I decided a video on IG Live was needed to explain how to make a Swatches That Won’t Lie. This requires some planning (have you heard me say that before?), but it will ensure that your project comes out as you intended.
I cannot lie, I sometimes don’t swatch. I usually regret it unless I am working a project that I don’t care about the outcome size or when I am doing a small project to use as a swatch.
Without revealing all the cool stuff I discuss on the video, here are the high points. As always, sometimes I say things that may be a game-changer for you. Neither of us know what that will be, so listening may be worth it.
Keys to a Swatch that Won’t Lie
- Cast on enough stitches so you have at least 4″/10 cm at the center of the swatch,
- The swatch allows you to find the right needle, because it might not be the one you think it is,
- Swatches can tell you that you don’t like the yarn or stitch pattern, or combination of the two,
- You must wet block your swatch (almost anything can be gently washed),
- Your swatch must fully dry and relax (allowing it to sit for days is not a bad thing),
- Work your swatches ahead of time.
Information on Swatches
The swatches I shared are from Anzula Luxury Yarns and Sweet Georgia Yarn.
Anzula (aqua) Cricket in Lottie, Lucero (undyed), and Breeze in Peacock.
Sweet Georgia is from this Knitter’s Delight kit.
I find mini-skeins a great way to try out yarns I’m interested in. I particularly loved that this kit can in colors I loved and was just enough (25g each) to do a good size-swatch. Now I know what I’m going to do with each of the yarns when I get around to it!
Anzula provided me a skein of each yarn to make the lengthy swatches I used in my yarn reviews. To find other Anzula yarn reviews, put “anzula yarn name yarn” into a search engine and the Meet the Yarn review associated will pop up.
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