In case anyone has wondered, my gauge issues are what have caused the Clock Vest Stall. I was working my way up the left front when I realized it was almost time to make adjustments to the pattern so I could start the neck shaping in the right place, when I put it in a bag and Walked Away. Meanwhile, I’ve been on such a tear with Ruffley Cardy, I figured I ought to just go with it.

Bonne Marie was talking last week about just the problem I had with the Clock Vest: When Row Gauge Is Critical. The stitch gauge is always important for proper fit around, but only in pieces with precise patterning or shaping is row gauge equally important (most written patterns just say “work to X length.) I had decided after the Clock Vest, that when doing these kinds of patterns in the future I would not substitute yarn, because that is when I have gauge discrepancies. Right after that I lighted upon the Garbo Set in Sculptured Knits.

The Garbo Set has a pattern in the cardigan that does a cool biasing thing whereby it marches up the front to the breast then veers off at a slant. It is also worked in Classic Elite Tapestry, which has since been discontinued. I think when I’m ready to make it, I will adjust my needle size for optimum row gauge, the, make adjustments to the pattern for width to match my stitch gauge, which is the opposite of the way I usually do it. That project is pretty far in the future, though.

Tonight I was going to do a Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode 6:11 (the part where she makes a radical change in her hairstyle -- not the part where she becomes invisible) but I chickened out. I did get about four inches cut off, though, so it is just below my shoulders. I’d still like to get it bobbed off chin-length for autumn and winter so it will look sporty and cute beneath my knit hats.