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Remember this post from last winter? Scroll down. No, farther down…to the blue Reunion Cowl (pattern: Natalie Selles)
Now, I love that Cowl, but really it was more of a residence than a garment. It is HUGE! Cozy. Warm. But HUGE!
This summer I set out to knit one that was the correct size.
And got this:
And look! It doesn’t touch my knees when I unwrap it!
Exactly how much bigger was the blue one? This much bigger:
Both used the same yarn, Merino Cashmere…and interestingly enough, both used almost the same amount: 2.5 skeins. The red one is definitely denser and more solid.
(by the way, this yarn is OMG SO SOFT! and warm and cozy…)
So what made the difference? Gauge. With the blue one, my gauge was off by 1/4 of a stitch. ONE QUARTER of a freaking stitch. (times several hundred stitches…well, clearly it makes a difference)
Moral? Knit a fucking gauge swatch.
That’s amazing! I knew that gauge would make a big difference in the final product, but I never would have guessed that both cowls used the exact same amount of yarn. It’s good to know that a looser gauge can help make a yarn “go” further.
Fascinating investigation, Kim, thanks!
Just the thought of knitting a guage swatch makes my skin crawl!!
Yeah, but you know those gauge swatches lie, anyway!
They can…unless you firmly beat them into submission beforehand.
the second pic is so you.
very nice cowls (even the biggie). 
gorgeous sweater, too.
Beauties, both. (And I love the appropriate swearing because I’m about to go to the land of uber polite knitting….bleck.)