The Knitting for Olive silk is a bourette silk, meaning it has shorter fibres because the silk worm are left to become moths and break through the cocoon when they leave it, hence breaking through the fibres and slicing them into shorter lengths. The shorter fibres mean it is not as smooth. More lustrous silk is produced when the cocoons are boiled with the worm still inside so that the silk can be harvested as one long strand. It’s why KFO silk is described as cruelty free. It’s Georgia Waters in the Marie Wallin pictures - she’s an English actor and writer.
I feel that grays, whites and other neutrals are the most boring to knit, but also the garments that I wear the most. I try to remember that, when I struggle to pick up my basic neutral wips. Your Cumulus looks beautiful!
I saw your video today for the first time. I totally understand the “I can’t use this because it’s too good” mentality! OMG! I can’t believe how much waste can come from that! The whatever that is too good to eat ends up going bad before I can eat it…. Life is too short! Use the best yarn you can, eat the gifted food! ❤
Your Cumulus O neck looks gorgeous. I love the white. I think because ofvthe type of silk it is, it should hold up well. Your Sabai Top is looking gorgeous too. Trust me, it will block out perfect. Sandnes Garn Line is my all time favourite summer yarn and it washes and wears really well. Really enjoying your podcast!
Hi! Just want to tell you that I like your podcasts and give you a tip to knit in a different style. I’m Portuguese and I knit in the Portuguese style, which is a style more hand pain free Purling in this style is much easier, I prefer purling over knitting. We tension the yarn over the neck. You can watch tutorials to learn this style. The other thing is I think you would prefer using the twisted rib because it’s so beautiful. Just give it a try. It’s a little time consuming but it’s worth it. I cheat, I use a half twisted rib. This technique is very simple, you just knit your stitches through the back leg, twisting the stitch 😅. Hope that helps you. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
I actually have tried Portuguese purling a little and it is so so fun! I haven’t been able to nail the gauge so I need to practice more 😊 also need to try twisted rib!
I think most of us have this problem when knitting in flat the rows are never even but it’ll get better in the round and after that magic block . Loved your decent distribution about KFO burr silk. Simply I experienced the same ❤
Bless you, every knitter vows to finish one project before casting on something new but for many of us, the temptation of the new item is too much and before you know it, you have 14 garments on the needles. I am knitting the Yell cardigan at the moment, by the way. The model is Georgia who lives in Canada but Marie Wallin uses her as the model for her garnents because, I think, she looks celtic/scottish. Love the Cumulus Tee you knitted!
Hi Jacque! Thanks for sharing this experience. I am also knitting now cumulus tee o neck, I also use pure silk knitting for olive, but in blue color. And for me it’s also a very strange yarn 😂 looks more like cotton yarn.But I like you tee, this white color is fabulous and fits you so good. It’s simple tee but looks so timeless 👍 I almost finished my blue one and the next cumulus tee will be definitely in white or light color. I am so disappointed that white pure silk yarn becomes yellow on the sun😮 so maybe it’s better to choose a cotton yarn for this project.
I knit anything at anytime of year. I have been working on 2 tests using wooly wool over this past month. My summer knit is still not finished but that’s ok I will get it done in time for next spring. KFO is cruelty free, I don’t know the whole process but I believe they only use material from silk worms that have matured. I haven’t found it hard on my hands when using so no advice there. It really does drape beautifully and it will soften with wear. I didn’t block mine in water I steam blocked it. My stitch definition looked better after steam blocking. I blocked silk in water once in the past (not KFO) and it was ruined so I am wary of doing that since. Your California sweater looks great. Take care.
If you’d like to try a silk yarn more like what you described (silk is harvested differently than that of the KFO), you can try Malabrigo Mora. I definitely recommend using wooden needles though - the less grippy the yarn (summer fibers), the grippier needle needed is what I find. Same with Line. Also, if you want to try a different raglan construction (I find them better fitting but still like traditional raglans), try knitting a compound raglan. You could so the Slightly Sassy V instead of the Cumulus V-neck, for instance.
Silk is taken from the filament that lines the inside the silk cocoon. In shiny silk, the the silkworms are killed by boiling the cocoons so they can extrude the filament from inside in one long single very thin strand, so when combined these long strands to give a shiny smooth fibre. With KFO and any other cruelty free silk, they allow the silkworm to eat their way out of the cocoon, therefore the fibres have all been broken and so the resulting yarn is not smooth and shiny because the maximum length of each fibre is only a few cm long. It's also called peace silk or 'Ahimsa' silk. Using a wooden or bamboo needle with be a little 'grippier' so is a bit easier on your hands. I find that metal needles get kind of 'polished' by silk or cellulose fibres and get slicker and slicker and it is really hard on your hands becuase you are holding it so tight to stop it slipping off. We are heading into Spring here in Australia, and I can't wait to get my Sabai Top on the needles. ALSO ... rowing out can happen if your purl tension is looser than your knit tension, it's very common. Next time, you could try using a smaller needle on one side of your chiagoos so the purl rows are a little tighter.. Loving your podcast - your knits are lovely and I'm sure the little issues you see are invisible to anyone else. 🙂
as someone who has not knittend with KFO silk I really appreciate all the input on the process of knitting with it! I am trying my hardest to finish my summer knits too but like you know..autumn is calling 😅 and the cast on energy is strong . lol!
For your joins, try the magic knot. It works well for plant fibres and other non wooly types. You can also find TH-cam videos that show you several different joins to try for non wool yarns. Everything is a learning opportunity! As far as your tension and rowing out, I am wondering if you did swatches flat and in the round? Swatches are boring but doing them and washing them can give you a good idea of how the finished fabric is going to look with your tension. Washing and letting them dry is KEY. There are also videos on swatching in the round that don’t require you to cut the yarn to get your gauge counts. Most people don’t like to swatch and I was one of them but since I started swatching first I am much happier with the fit and fabric of my knits.
very interesting observations about the silk. i have noticed even with silk fabrics that some silk has a very matte finish and others have a much more shiny and silky finish. interesting about the colour change with UV exposure. i know that yarns that have little to no bounce like silk and cotton can cause hand fatigue and pain much more easily than wool which has a lot more give and bounce to the fibre.
I switched from Addi sock rockets to Seeknits Koshitsu when knitting with KFO silk. The bamboo has more friction and more give than metal needles. I prefer the fixed Seeknits over the interchangeable ones for the 3mm size. They dont have the join/connection to struggle with. The bamboo is a real game changer. Metal was too slippery and my hands would hurt. I now love KFO silk!!
@@jacqueismaking be wary of bamboo needles, though, the brand probably means a lot of difference? I can absolutely NOT knit summer fibres with bamboo needles, for me it has to be wooden ones.. agree about the Seeknits, I use their fixed ones. :)
Jacque, your Cumulus is beautiful! I’m so glad you discovered knitting and started your channel🧶💛 If I did that blind test for the KFO Heavy Merino, I would also think it was 100%cotton. It has no fluffy/squishy or wooly feel to me. It’s stiff and I’m currently knitting a hat with it and my hands are hurting for the first time. I wish I knew if their fingering Merino had the same tight spin/ply. There has to be a reason of why this yarn is this way. I wish I knew. I love their range of colors though. I’ve only otherwise used their silk mohair, which I like. Okay, now I’m gonna get back to watching the rest of your episode😊
Wow, that is so interesting, and I’ve heard that as well with the heavy merino! I’m also curious about why this is, but you’re right, the colors are just so good. I do know I love their mohair at least! Thank you for being here and your kind compliments 🫶🏼
@@jacqueismaking thanks Jacque! I love your Mondim colorway. I’m such a fan of that yarn. I’ve made three pairs of socks so far in it and hope to make many more. There is a hat pattern, the Spur hat by Hiromi Nagasawa, that I want to make. She used that yarn for all of her samples and it’s right up my alley. Maybe I will make a striped one with my sock leftovers. 😊
Just made the Anker Summer Shirt with the Line. Sandnes Garn recommends to machine wash on delicate/cool then dry flat. It blocked out very well. The stitches evened out and plumped up
I love your California sweater! When I look at the earth and sky color way online at Four crow Fibers, it looks so much more yellow ( and blues) than yours… do the colors vary a lot? I LOVE the colors of yours!
If you feel like you’re rowing out some, it’s likely because your purls are looser than yourKnits. If you’re using interchangeable needles put a smaller size on the left-hand needle so that when you begin a Purl, you’re using a smaller needle size. That should help.
Hi Jacque, the Knitting for Olive Silk is a so-called Bourette Silk. It means that the Silk cocoons are used after the butterflies have left them. Therefore the Silk fibers are shorter and not so shiny. The shiny silk is produced by cooking the cocooons while the caterpillar is still alive and inside. Bourette silk is considered more ethical
Hi! The models name is Georgia I believe. She works with Marie a lot and features in all her books. She lives in the States and travels to the UK to do the photo shoots. I did two workshops with Marie last year, one on steeking. She is such a lovely lady and an inspiration to meet. If you come to the UK consider going to Cumbria to join her for a weekend retreat. I really recommend it.
Marie Wallin’s model is named Georgia and she uses her because of her beautiful coloring. Her yarns are complimented by Georgia’s beautiful hair and color of her skin. I think Georgia has moved to Canada but has agreed to remain as Marie’s model for all future projects.
Hi Jacqueline how about dying your white top. Silk will die very different than wool. Probably more like linen, uneven. If you have a local yarn shop why not ask at the store to see how they think it would die.
About your ‘Shetland’ book by Marie Wallin. You might enjoy @FruityKnitting’s Episode 42. “Marie Wallin joins us in Episode 42 (th-cam.com/video/PCQHwetkteE/w-d-xo.html) of the Fruity Knitting Podcast to present her new Shetland collection. Formerly head designer at Rowan Yarns, Marie Wallin has based her latest designs on Jamieson’s of Shetland yarn Spindrift, with inspiration taken from the many islands of the Shetland group.”
The Knitting for Olive silk is a bourette silk, meaning it has shorter fibres because the silk worm are left to become moths and break through the cocoon when they leave it, hence breaking through the fibres and slicing them into shorter lengths. The shorter fibres mean it is not as smooth. More lustrous silk is produced when the cocoons are boiled with the worm still inside so that the silk can be harvested as one long strand. It’s why KFO silk is described as cruelty free. It’s Georgia Waters in the Marie Wallin pictures - she’s an English actor and writer.
Ah! I appreciate this information so so much, that totally makes sense!
I feel that grays, whites and other neutrals are the most boring to knit, but also the garments that I wear the most. I try to remember that, when I struggle to pick up my basic neutral wips. Your Cumulus looks beautiful!
I agree with this so much!
I saw your video today for the first time. I totally understand the “I can’t use this because it’s too good” mentality! OMG! I can’t believe how much waste can come from that! The whatever that is too good to eat ends up going bad before I can eat it…. Life is too short! Use the best yarn you can, eat the gifted food! ❤
So glad you’re here, agree with this mentality completely! 🫶🏼🤍 We have to do that more!
Keep wearing it… it’s gorgeous…. Dry cleaners can do wonders if anything happens. It’s too beautiful to keep stocked away.
Appreciate this comment 😊
I love, love watching your podcast - your enthusiasm is contagious! Thanks for sharing all your gorgeous knits! ❤
Thank you for being here!!! I am glad we can be enthusiastic together :)
White shirts are the best for summer, i think. Beautiful. 🤩
Thank you so much!
You did an amazing job on your sweater! Well done!
@@dorisbeers4898 appreciate you saying that 🫶🏼🧡 thank you!!!
Your Cumulus O neck looks gorgeous. I love the white. I think because ofvthe type of silk it is, it should hold up well. Your Sabai Top is looking gorgeous too. Trust me, it will block out perfect. Sandnes Garn Line is my all time favourite summer yarn and it washes and wears really well. Really enjoying your podcast!
Thank you so much for being here! I am excited to hear you’ve loved your Line!!
I love your podcasts!!
Thank you so much for being here!
Love love love how your cumulus tee turned out. I also really like Four Crows Fibers colorways. Looking forward to seeing that sweater finished.
Thank you so much! I love their colorways too, they are so unique. 🫶🏼
Hi! Just want to tell you that I like your podcasts and give you a tip to knit in a different style. I’m Portuguese and I knit in the Portuguese style, which is a style more hand pain free Purling in this style is much easier, I prefer purling over knitting. We tension the yarn over the neck. You can watch tutorials to learn this style. The other thing is I think you would prefer using the twisted rib because it’s so beautiful. Just give it a try. It’s a little time consuming but it’s worth it. I cheat, I use a half twisted rib. This technique is very simple, you just knit your stitches through the back leg, twisting the stitch 😅. Hope that helps you. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
I actually have tried Portuguese purling a little and it is so so fun! I haven’t been able to nail the gauge so I need to practice more 😊 also need to try twisted rib!
That's very good to know about silk yarn!! I haven't used it yet, but I'm always interested in what people think of it.
Yeah, I’m a little hesitant to use it again but I love the fabric so much! I just think next time I’ll use a darker color.
I think most of us have this problem when knitting in flat the rows are never even but it’ll get better in the round and after that magic block . Loved your decent distribution about KFO burr silk. Simply I experienced the same ❤
I am happy to hear a lot of you feel the same and have had similar experience 🤍
Bless you, every knitter vows to finish one project before casting on something new but for many of us, the temptation of the new item is too much and before you know it, you have 14 garments on the needles. I am knitting the Yell cardigan at the moment, by the way. The model is Georgia who lives in Canada but Marie Wallin uses her as the model for her garnents because, I think, she looks celtic/scottish. Love the Cumulus Tee you knitted!
Ahhh you are?? So excited you have Yell on the needles. Thanks for being here!
Hi Jacque! Thanks for sharing this experience. I am also knitting now cumulus tee o neck, I also use pure silk knitting for olive, but in blue color. And for me it’s also a very strange yarn 😂 looks more like cotton yarn.But I like you tee, this white color is fabulous and fits you so good. It’s simple tee but looks so timeless 👍 I almost finished my blue one and the next cumulus tee will be definitely in white or light color. I am so disappointed that white pure silk yarn becomes yellow on the sun😮 so maybe it’s better to choose a cotton yarn for this project.
So glad I’m not alone in feeling that way! I’m sure you’ll love your blue one and yes, maybe cotton for your lighter or the cotton merino!
Clothes aren't made to sit I. Your closet. Wear it🤗.
I knit anything at anytime of year. I have been working on 2 tests using wooly wool over this past month. My summer knit is still not finished but that’s ok I will get it done in time for next spring.
KFO is cruelty free, I don’t know the whole process but I believe they only use material from silk worms that have matured. I haven’t found it hard on my hands when using so no advice there. It really does drape beautifully and it will soften with wear. I didn’t block mine in water I steam blocked it. My stitch definition looked better after steam blocking. I blocked silk in water once in the past (not KFO) and it was ruined so I am wary of doing that since. Your California sweater looks great. Take care.
Thank you for being here and all of your tips! I shall have to try a steam block!
If you’d like to try a silk yarn more like what you described (silk is harvested differently than that of the KFO), you can try Malabrigo Mora. I definitely recommend using wooden needles though - the less grippy the yarn (summer fibers), the grippier needle needed is what I find. Same with Line. Also, if you want to try a different raglan construction (I find them better fitting but still like traditional raglans), try knitting a compound raglan. You could so the Slightly Sassy V instead of the Cumulus V-neck, for instance.
What a great idea! I will add slightly sassy v in that yarn for my summer makes list next year, thank you for suggesting 😊
Silk is taken from the filament that lines the inside the silk cocoon. In shiny silk, the the silkworms are killed by boiling the cocoons so they can extrude the filament from inside in one long single very thin strand, so when combined these long strands to give a shiny smooth fibre. With KFO and any other cruelty free silk, they allow the silkworm to eat their way out of the cocoon, therefore the fibres have all been broken and so the resulting yarn is not smooth and shiny because the maximum length of each fibre is only a few cm long. It's also called peace silk or 'Ahimsa' silk. Using a wooden or bamboo needle with be a little 'grippier' so is a bit easier on your hands. I find that metal needles get kind of 'polished' by silk or cellulose fibres and get slicker and slicker and it is really hard on your hands becuase you are holding it so tight to stop it slipping off. We are heading into Spring here in Australia, and I can't wait to get my Sabai Top on the needles. ALSO ... rowing out can happen if your purl tension is looser than your knit tension, it's very common. Next time, you could try using a smaller needle on one side of your chiagoos so the purl rows are a little tighter.. Loving your podcast - your knits are lovely and I'm sure the little issues you see are invisible to anyone else. 🙂
Thank you so much! I sincerely appreciate this insight.
as someone who has not knittend with KFO silk I really appreciate all the input on the process of knitting with it! I am trying my hardest to finish my summer knits too but like you know..autumn is calling 😅 and the cast on energy is strong . lol!
We have to finish them to move on to autumn 🥰🥰
For your joins, try the magic knot. It works well for plant fibres and other non wooly types. You can also find TH-cam videos that show you several different joins to try for non wool yarns. Everything is a learning opportunity!
As far as your tension and rowing out, I am wondering if you did swatches flat and in the round? Swatches are boring but doing them and washing them can give you a good idea of how the finished fabric is going to look with your tension. Washing and letting them dry is KEY. There are also videos on swatching in the round that don’t require you to cut the yarn to get your gauge counts. Most people don’t like to swatch and I was one of them but since I started swatching first I am much happier with the fit and fabric of my knits.
Great idea on the magic knot!
very interesting observations about the silk. i have noticed even with silk fabrics that some silk has a very matte finish and others have a much more shiny and silky finish. interesting about the colour change with UV exposure. i know that yarns that have little to no bounce like silk and cotton can cause hand fatigue and pain much more easily than wool which has a lot more give and bounce to the fibre.
For sure!
I switched from Addi sock rockets to Seeknits Koshitsu when knitting with KFO silk. The bamboo has more friction and more give than metal needles. I prefer the fixed Seeknits over the interchangeable ones for the 3mm size. They dont have the join/connection to struggle with. The bamboo is a real game changer. Metal was too slippery and my hands would hurt. I now love KFO silk!!
This is so helpful, I’m definitely going to put bamboo needles on my birthday list - perhaps these koshitsu!!
@@jacqueismaking be wary of bamboo needles, though, the brand probably means a lot of difference? I can absolutely NOT knit summer fibres with bamboo needles, for me it has to be wooden ones.. agree about the Seeknits, I use their fixed ones. :)
@@juliaholmedammann7601 do you know the main difference between wooden vs bamboo? Appreciate your tips!
Jacque, your Cumulus is beautiful! I’m so glad you discovered knitting and started your channel🧶💛 If I did that blind test for the KFO Heavy Merino, I would also think it was 100%cotton. It has no fluffy/squishy or wooly feel to me. It’s stiff and I’m currently knitting a hat with it and my hands are hurting for the first time. I wish I knew if their fingering Merino had the same tight spin/ply. There has to be a reason of why this yarn is this way. I wish I knew. I love their range of colors though. I’ve only otherwise used their silk mohair, which I like. Okay, now I’m gonna get back to watching the rest of your episode😊
Wow, that is so interesting, and I’ve heard that as well with the heavy merino! I’m also curious about why this is, but you’re right, the colors are just so good. I do know I love their mohair at least!
Thank you for being here and your kind compliments 🫶🏼
@@jacqueismaking thanks Jacque! I love your Mondim colorway. I’m such a fan of that yarn. I’ve made three pairs of socks so far in it and hope to make many more. There is a hat pattern, the Spur hat by Hiromi Nagasawa, that I want to make. She used that yarn for all of her samples and it’s right up my alley. Maybe I will make a striped one with my sock leftovers. 😊
Just made the Anker Summer Shirt with the Line. Sandnes Garn recommends to machine wash on delicate/cool then dry flat. It blocked out very well. The stitches evened out and plumped up
I’ve never heard this recommendation, thank you so much! I will check that out.
You're so cute Jacque! It was so fun to listen to your knitting updates. You should definitely come with me to Scotland one day!
I just know one day you and I will be together in Scotland, wearing Shetland knits 🥹🥹 🐑
I really enjoy your podcasts! New subscriber from West Virginia. I want on that plane when everyone goes to Scotland 😂
Same, we all need to coordinate a knitting tour together!
Someday you could try and over dye the white tee. I’ve done that with a few knits with Rit dye. Love all your knitting!
I’m so wanting to try this one day! Did you have good results with your Rit?
I love your California sweater! When I look at the earth and sky color way online at Four crow Fibers, it looks so much more yellow ( and blues) than yours… do the colors vary a lot? I LOVE the colors of yours!
I’m curious if they vary as well, or if they’ve since changed the recipe because mine are so much more orange!!
I have heard that using two different size needles can help with rowing out. It’s worth looking into.
I think I will for sure be looking into this!
i’ve gotten hand pain as well when knitting. compression gloves have helped a lot!
I’ve never tried those! Do you have a favorite brand?
I found mine on Amazon. Duerer compression gloves
If you feel like you’re rowing out some, it’s likely because your purls are looser than yourKnits. If you’re using interchangeable needles put a smaller size on the left-hand needle so that when you begin a Purl, you’re using a smaller needle size. That should help.
I’ve wanted to try this forever, it just seems scary! Have you tried it?
It really seems like you should prioritize that zipper sweater, it’s one of your more crucial projects to finish
I will get going on that one 😊
Love the drape of your Cumulus O-neck. 🧶 I finished weaving in ends on a secret test knit while watching. 😃
Can’t wait to see your test knit 😊
Hi Jacque, the Knitting for Olive Silk is a so-called Bourette Silk. It means that the Silk cocoons are used after the butterflies have left them. Therefore the Silk fibers are shorter and not so shiny. The shiny silk is produced by cooking the cocooons while the caterpillar is still alive and inside. Bourette silk is considered more ethical
That makes a ton of sense!
Fun fact about Georgia, Marie’s favorite model…she’s also an actress! She played one of the mermaids in Sirens.
I saw that, she’s is so many things! So stunning
Hi! The models name is Georgia I believe. She works with Marie a lot and features in all her books. She lives in the States and travels to the UK to do the photo shoots. I did two workshops with Marie last year, one on steeking. She is such a lovely lady and an inspiration to meet. If you come to the UK consider going to Cumbria to join her for a weekend retreat. I really recommend it.
Oh I am so jealous you’ve gotten to do a workshop with her!!! Thank you for letting me know she does these 😊
Omg I am the same about “saving” my white items. It’s so dumb, and I’ve been trying to reform. 😂
It’s soooo hard to get over 😂😂
What do you think about knitting the beautiful rusty leaf and mohair into the man sweater your knitting. I’m thinking of doing that.
I think that would be absolutely beautiful!!! Please tag me if you make it!
Hundred Acre Wool (Bella-she has a great podcast if you didn’t know) made that Yell cardigan. You should check her out!!
Oh I will totally check her out, thank you!
Marie Wallin’s model is named Georgia and she uses her because of her beautiful coloring. Her yarns are complimented by Georgia’s beautiful hair and color of her skin. I think Georgia has moved to Canada but has agreed to remain as Marie’s model for all future projects.
Thank you so much for sharing, I can so see why she chooses her, she’s stunning in the knits!
I laid my wool Alpine Bloom out in the sun to dry and the back went from purple to light blue. I think if it isn’t wet it should be ok.
Oh my gosh! Was that wool?
@@jacqueismakingyes! A merino fingering weight.
Hi Jacqueline how about dying your white top. Silk will die very different than wool. Probably more like linen, uneven. If you have a local yarn shop why not ask at the store to see how they think it would die.
This is such a great idea!
About your ‘Shetland’ book by Marie Wallin. You might enjoy @FruityKnitting’s Episode 42.
“Marie Wallin joins us in Episode 42 (th-cam.com/video/PCQHwetkteE/w-d-xo.html) of the Fruity Knitting Podcast to present her new Shetland collection. Formerly head designer at Rowan Yarns, Marie Wallin has based her latest designs on Jamieson’s of Shetland yarn Spindrift, with inspiration taken from the many
islands of the Shetland group.”
Oh how wonderful, I cannot wait to watch tonight! Thank you so much for sharing!!!
I just finished my Yell, which was an epic project. So I totally understand your enthusiasm!
@@dlyon7535 ah!!! I love that you made one so much!!
The model is called Georgia.
She is so beautiful!
I just subscribed to your Instagram. I am new to that platform. Looking forward to seeing your posts.
Glad to have you over there as well, it is a super inspiring platform for me knitting-wise 😊
Steep learning curve, huh?
I haven’t had silk break down quickly.
When you care for it appropriately it’s fine, honestly.
Glad to hear!
Where is the steaking class you mentioned?
I don’t think scheduled quite yet, but I’ll keep you posted!
@@jacqueismaking Sows Ear?
@@cynthiacolombo7366 sunset actually!
@@jacqueismaking we haven’t been there yet. Will have to give it a go