Swatching for Lighthouse Gansey

The Lighthouse Gansey has been on my mental want-to-knit-that list for several years now, but I didn't even have the pattern until a few days ago.

The pattern seems to be well-written and follows the Gansey traditions of knitting all in one piece, no seaming, underarm gussets, and drop sleeves.

A few weeks ago I bought two skeins of Knitpicks Cotlin, a DK weight 70% Tanguis Cotton, 30% Linen yarn. I like a firm fabric when knitting cotton so I figured I'd want to knit it at about 6 stitches/inch - the same gauge as the Lighthouse Gansey. So I picked up some #3 needles and knit a 70 stitch swatch.

Gauge was perfect! The knitting was pleasant and the stitch definition good. Cotlin looks like a great yarn for this pattern if it passes the laundry test.


This is the swatch after laundry.

Unlike my winter woolens, my summer sweaters are laundered frequently and I have no patience for hand washing or other special care in the summertime.

The swatch went through a regular warm load of laundry and a regular warm cycle in the dryer. It came out just slightly damp and looking good. It retained its shape and stitch definition. I was so pleased, I signed right on to Knitpicks and ordered enough for the Lighthouse Gansey.

A couple cautions:
1-There was no shrinkage in stitches/inch but I forgot to measure the rows/inch before washing. There may have been shrinkage in rows/inch. I plan to do all my length measuring by counting rows and using the washed row gauge to calculate the measurements.

2-The washability and other desirable characteristics of this yarn are based on a 6 stitch/inch gauge. That's a nice, firm fabric. Knitting at a looser gauge may result in bagging and/or stretching that I didn't experience.


Pattern: Lighthouse Gansey by Anne Bosch.

Yarn: Knitpicks Cotlin. 70% Tanguis Cotton, 30% Linen. DK weight.

Color: Glacier.

Needles: Options #3.

Gauge: 6 stitches/inch, 8.5 rows/inch in pattern.