Swatch Sunday

I seem to be starting a new tradition: Swatch Sunday.

I finally dug out the skein of Bergère de France Berlaine to swatch for the Cabled V-Neck Sweater. This wasn't easy since the pattern didn't really tell me what to knit. All it offers is a grid that says that each swatch should be 31 stitches and 31 rows in a 4inch square using size 3.5mm needles for all cable patterns.

My question: what exactly do I put on those squares?

Back when I was considering making a yarn substitution, I posted for help on the Knitty Board. Kristina took pity on me, and helped me sort out precisely what to knit to make my swatches. Kristina, thank you thank you thank you for your help!

So, I started with the "wide cable" that runs down the middle of the sweater. Working from the center, I figured out which 31 stitches I'd need, and then I knit the first swatch. The other two cables are near each other in the pattern, and they fit on the second swatch easily.

Using the recommended needles and yarn, I think I've got the right gauge. Hopefully. I didn't have to tug or smoosh the swatches to make the 4inch square, so seems good to me.

The Berlaine

Since I'd never seen or touched Berlaine before, you'll recall that I bought the skein to try it out. I was worried that the 100% wool yarn would be too old school, you know coarse and itchy. It is coarser than all the froo froo yarns we're spoiled with these days. Of course, it's also less expensive by about half.

Many of you suggested that the Berlaine might soften after washing. It did, but not a lot. Still, I really like the stitch definition, especially for the cables. Perhaps there's a trade off to be made here: cables that pop verses smooshy cables that flatten out. So, I checked out my two store-bought cabled sweaters and sure enough, the yarn's a bit rough.

So, I'm going to go for it, but I'm on the fence about the color. Traditional aran sweaters are cream colored, but I cannot be trusted with whites, and they wash me out anyway. I didn't even wear a white or cream wedding dress because I looked like a corpse in everything I tried on.

I definitely don't like the steely purple for me, and I'm wondering if dark colors would swallow the pattern. Then again, a charcoal could be nice, but Berlaine only comes in true black. B suggested a nice dark blue, but I have trouble pairing dark blue tops with skirts or pants. My brain only sees that color with jeans, something I don't wear too much. Berlaine also comes in a nice dark brown. That might go with a lot of my clothes.

What do you think of a light blue that's only just a step away from grey? Will that be too precious? Aaaah I can't decide!

Must Practice. Get Better.

I've decided that I need to work on my ribbing before I start this sweater. I didn't bother to take a photo of the ribbed swatch, partly because it's just rib and partly because it's particularly malformed. Trust me, my ribs are nothing short of spastic.

I could probably stand to work on my cable skills too. So expect some sort of cabled scarf from me this Fall as I attempt to clean up my technique. When I've mastered the scarf only then will I knit the Cabled V. I just can't display so many wonky stitches on the front of my body. Nope. Nope. Nope.

Comments

[becky]

Those cables look nice. I like the thinner ones on the 2nd swatch the best. I pulled out the 60" addis for another go at the 2 socks with a magic loop. I"m getting closer.

[Elinor]

It's funny you wrote about what to swatch because I'm dealing with the same problem. I know the most accurate swatch would be, say, a sleeve but I'm too lazy to invest all that time...

You could try knitting through the back for ribbing. It might make things a bit more crisp.

[Heather]

Hey sister---why not try a green? And the Irish Hiking scarf would be a great pre-sweater project, although I find that scarves generally take forever. Maybe the new cabled hat sans pom pom in the Fall IK? Have you tried cabling w/o a cable needle yet? Grumperina has a great tutorial as does Letsknit2gether (video!).

[Jessica]

The swatches look beautiful! I think the yarn definitely works well with the cables. As for color, I think the blue-almost-grey sounds good, but you have to realize who's writing this. ;)

[Josie]

Your swatches look lovely! They're totally not helping this itch I have to knit an aran *right now*.

I can't wear white, either, and have been quite happy with my dark-coloured cabled sweaters. If it was me, I'd go with the nice, dark brown. It always seems that choosing a colour is the slowest - and most important - part of starting a project for me!

[Jeannie]

Pretty swatches. I think the cables look fine, but I'm not a cable expert either. I've made cabled sweater with a dark blue yarn and I wear it with tan/khaki pants. I think the dark brown sounds would make a very pretty sweater that can go with a lot of things.

[KelInCal]

It's going to be a beautiful sweater - your cables look great! I practiced my cabling with the Irish Hiking Scarf and Grumperina's Sharfik (which isn't even done...). I would choose the dark brown, myself - it just seems to go with the natural vibe of the pattern (and because I like brown!).

[Jennifer]

Pretty swatch! I don't know your coloring, but I have some of the issues you have with cream and white. When I made an Aran sweater for myself, I used a camel color. I've also had my eye on a golden color that I saw in an Alice Starmore book. The truly dark colors swallow up the detail of the cable work making it much more difficult to knit and later, to appreciate.

[Jean]

I think the swatches look fantastic. As far as picking a color, I say choose any color which flatters your face and that you'll enjoy staring at while you work on the sweater. I find under those circumstances, I'm more likely to finish the project and wear it when it's done.

[schrodinger]

Loving the cables. I'm thinking you should choose a colour that makes you happy, so you'll not just love knitting it, but wearing it too.

[tiennie]

Gorgeous swatches on that yarn! Pick a color that you love!

[Valerie]

Tradition, schmadition--you knit whateva you want, right? You like that light blue? Do it.

I think your cables look fantastic.

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