« That $2.56 a gallon looks good about now. | Main | I met Annie Modesitt! Oh, and learned to cable, too! »
April 10, 2005
Help for the clueless? Anyone? Bueller?
My swatch is completed, though with the amount of imbibing that went on around here last night I am as shocked as you are. By the way, it was all Jennifer. What a boozer! (Ha!)
So, I have a question. When you're knitting a swatch and measuring the gauge for your Mystery Knitted Cat Thingamajig, and you have two stitches per inch plus a smidge, do you just say it's two stitches? or do you have to add in a percentage, like 2.1 or something?
My swatch, resting on Britney's bikini-clad self:
And a close-up:
Also, Do you want to know what an AMAZING and TALENTED hostess I am? Oh please. You doubters! So, I decided to have a little dinner thing at my house last night, and this time I thought I should actually make dinner. (See: serving your guests potato chips as a main course.) And for whatever reason, this dinner seemed like a completely achievable idea. Perhaps it was the wine talking. We may never know.
There's so much an AMAZING hostess must do. First, one must go to the grocery store. The real grocery store, you know, not the 7-11 (shutup, you HAVE TOO bought groceries at 7-11.) And then you have to stray from the frozen foods aisle. Then you come home, and whip up a little masterpiece, I called mine "meatloaf."
Only, something went wrong. Perhaps it was around the time I totally forgot I was making dinner and sat on the patio just chatting and drinking and so on.
Now, I present to you our main course:
And you know what I served with it? Potato Buds. And Bud Light. And you know how classy I am? I served in on paper plates. (That's klassy with a "k" if you know what I mean.) But I have good friends who don't mind my cooking, once you get 'em liquored up enough:
Still life with Jen, paper plate, and meatloaf.
Thanks in advance for the gauge help, ya'll. How can I repay you? Oh, I know! Want some leftover meatloaf? I think if you put ketchup on it it'll be just great. Or maybe if you have a beer first that would help. Ahem.
Posted by laurie at April 10, 2005 04:27 PM
Comments
Sign me up for some leftover meatloaf. Nothing is as good as a cold meatloaf sandwich with Mayo and Ketchup.
Posted by: Knitlette at April 10, 2005 04:30 PM
Count the number of stitches over 4 inches, that'll probably be more accurate (maybe the smidges will add up to another whole stitch!) because even though it might be just a little bit now, if the project is big enough it does make a difference.
Posted by: Katherine at April 10, 2005 04:40 PM
Looks like 2.25 sts/in to me. On something knit at 2 stitches/inch, this could add up to some funky sizing if you round down. Then again, kitties don't tend to quibble too much about these things--either they like it or they don't.
I'll take the beer, but you can keep the meatloaf, I have to go on a diet.
Posted by: Anmiryam at April 10, 2005 05:34 PM
Definitely count the fraction. It won't be such a big deal on cat thingy but for a sweater 2 sts vs 2.25 sts would lead to very different sizes.
Posted by: Lauren at April 10, 2005 06:18 PM
Did you notice that Jen looks like she's 15 in that picture? She'll probably be mad at me for saying that, but hey she's freaking out about being "almost 30" so she should take it as a compliment.
Posted by: Penny at April 10, 2005 06:36 PM
Definitely must count the smidge! Example: you get 2.25 st/inch when it's supposed to be 2 st/inch, so you it's close enough and round down to 2 st/inch. You want to cast on let's say 20" of stitches, and 20 inches at 2 st/inch is 40 st, but since you're really 2.25 st/inch, 40 st means you've only cast on 17.78". The difference magnifies as you cast on longer stretches, natch. And heck - can't ruin meatloaf - just scrape off any burned parts, and you're good to go.
Posted by: June at April 10, 2005 07:56 PM
See, and this is why I'm a bad knitter, because I was all, eh, two inches, close enough, who cares. I stand chastised.
Posted by: Ashley at April 10, 2005 08:24 PM
Ok, I measured over four inches and ended up with 9.5 stitches. So ya'll were completely right, since my project is semi-large in girth and the smidges would have added up to several stitches in time. (Stitches in time! ha!) Thank you all so much for the advice, except for Ashley. Har har. (Although notice I am goofing on Ashley, who just got toe-up with some gorgeous socks, when I myself can barely knit a swatch. Yup.)
Penny!!!! (penny's is jennifer's sister) you found my blog. I'm so pleased. Oh... don't tell your mom I use swear words.
Posted by: laurie at April 10, 2005 08:56 PM
I can't believe I see the BAD CAT book on your table. Every time I go to Knit NIght and Barnes and Noble I ALMOST buy it. I'll have to get it next time-I can't resist it any longer. Jane
Posted by: jane at April 11, 2005 03:03 AM
Hi Laurie! Others have already said what I was gonna say, but love your blog.
Posted by: claudia at April 11, 2005 06:10 AM
Mmmmm. Meatloaf. I had a genious idea recently and made mini meatloafs. I made them in a muffin pan. They cook faster and they are so cute.
Posted by: Crystal at April 11, 2005 07:07 AM
Yeah, but did I swatch for those socks? No I did not.
Muffin-meatloafs sounds like genius.
Posted by: Ashley at April 11, 2005 07:13 AM
Ohhh! When MY Jen comes over to stalk you with beer, feed her meatloaf too. It's her fave!
Posted by: La at April 11, 2005 09:12 AM
All meatloaf is better with a bit of ketsup - or a lot of gravey. But never both ketsup and gravey ... that is just crazy.
Posted by: Brad at April 11, 2005 12:32 PM
Hey, I noticed the book too -- glad I'm not the only one checking out the stuff on your coffee table. So, is it any good? Keeps coming up on my Amazaon suggestions list! :)
Posted by: jena at April 13, 2005 11:27 AM
