Thursday, August 10, 2006
Gauge Rant

The Good News is that my barely two year old $500 camera is not broken and I don't have to replace it.

The Bad News is I still didn't take any pictures.

Oh yes, I was going to rant about gauge.....

Why, why, why, WHY are their dozens and dozens of yarns Out There that all claim to knit up at 18 sts over 4 inches - that would be 4.5 sts per inch - and then don't?

Oh sure I can go up a needle size or two and make the yarns get that gauge. But then they look like crap. The fabric is so sleazy - I don't want to wear it much less spend my time knitting it.

I have purchased or stash dived and swatched not one, not two, not even three, but FOUR yarns in the past week trying to locate one that will give me a true 4.5 sts per inch and not look like gauze. All look lovely at 5 sts per inch. All said on the ball band they were supposed to work up to 4.5 sts per inch. They lie.

I desperately want to make Wendy's Something Red cardigan to take with me on the yearly Big Trip next month. Given that I have two other Must Finish projects to complete by then, time is getting short. And I can't find any yarn that gets gauge.

Oh and did I mention that when I do get stitch gauge by making gauze instead of fabric the row gauce is not even close. It's supposed to be 22 rows / 4 inches. I need at least 24 to hit 4 inches. Sometimes 26. Usually not an issue except Wendy specifically mentions in the pattern how important row gauge is in this one.

One of the yarns I really relly like. I was thinking of simply rewriting the pattern to my gauge. But then I realized I would not have nearly enough yarn even though I actually purchased more than I thought I'd need. And the store has no more. And of course if I buy elsewhere, the dyelot won't match.

Tina

That's her name. For now anyway. I thank everyone who voted and now I'm going to ignore what the majority said anyway. It was interesting to see how the voting went. Lola went out to an early lead, the Tina took over and it looked like a runaway. Then slowly slowly Zara crept up and took the front spot for quite a while, then late this week Lola took over a commanding lead. But she's a Tina. Really. She is.

Anne at 3:42 PM        
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