Got Gauge?

Nope. In fact, I'm having a helluva time getting gauge. Not only can I knit only 1 or 2 rows at any given time, but the yarn is freaking slippery! I've modified my left-hand hold on the yarn by wrapping it twice around my pinkie then threading it through the 3 remaining fingers just to keep from dropping it. I'm using my Denise needles and started off with size 8, per recommendation of the pattern. Well.



On my size 8's I've gotten 22 stitches per 4 inches (pattern calls for 20) and 30-something rows per 4 inches (pattern calls for 26.5) SO... all this knitting is TOO TIGHT on size 8's and I'm starting over with a fresh ball on size 10's. However, I'm wondering since I've made it this far (one row at a time) if I shouldn't just finish the swatch then handwash and block it to see if it THEN makes it any closer to gauge. Something tells me even all that isn't going to help very much... any ideas, internet? Does washing and blocking help this yarn stretch out or shrink?

I chose 10's instead of 9's because I need quite a bit more height to my stitches. I don't know how going up 2 sizes will end up affecting my gauge, but I'm willing to take the time to find out. 10's are giving me 19 stitches per 4 inches so I'm going to try the 9's afterall. I can always frog it and start over, though I've discovered that the bonsai yarn is not the most durable of yarns as far as holding up well after a couple of frogged starts on the 8's gauge swatch.

Yes. Yes, I know. Yes, I am a tight knitter. I know this. Yes, I need to relax and loosen up. Yes, I agree. But in the meantime, give me another 2 weeks to finish my new gauge swatching.

My problem with loosening up my tension is that it's not consistent. I've only been knitting since October of 2006, so I don't have massive experience needed to be able to maintain the same looseness all the various 2-5 minute time-windows I get to work on this. Granted, I probably don't have the same tightness of tension, either. *le sigh* Anyhow, I am, and remain, a tight knitter. On to bigger needles I knit...