I have made more gauge swatches for this sweater than I have for any other project. I have discovered the joys of making sweaters that FIT, so now I understand that swatching, no matter how boring, how mundane, is something I should do.
So I did. And I even wet-blocked the swatches.
I am getting gauge with size 4 (instead of 6) wooden needles for the cuff of the sweater, and with size 6 (instead of 8) metal needles for the sleeve itself. Whew.
I have been warned, though, that gauge can change during the course of knitting. Maybe because of the phases of the moon; maybe not enough chocolate; maybe bad hair days vs good hair days? Who knows? So I will keep checking gauge and hope that I can continue getting it correct.
But if all else fails, I will tell myself what I told my daughter when I mailed her sweater off to her:
1. If it's too small, lose weight.
2. If it's too large, gain weight.
3. If it's too short, wear higher shoes.
4. If it's too long, wear flats.
5. (Or 3 and 4 the other way around. I'm not sure.)
Now I do know that numbers 3 and 4 won't actually work, but it's all I've got.
Oh, and for the record, it turns out that UPS does not let you insure packages for a million zillion dollars.
I insured the sweater for something less than that, and I am hoping for the best.
(Please, get the sweater to LA safely, UPS. It will not fit Tom Hanks.)
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