Agnes from Rowan, again
I have a driver's test on Wednesday (break a leg, woo, try not to run any pedestrians down), and if I pass, I'm going to treat myself with enough yarn to make "Agnes" from the Rowan vintage collection book.. (and even if I don't pass, I'll buy it anyway. As consolation, you know. ;))
I can't afford to buy 4-ply Soft, and it's a bit difficult to get my hands on, so I'm subbing another merino wool. It's cheaper, and there's way more yardage (100 gr. skein/450 m. at a price of about $11 - and I'd only need a little over 2 skeins), and I can get gauge - almost. This is where my question lies.
I do know that there have been several questions on gauge and maths, but I'm not so much interested in the maths part.. See, I can get gauge stitch-wise, but where I should be getting 38 rows (9.5 sts per inch) in st. st., I'm getting about 10 sts/inch, and in moss stitch I should get 46 rows (11.5 sts per inch), and I'm getting about 13 sts/inch.
Now, I can tell that if I stretch my swatch a little (about the same amount I'd block it), I'm very, very close to getting gauge row-wise. I'm using 3 mm. aluminiums where the pattern calls for 3.25 mm, but I used my bamboo 3 mm. needles, and my stitch gauge was too big, even if I knitted tightly. So going up a needle size probably won't work.
I would very, very much like to use this yarn, for reasons mentioned above, and maybe that's clouding my judgment a little. I really think this could work if I added a row or two every now and then when making the body (and sleeves too, probably), but I wanted to ask people's opinions and advice before I spend money and time on this project. :)
I can't afford to buy 4-ply Soft, and it's a bit difficult to get my hands on, so I'm subbing another merino wool. It's cheaper, and there's way more yardage (100 gr. skein/450 m. at a price of about $11 - and I'd only need a little over 2 skeins), and I can get gauge - almost. This is where my question lies.
I do know that there have been several questions on gauge and maths, but I'm not so much interested in the maths part.. See, I can get gauge stitch-wise, but where I should be getting 38 rows (9.5 sts per inch) in st. st., I'm getting about 10 sts/inch, and in moss stitch I should get 46 rows (11.5 sts per inch), and I'm getting about 13 sts/inch.
Now, I can tell that if I stretch my swatch a little (about the same amount I'd block it), I'm very, very close to getting gauge row-wise. I'm using 3 mm. aluminiums where the pattern calls for 3.25 mm, but I used my bamboo 3 mm. needles, and my stitch gauge was too big, even if I knitted tightly. So going up a needle size probably won't work.
I would very, very much like to use this yarn, for reasons mentioned above, and maybe that's clouding my judgment a little. I really think this could work if I added a row or two every now and then when making the body (and sleeves too, probably), but I wanted to ask people's opinions and advice before I spend money and time on this project. :)