I've decided while I can't write about everything, there are some bits of my Mystery Project that I can discuss. Especially in the early stages. I've already said that it's a commission for Classic Elite, and that it's going to be fulled.

Here is my first set of swatches:



That's a lot of swatches!

I'm using CE Renaissance. It's a 100% wool worsted weight yarn. It's got quite a bit of loft due to it's three-ply construction, and the maker's gauge is expressed in a range - from 5spi on US#7 (4.5mm) to 4.5spi on US #8 (5mm). My direction is to make a very firm fulled fabric, so I've made three garter stitch swatches from double strand and two garter stitch swatches from single strand. Here are the pre-wash specs:

Swatch 1: Double strand, knit on US #10.5, 3.75 spi, 8 rpi. 15 stitches cast on. Total dimension: 12mm wide x 10mm long.

Swatch 2: Double strand, knit on US #11, 3 spi, 6 rpi. 15 stitches cast on. Total dimension: 13.5mm wide x 11mm long.

Swatch 3: Double strand, knit on US #13, 2.75 spi, 5 rpi. 15 stitches cast on. Total dimension: 14.5mm x 12mm long

Swatch 4: Single strand, knit on US #10, 4 spi, 9 rpi. 18 stitches cast on. Total dimension: 12.5mm wide x 10mm long.

Swatch 5: Single strand, knit on US #9, 4.2 spi, 10 rip. 18 stitches cast on. Total dimension: 13mm wide x 9mm long

Although I used up a whole skein plus part of another in swatching, it's worth it. Note that I've got not quite a straight progression, but enough of a gauge and texture difference to make the experiment worthwhile. The plan is now to full these as much as possible, then compare the final dimension with the pre-wash measurements. That will allow me to figure out what my knitted dimensions need to be to achieve a post-full target measurement. I'll also get to see how both row and stitch measurements change (important as knitting does not shrink uniformly in both dimensions. I'll also find out which of my gauges produces the best fulled fabric for my purpose. Washing will happen later this week. Stay tuned!

How do I know which swatch is which? See those knots in the cast-on tails? That's how they're numbered. With luck those knots will still be discernible after fulling.