S20C 409120813151

Szoatching Information

You read this in every knitting book: Make a swatch!

Swatrhes are maps—littie microcosms of what will happen in the big knil piclure. It is always importanl lo make a swatch, even if you use the exact iiber called for in the instruclions. Wc all havc different hands and knit willi various tensions.

Follow ihc swatdiing standard to dclcrmine gauge: If your swatrh measures smallcr ihat whats given in the gauge rccommendatiun, move up a needlc size. If your swatch is larger, move down a nccdle size. Remember Ihal, as a generał rule, a fairly luuse hand is usually best for felted knitting. Having a littie morc space around each stitch allows for a morę fused finished f a brie. Don't hcsitale to adjust needle size to obtain gauge.

Morę importantly, because most of llic pieees in this book cali for felting the finished knil, it is imperative to fell the swatch, following the detailed instructions in the Appendix (page 11S). All swatch intormation listed in the materials is given in pretelt-ing measurcments. The swatch is meant to help you recognize the eharacteristics of your fiber, especially if you are felting. Pay attention to (and make notes on) ho w long you ieit the swatch, the number of sessions in the washing machino ueeded to $uc-cessfully transform the swatch, and how it changes after drying. Tliis Information will be helpful to you when you make the fuli garment. Post-felting measurcments for swatches are not given, because so many factors will determinc how your work felts, including the hardness of your water, water temperaturę, the detergent uscd, and, of course, the fibers in play.

4

Exploring shibori is an adventurous journey.

i utrudzili jon    15