812—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 16,1984 “ i ‘$ \ i I CRAFT | o ■ How to substitute yarns If you like a pattern, but not the yam indicated in the instructions, it’s possible to substitute another yam. For one reason or another, most knitters make substitutions from time to time. Either the yam shown is impossible to find, unavailable in your favorite color or so high-priced that you wouldn’t have enough money left to buy groceries for the month. Rather than switch to another pattern, you can just switch yams. Many yams often work with the same sweater pattern. The sweater shown, for example, is made of “Cassino” 100 percent cotton yam from Bemat. Another choice for the sweater however, is “Sweety,” a brand-new yam of acrylic, mohair and wool. To order the sweater kit in your choice of yam, further details follow this column. Further details about making substitutions follow below. Success in switching yams depends mainly upon two factors: The stitch gauge and suitability of the new yam to the garment. To determine suitability, you must visualize the new yam in the finished sweater. The look and drape should be consistent with the style and stitch of the pattern. Rough tweeds and brushed yams, for example, do not work well in sweaters with precisely detailed stitch patterns. The stitch gauge, an even more significant consideration, refers to the number of stitches per inch across your work. When yams work to the same gauge, even V All-Plant LIQUID PLANT FOOD 9-18-9 PLUS OTHERS' • Contains 100% white ortho phosphoric acid. Made in USA. • Non-corrosive. Won’t settle. • Top quality. Excellent service. • Newest equipment. • Financially sound... and growing! Big Demand Requires More Distributors! □ I sell to farmers. How do I become your distributor 7 □ I'm a farmer. What’s the price? Where do I get it 7 CALL or SEND FOR FACTS: Phone: 419962-4707 ALL-PLANT LIQUID PLANT FOOD, INC. 821 State Rd. 511 N., RFD 3, Ashland, Ohio 44805 though different size needles are used, they are called in terchangeable. Even if you use the yam in dicated in a pattern, checking the stitch gauge is extremely im portant. Because measurements in a pattern are planned according to the gauge indicated, if your stitch gauge is off, even by a small amount, your finished sweater will not fit properly. The row gauge, also indicated for many patterns, specifies the number of rows per inch, up and down your work. It is less im portant than the stitch gauge, because you work to reach a given measurement, no matter how many rows it takes. The row gauge is important when you are increasing or decreasing over a specific measurement to shape a garment. Unless you’re working under these conditions, however, vou can generally ignore slight differences in the two gauge. Whether or not you’re sub stituting yams, the only way to check gauge is to knit a sample of your work. You must use the same yam and needles for your sample that you plant to use in your sweater. If, after knitting the swatch, your gauge is off, you can try another size needle. As long as your stitch gauge is correct, the needle size doesn’t matter. The time to leam whether or not you can knit the new yam to gauge is before you begin the sweater. If you know from your swatch that the gauge is correct and your pattern pretty with the new yam, you’ll know your substitution is likely to be a success. Here are directions for knitting a sample swatch; DIRECTIONS: 1. Cast on 20 stitches, using the yam and needles that will be used for the body of the work. 2. Work in the pattern stitch specified for 3 in ches. 3. Bind off and measure your results. 4. Adjust if necessary. ADJUSTMENTS: If you have more stitches per inch than the directions indicate, try a larger needle. If you have few stitches per inch than directions indicate, tiV a smaller needle. In other words, use whatever size needle is necessary for the correct stitch gauge. THE SWEATER KITS, complete with Bemat yams and instructions are available in white, pale yellow, peach, misty blue, pale pink, pearl gray, marsh purple (amethyst), stormy teal (turquoise) or ruby claret. KIT 5929-273 in “Sweety” Acrylic/ Mohair/Wool blend: small (8-10) $lO, medium (12-14) $l3 or large (16-18) $l3. KIT C 929-273 in “Cassino” 100 percent cotton yam: small (8-10) 3k Putehroan. CONTROLLED CAGE FEEDING SYSTEMS Contact us for additional personalized information on these Big Dutchman feeder benefits. • REDUCED OPERATION COST • HIGHER PRODUCTION • LESS WASTE SPILLAGE • LIMIT FEEDING AUTHORIZED su| Putchman. DISTRIBUTOR $26, Medium (12-14) $35 or large newspaper’s nam», Box 1144, (16-18) $35. Laguna Beach, CA 92652. 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