Beginner's dilemmas

So I've got a copy of Metbury's "First Choice for E6000" book. It's a beginners book, which talks you through getting started on your E6000. Except - I fall at the first hurdle. They ask you to knit a tension swatch at ss 2.5 using all needles on both beds, using a 3ply yarn such as Bramwell's Duomagic (discontinued) or two ends of 2/30s yarn. I can do this - but it's like pushing a rock uphill. Way too tight! You measure your 100 row swatch - the aim is to get a height of 7.4 or 7.5 inches - and keep trying until you match this height. I managed to knit swatches at ss4 and 4.5 - too tall to match the gauge, but at least they didn't risk breaking my wrists or the machine to work. 

Kathleen Kinder recommends between 4.75 and 5.5 for K/K rib in 3ply. That's one heck of a difference. I had a quick look at a George Le Warre book, but he only gives stitch sizes for 1x1 rib and stocking stitch. Either it's a misprint, or they had a very loosely knitting machine! Disappointed that if I want to use any of the patterns from this book I'll have to do a major amount of recalculation. Not a great start!

On the positive side, getting the stitch size correct has meant the machine does a single-bed cast on a lot better. I was always of the opinion that the Swiss Miss didn't like casting on single bed. Turns out it was all operator error!

I've knitted the back of a lambswool jumper. Despite swatching, it looks way too big (even though I expect some shrinkage in the wash). Oh well, best to stop now and recalculate, than forge ahead and make an unwearable jumper! 

Owing to a mix up, it appears the cat was accidentally left out all night last night. Not a problem, but there seems to be no sign of him this morning, and it's almost 11am. I do hope he's ok, he's a homebody normally. 

Current mood: confused