new question added, post #15 - best patterns for knitting WOOL covers and longies! - Page 2

[honeybunmom]

Originally Posted by Peace+Hope

does that mean something i knit with it will get bigger, or that it will felt somewhat and become more dense?

It means that if you knit something it will be a bit bigger when done. Say you knit it at 4.5 spi. After soaking/washing (which is why one should always wash their gauge swatch - not that I do ), the gauge may be 4 spi (because the stitches swell, or bloom). If you had co 90 sti to have a hip circumference of 20", after washing the hip circumference will be 90/4 = 22.5". On a small garment, not really a big deal. On a sweater for an adult, a really big deal and a size too big at the end.

HTH!

[Peace+Hope]

wow, so interesting. wonder why nothing i've ever read mentioned washing swatches! thank you so much.