I bet all my knitters know what I’m talking about! This weekend, in between increasingly long shawl rows, I swatched for a sweater. I’ve been wanting a selfish knitting project and the Funky Grandpa cardigan has been hovering in the back of my mind, so I pulled out the Knit Picks Palette and knit a swatch. And since I had to wash it anyway, I washed some socks too!
Before it was washed, I was sure I’d gotten gauge on my first try. I was only half a stitch short, and I figured my swatch would loosen up with washing. Nope. It pulled in tighter instead, so I had 22 stitches per 4 inches instead of 24.5. Figuring out gauge makes my brain hurt, but I was pretty sure I needed to try with a smaller needle, so that’s what I did next, along with snuggling a pup.
Fingers crossed I got gauge this time!
bonnyknits 
I feel your pain, hate swatching but it’s a necessary evil in garments, that is if you want it to fit!
Good for you for doing the swatching though – I hate doing it, but it saves me every time:)
I only ever do it for sweaters but it’s worth it.
Lol yes it is as when I try to skip that step I end up starting three times
That’s a lot of socks! 😀
Heehee and it’s not even all of them! 😀
Oh dear… but I sympathize. I have a bunch, too.