Swatch!

I got out my box of swatches recently and reviewed them all. Its so enjoyable to sort them out and look at the colors and the patterns. Like most knitters I start a project by knitting a swatch or two to test the gauge and I save them all in a nice blue Tiffany's box (that once held wedding present beer mugs--my only Tiffany's present ever). Its not necessary to save them. but I'm always so excited when I start a knitting project that the swatch becomes imbued the excitement and afterwards I just can't part with them.

Laying them out to photograph I went back through all my memories of knitting projects. I also knit swatches just to try an interesting pattern stitch from time to time. Here's a few of them. If you are a knitter, save your knitting history that lives in your swatches. You'll impress yourself one day when you get them out and see how industrious you've been. They also serve the practical purpose of allowing you to save enough yarn of a finished project to later on mend a hole or sew on a new button, although you can always just save a few yards of yarn wound in a bobbin for that.

Maybe one day I'll make them all into a crazy quilt knitted throw or blanket. Until that time they will continue to live in their nice little box and from time to time I'll take them out and mentally review my projects and all the colors and textures once again.

The Best Planned Knitting....

It's been a while to say the least!
First I was frantic with Xmas season knitting (not to mention starting a new job and taking care of my son) and then recovering from all that and suddenly January is over and I haven't posted in months. I actually have lots to show too! The gloomy mid-winter weather here in New England makes it tough to find good days to photograph knitting as well.
Anyway! Here's a blurry photo of my son struggling to take off a lovely sweater I just finished for him. This is why my title laments the best planned knitting. I've had this yarn for ages and couldn't wait to use it. Knitted up the nicest top down raglan for him that fits perfectly with some room to grow.
Last Saturday was sunny and finally I sewed that last end in and could put it on him to photograph. He spent the entire time trying to take the sweater off. Why? Who knows, I don't and he can't explain yet being just two and a half. I don't think he was too hot although his cheeks are very rosy in the photo.
This weekend I'll try again--it really is a nice sweater and I'd like to show it off. If he refuses to wear it I'll photo it by itself and then what...off to the bag of handmedowns for my nephew? Let's hope not quite yet.
But that's the nice thing about knitting, there's so much satisfaction in the project itself that wearing it, or watching him wear it is only one aspect. Is the wearing only an after thought?
Well... no, I really want him to wear it! And, it's cold and he needs a sweater!
More entries to come with other projects I've been working on this fall and early winter.