Episode 74: Make it work

Episode 74: Make it work

This week we talk about making a pattern work for you in a number of ways, then we say a few words about what we're up to and why.

Working a pattern

You have a pattern that you love and a yarn that you love, but they don't match! How can you make it work?

• Scrap the match. In this case, you can just start from scratch. Browse Ravelry for patterns that match the yarn or if you are in a spending mood find a yarn that matches the pattern.
• If you really like the pattern there is probably another pattern similar but in your gauge. Ravelry is fantastic for that--use the advanced pattern search function and you will find something.
• Do some math. For some patterns this is easier to do than for others. If you are making a scarf (see Nicole's Alhambra) then the gauge is not essential, but if you are making a sweater that's a different story.
  • For a scarf a simple algebraic equation should work. If the original scarf was knit at 24st/4 inches with a cast on of 48st, but your gauge is 20st/4 inches then you can use this formula: your gauge/original gauge=your cast on/original cast on. In this case 20/24=x/48 or 24x=960, giving you x=40 st cast on
  • You can do this with a sweater and the equation is the same, you just need to do it more often for the various cast-ons, increases, and decreases.
• Start from scratch. 
  • Custom Knits
  • Handy Book of Sweater Patterns
  • Big Girl Knits
  • Knitting from the Top Down
• Some work arounds
  • Play with your gauge
  • Take out a few stitches
  • Add ribbing at the sides

Poutine
Jeff Lemire
Mesilla
Schacht Flip Loom

Winners
Knitting sampler: ErinAmelia
Spinning sampler: Adrienne

Music
U-Dot, Continental
Learn to Surf (acoustic demo), Superchunk

Comments

[erinamelia]

I cannot believe how hot it was today. And it's supposed to rain all weekend? Not fair, weather gods. Not fair.

[Gaidig]

I believe the 75th anniversary is the diamond anniversary.

[Leslie]

Thanks for the episode! Even though I haven't made anything from it yet, I love Custom Knits! :)

[Nadia Lewis]

The perfect one skein Silk Garden Sock project is what I'm making right now: a Clap scarflet! Just three inc sections and knit till you run out of yarn.

I was in Knit Purl last weekend and I had to buy the peacock Shibui too! That one and the Sky colour just blew me away -- they frakkin' glow! I'm thinkin' of making the Trasition Gloves with them since *all* of the Rav projects look amazing. Oops -- am I feeding your ravstalking addiction? ;P

[Ariel Luria]

You guys totally made me crave the Canadian french fries with gravy. Yum!!!!!!! I miss Canada! But I'm always glad when there's a new SnB podcast on! I can't get enough.