Vajra TCAL – Lets en-gauge!

Welcome to the second week of the Vajra TCAL! I am so happy to see the different color choices everyone has made and can’t wait to find out how the scarves will look!!

This week we will start working on the gauge swatch. It’s alright if you don’t have your supplies yet. You can try this swatch with a similar weight yarn while you wait for yours to arrive :). You don’t even need a double ended hook for this so a regular Tunisian hook will work (or even a regular crochet hook if you can fit all the stitches on it!).

TCAL Schedule

• March 25 – March 31: Get your supplies!
• April 1 – April 7: Let’s en-gauge 🙂
• April 8 – April 14: Part 1 (Rounds 1 – 10)
• April 15 – April 21: Part 2 (Rounds 11-20)
• April 22 – April 28: Part 3 (Rounds 21 – 30)
• April 29 – May 5: Part 4 (Rounds 31 – 40)
• May 6 – May 12: Part 5 (Rounds 41 – 50)
• May 13 – May 19: Part 6 (Last part – Rounds 51 – 62)
• May 20 – May 26: Final submissions for the grand prize and judging 🙂

Pattern

If you haven’t already bought it, you can find the pattern on Ravelry and Etsy. You need to use the coupon VAJRATCAL to get a 25% discount on the pattern until May 19, 2019.

Week 2 – Let’s en-gauge!

This week we will focus on the gauge swatch. The gauge swatch for the Vajra scarf serves two purposes:

1. It is useful in figuring out what the final size of your scarf will be. I have included the calculations in the pattern for this.
2. You will be able to practice all the stitches that will be used in the scarf.

I strongly recommend making the gauge swatch before you start making your scarf because there are a couple of stitch combinations that might take some time to get used to. If you make the gauge swatch, you will be to practice them without the added complexity of working in a round with two colors. And, once you are able to make them comfortably, the scarf will be very easy to make.

While you are making the gauge swatch, you can take the opportunity to iron out a few details:

1. Tension – The twisted stitches are hard to make if your stitches are too tight. It is important to loosen your stitches enough to be able to make the twisted stitches easily otherwise you will end up wrestling with your stitches throughout the project. If you are not able to loosen your stitches enough, it might help going up a hook size.
2. Curling – I recommend blocking your swatch after you make it. If it doesn’t stop curling, it is better to go up a hook size. It will be best to figure this out before you start making your scarf so you won’t have to deal with it later.

Tip: I usually experiment with bulkier (usually worsted weight) yarn when I am trying something new. That is mostly because I can see the stitches better and the fabric holds itself well so I can focus on the stitch / technique that I am practicing. If you have trouble with the swatch, it might be a good idea to try it with a worsted weight yarn before going back to fingering weight.

Here is how your gauge swatch should look.

Video tutorials

I have right and left handed video tutorials on my Youtube channel. You can find all my Tunisian crochet video tutorials here.

Here are tutorials to help you make the gauge swatch:

1. Rib Stitch
2. Forward Slant Combination
3. Backward Slant Combination
4. Gauge swatch – you can see me make the gauge swatch and follow along if you’d like.

Right handed

Left handed

How to participate

• Newsletter: If you haven’t already done so, please subscribe to my newsletter to get all important updates of this TCAL.
• Join my TCAL: If you would like to officially join the TCAL, join my KnitterKnotter Hangout group on Facebook. I will schedule a live video in the group every Monday at 6.30 PM CST for me to be able to connect with you in real time 🙂
• Instagram: You can follow me to get updates there and if you choose to share photos of your project, please use the hashtag #vajratcal so that I can find them.
• Pinterest: You can find all tutorials related to this TCAL on my Vajra TCAL Pinterest board.
• Facebook: If you would not like to join my group, you can find updates related to this TCAL on my Facebook page.
• Ravelry: I will be grateful if you created a project on Ravelry. As a designer, it gives my pattern some credibility and it is a great way to show off your scarf too 🙂

Prizes

Denise Interchangeable has kindly offered to sponsor the prizes for this TCAL. There will be 6 prizes in all – one at the end of each part (See TCAL schedule above).

At the end of each of the first five parts, one person will win a Pink Tunisian Crochet set. It consists of one hook (You will be able to choose a hook size – they range from 3.75 mm to 15 mm), two cords, two end buttons and one extender for cord to cord connections.

Note: These prizes are for US residents only. Non-US residents will receive a Denise Interchangeable gift card worth $20 instead.

One person will win the grand prize at the end of the TCAL which will be the Denise2Go Complete Crochet set!! It consists of twelve hooks, seven cords, four end buttons and 2 extenders that come in a pretty fabric and portable case.

I have the Denise Interchangeable Hook Kit* and I love it. I used it to make the Vajra scarf and have continued to use it for my other projects too.

Note: Everybody (US and non-US residents) is eligible for the grand prize! 

How to win

Instagram: Tag your TCAL progress photos with #vajratcal as many times as you like. (Your Instagram account must be public.)

Facebook:  Join the KnitterKnotter Hangout Facebook group and post your progress photos to that week’s TCAL update thread.

I will look at both Instagram and Facebook at the end of every week and choose one winner (You must have completed the part for that week to be eligible). It’s that simple!

Resources

These tutorials will be helpful in getting a head start on this pattern.

Share your pictures with me!

I really hope you liked this pattern. I would love to see your version of this design so please share your pictures with me!
– Share them on Instagram with the tags #knitterknotter, #madewithknitterknotter, and @knitterknotter
– Share them in my Facebook Group
– Create a project on Ravelry

I strive to offer my patterns for free and that is possible only with your support. Please share this pattern and your pictures as much as possible. Every share counts 🙂

Copyright and Terms of Use

This pattern is for personal use only. You are welcome to make and sell handmade items using this pattern but you are required to credit the design to Arunima Goel @ KnitterKnotter by linking back to https://knitterknotter.com. Do not publish or sell this pattern, in part or in full and do not make any video tutorials of this pattern without my permission. When featuring KnitterKnotter in pattern roundups, blog articles or Facebook posts, you may use one of my photos and provide a link back to the original source.

Disclosure

This page may contain affiliate links where I earn a small commission. While using these links doesn’t cost you more, it helps me continue to offer patterns for free. Thank you for your continued support!

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