Fuck.
My plan was to knit a couple of pairs of Fetching for various people. It’s super cute, looks complicated (to the untrained eye), and is fast. Last year I knit up a couple of pairs and the recipients seemed to really appreciate them.
A couple of days ago, I found a baggie in my stash with one Fetching done, and the other on the needles. I vaguely remembered starting them around Christmas last year. I was happy to find them, because I could just use the same pair of needles and all would be good, since I had also bought the same yarn for this year’s pairs. I ended up frogging it because I noticed that at one point, I had dropped a stitch.
I started a pair with the needles and after about 5 rows, I tried it on. The one I had from last year had a nice, snug fit. This one is HUGE. Like, a loose bracelet. The pattern calls for a size 6 needle and I was already using a size 4. As you know, I’ve had gauge issues before. I always use a size 0 for my socks. I’ve known that I’m a little loose for some time now. This is a bit ridiculous. And depressing.
It could get so bad, that at some point I won’t be able to knit patterns because I won’t be able to get a needle small enough. Knitting is supposed to be relaxing. It won’t be very relaxing if I have to concentrate to pull my stitches tight all the time. I posted about the problem on Ravelry and it was suggested that I could try holding the working yarn a little differently, to create some tension. I’ll try.
In the meantime, I’ll be swatching a worsted weight on size 2 needles.
Wow, that is some extremely loose gauge. How do you hold your yarn? Do you keep it wrapped around a finger so there’s some tension?
I think the way my yarn comes over my index finger (when knitting continental) is different from the way most people do it. You could try having the yarn come off the opposite side of your index finger.
Comment by Liz — November 20, 2007 @ 1:18 pm |