SWATCH MAKE-ALONG!

   Every year for Earth Day, I work on a project that helps promote recycling and repurposing through the fiber arts lens. Last year was about saving scrap yarn ort jars (of which my collection has grown tremendously this year), and the year before I walked you through the steps of recycling old clothing like jeans into usable rope and yarn. This year I wanted to step further into the realm of wearable pieces. I racked my brain thinking of just how to best incorporate my designs into a sustainable and repurposed project, and inspiration struck in an unlikely place. My eyes fell on a Freddie Kreuger inspired outfit worn by Crystal Methyd of RuPaul’s Drag Race fame, and I knew what had to be done. In an instant, SWATCH, and the #SWATCHMAL was born! That’s right, get ready for a Make-along with great prizes!

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The premise is simple enough, pin together all your knit and crochet swatches that you’ve been hoarding over the years into a wearable and eye-catching garment. Think of it as a reward for all your hard work doing the right thing and swatching for pieces, even when you couldn’t be bothered. For those of you who don’t swatch, no day but today! It’s never too late to start. 

    I have laid out the process I’ve used to create my pullover; SWATCH. The only knitting or crocheting required for this project is for the neck, arm, and waistbands to give the piece its finishing touches, and those free patterns are found down below as well! Now that we all are up to speed on the creation, what about the Make-along?

The #SWATCHMAL starts today, April 22, 2020 and runs through Midnight on May 22, 2020. Rules are simple: 

• Make a garment out of handmade fiberarts swatches, be it knit, crochet, weaving or something else entirely (use your discretion as to what qualifies). 
• You may use my actual pullover pattern and guide, or let your imagination run wild. Any garment is acceptable. be it a tank top, cardigan, pullover, pants, or ballgown. Especially ballgown. 
• Post it on Instagram under the #SWATCHMAL hashtag. Be sure to tag and @ me (@portquoelio) so you know I’ve seen it! 
• That’s it! Feel free to post as many photos, and create as many pieces as you’d like. Each finished Garment counts as one entry in the Giveaway.

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Two prizes will be awarded:

One prize package, including a DK weight skein of yarn provided by Moontower Dyeworks, knitwit/hooker pin from QUOE, and digital pattern of the winner’s choice,  will be given to my personal favorite SWATCH garment. I am looking for creativity in the actual garment, as well as creativity in the photography of the finished piece. 

One prize package of either an Amour Crochet Hook set, or Takumi Bamboo Needle set provided by Clover Needlecraft will be drawn at random from the finished objects under the #SWATCHMAL hashtag. The drawing will take place the Saturday following the end of the MAL on my Instagram Stories using a random number generator. 

Be sure to have your Instagram settings off private to participate, as I am unable to view private posts that use the hashtag. By participating in the MAL, you are agreeing to allow me to repost your photos on my Instagram Stories or Feed with credits to you.

Special thanks goes to Moontower Dyeworks and Clover Needlecraft for providing wonderful prizes! And as always a huge thank you to my photographer and personal friend Michael Croteau for the project photos that we knocked out of the park!

​Now SWATCH!!!

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Knit and Crochet:
Width of Bands = 1.5’’
Circumference of Bands:
Cuff- 9.5’’ (10, 10, 10.5, 11.5, 11.5, 12, 12.5)
Neck- 21’’ (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
Waist- 36’’ (40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64)

MATERIALS AND TOOLS

• Sample uses 1 skein Knit Picks Swish Bulky (bulky weight, 100% Fine Superwash Merino Wool; 137 yards/100g) 
• Crochet hook: K/10½ (6.5mm) or size to obtain gauge
• Knitting Needles: US 11 (8 mm) 24’’ circulars and DPNs or size to obtain gauge
• Yarn needle
• Safety pins (300+), locking stitch markers, or additional yarns for seaming

BLOCKED GAUGES
Crochet: 5 stitches = 1.5’’, 12 rows= 4’’
Knitting: 12 stitches= 4’’, 5 rounds= 1.5’’

INSTRUCTIONS

Crochet: 
Cuff 
Chain 5, turn.
Row 1: Ch 1, sc across, turn. 5 sts
Rows 2-28 (30, 30, 32, 34, 34, 36, 38): Ch 1, sc blo in next 4 sts, sc 1, turn.
Fasten off, leaving 4’’ tail. Whipstitch ends together and weave in ends

Neck
Chain 5, turn.
Row 1: Ch 1, sc across, turn. 5 sts
Rows 2-64 (66, 70, 72, 76, 78, 80, 84): Ch 1, sc blo in next 4 sts, sc 1, turn.
Fasten off, leaving 4’’ tail. Whipstitch ends together and weave in ends

Waist
Chain 5, turn.
Row 1: Ch 1, sc across, turn. 5 sts
Rows 2-108 (120, 132, 144, 156, 168, 180, 192): Ch 1, sc blo in next 4 sts, sc 1, turn.
Fasten off, leaving 4’’ tail. Whipstitch ends together and weave in ends

Knitting: 
Cuff 
Cast on 28 (30, 30, 32, 34, 34, 36, 38) sts in the round. 
Rounds 1-5: K 1, P 1 to end of round. 
Bind off, weave in ends. 

Neck
Cast on 64 (66, 70, 72, 76, 78, 80, 84) sts in the round. 
Rounds 1-5: K 1, P 1 to end of round. 
Bind off, weave in ends. 

Waist
Cast on 108 (120, 132, 144, 156, 168, 180, 192) sts in the round. 
Rounds 1-5: K 1, P 1 to end of round. 
Bind off, weave in ends. 

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Joining Sweater:
There are a few different ways in which you can join a SWATCH sweater. You will start by laying out swatches on a flat surface to your general measurements in a jigsaw formation. Forming the front, back, and two sleeves in pieces, then joining those pieces together is the simplest way to do this, however you may find that placing pieces around a dress form is easier if one is available. The stretch and give of crochet and knit fabric allows it to have more room for shaping to its required measurements. Look to the provided schematic for a general guide. Do not forget to add the bands you have created along the outer raw edges. Once the swatches are placed in the general area of where you like them, move on to joining. Here are the three I have found that works the best.

Pins- As my personal favorite, this is the most punk-rock and intuitive of the joins.  All you need to do is pin all the correctly placed swatches together. Traditional safety pins work great, however my favorite are 'bulb' (sometimes referred to as gourd) safety pins. These can be found online in shops like Amazon in bulk. I recommend getting a pack of 1000. You can never have too many safety pins! 

Stitch Markers- Along the same lines as pins, locking stitch markers are also a viable option for securing swatches together. The limits here are accessibility and cost.  Do you have hundreds upon hundreds of locking stitch markers like I do? Great! Go for it! You can always buy more as needed, but pins are the more cost effective option in that case. If you only have a handful, think about using some sparingly, and in strategic areas, like the neck band join.

Seaming- If you don't have either of the two above options in excess, and aren't keen on hunting some down, this is a perfect option! Grab a skein of a high contrast yarn and a yarn needle. Black will look great no matter what, but don't be scared to step out of your comfort zone with garish and bright colors. If there was ever a project to use them, this is the one! Instead of joining swatches by pinning, take your yarn and whip stitch the sides of swatches together. Your whip stitching need not be perfect. Pay no attention to things like stitch length, depth, or how tight they are. Your goal isn't the perfect invisible seam on a sweater you've been working on forever, its to stick some kitschy swatches together and call it FASHION DAHLING!

Using any of these three seaming techniques separately or in tandem, will get you well on your way to your very own SWATCH! I can't wait to see what all of your minds come up with. Be sure to get your entries in by midnight on March 22nd using #SWATCHMAL!

Above all else, break the status.