Many months ago (okay, like 12), I began to work my way toward The Knitting Guild Association’s Master Knitter certification. I did a few swatches when my course materials arrived, then sorta forgot about them until a couple weeks ago when I got a notice in the mail to renew my TKGA membership. Oops. Well, I’ve pulled them out again, and have been swatching like crazy for a few days. This morning I finished my last swatch, and I hate to admit it, but they all look terrible. Never have I noticed how uneven my tension is between knit and purl rows; never have I notices the gaping loops formed by edge stitches. Ugh. I’ve been practicing with Red Heart yarn–I have a lot of it, I don’t care for it, and I was going to give it away anyway. For my "real" swatches that I will submit, I’ll use wool. I find it more forgiving, easier to block, and nicer to work with, and since I primarily use wool in my "real" knitting projects, it makes sense. Of course that means another shopping spree at Halcyon Yarn or Knit Picks. Gee darn.