Hand on heart: Do you do a swatch before every new piece of knitting? Or do you - like me for many years - not feel like investing time and yarn in a knitted square that will only slow you down and that you can't seem to do anything with later?
I personally was usually too impatient and preferred to knit straight away. True to the motto "It'll fit". It's just annoying that this was often not the case. So much effort for a jumper that turned out too small... In the end, I learnt from my experiences and am now one of the lucky ones who knit their samples in an exemplary manner.
And now I really enjoy doing it. For one thing, I've learnt to appreciate the benefits of knitting a swatch: it's really helpful to be able to assess your own knitting style. And trying out yarn and patterns in advance is fun and gives you the certainty that the yarn consumption and fit will turn out as expected in the end. (If you want to find out more about how to do a gauge swatch, you can read our Wissenswert article about it). On the other hand, I have realised over time that there are many beautiful ways to use the stitch samples beyond their actual purpose. And that made the topic even sweeter for me.
The stitch sample archive
In the meantime, I've got into the habit of labelling my stitch samples after washing and stretching them. I write down all the important information about the yarn used, the needles, the knitting instructions or the pattern on a small card. And, of course, the number of stitches and rows per 10 cm. I attach these notes together with the label of the yarn to my stitch sample. This is how I preserve the knowledge I have gained and then collect it together with the other stitch samples in a nice box. A real little treasure!
Over time, I have found my favourite yarns, which I knit again and again, and also patterns that I particularly like. For example, there is a children's jumper, the Anker's Sweater from PetiteKnit, which I knit repeatedly in different colours and ever larger sizes for my children with the Lovely Merino Treat. So once I have the right gauge for this design, I can reuse it and get straight down to the actual knitting fun with the next children's jumpers. Over the years, I have accumulated a few stitch samples. The stockinette stitch ones in particular are worth their weight in gold - because that's how I knit most often. They give me a good idea of which yarn and needle size I can use to achieve the desired stitch sample for a design. I can also see whether the yarn recommended in the instructions can be replaced with another yarn that I have on hand. In many cases, I don't have to make a new swatch and can choose my yarn freely and flexibly.
Stitch samples make children's hearts beat faster
When I'm not taking good care of my treasure chest, however, my stitch samples sometimes disappear into the children's room. Because the miniature knitted pieces fit perfectly into any imaginative play world. They have already been used as small mattresses and blankets for dolls and embellish every home as small rugs - whether for wooden figures or Duplo men.
And my daughter really enjoys using the little knitted pieces in play as clothing of all kinds. It is particularly helpful if the beginning and end threads are not sewn, as this makes it possible to create interesting wrap looks and tie dresses. One morning in November, I watched her re-enact the story of Saint Martin: a blackberry sorbet-coloured stitch sample served as a warming cloak for the good-natured horseman. It's a good thing she didn't go quite so far as to cut the stitch sample in two.
Decorative items made from stitch samples
But we grown-ups can also get creative with our stitch samples. The samples in particularly beautiful lace, cable or textured patterns can be used wonderfully for decorative purposes. My lovely colleague Katja gave me the idea of stretching stitch samples in an embroidery hoop to create a unique little work of art. She was kind enough to lend me the stitch samples for it - they came from her jumper Let it Fall. It's a good thing that her stitch sample didn't fit straight away, because I ended up with two pieces in the same lace pattern for my little decorative project. And it occurred to me that a simple picture frame can also perfectly showcase knitted beauties. So I pulled a thread through the outer edges of the two stitch samples and stretched them over the inner ring of the embroidery hoop and the glass pane of the picture frame. Fastened with a knot at the back - and the little craft was finished.
I also particularly liked the arrangement: the two knitted pictures, a little colour in the vase and my favourite knitted armchair corner had a whole new look. The icing on the cake was the little plate of chocolate on another cable stitch sample. It's like a knitted version of the crocheted doily - only much fresher, in my opinion. I really enjoyed this cosy and stylish little plate and am reluctant to return the beautiful stitch samples. I should probably try my hand at lace knitting again - if only because of the beautiful stitch sample.
