swatch watch...

My super-secret project hasn't been taking up all of my attention. Between my spurts of frustration I have managed to work on swatches for the next two projects that I am planning on taking on. Here's a preview:

This one is for Toledo from Rowan 37. I'm going to knit this along with my friend Anne. She already knows how to knit, but has never made anything larger than a scarf or hat. She's making the same top but in a different color. I think this would be a good project for a novice because there are no sleeves and the stitch pattern is pretty easy to memorize. It's also interesting because the neckline is done with short rows and there is a garter stitch border at the neck and armholes.

I think I'm going to take this project with me when I go to Florida next week. (It's wedding time!) Since the front and back are knit alike, I'm hoping to work through one of the pieces so that I can warn Anne about any tricky spots before she gets to them. So far, Anne has done a swatch. Unfortunately, she didn't get gauge. I'm hoping that going up a needle size will work for her.


Okay, I know this one is rather blurry. I just couldn't get the camera to focus. Anyway, it's a swatch for my first sock! If you go back to my Knit Year Resolutions, you'll see that this is one of the things that I want to accomplish this year. I had bought the yarn back in November, and have been waiting for a good time to start this project.

I'm using the Basic Ribbed Sock pattern from Hipknitism.com. The pattern is actually broken up into little lessons that seem much less intimidating than other patterns. So far, I have cast on and knit about 4 inches of 3x2 ribbing. This is an ideal project to take on the bus because I feel like I get so much done. And, I don't have to worry about whether I can finish a row before I get to my stop! I have about 20 more rounds to work for the leg and then I move on to the lesson that goes over how to turn a heel!