Swatch A Day January 8 Knotted Openwork

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Swatch a day: January 8 Knotted Openwork

Similar pattern to yesterday, just with no complicated purling, which would make it great for socks. Quite stretchy too.

Note to self: find more interesting way to take pictures of swatch and calendar.

Swatch A Day January 7 Crocus Buds

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Swatch a day: January 7 Crocus Buds

Lovely stitch pattern this. Really like the fabric it creates.

Lifting a stitch over two others purlwise all along the row is more difficult than I thought, especially on public transport. I dropped stitches here, there and everywhere in doing this.

This is also a pattern that could really stand heavy blocking. As it was, I had to push it in a little to get it to the same dimensions as day 1.

Swatch A Day January 6 Simple Lace Rib

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Swatch a Day: January 6 Simple Lace Rib

Six days in, and I've managed to start and finish each swatch on the day, which is longer than I thought I'd last.

It's fun though, and I'm learning lots about how stitch patterns affect gauge.

I'm also learning that the occasional twisted knit stitch is okay, but twisted purls are the devil's work.

Swatch A day January 4 ZigZag Openwork

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Swatch a Day: January 4 - Zigzag Openwork

Started on the tube to work.

Continued on the tube home from work.

Finished on the sofa, during an episode of NCIS Season 3.

Nice quick pattern this, with every other row having only half the stitches.

Swatch A Day January 2 Whelk Pattern

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Swatch a Day: January 2 - Whelk Pattern

Some details, for those of you who like that kind of thing.

Yarn: Knit Picks Merino Style Colourways: Asparagus, Storm, Moss, Cinnamon, Pine, Hollyberry Needle: Addi Lace 4mm 60cm No of Cast on Stitches: 25 (fudged with knit stitches at either side if the stitch pattern repeat comes up short) Rows: however many to get the same height as the swatch from day 1 when blocked.

The (self imposed, and therefore liable to change) Rules

Swatch has to be started and finished on the day in question. Ideally, washed and blocked the same day too.

The Plan

Knit as many swatches as I can from the six balls of yarn, hope they come out in a relatively even number, then stitch them together in an afghan, the arrangement of which is yet to be decided.

Swatch A Day January 1 Basket Rib

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Swatch a Day: January 1 - Basket Rib

One of the things I bought when visiting Hill Country Weavers last March was a 365 Knitting Stitches a Year Perpetual Calendar.

I've used it a few times in 2007, mostly as a stitch dictionary, and hadn't really thought about it beyond that, until two days ago, when I was struck with a brilliantstupid idea.

The idea being that I'd knit a swatch, every day, from my perpetual calendar (taking a day off on the 29th of February, because it wasn't made for a leap year), and I'd see how many afghans I could make.

I thought about it a bit more, because I wasn't sure I could commit the time, but then I thought about it even more, and figured what the hell - I'll make the time.

So yesterday, I picked a ball of yarn and a suitable circular needle, sat down and got started. I cast on 25 stitches, knit 40 rows, then cast off. It took me less time than The Simpsons Movie.

Then, in the break between finishing the Simpsons Movie and starting to watch Evil Aliens, I nipped into the bathroom, gave it a wash and blocked it a little, so it could be nice and perky for it's close up, which was taken today (2nd January) at the Royal Festival Hall, where the I Knit group had chosen to have its first outing of the year.