Swatches!

What do I do with all those swatches? Oh, bad kitty, sitting on all my swatches.

There are good swatches and bad swatches, big swatches and little swatches.  Generally, I attach the swatch when I make a proposal for a project.  If the buyer wants the project, I don't get the swatch back.  That means that I have either make a second swatch to keep, or I have to have a GREAT photo or instructions of it so I can make it again.  Swatches that I don't submit, generally those are approximations toward getting the swatch right.  I might unravel those to get an educated guess on how much yarn the motif will need.  Ugly swatches either get thrown out or get thrown out.  If I'm still thinking there is potential, I'll keep swatches in a basket to see if it inspires me later.  Swatches for items that become projects, if I happen to have it, I'll put in the file with the contract/instructions/invoice and stuff.  Sometimes if I've grown attached to it, I tack it to my cork-board over my desk.  I can always use them as coasters, right? Under cool glasses of water in the summer?  Put them under the legs of the dining table to protect the wood floor? 

More swatching

More swatching today. I have plenty of things on my plate, and deadlines are starting to pile up, but swatching is starting to keep my interest.  By swatching, I don't do the traditional, swatch the same stitch in several different yarns with a few different hooks... generally, when I swatch, I begin the project.  I'll make the whole hat a couple of times, working out the construction issues while I'm changing yarns and hooks.  Also, I think from now on, I'm going to make my swatches at least the size of a baby sweater back!  Then I can be half-way finished with a project by the time I'm done.  The baby won't care if there are different stitches for each sweater piece, right?  Maybe the back will be different than the sleeves and fronts?  It's all good. Kinda like the children's book about the patchwork elephant... I can't remember the name of it... some reader will know! Who will it be? 

Above, is a bearded dragon who belongs to neighbors.  We're taking care of this critter while they are on vacation along with a few more of their animals...

Daisy the guinea pig

Chickee and Lily the guinea pig (who should be called "Bugsy" like the guinea pig from the Bedtime Story movie)

And Sky and Mango (gerbils) who are currently running loose in the neighbors house... don't ask.