As you may or may not recall, I was knitting a vest for Younger Son (for Christmas, maybe). This vest. I checked my gauge several times while knitting and I was spot on. 14 sts in 4" and I didn't skooch or push to get the gauge. I didn't even smooth it out before measuring, just laid it flat and measured without moving the fabric at all. I thought it looked wide, but then (as I said here) sweaters that are knit all in one piece always look wide to me (and I was getting gauge). Then I washed it.
Length-wise it's perfect. 30" just as specified in the pattern. But width-wise? It's 62", NOT the 51" specified in the pattern. And no, I did not stretch it while blocking. I was trying to make it smaller. I could feel the wool relax when it hit the water. And it bled too. Three rinses and the water was still a bit grey. The only thing I did not do was wash a swatch. But I'm not certain that would have been enlightening. Swatches lie, everyone knows that. Next time I will though, especially when working with 100% wool. Post blocking gauge? 11.5 sts in 4". There is no way I cheated that much when measuring. Gauge, I hate you. The boy will wear it, big as it is. If I was sufficiently motivated I could cut and sew it, but I'm not. I'll sew in the zipper tell him he can wear it over other clothes (all his other clothes, apparently.)
On to other things, I am knitting the JFY7 Mystery KAL. I've never done a mystery KAL before. So far I've been able to keep up with the clues,
I had to brush away the snow for the picture. This is my shawl/whatever it is, and here are the twins.
I've reversed the colors. I'm working from the center and from the outside of the same balls of yarn. It's actually working out very well, no tangles so far. I'm on vacation now through Christmas so I'm hoping I'll have no trouble keeping up.
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