Hello
I have a gauge swatch in light grey which I used to work out the stitch count for the front panel of my sweater (half fishermans rib). I knitted up the front panel in dark grey. Same needles, yarn, stitch pattern, both washed and dried the same way.
The dark grey panel has come out narrower than expected and the stitch pattern didn’t open up as much as the swatch when I washed and dried it.
I haven’t seen big differences between dyed yarns with the exception of bleached white yarn. Country of origin the same for both colors of the same yarn? Which yarn is it?
Fisherman’s rib and brioche produce very stretchy knit fabrics that can loosen up too much with wearing and washing. Still you need the main yarn (the dark grey?) to produce a garment that fits regardless of the swatch.
It’s the same yarn just a different colour. It’s James Brett, called second chance, a recycled acrylic. All bought at the same time same place etc. They feel the same working with the two colours.
I experienced difference colours working up differently a few years back with a striped sweater, the dark blue was stiffer and tighter and the yellow softer and looser, the mid colours were in-between, that sweater turned out fine as the stripes went right across the width (that was all one brand/type too).
With this I have central panel up the front of the sweater and it will be seamed to the colour work pieces I’ve made in the 2 shades of grey.
I did at one point tack it all together, the back and sides with font and one sleeve. It felt more snug than I planned on and it’s down to the width of this central panel.
I only washed the swatch and the central panel once.
The swatch wasn18sts to 10cm before washing and hen 16 sts to 10cm after washing. The panel has come out at 18 sts after washing.
I’ve started to rip it out. 200 rows, oh my. And I’ll increase the stitch count based on the18 st gauge instead of the 16 sts.
I’m completly stumped by it.
I did think it looked narrow when knitting it but with it being half fisherman’s rib I just kept telling myself it would be correct after washing and would open out, I’d done the swatch after all.
My swatch has fewer stitches and is just as wide as my main piece which as more. Very odd.
It sounds like you did all the right things in preparation but too small is too small. Sadly, the best thing to do is take it out, as you are doing. The why is a mystery.
I have had trouble with yarn from Cascade that was sourced in Asia so I tend to avoid that source.
You might check the labels to see country of origin? As @salmonmac mentions, Cascade had (has?) an issue with yarns sourced or spun in Asia. You could get what seemed to be the same exact yarn, but the Asian yarn behaved differently than yarn from Peru.
That doesn’t help avoid frogging and redoing that front panel, but at least it isn’t the entire sweater!
Right, I see.
I’ve checked and both colours are made under license in Turkey for the English company. Not Asian then, and not two different countries producing the yarn.
My arms are aching from winding the yarn.
The second kjit should end up a work able size- I hope! I have calculated based on the dark grey yarn gauge and also added another 2 cm on to the width. I might wash and dry when it’s 50 or 100 rows rather than waiting to 200 rows to check it will benok. Feels like guess work.
Well, it’s an easy relaxing knit, just a straight rectangle.
Thanks for the input, I have learned that yarns can be made in different places without being obviously so.
I wonder if before knitting this piece again you might want to try larger size needles for a swatch. The difference in appearance is why I suggest you think about it.
Thanks for looking and for the suggestion.
I’m happy with the row gauge as it works with the colourwork I’m seaming it to, it’s 2 rows of half fisherman’s (or 1 long stitch) to 1 row of colourwork and it also fits well with the rib hem which is 2 rib rows to 1 fishemans row. I’m in a sweet spot for seaming the various row gauges.
