Swatching for gauge and colour variations, plus practise of corrugated ribbing and steeking.
The lower third of colourwork section will use Ardlui in place of Gloamin.
The middle third will use the colours as given in the pattern.
The top third will use Buckthorn in place of Gloamin.
Corrugated ribbing worked in two passes: first the coloured knit stitches, then the background purl stitches.
So far as I can measure while the swatch is still on the needle, my plain stockingette gauge is pretty much spot on using 3.25mm needles.
02-08-2018
Swatch finished, steeked, blocked and dried. Made a huge error in stretching it widthways when wet - I really shouldn’t have done this as I think I’ve thrown the gauge out! I unpinned it within an hour but I think I’ve still distorted the results …
Gauge: Bottom ribbing worked on 3.00mm, and bottom stockingette on 3.25mm. Colourwork on 3.25mm, top stockingette on 3.00 and top ribbing on 2.75. Gauge slightly out: 26sts /37 rows on the colourwork, 27/36 on the top stockingette and ribbing.
Colour variations: The original colours from the pattern are the clear winner for me. The Ardlui is lovely but doesn’t give sufficient contrast, whereas the Buckthorn is over dominant.
I’m going to swatch for Strathendrick before deciding which pattern to buy wool for. This should also help give a better idea about my gauge in Milarrochy Tweed. And this time I won’t distort the swatch!
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