Welcome to process knitting! 😁 I love to try new techniques, which is why I like the Westknits MKALs. Don’t watch much reality tv, but love the fashion contest shows, though you’d never know it by the way I dress! 😂
Came for the knitting, stayed for the reality tv gossip. I’m so in love with Jenna Lyons and the new vibe on RHONY. Utterly refreshing. Cheese slander and dated unnamed NYC restaurants. I’m so here for it!
I’m so happy you have found a solution for your dress gauge issue. It’s probably the yarn causing the most issues tho, maybe the needles if your using metal. I made a silk shawl once, had to switch from metal to bamboo because it was so hard for me to keep a consistent gauge. Also silk is the devil🤣 when it’s a blend amazing, but pure silk is a labor of love that can/will leave you in tears even when you’re careful.
Re dress gauge: it’s the summer fibers!!!!! Yarns that don’t have memory/stretch are brutalllllll for keeping a consistent gauge, and I’ve personally seen ,y gauge completely change from swatch to actual project. I usually have to size my needles down quite a bit at least because the yarn slips so much when knitting continental. Maybe that’s why you had to size down for the June top too?
i also casted on a little barbie knit i love that everyone is doing it! i’m making a pink cami no 5 once i finish my gauge swatch (: & girl i hear you about love island usa as i couldn’t get myself to watch it after being a uk fan BUT if ur dying for more love island next week, maybe consider usa hahaha. i watched last usa season and it was better than i thought it would be but still had a lot of room to grow BUT THIS NEW SEASON is honestly kinda good? they’re chaotic and delusional it’s great tv
So excited to see your finished June top! That yarn color is so pretty! And I hope things go well with your dress making! I love that about working on multiple projects at one time so if one is a struggle you can take a break from it. Oh also that green/yellow looks amazing on you! I think those colors definitely suit warm/golden undertones 💖
Love the tank and the color looks great on you. I also love the broken rib and because I’m over the summer knits, I was looking this morning for full on wooly sweaters in broken rib 😂
I'm having the same experience where I'm starting to burn out with summer fibers/stockinette tanks. I just bit the bullet and cast on for a fall sweater. 🙃
I love broken rib for smaller garments like tanks. It makes a simple piece look so much more fancy lol. Love the neckline for your tank and that color looks amazing on you! You did a great job 💗
I pretend I come for the knitting but I really come for the reality TV. I'm all into Too Hot to Handle right now. The premise is killer. Sexy singles being told to be abstinent by a talking Alexa/Siri-esque cone. Who can resist this?
Another episode, yay! Always enjoying your podcast! You look absolutely stunning in grellow! Isn't it "supposed" to work that way anyways, like, if you have a golden skin undertone, warm colours like yellow, warm hues of green/red, apricot etc, and gold jewelry are for you, and if your skin tone is blueish/cool, you should wear silver and cool tones? I am a very different complexion than you (pasty northern/eastern European dark blonde), but I do also have a golden undertone, and I actually avoid most cool colours because they wash me out even further. I think an easy way to test this is to hold up a completely bright-white sheet of paper next to your face in front of a mirror. If that makes you look very obviously grey and peaky, you're probably a 'warm' skin tone :) (If you're a cool tone, the white paper won't make much of a difference. I doubt anyone with a normal level of everyday exhaustion would actually look BETTER next to it though, lol) Good to hear about the dress! Or rather, dresses! Sandnes is one of my favourite yarn brands, and that new pink stuff is GORGEOUS! About the gauge and fit issues for Melides... [TL;DR for the following essay: Maybe watch Little Big Knits' video "Sweater Math" th-cam.com/video/HNu4GiD6GCE/w-d-xo.html instead of reading my novel here, she kinda handles things the same way, haha!] You can always smuggle in some extra stitches here and there if you get the feeling it turns out too tight over other areas of your body now that you've sized down. I have to fudge sizes a lot, both in sewing and knitting! Maybe your issues are loosely related to just finding your own way of fudging and modifying and fitting things to your personal style of knitting and body type. I think we all go through that from time to time on different levels. Personally, I do knit looser on big garments than small swatches, but I don't really care about swatching much anymore. I usually half-heartedly knit a swatch for a few rounds, then eyeball the change in needle size I'll have to make, and then prepare to rip out the actual project a few times after starting. Usually I don't even care about knitting exactly to gauge anyways, I think more about if I like the fabric. I just measure the gauge on the project after a bit, then calculate how many stitches I would need at the relevant part of the body for my preferred fit, compare with the stitch counts in the pattern, and just take the best match in size as a basis for all further modifications. I basically know my personal gauge for certain needle size+yarn weight combos, and often don't even look at the recommended needle sizes on ballbands or patterns. So, my project is my swatch! And even then, my body usually doesn't match up completely with any size anyways. I don't think I ever made a whole garment without fit modifications, and I wouldn't want to! Just another well meaning tip for Italy, you probably know already: Be prepared for not having air conditioning in most buildings. Being from Europe, I never have lived with AC in any of my flats and houses, so I just don't know what life is like if buildings are cool during summer... I just imagine that the shock could be quite drastic the other way round! I know it's tempting to pack all the knits or think "plant fibre isn't too warm", but... just be warned!😘 Sorry for sounding like a lecturer! I'm off work for summer, but 5 years of teaching young adults at a conservatory really sinks into your bones I guess. Just ignore me if I'm not helpful, I'm used to that too! 😅 Have a great summer!!
Thank you for such a thoughtful comment, I used to work with teachers so I totally understand haha. Definitely noted about no AC! Trying to mentally prepare as best I can, we are def spoiled with it here.
love the tank, great job. I've been knitting 12 years and have never attempted self drafting, You're going to get so much wear out of it this summer in the DMV, it is sweltering here!!
Welcome to process knitting! 😁 I love to try new techniques, which is why I like the Westknits MKALs. Don’t watch much reality tv, but love the fashion contest shows, though you’d never know it by the way I dress! 😂
I am totally 100% knitting for fall as of last week. I'm so excited for some crisp fall weather
Came for the knitting, stayed for the reality tv gossip. I’m so in love with Jenna Lyons and the new vibe on RHONY. Utterly refreshing. Cheese slander and dated unnamed NYC restaurants. I’m so here for it!
That is definitely your color! I think you could pull off lots of bright sunny colors. Aqua blue, magenta pink, orange
I’m so happy you have found a solution for your dress gauge issue. It’s probably the yarn causing the most issues tho, maybe the needles if your using metal.
I made a silk shawl once, had to switch from metal to bamboo because it was so hard for me to keep a consistent gauge.
Also silk is the devil🤣 when it’s a blend amazing, but pure silk is a labor of love that can/will leave you in tears even when you’re careful.
Hi Mandy! Love your lime green top, great model, great colour on you ❤️ Can’t wait to see your dresses, lot of work but so worth it!! Happy knitting!
Thanks so much! 😊
Love the dress and can't wait for the second one to be started because that colour is amazing
Re dress gauge: it’s the summer fibers!!!!! Yarns that don’t have memory/stretch are brutalllllll for keeping a consistent gauge, and I’ve personally seen ,y gauge completely change from swatch to actual project. I usually have to size my needles down quite a bit at least because the yarn slips so much when knitting continental. Maybe that’s why you had to size down for the June top too?
That is a great point! This is also my first time working with the Pure Silk and I think that is probably also playing a role here.
I love how the grello tank turned out! Excited to see your pink dress too, that color is so good.
Also I live for your reality hour 😹
i also casted on a little barbie knit i love that everyone is doing it! i’m making a pink cami no 5 once i finish my gauge swatch (: & girl i hear you about love island usa as i couldn’t get myself to watch it after being a uk fan BUT if ur dying for more love island next week, maybe consider usa hahaha. i watched last usa season and it was better than i thought it would be but still had a lot of room to grow BUT THIS NEW SEASON is honestly kinda good? they’re chaotic and delusional it’s great tv
Love this green on you, Mandy!
So excited to see your finished June top! That yarn color is so pretty! And I hope things go well with your dress making! I love that about working on multiple projects at one time so if one is a struggle you can take a break from it. Oh also that green/yellow looks amazing on you! I think those colors definitely suit warm/golden undertones 💖
Thank you so much! I've definitely joined being able to bop around projects when I get stuck.
Love the tank and the color looks great on you. I also love the broken rib and because I’m over the summer knits, I was looking this morning for full on wooly sweaters in broken rib 😂
A broken rib sweater would be SO cozy
Aaaah you’re coming to Italy! That’s so exciting 🔥
Love your tank top. Colour looks amazing on you
Great color for your tank top. Pattern turned out so nice.
I'm having the same experience where I'm starting to burn out with summer fibers/stockinette tanks. I just bit the bullet and cast on for a fall sweater. 🙃
I love broken rib for smaller garments like tanks. It makes a simple piece look so much more fancy lol. Love the neckline for your tank and that color looks amazing on you! You did a great job 💗
Thank you!
that green looks great on you! exited to see how the dresses come out!
ok that onion yarn is saur cute!!! I'm living vicariously thru your EXCELLENT yarn choice yet again
Hehehe thank you! I'm loving it so far
I pretend I come for the knitting but I really come for the reality TV. I'm all into Too Hot to Handle right now. The premise is killer. Sexy singles being told to be abstinent by a talking Alexa/Siri-esque cone. Who can resist this?
Another episode, yay! Always enjoying your podcast!
You look absolutely stunning in grellow! Isn't it "supposed" to work that way anyways, like, if you have a golden skin undertone, warm colours like yellow, warm hues of green/red, apricot etc, and gold jewelry are for you, and if your skin tone is blueish/cool, you should wear silver and cool tones? I am a very different complexion than you (pasty northern/eastern European dark blonde), but I do also have a golden undertone, and I actually avoid most cool colours because they wash me out even further.
I think an easy way to test this is to hold up a completely bright-white sheet of paper next to your face in front of a mirror. If that makes you look very obviously grey and peaky, you're probably a 'warm' skin tone :) (If you're a cool tone, the white paper won't make much of a difference. I doubt anyone with a normal level of everyday exhaustion would actually look BETTER next to it though, lol)
Good to hear about the dress! Or rather, dresses! Sandnes is one of my favourite yarn brands, and that new pink stuff is GORGEOUS!
About the gauge and fit issues for Melides...
[TL;DR for the following essay:
Maybe watch Little Big Knits' video "Sweater Math" th-cam.com/video/HNu4GiD6GCE/w-d-xo.html instead of reading my novel here, she kinda handles things the same way, haha!]
You can always smuggle in some extra stitches here and there if you get the feeling it turns out too tight over other areas of your body now that you've sized down. I have to fudge sizes a lot, both in sewing and knitting!
Maybe your issues are loosely related to just finding your own way of fudging and modifying and fitting things to your personal style of knitting and body type. I think we all go through that from time to time on different levels. Personally, I do knit looser on big garments than small swatches, but I don't really care about swatching much anymore. I usually half-heartedly knit a swatch for a few rounds, then eyeball the change in needle size I'll have to make, and then prepare to rip out the actual project a few times after starting. Usually I don't even care about knitting exactly to gauge anyways, I think more about if I like the fabric. I just measure the gauge on the project after a bit, then calculate how many stitches I would need at the relevant part of the body for my preferred fit, compare with the stitch counts in the pattern, and just take the best match in size as a basis for all further modifications. I basically know my personal gauge for certain needle size+yarn weight combos, and often don't even look at the recommended needle sizes on ballbands or patterns. So, my project is my swatch! And even then, my body usually doesn't match up completely with any size anyways. I don't think I ever made a whole garment without fit modifications, and I wouldn't want to!
Just another well meaning tip for Italy, you probably know already: Be prepared for not having air conditioning in most buildings. Being from Europe, I never have lived with AC in any of my flats and houses, so I just don't know what life is like if buildings are cool during summer... I just imagine that the shock could be quite drastic the other way round! I know it's tempting to pack all the knits or think "plant fibre isn't too warm", but... just be warned!😘
Sorry for sounding like a lecturer! I'm off work for summer, but 5 years of teaching young adults at a conservatory really sinks into your bones I guess. Just ignore me if I'm not helpful, I'm used to that too! 😅
Have a great summer!!
Thank you for such a thoughtful comment, I used to work with teachers so I totally understand haha. Definitely noted about no AC! Trying to mentally prepare as best I can, we are def spoiled with it here.
I’m rooting for your dress project! I know is gonna be amazing! Don’t give up! We’ll be here for the support if you need it! ❤️
Thank you! I’ve gotten such amazing advice and motivation so far 🥰💕
Yass girl life is definitely so much better with color!! I'm kind of over summer knitting too lmao
love the tank, great job. I've been knitting 12 years and have never attempted self drafting, You're going to get so much wear out of it this summer in the DMV, it is sweltering here!!
SOO hot right now, expecting to get use of these summer items well into September!
I will always miss the RHONY OG's but I'm not as mad about the new cast as I thought I would be.
I feel the same way! And at least we have Crappie Lake with Lu and Sonya
Are you Jewish?