SWATCH NUMBER 12

SWATCH NUMBER 12

was knitted by Sarah of Paraparaumu, New Zealand

Ravelry ID kiwiknitgirl

MEANING OF SWATCH

I made the swatch in my favourite yarn - Vintage Purls Sock Yarn. this is a limited edition colourway called "Blushing Beauty!" I love lace knitting so tried a new pattern as the Vintage Purls yarns look stunning in lace. The swatch is dedicated to my Great Grandmother, Jane Ann, who was a sock knitter. She had a big influence on me and I'm glad we share something in common.

SWATCH NUMBER 11

SWATCH NUMBER 11

was knitted by Win of Masterton, New Zealand

MEANING OF SWATCH

This swatch is all about taking a chance and learning something new at the same time. When I first saw the bi-tone honeycomb stitch I was intrigued and immediately wanted to use it in a project. It looked difficult and beyond my knitting abilities but I was determined to learn how to knit it. Recently I saw a class advertised which would teach the stitch so I enrolled and excitedly waited until the day of the class. Unfortunately I was frustrated by my efforts during the class in that I couldn't quite get the knack of crossing the cables quite right and ended up with a few free-form cables. However when I got home that night I sat down to attempt the stitch again and I persevered until I got it right... and here is the result! A bi-tone honeycomb swatch with a moss stitch border featuring my two favourite colours of lime green and violet. Knitting the swatch was a wonderful way of mastering a stitch I had admired for some time and it has given me the confidence to try other new stitches.

SWATCH NUMBER 10

SWATCH NUMBER 10

was knitted by Nola of Masterton, New Zealand

MEANING OF SWATCH

I love to knit and I love my family. Knitting this swatch was the perfect combination of both those things for me. The yarn used is Magic Garden and over the years I've used that yarn to knit a garment for each of my grandchildren. For this swatch I've selected the left overs from those garments and knitted one stripe in each of the colours to represent each of my grandchildren.

SWATCH NUMBER 9

SWATCH NUMBER 9

was knitted by Joy of Hamilton, New Zealand

MEANING OF SWATCH

For my birthday this year my son, Jamie, knitted me a beautiful pair of socks which I love to bits. I asked if I could have the left over yarn and when he gave it to me I decided to use it to knit up this swatch. The yarn is a Vintage Purls Limited Edition colourway called Fuschia Frenzy and Jamie chose it for me because we both love the flowers it was named after and between us we have several varieties in our gardens. The stitch pattern I've used is the one used in my socks and it's a rib and cable pattern he calls London's Calling. My husband and I both taught Jamie to knit at an early age and it's wonderful to see that after all these years he's still enjoying his knitting so much.

SWATCH NUMBER 8

SWATCH NUMBER 8
was knitted by Carolyn of Masterton, New Zealand.

MEANING OF SWATCH
When I agreed to knit a swatch for this project I had no idea what to do in terms of a pattern or a story to go with it. I searched through my yarns until I found this colourful one which put a smile on my face and created this moss stitch swatch which in many ways represents the ups and downs in life. I then decided to sew on the buttons in matching colours to create a little face... it reminds me of the button eyes on home made teddy bears.

SWATCH NUMBER 7

SWATCH NUMBER 7
was knitted by Eleanor of Masterton, New Zealand.
Ravelry ID newleaf

MEANING OF SWATCH
I made this in butterfly stitch using bright tangerine wool in memory of a treasured friend.

She loved monarch butterflies and when I saw her a few hours before she died my last words to her were "Your wings are nearly ready for you to fly." She gave me a beautiful smile and that was our final parting.

SWATCH NUMBER 6

SWATCH NUMBER 6
was knitted by James of Greytown, New Zealand.
Ravelry ID KiwiJames
In memory of his Father Doug

MEANING OF SWATCH
When I told my Father about this project he was keen to take part but unfortunately he passed away suddenly before he had the chance to knit his swatch. As it he who taught me to cast on and start knitting I decided to knit this swatch in his memory.

Dad came up with this stitch pattern well over forty years ago and it was the pattern he and Mum used on many of the jerseys and cardigans they knitted for me over the years until I started knitting my own. The yarn I used is Supreme possum merino in the denim blue colourway. It is the same yarn I used to knit the socks he was buried in.

SWATCH NUMBER 5

SWATCH NUMBER 5

was knitted by Rosie of Greytown, New Zealand.

MEANING OF SWATCH

My passion in knitting is centred around 2 ply wool and my Grandmother's baby shawl patterns. My swatch for the 'Giant Sock of Greytown' is a miniature of my favourite shetland lace pattern.

SWATCH NUMBER 4

SWATCH NUMBER 4
was Knitted by Linda of Lower Hutt, New Zealand
Ravelry ID purl1petal2

MEANING OF THE SWATCH
Although this may not be the best looking swatch, for me the yarn and the pattern I chose to make it in are very appropriate and tell a lot about me. I have used Vintage Purls sock yarn (my favourite... and the only sock yarn I own!) and as the swatches we are making are going towards the "Giant Sock of Greytown" project organised by James of JOY I felt it fitting to use a small piece of my 'yet to be used' yarn purchased at the opening of his wonderful sock yarn boutique last August.

The motif I have chosen is from the 'Pea Pod Cardigan' pattern in Mel Clark's 'Knit 2 together' book. The garment has a lovely period look, a look that embraces another of my passions - all things vintage!

The 'Pea Pos' motif and the 'seed' stitch border to me represent my love of (and my family's association with) vegetable gardening. The aptly names colourway, 'sweet pea', my love of pale, perfumed flowers and green foliage.

SWATCH NUMBER 3

SWATCH NUMBER 3
was knitted by Helen of Greytown, New Zealand.

MEANING OF SWATCH
Recently my neighbour was having fun dyeing yarn with food colouring and this yarn was the result of one of his experiments. I loved the rich colours and asked if I could use it for this swatch. The yarn is Shepherd 4ply baby wool and it was dyed with hansells food colouring. I haven't knitted for a number of years as it hurts my hands but I was excited by the project and wanted to be a part of it along with other knitters.