the elusive search

well, i am on to the next step.

up to now i was an accessories knitter...shawls, scarves, items where gauge did not matter, except for a pair of socks that are still on the needles after 4 months. but i have taken the big leap. i am making myself a shell. which means i have to be on gauge. which is being a bit elusive.

the pattern says, 5 stitches to the inch on size us5 needles; the yarn says, 5 stitches to the inch on size us5 needles; the swatch says 7 1/4 stitches to the inch on size us5 needles! oy vey! so i try size us6 needles, size us4 needles (what was i thinking!), size us7, the list goes on. but at size us9 i may be getting it. the swatch is more relaxed, it drapes a bit differently, it is not quite as uptight as it was at size us5.

so i may find 5 stitches to the inch fairly soon. until then, i think i'll knit a nice shawl.