The Fidget in SWS Natural Plum

[silbi]

pattern:
http://www.onesheephill.com/fidget.html
inspired by SpunK:
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=222305.0
my ravelry (can't believe i got an invite so soon!):
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/silbi/the-fidget


Blocking:


by happy chance, the striping came out symmetrical. half of it was from another skein, same dyelot, but there was still a somewhat noticeable difference. the second skein was not as brightly colored. i joined the second skein by spreading out the fibers of each end, overlapping the ends together, and felting by rubbing with my hands. i think it turns out pretty sturdy, albeit a bit felted looking but its not noticeable at all once knitted up. while felting, i try to get the two yarns to spread out a bit so the double layer isnt too thick, which is a problem with joining this way. but no big deal in the end.

With buttons:


one of the skeins had a lot of knots in it. so i just kept undoing the knots and using the above method for joining the ends together.

Action shot:


im pretty glad that i made it wider than the pattern (7.5in x 25in, US 9 needles). the yarn is not as bulky as the suggested so i like how it folds in at the neck for a double layer of squish and warmth.


Does anyone feel the SWS is a bit scratchy?
I washed it with Kookaburra but it didn’t soften up much. Maybe a little hair conditioner will help? Or another brand of wool wash?

[crocodisle]

perfect! i love it.

[DisneyDancer1986]

Does anyone feel the SWS is a bit scratchy?

I've been (slowly) working on the branching out scarf from knitty using SWS and I too find it a tad scratchy now that I've bought a few skeins (gotta love yarn on sale) and knitted it into something. I'm about 1/2 way done, but haven't worked on it lately b/c the weather in Cincy has been crazy! It's freezing one day and almost 60 the next so I haven't felt much of a need to work on it except to free one of my denise cords and needles... If you find a way that makes it softer, could you let me know? Please please please please pleeeease?

[silbi]

thanks crocodisle!

disneydancer, i might be getting my hands on some eucalan soon so i'll see if that works. then after that, ill try the conditioner. so hard to get proper woolwash since they are made in canada mostly and i refuse to pay shipping for heaving bottles of liquid. ugh =/

[tinytallgirl]

Lovely fidget!!!

I made a danica scarf in SWS and find it awfully bitey.   I'm going to give it a shot and block it with SOAK.  I'll let you know how that turns out.  It's a shame when the colors are gorgeous and the fibers are bitey.

[SpunK]

i like the stripes!
sws is a beast!!!!!  try soaking it in shampoo and a few tablespoons of vinegar if you don't have any woolwash laying around.
it works just as well.

[CrafterInIL]

Lovely!  I've taken to soaking slightly scratchy wool with a squirt of hair conditioner and it's worked well.  Haven't tried with SWS, but it's worth a shot.

[betty bat]

I just finished a Fidget (my first) using some yarn that a friend gave me (part of her late mother's stash).  I made mine about 5 inches wide (21 stitches) and 23 inches long.  In retrospect, 5 inches is a little wide for me and I would make a narrower one next time.

And, I did something dumb - I'm mentioning this in the hopes that I will stop someone else from doing the same.  I sewed the buttons on the wrong side because I wasn't paying attention to crossing "left over right" vs. "right over left".  Next time, I will look in the mirror BEFORE I sew the buttons on!

Seriously, it's a very nice, easy, satisfying pattern.  And, yours looks very good.  And, I like your buttons.

[silbi]

thanks betty bat! its very interesting how 5 inches is too wide for some people and too narrow for others. mine does hang a little looser around my neck, but i like how it tucks in by the chin. i basically eyeballed it and got lucky. There must be a reason the pattern wants it 4 inches wide though...it probably works for more people.

and i totally know what you mean about the button placement! i had the exact same thought about putting the buttons on the wrong side...and i was even thinking about how women's and men's shirts have buttons on opposite sides. so i looked at the pattern site and saw that she had both left crossing and right crossing fidgets for sale. so i just made sure it felt right for me and went with it! i would definitely test it around your own neck before sewing the buttons on. its a simple thing but very easy to overlook, especially on a gratifyingly quick knit as this one.

[betty bat]

Thanks to you, also, Silbi.  The appropriate width is probably also dependent on the type of yarn (mine wasn't that drape-y) and unfortunately, the size of your neck!

The good part is that they knit up so quickly that you can afford to try different options.