right or left slant?
Thanks, Helen
Oh, Helen, I’m so sorry for the delay in seeing your message. Do the M1pwise either way. It won’t show among the purl stitches.
Hi Ann,
They are going to be beautiful skirts! Thank you for describing your process to combat pooling.
What is helical striping?
Thank you!
Annette