Ashen - Finished!

This dried a lot faster than I thought it would.  I had it pinned out on blocking mats for the first 24 hours, but once things had settled into place I pulled it off the mats and laid it on my mesh sweater rack, which allows air to circulate around it, greatly speeding up the drying process.

I didn’t do much pinning, just a little bit around the armholes, and the neck edge, where things did not want to lay flat.  Mostly I just laid it out and smoothed things into place.  I knit at a fairly close gauge, choosing my needle size based upon the diameter of the yarn that I’m working with - I pick a needle that is about twice the diameter of the yarn for garment knitting.  I really get annoyed with folks that say that to get more drape just use a larger needle and knit at a looser gauge.  No, if you want a finished project that drapes, choose a yarn that gives you a fabric that drapes.  If you knit a garment at a looser gauge than the yarn really wants all you end up with is a swatch that lies to you and a garment that does not fit properly.  Obviously, if you’re knitting lace, other rules apply.  That does require stretching out when blocking, but if you’re having to stretch out stockinette to meet the measurements called for in the pattern, you’re going to have a problem.

I tried it on over my t-shirt this morning and the fit is perfect.

Pattern:  Libraire by Tricot Design MCL

Yarn:  The Ross Farm Ashen Wensleydale 

Needle:  US 6 (4.0 mm) for the body, and US 5 (3.75 mm) for the ribbing.