As all ‘good’ knitters know, the first thing to do when starting a project is the gauge swatch.  Why is it that I always have to force myself to do this, that I am not always successful, that I try to talk myself out of the swatch? 

What did the swatch ever do to me?

Whenever I actually do one, it never ceases to be helpful – either by showing me corrections I need to make, or allowing me to knit the garment with some confidence that the end result will fit.

So, my first step in casting on for Halcyon was to try to talk myself out of knitting a swatch.

Thank God I rarely listen! 

I did a gauge swatch and was instantly alarmed and confused.

1. the yarn is loosely plied and pretty dark making it very difficult to account for individual stitches when casting on – I am screwed.
2. why did they say gauge was in reverse stockinette stitch?  isn’t that just the ‘wrong’ side of stockinette?
3. then I was getting gauge with the size 5’s – which are supposed to be for the ribbing, so I assume the gauge was meant to be when using the size 7’s. 

I couldn’t believe it — I am not usually that far off.  Is it me, the yarn, my new Addi’s?  I even went so far as to have a conversation with myself about using the recommended needles anyway simply because I could not wrap my mind around knitting this yarn with size 5’s – which means the ribbing is using the 3’s!

So now I am using 3’s and 5’s on a worsted weight!  This goes against everything I thought I knew. I keep reminding myself that is where the gauge is, that you can’t argue with math, so that is what I must use.

In addition to all of this, my Boar’s chest measures 42".  I needed to decide between knitting the 46" or the 49".  Intuitively, I was leaning toward the 46".  He seems like a 46". 

I consulted this site to find out more about ease.  Halcyon falls into the loose fitting category, which means I need to knit the 49".

Once again, math dazzles and frightens me.

…never get me down!  It is a rainy, rainy Monday here — the perfect opportunity to start in on Halcyon. 

I completed the Knitpicks socks over the weekend and promise a picture tomorrow.  I am determined to keep this pair of socks for myself!  These are the third pair I’ve knit in as many weeks and I don’t have a single sock of my own to show for my efforts.  Speaking of socks as gifts, check out the great sock wrappers at Knitting Fool.

My daily dose of blog reading has turned up The Daily Knitter – a new (to me at least) knitting resource – complete with crossword puzzle!  Thanks to Blogdogblog for the link!

So there you have a completely disjointed entry — my mind is a bit jumpy today!  **probably due to the fact that I have not smoked 209 cigarettes over the past 1 week, 3 days, 11 hours and 42 minutes; thereby saving $56.11 and 17 hours and 25 minutes of living!

Here’s a picture of Vicki wearing the Cold Turkey hat!  Of course, she is wearing it with her gorgeous St. Brigid, so the Cold Turkey pales in comparison!  ; )   No matter how much we have in common, Vicki knits St. Brigid and I the Cold Turkey Hat.  She has posted a photo album (go to her site and scroll to the bottom) of all the fun families can have with a Cold Turkey Hat — the dog looks especially thrilled!!  If you want me to knit you a Cold Turkey Hat, don’t be shy – all you have to do is ask!

Just as I was beginning to have niggling thoughts about my Black Water Abbey order – you know the kind that drive you nuts?  the thoughts that are like that stray popcorn kernel stuck to your teeth that you can’t seem to dislodge?  or am I the only one who tortures myself for hours, if not days with this stuff?  where is it? when will it get here? should I call them?. 

Just when all of this was starting to take shape in my brain, the UPS guy shows up!  (extra bonus that those guys are always adorable….)

Here is the Jacob colorway and even the sunlit picture doesn’t capture all the nuance — browns and greys – gorgeous!  Would you like to see a close up?

Not to be outdone by yarn …. does the sunlight do the doggies justice?