What’s on the Needles

Also known as WIP Wednesday Monday.

This first photo is the start of Bella Paquita. The piece at the top, which looks like it might actually be the finished top part, is actually a giant swatch. And I do mean giant. I couldn’t get the pattern gauge with the Rowan Calmer I’m using, so I calculated the circumference of the size I wanted (small), then determined how many stitches that would be in my gauge. It turned out to match the large pattern size. Or so I thought. It turns out that the knitted fabric is so stretchy, that it really needs to be knitted with more negative ease. Or I needed to treat my swatch as if it were ribbing, and stretch it lightly before measuring.

Anyway, looking at how much bigger the top was than what I needed, I decided to go down one needle size AND knit it in size medium. The small piece of knitting at the bottom of the photo is the result of that, knitted up to the armscyes. This seems to be a winner, so I’ll continue on with it.

In the center is some of the lace for the neckline, detail below. Isn’t it lovely?

But wait – there’s more. I finished the Chevron Neck Warmer, except for the buttons. I gave it a soak, and it’s blocking. Also blocking is yet one more swatch for Scoop du Jour. I’m having to go down to size 4 needles with the Classic Elite Skye Tweed to get gauge (at least, I hope this one works!). The yarn is so bumpy and sticky that it’s hard to knit tightly.

Last of all, we have some basic gloves – Drops 102-46. I cast on for these because I had finished up the neck warmer, and needed a small take-along project.