Swatching is important... even when gauge isn't

A modern knitting post.

As my reward for finishing a couple of other projects, and in anticipation of attending NY Sheep and Wool ("Rhinebeck"), this past weekend I cast on to knit a wrap with some lovely gold alpaca yarn I bought last year at Sheep and Wool.  I particularly love doing shawls, scarves and wraps because "gauge (often) isn't important."  If gauge is 10 stitches an inch and you wind up with 11 -- that just means your piece will be a little smaller, for instance.

The importance of swatching, however, was brought home.  The pattern I am doing (Bay of Fundy scarf) doesn't even list a gauge, but the instructions do indicate that it knits up fairly dense and if using a different yarn (as I am), to use one needle larger than called for on the yarn band.  The pattern calls for 3.5 mm (U.S. 4), so I settled down with my U.S. 5 interchangeable tips on a cable and happily cast on.