LOSY swatch for ASJ

As you know, I found out I’ve got 1.8 kilograms of sock yarn leftovers, a fact that has been freaking me out. Also, I’ve been trying to make a new jumper for my mother, that she might love as much as the Adult Surprise Jacket (ASJ) that I made for her in 2009.

And then I came across this poem:

When storage problems arise 

you might consider it wise 

to knit from your stash, 

Clear space, saving cash, 

so, go for an “Adult Surprise”!

found here

 

So I decided to make my mother an ASJ out of left over sock yarn scraps held double, changing each colour as it runs out.

I cannot describe how excited  about this.  It covers all my needs, should be superfun to knit and my mother should love it. So I sat down to swatch. And found myself asking some big questions:

 

How do you swatch when the yarns are going to change all the time while knitting? Do I go down by 0.25 mm needle size to try to avoid the stretching out issues on my original ASJ? Why on 3.75mm needles is this coming out at 18 stitches/10cm? Is there any chance my mother will love this one like she loved its predecessor? Such big questions, for a small piece of fabric to try to answer.