So, I like to swatch (I think knitters fall into 2
categories:  those who enjoy swatching
and those who don’t – although most knitters see the necessity, but then there
are those who never-ever-ever swatch so it is best not to generalize about
knitters – but I digress). 

Oddly (I think), my favorite time to swatch is late in the evening,
often while watching a movie.  Now, since
swatching usually involves math, a lot of counting and measuring, following
unfamiliar instructions, maybe translating a pattern into a chart, maybe
getting up to hunt through some knitting reference books – well, it seems like
something I would choose to do during the day when my eyes and brain are fairly
fresh and when I do not mind jumping up to go dig out a different book or a
different set of needles and when I am not distracted by pirate ship battles or
shrieking mummies or Hugh Jackman with his shirt unbuttoned (these last refer
to movies I might be watching in the evening, not life in my neck of the
woods…). 

But the way of the knitter defies logic.

Most recently, I have been swatching lace weight yarn for
the Joyful Ferocity and for the lace sharf we are designing for our lace
class.  Both are edgings.  The Joyful Ferocity swatch came out so
perfectly that I can just keep going with it and make the whole edging.  Kind of Fairy Godmother magical – and since
it is “Godmother’s Edging” why should I have expected less? (though, the Joyful
Ferocity is capable of magic tricks of its own!)

The lace sharf edging is another story.  Nothing looks right.  Since we want this edging to be worked along
the entire edge (i.e. picked-up-and-knit) rather than worked in short back-and-forth
rows, joining as one goes along (which is how 99.9% of lace edgings work), even
finding patterns to try has been difficult. 
Nothing looks right.  I attempted
some drop-stitch patterns, but the loose dropped stitches just sort of melted
into the surrounding stockinette (I think the fine yarn on size 6 needles just
couldn’t hold it – works for most lace, but not the dropped stitches).  I tried a decorative bind-off – and it made a
heavy chain that will not do.  I leaf
through stitch dictionary after stitch dictionary.

But I swatch on.  I am
going to try some mesh patterns.  And
maybe a crochet chain loop bind-off (a lace shawl tradition, even if purists
dislike the knit-crochet mongrel).

And I remind myself that I like to swatch.  Might be watching Australia
tonight.