Swatching: Skipper + Harmony

We added Harmony as a beautiful accompaniment to the protein-based yarns in the Kelbourne Woolens line, but never considered that it would work well with Skipper, our 100% Tanguis cotton. Even so, I swatched it "just to see", and wowowow it was stunning.After posting about the steps I take to convert a sweater from in the round to flat, Bailey mentioned wanting to try it out on her next project and I suggested a casual knit along for fall. While we sort the details, I got down to swatching!

I browsed patterns that were good options for this technique (knit in the round/one piece from the top down or bottom up with set in sleeves or drop shoulders), filtered for about worsted weight (my initial swatches gave me 19 stitches to 4" on a US 5) and settled on a few options: Flow Loop Cardigan or Waffle Loop Cardigan by Other Loops, and the Mistral Pullover by Cordula Hopmann. 

Swatch 1: Flow Loop Cardigan

The Flow Loop Cardigan by Other Loops

Pattern Gauge: 19 sts and 30 rows = 4" in St st on US 7 (4.5 mm)
Gauge Before Blocking: 20 sts and 26 rows = 4" on US 5 (3.75)
Gauge After Blocking: 19 sts and 26 rows = 4" on US 5 (3.75)

Skipper in Dogwood paired with Harmony in Sugarplum

All of my swatches (knit in Skipper in Dogwood and Harmony in Sugar Plum) changed after blocking, which didn't surprise me. Thankfully this one blocked out perfectly! My row gauge is smaller than called for, but I'm not too worried about that as I can count inches, not rows, and shouldn't have any trouble with length. This was originally my top pick design-wise, so I'm really happy the swatch works well!

Swatch 2: Waffle Loop Cardigan

The Waffle Loop Cardigan by Other Loops

Pattern Gauge: 21 stitches and 32 rows = 4 inches in pattern on US 6 (4.0 mm)
Gauge Before Blocking: 20 sts and 29 rows = 4" on US 5 (3.75)
Gauge After Blocking: 18.5 sts and 30 rows = 4" on US 5 (3.75)

The stitch is lovely but the gauge is far too large

I swatched the Waffle Loop on a bit of a whim, assuming the required gauge might be too small for the yarns held together, and I was correct. I do love the waffle stitch, though - maybe it is a perfect candidate for Scout? Ohhhhh or Camper held with Harmony?

Swatch 3: Mistral Pullover

The Mistral Pullover by Cordula Hopmann

Pattern Gauge: 20 sts and 28 rows = 4" in Grass Stitch on US 7 (4.5 mm)
Gauge Before Blocking: 21 sts and 26 rows = 4" on US 5 (3.75)
Gauge After Blocking: 20 sts and 27 rows = 4" on US 5 (3.75)

Another winner after blocking! (Y'all blocking is so important! Always treat your swatch the way you will treat your finished project.) Also further evidence that needle size doesn't matter, and only gauge does. Had I knit this on the recommended US 7 it would be far too loose, but the 5 works perfectly.

With the swatching done, I think I'm going to go with the Flow Loop cardigan as I need more cardigans in my closet and just finished two cabled pullovers. Now all I need to do is pick a color combo! Which one would you choose?