i will say video and photo with patterns are useful for people who process information better in a visual format so some people may need them to learn. not everyone but there are people who need to learn that way. as an autistic i can get fine with just text but visual aids do help for if something is worded in a way the writer understands that /i/ cant interpret or if my mild dyslexia gets loose as its want to do every now and then when im not super lazer focused on taking in only a word at a time. some of us out here are just stupid cant help that lmao.
Thank you for this! I absolutely agree and apologies for the lack of nuance in the vid - gonna pin this. You’re right, visual and audiovisual aids are so useful and I definitely relate to being absolutely LOST with a written instruction and needing a photo or video in order to comprehend wtf I’m being asked to do. I definitely think we ask too much of individual patterns (wanting written, charted, illustrated AND video instructions, for example) but I do appreciate that having patterns and tutorials in a variety of ways is important for accessibility.
@@CinemaKnits yeah definitely get it some people feeling entitled to everything from others. especially if theyre offering a good or service. i figured it was more something that slipped out of the thought process since consumer entitlement and accessibility are slightly separate topics. ...though entitlement can push some negative effects onto accessibility and it should be addressed
I think phontos are very useful, and sometimes also videos, but I think there is a difference between damding/expecting it and appreciating it from a designer.
@@CinemaKnitsI agree, and I think this goes hand in hand with your point about there being no unique designs. If a pattern is not written in a way that makes sense to you, I guarantee you can find something very similar with a differently formatted pattern. Getting good at searching for the right pattern for you is one of the most central skills involved in making from patterns. And if you don’t have the patience for that, while older patterns are more streamlined, older books on craft are particularly thorough in explaining how to adapt patterns or even just wing it without one. If you knit and feel picky about pattern style, read Elizabeth Zimmerman and a world of liberation from following patterns exactly will be unlocked for you!
I simply hate these "test calls" what the requirements to apply for testing are to share the post, save, tag like 3 friends, post on stories, provide "instagrammable" photos, I've even seen one that asked to "help to promote my pattern when it's released." Do you really want people to help testing your pattern or just want free marketing? I'm volunteering my time, my crochet knowledge, my materials FOR FREE and yet people have the audacity to make so many requests I don't know but it seems so unfair to me
@@Srta.Meia-noite yes - tester calls and applications are fine but the emphasis on free marketing and photos on top of your time is a lot, and can feel like a popularity contest
I loved what you said about testers doing designers a favor. I’ve noticed a lot of designers acting like testers should be honored to even glimpse at their pattern and it’s really getting annoying.
That only works if you don't get addicted to a specific brand of 100% merino handdyed wool, which comes in dozens of stunning colourways and multiple luxurious weights!
I totally agree with most of what you're saying. I recently saw a 'designer' marketing a pattern for beginning knitters: it was a single rib beanie. There are a gazillion free patterns out there for beanies and your grannie would tell you that you don't even need a pattern! I felt angry that new knitters are being ripped off by being sold a pattern that they could get for free if they knew where to look. There are so many patterns that are just another variation on an old theme; hardly anything is truly original, so finding an old free pattern is perfect for me. I'm glad you made the point about test knitting. I've spent my working life selling my labour and I'm staggered that people are setting up design businesses that rely on the exploitation of a pool of free labour. It seems to me a completely unethical way to run a business. The fact that they don't even supply their workers with the required yarn and needles is breath-taking. It took me quite a bit of research to confirm that this was the case because I couldn't believe it at first. Properly trained professional designers DON'T do this.
@@patdent I will say that I regularly test crochet for free for a designer I really love, and genuinely enjoy it and get a lot out of it, but that’s partly because of the atmosphere she creates in the test and the learning opportunities she provides in lieu of payment (I also get access to her pattern library and discounts on all her yarns). I agree that the culture majorly needs to change!!
@@CinemaKnits What I used to love about TH-cam was that so many people with joy and enthusiasm just wanted to find a way to share their knowledge about the things they loved. Evidently, you have found a reciprocal relationship with a designer, which is lovely, but I just see a great deal of exploitation. I would be happy to do free test knitting for someone developing a free pattern. That seems like a win-win. But there's something wrong when a designer expects to be paid for their own labour while denying payment to others who have also laboured on the product.
I agree, the system needs revising!! I am planning to make a video about my testing experience & the general vibe of testing to talk about some of this stuff…
As a knitter who is allergic to wool it’s nice to hear someone not demonise acrylic. My auntie taught me to knit when I was 7 years old, I still have that very first scarf I made and the knitting needles she bought me. It’s one of those hobbies that I never got tired of and brings me so much satisfaction and joy.
Another thing about mohair is that it is a nightmare to frog and as a person who commonly make mistakes i didn’t realize how frustrating mohair was till it was too late
100% agree. I happen to really like some acrylic yarns and have had some people be really snotty about it. There's a really popular indie yarn company here in the US owned by two women who started this whole "death to acrylic" bullshit a few years back. Talk about privilege and alienating people. No thanks! All fibers are welcome in my yarn club!
As someone who doesn't like to use acrylic (I just don't like how it feels when I'm knitting it), I completely agree! Not only is there absolutely nothing wrong with using acrylic if that's what you like/what's in your budget/etc. there are some use cases where it's the best choice! Anything I make for kids or parents of young kids that needs to be able to be easily washed and dried is going to be at least partly acrylic (or a truly washable and durable super wash, but even that kind be risky). Just leave people alone to use what they like!
Fr! I never use acrylic when crocheting clothes because I make them for myself and I can't stand the way it feels on my skin. But, when I'm making something like amigurumi it's fantastic since it's often cheaper and available in more colors. There are situations for everything!
I know that it's not accessible to many people to buy natural yarns, especially ones that are as soft as acrylic, but I feel bad about multiplying demand for plastics in this world, so yeah, I'd rather people didn't use so much acrylic. Same as with buying synthetic clothes
In my country, woollen yarn typically costs between 1.90 euros (for brands like Drops) and 4 euros for 50 grams, and sometimes even for 100 grams. Our national or folk knits are always made from wool, which is well-suited to our climate. Nothing privileged about it. I don’t dislike acrylics; in fact, my everyday gloves for milder winter weather are often inexpensive acrylic ones mass-produced in China. However, my “festive” and cold-weather (starting may be -7 -10 C) gloves and mittens are knitted by me using lambswool. In colder conditions, wool feels invigorating and doesn’t irritate the skin. The same goes for scarves; during warmer weather, I it is more comfortable to wear some acrylic, merino or cotton or silk or blend of such. On the other hand, people usually do not wear woollen sweaters directly against their skin. Instead, they serve as part of the middle layers of clothing. And woollen socks are the absolute must in winter when you feet are not only cold but sometimes wet also.
loved this! I am gen x and got into knitting in the first revival in the 90s. One of the coolest things was how suddenly I had so much to talk about with women my grandmother’s age (greatest generation). Women’s crafts were out of fashion in second wave feminism for a long time and my mum wasn’t into it at all - quite common for boomer women. Can’t believe there have been two!! handcraft revivals in my lifetime now lol
I think that one of the reasons there is an expectation of patterns including photos and video tutorials is that many of us are NOT connected to community and do not have that crocheter or knitter in our family that can pass that knowledge on to us. The reason vintage patterns (and, btw, cooking and baking recipes as well) were a paragraph long, is not because of literacy, it's because it was part of ones basic life skills that were passed down through ones family. Knowing these skills was so common and deeply ingrained, that one did not need more than a few sentences to understand a pattern.
I really don't agree - all the techniques, abbrivations and even how to read a pattern is a google away and has multiple tutorials on youtube. If one struggles to do a pattern without photos and videos is could be because that pattern is too high of a skill level or that it's just written in a way that doesn't work for that person. Or, it could also be that one very well could make it work but gets intimidated by the wall of text and gets puts off, but once one starts it begins to make sense. We are loads of people that are 100% self taught and can read text only patterns but it takes some time and dedication. Not all patterns suit a beginner.
@@osterlings I suppose those requesting videos and photos are either beginners or visual learners. While in the past visual learners had a number of family members that could simply show them how to work a pattern, people today simply don't have that resource. I remember when I first started out, I needed someone to "show me the ropes", and I can get that some people are like that.
Hi Sophie, I'm glad your video popped up in my feed! Thank you so much for your honest opinion. As a knitting designer, I truly appreciate it. I’ve been designing for over 10 years now and have gained a lot of experience in the industry, with a few popular patterns to my name. Yet, I’ve never become an influencer or trendsetter. I definitely feel the pressure from social media to use mohair, buy expensive yarn, build large stashes, use fancy (often unnecessary) tools, and design more frequently. It can be so stressful! However, I try to resist that pressure and stay true to my own path, even if my designs don’t become hugely popular or I don’t gain a massive following. Honestly, this influence and trend-driven mindset is present in all aspects of life-travel, lifestyle, fashion, makeup, and more-so it’s not surprising that the knitting community is affected too! As a designer, I’m incredibly grateful to my test knitters for their support and the favor they do by helping with my patterns. Unfortunately, I can’t afford to pay them for their work, as some patterns don’t sell well, and my job isn’t always profitable. That said, I never penalize test knitters for missing deadlines (life happens!), and I never require them to promote my patterns. I’m always thankful when they do! While it’s wonderful to see my patterns shared on Ravelry and social media, I fully agree that it’s not their responsibility to do so.
Lovely to hear from you as a designer! I do a bit of testing for a crochet designer I love and I do not get paid, and I’m fine with that. We do get discounts on her yarn and also free patterns from her archive, which I appreciate, and it’s a lovely testing experience every time 🤎
About the patterns, it really reminded about another video like this I was watching and a woman in the comments basically said that you can't say you're a real crocheter/knitter if you don't make patterns at least once. Like? No. Imagine telling your 99yo grandma that's she's not a real crocheter after spending all her life making little socks, coats and god knows what else that she learned from family/friends/school/magazines just because she never created a pattern. Dude I just want to crochet in peace, I don't have the mental capacity to come with patterns, I DON'T WANT to make patterns and things like that, I belive in creativity that allows you to modify patterns to fit your liking better and that's it. I'll follow the pattern someone posted and end of the story, it's fine for me. Also: if you crochet or knit, it doesn't matter how long you've been doing it, you ARE a real crocheter/kniter.
Yes!! The idea of being a “real” knitter/crocheter is v weird to me. The same as being a “real” writer. When am I finally “real”, and who decides that?
As evidence for your point - I made my own “pattern” for my second crochet project. (I’m sure it’s been done before, but I tried myself because it helps me learn.) Any gatekeepers certainly wouldn’t want me and my 1 and a half finished projects to be counted as a “real” crocheter haha! And Grandma who has never made a pattern is still at least a million times more experienced than me. I’m just a beginner!
But like where is the lie! Also, living in Australia it’s taken time for me to accept the garments worth knitting are the ones suited to the climate I’m in. That means a lot of the trending patterns just don’t work for me. I find lightweight short sleeve or sleeveless 1940s knit patterns are it for me, which is okay cause I love them.
Heh, we must be opposite ends of Australia, I do mostly do socks and winter woollies, but am just dipping my needles in the waters of summer tops with some new yarn from Bendigo.
I shop for yarn the same way. But we shop sales and use up our odds and ends on granny square. Its helps inspire me to touch the yarn too. Sometimes you see it and your brain says "mittens. This yarn is mittens."
You are an honest breath of fresh air! I’ve been crocheting since I was a kid, and I’m now 53, so far older than the trendy plushie club. These topics are SPOT ON.
I'm a crocheter who used TH-cam to teach me to knit. I picked up Continental style really quickly. I CAN slowly knit English style, but I'm comfortable with having the yarn in my non-dominant hand, so Continental works for me. I find crochet hard on my thumbs these days and knitting has been a great way to still work with yarn and get that therapy without hurting myself. I've been making lots of hats with my hoard of yarn and I will gift or donate most of them.
You can absolutely steal a pattern. I design shawls. There is nothing new about a triangular shawl in its basic construction. But how I design where I put my purls, eyelets, colour changes, etc is absolutely my creative process. That is the design you can steal.
I'm glad to hear you say having a lot of yarn is okay.....I recently did a temperature blanket, and you inevitably have a lot left over from something like that! I've been able to do several projects with the scraps, and am working on another. Plus, having a stockpile of unassigned yarn lets me play. I remember earlier this year making a granny square bag just to try it, and my wife told me "That's a great idea! We need six more, two for each kid." If I'd sat down to make this piece I probably wouldn't have; by playing with what was essentially spare yarn we found a very practical application for the yarn stash. I'm firmly in the "Do what makes you happy" space. I crochet for a hobby. It's something I do to relax at the end of a hard day, and for my kids (they love to steal the blankets I make). I don't need to care about trendy patters or yarns, or keeping up with anyone. I just make what I like or what I need. If someone doesn't like it, well, they don't have to use the blanket or bag or scarf or whatever!
This has been a hard year for me and I’ve worked through so much of my stash. I’m glad I have a little surplus. I also have a couple special skeins for over 10 years that I may never knit, not sure the perfect pattern exists yet lol.
I disagree with the mohair to some degree. I am usually freezing or working in a cold office and mohair with a sock weight is perfect for making a warm garment without adding too much weight and I found that my favorite sweater made with that type of yarn combo held up so nicely with practically little wear/pilling despite wearing it for half the year. But I do agree with the cost, it can add up.
Respect your elders: They know what they are talking about! Yes, absolutly. Everytime I see a young crochet designer holding up one of thousands simple granny squares, I think: learn to crochet before talking about. You didn`t reinvent the wheel. There are so many patterns and designs out there people just have to find and use it. Everything is instant. Pattern one click away, start now and finish quick. Start something new. Instead of taking the time, searching for a good pattern and fitting yarn, thinking about it and loving every stitch to create exactly the item wanted. A nice sweater takes time and a so does a blanket or a shawl. Even mittens or a scrunchie.
I love people sharing their work & the democratisation of crafting via the internet, but yes there’s a wealth of knowledge out there we can tap into and learn from 🥰
Mohair is overused for sure…but I freaking love it. I just love the fuzz so much. Sure I can use other yarns that will give me a nice fuzzy look, but I’d have to be way more intentional in my search for that fiber (and yes, laziness wins often) I don’t at all find it impractical. Yes, I wear it to the grocery story, or even just chilling at home. I do however, find it very warm, as I run hot, so I have to be mindful of that. I also like how it “hides” mistakes and wonky tension, as I am a mother of young children, perfection is not what I strive for in my knits at this stage of my life. I have also found that I love mohair when it’s spun pure, and not with the addition of silk, which to me, can add a certain amount of structure to the garment I don’t always desire and the silk core has a shine I don’t always love on my finished fabric.
Mohair annoys me because I have to basically buy two sweater quantities; one base fiber and one of the mohair. Two sweater quantities adds up in price for sure
@@camillejolly5501 yes! 💯 It's like buying a fast fashion top that is see through and then having to buy a tank top for underneath. Just give me one yarn, people! One yarn! 😍
ok i respectfully disagree with the statement that you’re buying two sweater quantities, because you seem to be forgetting the fact that fingering+mohair is most often knitted as a dk weight yarn. so roughly one 100g skein of fingering weight yarn + one 50g skein of yarn would make 400m of dk weight yarn, which is the same as 2 100 gram skeins worth of dk weight yarn. the difference would stem from the fact that in the first option you can buy the yarn in 400m units, and in the second option you buy them in 200m units. so if you need say 1000m oy yarn for a sweater your size, you’d have to get 3+3 of fingering+mohair, and have 200m extra, or 5 of dk weight yarn and use all. this will make it slightly more expensive but definitely not double.
Never used mohair before, so, I can't express an opinion on it. But merino is actually my go-to yarn. I've got that neurodivergent hypersensitivity, and I absolutely love how merino feels texture-wise when I touch it! The colours are also quite pleasant to me and I like how stretchy it is
I love knitting with wool, but they’ll never make me hate acrylic. If not for the cheap balls of acrylic in Wilkos (rip legend) I’d never have learned to knit. It allows me to make things for my vegan friend, my other friend who is autistic and finds wool a sensory nightmare, my niece whose clothes have to be washable because she’s permanently covered in jam and poster paint…
24:50 Ohhhh my God I am OBSESSED with DROPS patterns!!! They have, as you said, an insane amount of designs and options available and their sweaters for instance are GORGEOUS (also the 80s-90s pictures in some of them are iconic) ugh I just love them. The only complaint I might have is that they're not the most descriptive, but that's a matter of personal preference
I totally agree about the simplicity vs detail issue in patterns. So many older patterns just expect you to be able to figure things out based on a brief description and maybe a simple diagram. Maybe it's because that's how I learned to knit twenty years ago, but it really surprises me how many people aren't willing to just try things out and make it work. That's how you learn! But maybe it's largely a different style of knitting and crafting; for me, a big part of the fun is figuring out new techniques and how to modify something, rather than simply wanting to enjoy the physical act of knitting. And not everyone is like that, which is fair. Also, I hate mohair and don't understand the appeal! But that's totally a personal preference; i just really dislike wearing anything made from a yarn with a halo.
I agree so much! If you run into abbreviationa or stitches you don't know there are 1000 tutorials on how to do them - just google/youtube and try it out! That's how you learn... not all patterns are or have to be beginner friendly.
As someone who spent literal years not doing anything because I wanted crochet process but knit looks, I have so much trouble with the point about it. The process is just not the same, it's way more pleasure in the hand movements for me to crochet. And then of course the drape and the look of the resulting fabric is not what I want in a garment - and also I just don't need or want home decor crocheted pieces.. But I like the process so much! It's such a sad thing to be torn like that, and it is something that's really hard to accept. I started knitting a bit ago because my mental state got really bad, and I needed to basically do something fidgety to keep my head somewhat calm, and this time around I accepted the idea to knit rather than hunt for crochet patterns and ideas endlessly - but I think I did so only because my hand started to hurt and knitting is easier on it. I know how to knit and crochet since I was about 10 y.o, so both are not new to me. I am also from a country where both crafts are just a part of life, there was no forgetting or going back to them - my grandma used to knit and sew, my mom knits, everyone is just low-key expected to be able to, there's nothing special about it.
as someone who corchets primarily (and knits more than incidentally) i'm also dealing with the oversaturation of mohair and i am sick of it! it's very true that it elevates a piece because of the association of that mohair look with higher end knitwear, but my particular frustration is how it's skewing pattern design and sales. i love that crochet is having a moment but i don't appreciate the number of less experienced crafters who are selling very basic patterns based on pre-existing trends. i see so many pattern releases that are essentially two flat squares sewn together that get very overhyped because they do look great! if it was a normal superwash wool or cotton, i doubt the pattern would be as widely praised, though! i've also been a victim of yarn blindness, though. there have been a non-zero of tikes i'll see a pattern and be like oooh~ but then said pattern will be the same net bolero everyone's been crocheting since 2022 just with really pretty mohair. i am part of the problem 😔
I live in Southeast Asia, where the climate is obviously very hot and humid, so I've accepted the fact that I'll probably never knit a sweater with mohair, lol. I agree with a lot of your points, especially about respecting your craft elders. We don't have a big knitting community in my country, so whenever I travel, I love chatting with older people at shops about knitting and yarn, and they give me such great insight about their own craft culture I'd never know about.
Just came across your account and what a joy?! I love so much of what you’re saying. As so often with fiver arts, the wisdom extends well Beyond the craft; your comment on generosity and a profitable business is so (excuse the pun) on the money! And I love the perspective of celebrating different skills sets rather than feeling there’s a lack in one camp or the other.
I’ve done several pattern tests with vastly different good and bad experiences. Anymore, I only sign up if I really like the design, the sign up is simple, and the deadline is reasonable. After 2 projects in mohair, I quickly learned that I am not a fan and switched to brushed alpaca when appropriate or just going up to a thinker yarn and not holding 2 yarns together
Absolutely agree on the older crafters and local wool shops. I have one and the ladies (also mother & daughter) are not only endlessly knowledgable, but they actively enjoy helping, answering questions and generally nattering about crafting. I mean, I’m probably an old crafter in most people’s eyes, but I learnt to knit and crochet from my nanas, so to me I naturally gravitate towards those women and not social media.
Firstly I just want to say, I love your videos. It just feels like I'm sitting in a friend's livingroom with a coffee for a yap session. Your style of video is so comforting and welcoming. Secondly, to your opinions you mention in the video. Thank you for saying you can't steal patterns! I've gotten a lot of flack before about how if I can recreate something from a picture, I won't buy the pattern. To me, if you have the skills to make something from a picture then you should be able to do so. Like you said, there's only so many ways to make a granny square. I also agree with pretty much every other point you raised. As someone who went to college and got a whole minor in fiber arts because I love it so much, one of the best things in my program was getting to experiement and see what we enjoyed doing. We started with learning the rules and techniques then we were allowed to apply them however we wished. Fiber arts is art, and art has no rules. It may have theories and techniques but there are no rules in art
I love your hot takes. They are common sense to me lol maybe that is because I’ve been knitting and crocheting for so long. Trends are circular. Keep the spicy content coming!!
Watching this, fully knowing that I'm planning to knit two jumpers holding a laceweight mohair-silk with the main yarn sometime next year 🥲 they will for sure be expensive!
I really loved this episode- thank you for sharing!! Your point about knitting podcasters/influencers often knitting the same popular/trendy patterns really helped me bring a subconscious thought to the front of my mind. Which is that- I do feel pressured to knit the trendy thing right now, even when I don't understand the hype. And lately, I've started designing/modifying my own knits and have gotten so much joy from this so, your sharing helped me realize that I'd like to continue (more intentionally) resisting that pressure to knit a specific way or a specific thing.
I appreciate wool/acrylic mixes for pricing which means I can try a pattern I’m not sure about without spending over 200NZD. I have a sweet point where I find the acrylic isn’t at a percentage that the squeakiness makes my teeth hurt. Acrylic is great for gloves and mittens that need to be able to handle regular washing.
I used to test for a fairly large U.K. yarn company. Frequently would send out stuff with no particular deadline (even when asked), and then get upset if you took “too long”. They only offered yarn as payment, could easily have actually paid. I have now worked out that my time is worth much more.
I do have a yarn stash which probably should not grow much more. Everything in this stash was bought with a project in mind and I hope I will be able to make all those things soon. Also: Hobii has great sales so I buy yarn on sale, for example a 1000 meters super fine gradient yarn that I love is usually 34 Euros and on sale I bought several for 16,50 Euros each. Sometimes I sit close to my stash and caress it 😅. I just stumbled across your channel and I love how articulate and thoughtful you are. Also: fellow teacher and fellow ADHDer❤. Thank you for keeping me entertained while crocheting!
I do wear a pair of merino/mohair fingerless gloves regularly, but that was a relatively inexpensive project because it took only one ball of each and I don’t find it too itchy. That said, when I make larger projects, I buy one type of yarn. I’m not holding double!
My mum has folders full of vintage knitting patterns. She is 78, has 5 children and 11 grandchildren and has knitted for all of us. It was cheaper for her to buy a load of wool abd knit our jumpers and cardigans than it was to buy them. Some of her patterns date way back to the 70's, some are held together by sellotape because she has used them a lot. I am currently knitting my friends little girl a jumper and the pattern is from my mums collection and she says it's one that she would knit for me so it's perhaps from the 80's or early 90's. I am also making myself a very basic jumper, pattern from my mums collection and I have already altered it to make the sleeves like a balloon style cuff and make the body longer because I prefer jumpers to cover my bum, no one needs to see that 😅
I just started crocheting very very recently, and I'd never heard of Drops Designs before! Thank you! Making a mental list of future projects, as I get better at learning to read patterns!
This was pure satisfaction (and dare i say, vindication?) Excellent take after excellent take. It's like you're me. 😂 Very refreshing attitude and a gem among the sea of hypertrendy craftfluencers.
I agree with every single one! I often go on (unsolicited) rants to my friends and family about all of these. The testing has gotten out of control and imo, further perpetuates the idea that knitting/crochet is a part of the free labour women have had to do for centuries. Ive been obsessed with knitting since I was 14, I am now 32 and things have changed for the better and for worse tbh. Also heeey as a fellow ADHD crafter. I actually got diagnosed because of knitting (this was before the big information boom). I go into the psychiatrists office and ask "hey, do you mind if I knit? I can't sit still and it helps me concentrate. 😐😑😐😑😐
Wow, have you been living in my head? Every thing you mentioned was spot on! This is, hands down, one of the best and most real knitting podcasts I have seen in a long time 😍 Thank you 😘
Really interesting video, thanks for sharing your thoughts 💚 My controversial opinion is: most free patterns aren't free. If I have to register in order to access it, I'm paying with my personal data. Also, I disagree with 'self drafting isn't that hard'. I have chronic fatigue and brain fog. Knitting helps me cope with these symptoms. The last thing I want to do, when I feel barely alive, is figure out the math for a project. I'm sure I'm not the only one. I thought of self drafting once and the only thing that happened was that I kept delaying the project.
I think it’s easier to think of self drafting as a spectrum rather than an all-or-nothing! Breathing Yarn has a great video on this - beginning by thinking of it as adjusting existing patterns to suit our preferences or measurements (which lots of us do anyway) and going from there….
I love pattern testing but some of the calls for testers are wild. So many of them are asking that you have a dedicated Instagram account for crochet/knit. I love fiber arts and I'll share stuff via my own account, but I don't have the time or desire to make a second account exclusively for my hobby.
You’re so right about the narcissistic elements of “influencer” culture. I was thinking about all the pictures and videos I’ve seen, old and new, with communities of people sitting in a room and knitting together. Also yes, all these patterns with bell end sleeves - no! Dishwater magnets 😅
Bell sleeves may be impractical for many day to day tasks but I love them anyway. Any long sleeve needs more care than short regarding environment and activities.
Yes, to all of this! I'm not into hero worship: movie stars, etc. I see this a lot in the cross stitch world as well where a xstitch flosstuber is like a super star. I'm going to do me and make whatever I want.
I recently discovered a pattern for a cardigan that I loved the look of. Sadly the company will only allow the sale of the pattern if you also buy the accompanying yarn. Over 2000m each of mohair and wool. The cost being well north of 100 euros with some stores closer to 150 euros. I'd never spend that much on a high street item let alone something I make for myself and then the issue of working with two strands. I'm now working out my own version plus watching like minded Ravelry users who are kind enough to leave notes on their progress. I'm not sure if the intention was a marketing idea to sell more wool or wanting a more exclusive item but it just encourages people to get more creative in finding a workaround. I would have bought the pattern but I want the freedom to choose the yarn and essentially trying to make an item seem more exclusive when it's essentially simple floral squares is absurd!
Loved this video. I appreciate it any time someone shares opinions that many secretly have but won’t say. And 100% yes on the mohair. It’s over done. And is no one else sweating like crazy? The boob sweat alone is enough reason to cut mohair from all my projects.
OMG I agreed with like 99% of all yoiur takes - and I ujsually never agree with anyone :-) I feel like I am almost t meeting myself online here - I also have ADHD and love to knit etc. Only I am around 10 years older than you - I do feel like there was a certian Gen-X vibe to your video (huge compliment). Eg. wrt. reading patterns, hype around individual designers etc. - I don't get it... I have honestly never knittet a PetitKnit or My Favorite Things piece - and I am Danish.
I agree on the test knitting front. In any other context that would be seen as working for someone. I've seen so many that are incredibly short on the timescale while requiring you to meet so many criteria including the ability to promote them. I dont have super strong views on stashes but I generally think people need to be more wary of storing natural fibres well and that doesn't get talked about much. Having had a problem with moths it's pretty annoying to deal with Other than that buy what you can afford and store.
I not only agree with your opinion that we get ‘spoiled” by very extensive patterns but I even find all these written out rows more complicating then if they would give you ‘the ‘system’ as in the old days, so you understand what you are doing and remember it immediately. In short: it doesn’t make it easier. And it also leaves you with soooo many pages…. Uhggg.
I’m going to agree with most everything you say, except slip stitch crochet. Some people do that not because it looks like knit. I’ve seen some really beautiful pieces made using it.
Great thoughts! I honestly agree on a lot of them. I'm torn with mohair, I agree that it does not have to be in everything and I enjoy it more knitting without it, but I just love wearing it. And yes, I wear it around the house, running errands, I even nap in it 😅 The size of the yarn stash is a personal decision of course, what just stresses me out honestly is seeing these huge quantities of expensive yarn all displayed in open shelves, exposed to air, sunlight, moths, dust and humidity.
@@maiiamiii I am actually very glad to hear from so many people who are indeed daily mohair wearers!! And yes, I had a moth scare a few months ago and ever since then all my yarn goes in sealed plastic bins.
I recently bought my first mohair yarn and oh my was it the nicest yarn I've ever worked with. So smooth it literally glides through my fingers. Unfortunately it was also 12 euros a skein for a project that calls for five skeins of yarn. Acceptable for a Christmas gift (for a person I love dearly and who appreciates the effort and money that hand crafted gifts take) but definitely NOT for every project. 😂 So unless I somehow become a millionaire I'll keep substituting fancy yarns with four euro skeins thank you very much. Knowing how to substitute one yarn to another is a life saving skill for a crafter.
Totally agree about design stealing unless it's something very unique. I dont understand people putting stipulations on use for very basic patterns. Especially if it looks like something my granny would've made.
Yesterday I found a sweater on revelry, and I knit *exactly* the same that summer. It’s a basic construction with boat collar and wide sleeves. It’s exactly the same but I knitted it before seeing the pattern. So really it’s a joke, if you look at the Monday sweater for exemple, it’s a basic sweater everyone can knit without knowing about the pattern.
I hate video tutorials so much. My version of "following" a video tutorial is skipping around at 1.5x, jotting down steps, and following my notes instead of the tutorial
I haven’t watched the Video yet but moment incoming 😭🤣 I will watch when I have time later but I’m interested to see others feeling how I did. I left the online crochet community as it’s not a hobby based community it’s a sales/side hustle based community with a *hint* of influencer marketing & that’s where it’s going wrong imo. Over consumption & over priced patterns (tip, you can buy a magazine for £5 and get 20 patterns in it) along with entitled behaviour is so off putting to me. *note, I encourage accessibility all day long however it’s not a regulated industry it’s a hobby culture so you can’t expect people to provide this service when their focus is money making*
I do many fibre arts. I knit, crochet, spin(altho my spinning wheel is currently out of commission so im using my spindle) and am curently getting back into weaving. The whole luxury yarns thing is a pita frankly. I love alpaca and merino and merino silk to spin with, but damn its expensive. I buy a bag of 100 to 500g of roving when i can afford it but that doesnt make enough yarn for much. Its one of the appeals of doing things for yourelf, that you can use beautiful materials....with the caveat that you have to be able to afford it. I have to admit that most of my knitting and crochet is done with acrylic. Thats not my choice but i simply cant afford wool, bamboo, alpaca, silk or anything else.......but then i think "why bother?? If i cant use nice materials why put all that work in?" And the reason is that even if i cant have the lovely materials i CAN customise things....and i DO wear all my jumpers/ cardis that ive crocheted or knitted but itd be nice if all that work was on a nicer material. But it would also be nice for people to stop pretending that everyone is using luxury yarns
Okay, I’m only a few minutes in, and I already have to say: PREACH SISTER!! I am so tired of the mohair trend. It is soooooo expensive and unnecessary. Sensory-wise, mohair isn’t the greatest for most folks. I also think a lot of yarn selections from yarn influencers etc are very shortsighted. How do these yarns really look after a few times of washing and wearing!?. When I knit a sweater and work hours and hours on it, I am expecting it to last for YEARS. Please let‘s not make yarn knitting fast fashion with yarns and patterns that only look good for a season. Also, as a hand knitter who took a many, many year break, and returning to the yarn scene: holy wow, when did these prices happen!?!? I am basically priced out of a sweater. (Maybe I used to just buy cheaper yarns before I got influenced hahaha. Acrylics mixes aren’t the devil, but I do think I prefer the now more widely available pure wools and they are more expensive) I have now started the process of sourcing 3 basic kinds of animal/silk yarns I like to knit with and buying in bulk and hand dying. (It‘s not that hard and also fun. I have selected easy to dye yarn for this reason) It will save me all the swatching in the future and is cheaper and I know what to expect with the quality. Also, 2 hobbies in one hahahah Anyway thank you for speaking about your controversial opinions, because I share them 😂
In regards to pattern testing, I used to design crochet patterns and sell them. I never made enough to pay pattern testers and started moving away from having them tested, to instead hiring a tech editor. Many pattern designers have their patterns stolen during the testing phase, hence all the extra steps (like threatening to charge if you don't finish, releasing in stages). Idk if it's still an issue in the space, but pattern designers who got popular would have people sign up to test as an "early access program", download the pattern, and then ghost the designer. Pattern testing is an imperfect system.🤷
@@CinemaKnits There is an absolutely astounding amount of mathematical calculations that go into pattern designing. Having someone who understands the math and has a mind for it check your work - it is such a relief.
oooh! not so long ago. I came across a designer who was like 'test it, and create 5 insta posts and 100 stories and i also need 50 pictures taken by a professional photographer'. I immediately unfollowed them, but I wasn't aware this was a thing that more people do!
the only issue i have with respect your elders is that as queer or "weird" in any way it can be hard finding friendly elders who actually treat you kindly. ive had bad experiences with weird rude older ppl. (shoutout to a middle age lady in the library though, 8yrs ago when i had just started, who happened to be browsing the knitting books at the same time as me and i anxiously asked sorry but do you know how to do decreases and increases? and she actually did help explain very kindly!!!) but, also, the magic of youtube for elders and skilled people sharing their knowledge across borders and time!! i learnt to cast on and make my first rows from an irish lady, what purl is from a finnish one, bindoffs from an american... i dont remember most channels or exact videos anymore but those people live in my yarn and taught me when i needed it. really spreading the knowledge and skills and experience to anyone. and now recently ive been part of starting a queer handicrafts club in town!! so now i finally have people to craft with and who can share things and help each other and its great 💜
I agree with you about how crochet and knit have their purposes, and trying to make one look like the other is a bit odd. But having said that, I prefer the look of a knit but it does not lend itself to doll making like crochet does. So I can see why there's a knit-like crochet stitch. (The stitch makes no sense to me so Ill stick with crochet for the dolls and maybe knit them clothes). I'm also the type of person who buys wool or wool-like materials because it feels the best when Im working with it. While every material works best for some things, I dont see a problem with using it for everything. Some people can only afford synthetics, some people prefer the feel of natural, and some people use a bit of everything. Whatever works for you, your skin and your wallet, is what should matter in the end.
the only exception to the knit what is knit thing is cuffs. i despise knitting bc i constantly make mistakes and it’s hard to take back, so backloop slip stitches are perfect for those tiny areas to make them stretchy
also i love having a medium yarn stash, because i often start things in the middle of the night when i see something cute!! as long as you arnt buying yarn to post hauls, it’s amazing to have extra!!
@@wr3ns.d1ary oof yes - when I am deep in a small circumference in the round circle of cuff hell I often think about how slip stitch crochet ribbing would be so much easier!
I love good quality mohair and suri alpaca. Sometimes it’s so helpful adding a strand of mohair to get gauge. I dislike cheap mohair. It’s just too itchy.
Loved your opinions! Especially about mohair! I have been looking for a mohair free pattern for a turtle neck sweater and can't find anything i like! The one i like calls for mohair and i don't want to go up to a DK and have it thick and bunchy. I don't have the confidence to self draft it. 😢
I often substitute in a light dk for a mohair & merino combo! Sometimes I have to adjust needle size to meet gauge but I basically never use the mohair all the scandi patterns recommend 😝
Mohair is perfect for winter. Only mohair garment i have is a balaclava. Which works great for five feet of snow. Most of my handmade garments i made have, have purpose. Socks are my fav project cause it on the go and the project can be complicated or not.
@@r4inwolf five feet of snow sounds like perfect mohair weather! I want to start knitting socks because they seem like such great travel projects but I am scared of my DPNs!
@@CinemaKnits I would recommend metal dpns because from personal experience of breaking wood ones from tension or a crush bag. Dpns is what I start my sock journey with almost 8 years ago. There's a order in how to knit dpns without getting the other needles in the way, if you knit continental. Doesn't really matter to much on english throw. Would recommend too is a dpn cover. Also, looking for patterns that are make with dpns. That can help with how the order of needle organize works. There is a couple good sock knitting books that go into dpns but it not as difficult as it looks. Sock can also be knit with 9in cirulars, super long circular and two circular needles.
Really enjoyed this and agree with many of your opinions - if I see another pattern that needs not 2 but 3 yarns held together- 🫤- looking at you Scandinavians , who can buy some of these in the supermarket whereas I’m looking at exorbitant shipping, 45:20 exchange rates, customs . One thing I slightly disagree with you has to do with test knits. A reputable designer should have had their pattern tech edited before testing so that there shouldn’t be mistakes for the testers. Andrea Mowry has said she doesn’t expect testers to fix her patterns, the purpose of having different people knit the same pattern is to get a range of amount of yarn needed and to see that pattern knit by different hands in different yarns. This does diffuse the testing as a job theory. I’ve only done one test knit, the pattern was perfect, there was a lovely community, the designer was supportive and she offered another pattern upon completion so I figure that’s how it should be. But totally agree that free marketing and obligations are just not acceptable.😅
@@jennymiles4426 thank you for your comment! 🤎 & yes I have had a few comments about tech editing and I *totally* messed up by not clarifying that established designers often tech edit before pattern testers get the pattern! I’m planning on doing a video about pattern testing at some point and will make sure to include the role of tech editor as opposed to volunteer pattern tester, so thank you! In my experience though, particularly with newer designers and designers that grade size inclusively (eg 10 or more sizes) issues with the pattern do still come up and it’s rarely been a totally smooth sail during my testing experiences!
absolutely! Speaking as someone with uneven tension I have really notice that my projects made with a yarn that has a halo look so much better than the ones made with merino or another smooth yarn, where there's nothing to disguise my rowing out! I definitely think mohair has a place but I do get frustrated that it's used in SO many patterns at the moment, and it makes it hard to see how the work would look if it was just knitted with one strand of dk or aran wool rather than with a fluffy lace weight added in.
Readers have a similar situation to test knitters. Sometimes to read an indie author's ARC they want you to do promotion for them. The one author I'm still on an ARC team for, is happy with me sending her typo corrections and plot inconsistencies. I'm more a beta reader than a reviewer. And then she also has people on a street team for promo.
I love all of your hot takes! I should also note that I am watching this knitting a PetiteKnit sweater holding yarn double 🙊 I did sub for Drops air & brushed alpaca though 😊
I also think that it's overused because it's very forgiving. You can f up your stitches all you want and it will still look nice in a picture. Also, can we just take a moment to note that a lot of people can't stand mohair on their skin?
IT IS SO ITCHY!! I do think it has its place (it’s warm and looks great) but cmon. Brushed alpaca being cheaper, softer and just better than mohair is the hill I will die on.
i will say video and photo with patterns are useful for people who process information better in a visual format so some people may need them to learn. not everyone but there are people who need to learn that way.
as an autistic i can get fine with just text but visual aids do help for if something is worded in a way the writer understands that /i/ cant interpret or if my mild dyslexia gets loose as its want to do every now and then when im not super lazer focused on taking in only a word at a time. some of us out here are just stupid cant help that lmao.
Thank you for this! I absolutely agree and apologies for the lack of nuance in the vid - gonna pin this. You’re right, visual and audiovisual aids are so useful and I definitely relate to being absolutely LOST with a written instruction and needing a photo or video in order to comprehend wtf I’m being asked to do. I definitely think we ask too much of individual patterns (wanting written, charted, illustrated AND video instructions, for example) but I do appreciate that having patterns and tutorials in a variety of ways is important for accessibility.
@@CinemaKnits yeah definitely get it some people feeling entitled to everything from others. especially if theyre offering a good or service. i figured it was more something that slipped out of the thought process since consumer entitlement and accessibility are slightly separate topics. ...though entitlement can push some negative effects onto accessibility and it should be addressed
Also autistic. Visuals are really helpful for me.
I think phontos are very useful, and sometimes also videos, but I think there is a difference between damding/expecting it and appreciating it from a designer.
@@CinemaKnitsI agree, and I think this goes hand in hand with your point about there being no unique designs. If a pattern is not written in a way that makes sense to you, I guarantee you can find something very similar with a differently formatted pattern. Getting good at searching for the right pattern for you is one of the most central skills involved in making from patterns. And if you don’t have the patience for that, while older patterns are more streamlined, older books on craft are particularly thorough in explaining how to adapt patterns or even just wing it without one. If you knit and feel picky about pattern style, read Elizabeth Zimmerman and a world of liberation from following patterns exactly will be unlocked for you!
I simply hate these "test calls" what the requirements to apply for testing are to share the post, save, tag like 3 friends, post on stories, provide "instagrammable" photos, I've even seen one that asked to "help to promote my pattern when it's released." Do you really want people to help testing your pattern or just want free marketing? I'm volunteering my time, my crochet knowledge, my materials FOR FREE and yet people have the audacity to make so many requests
I don't know but it seems so unfair to me
I would say what 98% of tester calls for amigurumis I see at Instagram are like that
@@Srta.Meia-noite yes - tester calls and applications are fine but the emphasis on free marketing and photos on top of your time is a lot, and can feel like a popularity contest
I loved what you said about testers doing designers a favor. I’ve noticed a lot of designers acting like testers should be honored to even glimpse at their pattern and it’s really getting annoying.
One reason for having a yarn stash is that yarn gets expensive, and one way to save money is by taking advantage of sales.
@@amydebuitleir definitely! All my recent and upcoming project are a result of Wool Warehouse sales 🙃
I inherited mine and have been working through it, and as I get to the end, I find that I would prefer to have at least a small stash than none.
My mom doesn’t understand why I want to hoard a single yarn (the pride yarn from Big Twist). IT’S BECAUSE IT WAS 66.67% OFF OMG STOP
That only works if you don't get addicted to a specific brand of 100% merino handdyed wool, which comes in dozens of stunning colourways and multiple luxurious weights!
I totally agree with most of what you're saying. I recently saw a 'designer' marketing a pattern for beginning knitters: it was a single rib beanie. There are a gazillion free patterns out there for beanies and your grannie would tell you that you don't even need a pattern! I felt angry that new knitters are being ripped off by being sold a pattern that they could get for free if they knew where to look. There are so many patterns that are just another variation on an old theme; hardly anything is truly original, so finding an old free pattern is perfect for me. I'm glad you made the point about test knitting. I've spent my working life selling my labour and I'm staggered that people are setting up design businesses that rely on the exploitation of a pool of free labour. It seems to me a completely unethical way to run a business. The fact that they don't even supply their workers with the required yarn and needles is breath-taking. It took me quite a bit of research to confirm that this was the case because I couldn't believe it at first. Properly trained professional designers DON'T do this.
@@patdent I will say that I regularly test crochet for free for a designer I really love, and genuinely enjoy it and get a lot out of it, but that’s partly because of the atmosphere she creates in the test and the learning opportunities she provides in lieu of payment (I also get access to her pattern library and discounts on all her yarns). I agree that the culture majorly needs to change!!
@@CinemaKnits What I used to love about TH-cam was that so many people with joy and enthusiasm just wanted to find a way to share their knowledge about the things they loved. Evidently, you have found a reciprocal relationship with a designer, which is lovely, but I just see a great deal of exploitation. I would be happy to do free test knitting for someone developing a free pattern. That seems like a win-win. But there's something wrong when a designer expects to be paid for their own labour while denying payment to others who have also laboured on the product.
I agree, the system needs revising!! I am planning to make a video about my testing experience & the general vibe of testing to talk about some of this stuff…
You had me at 'mohair is over used'. As someone who is allergic to mohair, I am so happy to hear this.
"You should do whatever the fuck makes you happy" Yes!!! PREACH! 🙌
😍😍😍😍😍😍
As a knitter who is allergic to wool it’s nice to hear someone not demonise acrylic.
My auntie taught me to knit when I was 7 years old, I still have that very first scarf I made and the knitting needles she bought me. It’s one of those hobbies that I never got tired of and brings me so much satisfaction and joy.
Acrylic can be so lovely especially after it's broken it a bit. So sturdy too.
There must be a reason that all of my inherited afghans from the 70s and 80s are acrylic! It holds up!
Another thing about mohair is that it is a nightmare to frog and as a person who commonly make mistakes i didn’t realize how frustrating mohair was till it was too late
100% agree. I happen to really like some acrylic yarns and have had some people be really snotty about it. There's a really popular indie yarn company here in the US owned by two women who started this whole "death to acrylic" bullshit a few years back. Talk about privilege and alienating people. No thanks! All fibers are welcome in my yarn club!
As someone who doesn't like to use acrylic (I just don't like how it feels when I'm knitting it), I completely agree! Not only is there absolutely nothing wrong with using acrylic if that's what you like/what's in your budget/etc. there are some use cases where it's the best choice! Anything I make for kids or parents of young kids that needs to be able to be easily washed and dried is going to be at least partly acrylic (or a truly washable and durable super wash, but even that kind be risky). Just leave people alone to use what they like!
Fr! I never use acrylic when crocheting clothes because I make them for myself and I can't stand the way it feels on my skin. But, when I'm making something like amigurumi it's fantastic since it's often cheaper and available in more colors. There are situations for everything!
I know that it's not accessible to many people to buy natural yarns, especially ones that are as soft as acrylic, but I feel bad about multiplying demand for plastics in this world, so yeah, I'd rather people didn't use so much acrylic. Same as with buying synthetic clothes
In my country, woollen yarn typically costs between 1.90 euros (for brands like Drops) and 4 euros for 50 grams, and sometimes even for 100 grams. Our national or folk knits are always made from wool, which is well-suited to our climate. Nothing privileged about it.
I don’t dislike acrylics; in fact, my everyday gloves for milder winter weather are often inexpensive acrylic ones mass-produced in China. However, my “festive” and cold-weather (starting may be -7 -10 C) gloves and mittens are knitted by me using lambswool. In colder conditions, wool feels invigorating and doesn’t irritate the skin.
The same goes for scarves; during warmer weather, I it is more comfortable to wear some acrylic, merino or cotton or silk or blend of such.
On the other hand, people usually do not wear woollen sweaters directly against their skin. Instead, they serve as part of the middle layers of clothing. And woollen socks are the absolute must in winter when you feet are not only cold but sometimes wet also.
loved this! I am gen x and got into knitting in the first revival in the 90s. One of the coolest things was how suddenly I had so much to talk about with women my grandmother’s age (greatest generation). Women’s crafts were out of fashion in second wave feminism for a long time and my mum wasn’t into it at all - quite common for boomer women. Can’t believe there have been two!! handcraft revivals in my lifetime now lol
I think that one of the reasons there is an expectation of patterns including photos and video tutorials is that many of us are NOT connected to community and do not have that crocheter or knitter in our family that can pass that knowledge on to us. The reason vintage patterns (and, btw, cooking and baking recipes as well) were a paragraph long, is not because of literacy, it's because it was part of ones basic life skills that were passed down through ones family. Knowing these skills was so common and deeply ingrained, that one did not need more than a few sentences to understand a pattern.
I really don't agree - all the techniques, abbrivations and even how to read a pattern is a google away and has multiple tutorials on youtube. If one struggles to do a pattern without photos and videos is could be because that pattern is too high of a skill level or that it's just written in a way that doesn't work for that person. Or, it could also be that one very well could make it work but gets intimidated by the wall of text and gets puts off, but once one starts it begins to make sense.
We are loads of people that are 100% self taught and can read text only patterns but it takes some time and dedication. Not all patterns suit a beginner.
@@osterlings I suppose those requesting videos and photos are either beginners or visual learners. While in the past visual learners had a number of family members that could simply show them how to work a pattern, people today simply don't have that resource. I remember when I first started out, I needed someone to "show me the ropes", and I can get that some people are like that.
I am also so sick of mohair! It’s everywhere and doesn’t seem necessary a lot of the time.
@@mmmeaks2245 mood!
It’s also so hard to figure out what the designer intended for the fabric gauge and drape to be 😭 drives me crazy
Hi Sophie, I'm glad your video popped up in my feed! Thank you so much for your honest opinion. As a knitting designer, I truly appreciate it. I’ve been designing for over 10 years now and have gained a lot of experience in the industry, with a few popular patterns to my name. Yet, I’ve never become an influencer or trendsetter. I definitely feel the pressure from social media to use mohair, buy expensive yarn, build large stashes, use fancy (often unnecessary) tools, and design more frequently. It can be so stressful! However, I try to resist that pressure and stay true to my own path, even if my designs don’t become hugely popular or I don’t gain a massive following.
Honestly, this influence and trend-driven mindset is present in all aspects of life-travel, lifestyle, fashion, makeup, and more-so it’s not surprising that the knitting community is affected too!
As a designer, I’m incredibly grateful to my test knitters for their support and the favor they do by helping with my patterns. Unfortunately, I can’t afford to pay them for their work, as some patterns don’t sell well, and my job isn’t always profitable. That said, I never penalize test knitters for missing deadlines (life happens!), and I never require them to promote my patterns. I’m always thankful when they do! While it’s wonderful to see my patterns shared on Ravelry and social media, I fully agree that it’s not their responsibility to do so.
Lovely to hear from you as a designer! I do a bit of testing for a crochet designer I love and I do not get paid, and I’m fine with that. We do get discounts on her yarn and also free patterns from her archive, which I appreciate, and it’s a lovely testing experience every time 🤎
About the patterns, it really reminded about another video like this I was watching and a woman in the comments basically said that you can't say you're a real crocheter/knitter if you don't make patterns at least once. Like? No.
Imagine telling your 99yo grandma that's she's not a real crocheter after spending all her life making little socks, coats and god knows what else that she learned from family/friends/school/magazines just because she never created a pattern.
Dude I just want to crochet in peace, I don't have the mental capacity to come with patterns, I DON'T WANT to make patterns and things like that, I belive in creativity that allows you to modify patterns to fit your liking better and that's it. I'll follow the pattern someone posted and end of the story, it's fine for me.
Also: if you crochet or knit, it doesn't matter how long you've been doing it, you ARE a real crocheter/kniter.
Yes!! The idea of being a “real” knitter/crocheter is v weird to me. The same as being a “real” writer. When am I finally “real”, and who decides that?
As evidence for your point - I made my own “pattern” for my second crochet project. (I’m sure it’s been done before, but I tried myself because it helps me learn.) Any gatekeepers certainly wouldn’t want me and my 1 and a half finished projects to be counted as a “real” crocheter haha! And Grandma who has never made a pattern is still at least a million times more experienced than me. I’m just a beginner!
@@EmL-kg5gn yes!! I am in the “I need to know they WHY of everything” camp and self drafting helps so much with that
@@CinemaKnits Yes it makes it much easier for me to remember things in future!
But like where is the lie! Also, living in Australia it’s taken time for me to accept the garments worth knitting are the ones suited to the climate I’m in. That means a lot of the trending patterns just don’t work for me. I find lightweight short sleeve or sleeveless 1940s knit patterns are it for me, which is okay cause I love them.
Heh, we must be opposite ends of Australia, I do mostly do socks and winter woollies, but am just dipping my needles in the waters of summer tops with some new yarn from Bendigo.
I shop for yarn the same way. But we shop sales and use up our odds and ends on granny square. Its helps inspire me to touch the yarn too. Sometimes you see it and your brain says "mittens. This yarn is mittens."
You are an honest breath of fresh air! I’ve been crocheting since I was a kid, and I’m now 53, so far older than the trendy plushie club. These topics are SPOT ON.
I'm a crocheter who used TH-cam to teach me to knit. I picked up Continental style really quickly. I CAN slowly knit English style, but I'm comfortable with having the yarn in my non-dominant hand, so Continental works for me. I find crochet hard on my thumbs these days and knitting has been a great way to still work with yarn and get that therapy without hurting myself. I've been making lots of hats with my hoard of yarn and I will gift or donate most of them.
You can absolutely steal a pattern. I design shawls. There is nothing new about a triangular shawl in its basic construction. But how I design where I put my purls, eyelets, colour changes, etc is absolutely my creative process. That is the design you can steal.
I'm glad to hear you say having a lot of yarn is okay.....I recently did a temperature blanket, and you inevitably have a lot left over from something like that! I've been able to do several projects with the scraps, and am working on another. Plus, having a stockpile of unassigned yarn lets me play. I remember earlier this year making a granny square bag just to try it, and my wife told me "That's a great idea! We need six more, two for each kid." If I'd sat down to make this piece I probably wouldn't have; by playing with what was essentially spare yarn we found a very practical application for the yarn stash.
I'm firmly in the "Do what makes you happy" space. I crochet for a hobby. It's something I do to relax at the end of a hard day, and for my kids (they love to steal the blankets I make). I don't need to care about trendy patters or yarns, or keeping up with anyone. I just make what I like or what I need. If someone doesn't like it, well, they don't have to use the blanket or bag or scarf or whatever!
This has been a hard year for me and I’ve worked through so much of my stash. I’m glad I have a little surplus. I also have a couple special skeins for over 10 years that I may never knit, not sure the perfect pattern exists yet lol.
I disagree with the mohair to some degree. I am usually freezing or working in a cold office and mohair with a sock weight is perfect for making a warm garment without adding too much weight and I found that my favorite sweater made with that type of yarn combo held up so nicely with practically little wear/pilling despite wearing it for half the year. But I do agree with the cost, it can add up.
Respect your elders: They know what they are talking about!
Yes, absolutly. Everytime I see a young crochet designer holding up one of thousands simple granny squares, I think: learn to crochet before talking about. You didn`t reinvent the wheel. There are so many patterns and designs out there people just have to find and use it.
Everything is instant. Pattern one click away, start now and finish quick. Start something new. Instead of taking the time, searching for a good pattern and fitting yarn, thinking about it and loving every stitch to create exactly the item wanted. A nice sweater takes time and a so does a blanket or a shawl. Even mittens or a scrunchie.
I love people sharing their work & the democratisation of crafting via the internet, but yes there’s a wealth of knowledge out there we can tap into and learn from 🥰
Mohair is overused for sure…but I freaking love it. I just love the fuzz so much. Sure I can use other yarns that will give me a nice fuzzy look, but I’d have to be way more intentional in my search for that fiber (and yes, laziness wins often) I don’t at all find it impractical. Yes, I wear it to the grocery story, or even just chilling at home. I do however, find it very warm, as I run hot, so I have to be mindful of that. I also like how it “hides” mistakes and wonky tension, as I am a mother of young children, perfection is not what I strive for in my knits at this stage of my life. I have also found that I love mohair when it’s spun pure, and not with the addition of silk, which to me, can add a certain amount of structure to the garment I don’t always desire and the silk core has a shine I don’t always love on my finished fabric.
Mohair annoys me because I have to basically buy two sweater quantities; one base fiber and one of the mohair. Two sweater quantities adds up in price for sure
Yes it makes knitting so much more expensive!
@@camillejolly5501 yes! 💯 It's like buying a fast fashion top that is see through and then having to buy a tank top for underneath. Just give me one yarn, people! One yarn! 😍
ok i respectfully disagree with the statement that you’re buying two sweater quantities, because you seem to be forgetting the fact that fingering+mohair is most often knitted as a dk weight yarn. so roughly one 100g skein of fingering weight yarn + one 50g skein of yarn would make 400m of dk weight yarn, which is the same as 2 100 gram skeins worth of dk weight yarn. the difference would stem from the fact that in the first option you can buy the yarn in 400m units, and in the second option you buy them in 200m units. so if you need say 1000m oy yarn for a sweater your size, you’d have to get 3+3 of fingering+mohair, and have 200m extra, or 5 of dk weight yarn and use all. this will make it slightly more expensive but definitely not double.
Never used mohair before, so, I can't express an opinion on it. But merino is actually my go-to yarn. I've got that neurodivergent hypersensitivity, and I absolutely love how merino feels texture-wise when I touch it! The colours are also quite pleasant to me and I like how stretchy it is
Yeah merino is the only sheep's wool i wear comfortably. I really like merino cashmere blends too.
I love knitting with wool, but they’ll never make me hate acrylic. If not for the cheap balls of acrylic in Wilkos (rip legend) I’d never have learned to knit. It allows me to make things for my vegan friend, my other friend who is autistic and finds wool a sensory nightmare, my niece whose clothes have to be washable because she’s permanently covered in jam and poster paint…
24:50 Ohhhh my God I am OBSESSED with DROPS patterns!!! They have, as you said, an insane amount of designs and options available and their sweaters for instance are GORGEOUS (also the 80s-90s pictures in some of them are iconic) ugh I just love them. The only complaint I might have is that they're not the most descriptive, but that's a matter of personal preference
i did NOT know about the drops designs 80s catalogue of free patterns... i'm in heaven as someone who loves 80s fashion. thank you so much 😫
I totally agree about the simplicity vs detail issue in patterns. So many older patterns just expect you to be able to figure things out based on a brief description and maybe a simple diagram. Maybe it's because that's how I learned to knit twenty years ago, but it really surprises me how many people aren't willing to just try things out and make it work. That's how you learn! But maybe it's largely a different style of knitting and crafting; for me, a big part of the fun is figuring out new techniques and how to modify something, rather than simply wanting to enjoy the physical act of knitting. And not everyone is like that, which is fair.
Also, I hate mohair and don't understand the appeal! But that's totally a personal preference; i just really dislike wearing anything made from a yarn with a halo.
I agree so much! If you run into abbreviationa or stitches you don't know there are 1000 tutorials on how to do them - just google/youtube and try it out! That's how you learn... not all patterns are or have to be beginner friendly.
As someone who spent literal years not doing anything because I wanted crochet process but knit looks, I have so much trouble with the point about it. The process is just not the same, it's way more pleasure in the hand movements for me to crochet. And then of course the drape and the look of the resulting fabric is not what I want in a garment - and also I just don't need or want home decor crocheted pieces.. But I like the process so much! It's such a sad thing to be torn like that, and it is something that's really hard to accept. I started knitting a bit ago because my mental state got really bad, and I needed to basically do something fidgety to keep my head somewhat calm, and this time around I accepted the idea to knit rather than hunt for crochet patterns and ideas endlessly - but I think I did so only because my hand started to hurt and knitting is easier on it.
I know how to knit and crochet since I was about 10 y.o, so both are not new to me. I am also from a country where both crafts are just a part of life, there was no forgetting or going back to them - my grandma used to knit and sew, my mom knits, everyone is just low-key expected to be able to, there's nothing special about it.
as someone who corchets primarily (and knits more than incidentally) i'm also dealing with the oversaturation of mohair and i am sick of it!
it's very true that it elevates a piece because of the association of that mohair look with higher end knitwear, but my particular frustration is how it's skewing pattern design and sales. i love that crochet is having a moment but i don't appreciate the number of less experienced crafters who are selling very basic patterns based on pre-existing trends. i see so many pattern releases that are essentially two flat squares sewn together that get very overhyped because they do look great! if it was a normal superwash wool or cotton, i doubt the pattern would be as widely praised, though!
i've also been a victim of yarn blindness, though. there have been a non-zero of tikes i'll see a pattern and be like oooh~ but then said pattern will be the same net bolero everyone's been crocheting since 2022 just with really pretty mohair. i am part of the problem 😔
big mood! And I agree - nothing shows the fine details of a pattern like using a yarn with no halo, for better or worse...
I live in Southeast Asia, where the climate is obviously very hot and humid, so I've accepted the fact that I'll probably never knit a sweater with mohair, lol. I agree with a lot of your points, especially about respecting your craft elders. We don't have a big knitting community in my country, so whenever I travel, I love chatting with older people at shops about knitting and yarn, and they give me such great insight about their own craft culture I'd never know about.
NOT THE HARRY KNIT 😍😍😍 I love your videos and have learned so much about Brunei as well as knitting from your channel ❤️✨
Just came across your account and what a joy?!
I love so much of what you’re saying. As so often with fiver arts, the wisdom extends well
Beyond the craft; your comment on generosity and a profitable business is so (excuse the pun) on the money! And I love the perspective of celebrating different skills sets rather than feeling there’s a lack in one camp or the other.
I am so happy I came across your channel!!! Please continue making content and being the beautiful authentic person you are!
🥹🥹🥹🥹
I’ve done several pattern tests with vastly different good and bad experiences. Anymore, I only sign up if I really like the design, the sign up is simple, and the deadline is reasonable. After 2 projects in mohair, I quickly learned that I am not a fan and switched to brushed alpaca when appropriate or just going up to a thinker yarn and not holding 2 yarns together
Absolutely agree on the older crafters and local wool shops. I have one and the ladies (also mother & daughter) are not only endlessly knowledgable, but they actively enjoy helping, answering questions and generally nattering about crafting. I mean, I’m probably an old crafter in most people’s eyes, but I learnt to knit and crochet from my nanas, so to me I naturally gravitate towards those women and not social media.
Firstly I just want to say, I love your videos. It just feels like I'm sitting in a friend's livingroom with a coffee for a yap session. Your style of video is so comforting and welcoming.
Secondly, to your opinions you mention in the video. Thank you for saying you can't steal patterns! I've gotten a lot of flack before about how if I can recreate something from a picture, I won't buy the pattern. To me, if you have the skills to make something from a picture then you should be able to do so. Like you said, there's only so many ways to make a granny square. I also agree with pretty much every other point you raised. As someone who went to college and got a whole minor in fiber arts because I love it so much, one of the best things in my program was getting to experiement and see what we enjoyed doing. We started with learning the rules and techniques then we were allowed to apply them however we wished. Fiber arts is art, and art has no rules. It may have theories and techniques but there are no rules in art
I love your hot takes. They are common sense to me lol maybe that is because I’ve been knitting and crocheting for so long. Trends are circular. Keep the spicy content coming!!
Watching this, fully knowing that I'm planning to knit two jumpers holding a laceweight mohair-silk with the main yarn sometime next year 🥲 they will for sure be expensive!
I really loved this episode- thank you for sharing!!
Your point about knitting podcasters/influencers often knitting the same popular/trendy patterns really helped me bring a subconscious thought to the front of my mind. Which is that- I do feel pressured to knit the trendy thing right now, even when I don't understand the hype. And lately, I've started designing/modifying my own knits and have gotten so much joy from this so, your sharing helped me realize that I'd like to continue (more intentionally) resisting that pressure to knit a specific way or a specific thing.
@@indigobaker200 yesss - so relate to the fomo/pressure of the hyped knit vs the pleasure of knitting things that spark us up ✨
"More plans than I have time for" resonated in my bones. 😂
I appreciate wool/acrylic mixes for pricing which means I can try a pattern I’m not sure about without spending over 200NZD. I have a sweet point where I find the acrylic isn’t at a percentage that the squeakiness makes my teeth hurt. Acrylic is great for gloves and mittens that need to be able to handle regular washing.
Drops is an amazing sourse for patterns I have done many of there patterns. So glad to hear you mention them.
I used to test for a fairly large U.K. yarn company. Frequently would send out stuff with no particular deadline (even when asked), and then get upset if you took “too long”. They only offered yarn as payment, could easily have actually paid. I have now worked out that my time is worth much more.
I do have a yarn stash which probably should not grow much more. Everything in this stash was bought with a project in mind and I hope I will be able to make all those things soon. Also: Hobii has great sales so I buy yarn on sale, for example a 1000 meters super fine gradient yarn that I love is usually 34 Euros and on sale I bought several for 16,50 Euros each.
Sometimes I sit close to my stash and caress it 😅.
I just stumbled across your channel and I love how articulate and thoughtful you are. Also: fellow teacher and fellow ADHDer❤. Thank you for keeping me entertained while crocheting!
I do wear a pair of merino/mohair fingerless gloves regularly, but that was a relatively inexpensive project because it took only one ball of each and I don’t find it too itchy. That said, when I make larger projects, I buy one type of yarn. I’m not holding double!
just stumbled on your channel and i’m so delighted. you are so thoughtful and articulate and lovely in this video and you have a wonderful vibe 🫶
@@frogcaakes 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹
My mum has folders full of vintage knitting patterns. She is 78, has 5 children and 11 grandchildren and has knitted for all of us. It was cheaper for her to buy a load of wool abd knit our jumpers and cardigans than it was to buy them.
Some of her patterns date way back to the 70's, some are held together by sellotape because she has used them a lot. I am currently knitting my friends little girl a jumper and the pattern is from my mums collection and she says it's one that she would knit for me so it's perhaps from the 80's or early 90's. I am also making myself a very basic jumper, pattern from my mums collection and I have already altered it to make the sleeves like a balloon style cuff and make the body longer because I prefer jumpers to cover my bum, no one needs to see that 😅
I just started crocheting very very recently, and I'd never heard of Drops Designs before! Thank you! Making a mental list of future projects, as I get better at learning to read patterns!
Loved this video!! I really agree with everything you said! I didn’t even realize these opinions were controversial 😭
This was pure satisfaction (and dare i say, vindication?) Excellent take after excellent take. It's like you're me. 😂 Very refreshing attitude and a gem among the sea of hypertrendy craftfluencers.
I agree with every single one! I often go on (unsolicited) rants to my friends and family about all of these. The testing has gotten out of control and imo, further perpetuates the idea that knitting/crochet is a part of the free labour women have had to do for centuries. Ive been obsessed with knitting since I was 14, I am now 32 and things have changed for the better and for worse tbh.
Also heeey as a fellow ADHD crafter. I actually got diagnosed because of knitting (this was before the big information boom). I go into the psychiatrists office and ask "hey, do you mind if I knit? I can't sit still and it helps me concentrate. 😐😑😐😑😐
Wow, have you been living in my head? Every thing you mentioned was spot on! This is, hands down, one of the best and most real knitting podcasts I have seen in a long time 😍 Thank you 😘
@@kruellajones yes, I have been living in your head 🙋♀️ thank you, this made my day 😍
Really interesting video, thanks for sharing your thoughts 💚
My controversial opinion is: most free patterns aren't free. If I have to register in order to access it, I'm paying with my personal data.
Also, I disagree with 'self drafting isn't that hard'. I have chronic fatigue and brain fog. Knitting helps me cope with these symptoms. The last thing I want to do, when I feel barely alive, is figure out the math for a project. I'm sure I'm not the only one. I thought of self drafting once and the only thing that happened was that I kept delaying the project.
I think it’s easier to think of self drafting as a spectrum rather than an all-or-nothing! Breathing Yarn has a great video on this - beginning by thinking of it as adjusting existing patterns to suit our preferences or measurements (which lots of us do anyway) and going from there….
@@CinemaKnits thank you for the recommendation, I'm looking it up now 😊
I love pattern testing but some of the calls for testers are wild. So many of them are asking that you have a dedicated Instagram account for crochet/knit. I love fiber arts and I'll share stuff via my own account, but I don't have the time or desire to make a second account exclusively for my hobby.
thank you for sharing about drops design!! i'm downloading a bunch of patterns :D
I've been knitting for 21 years, crocheting for about 4, and I've never even touched mohair. The fanciest yarn I've ever had is wool sock yarn.
You’re so right about the narcissistic elements of “influencer” culture. I was thinking about all the pictures and videos I’ve seen, old and new, with communities of people sitting in a room and knitting together.
Also yes, all these patterns with bell end sleeves - no! Dishwater magnets 😅
Bell sleeves may be impractical for many day to day tasks but I love them anyway. Any long sleeve needs more care than short regarding environment and activities.
Yes, to all of this! I'm not into hero worship: movie stars, etc. I see this a lot in the cross stitch world as well where a xstitch flosstuber is like a super star. I'm going to do me and make whatever I want.
I recently discovered a pattern for a cardigan that I loved the look of. Sadly the company will only allow the sale of the pattern if you also buy the accompanying yarn. Over 2000m each of mohair and wool. The cost being well north of 100 euros with some stores closer to 150 euros. I'd never spend that much on a high street item let alone something I make for myself and then the issue of working with two strands. I'm now working out my own version plus watching like minded Ravelry users who are kind enough to leave notes on their progress. I'm not sure if the intention was a marketing idea to sell more wool or wanting a more exclusive item but it just encourages people to get more creative in finding a workaround. I would have bought the pattern but I want the freedom to choose the yarn and essentially trying to make an item seem more exclusive when it's essentially simple floral squares is absurd!
Loved this video. I appreciate it any time someone shares opinions that many secretly have but won’t say. And 100% yes on the mohair. It’s over done. And is no one else sweating like crazy? The boob sweat alone is enough reason to cut mohair from all my projects.
Yes, knitting has truly humbled me in terms of my sweat levels lol
About mohair, I use silk alpaca instead. Alpaca is more friendly to my sensitive skin and also as fluffy.
Me too! I find alpaca so much softer and brushed alpaca silk is my fav mohair alternative 🎀 I don’t know why it’s less popular than mohair!
OMG I agreed with like 99% of all yoiur takes - and I ujsually never agree with anyone :-) I feel like I am almost t meeting myself online here - I also have ADHD and love to knit etc. Only I am around 10 years older than you - I do feel like there was a certian Gen-X vibe to your video (huge compliment). Eg. wrt. reading patterns, hype around individual designers etc. - I don't get it... I have honestly never knittet a PetitKnit or My Favorite Things piece - and I am Danish.
Thank you for bringing do real with your opinions! I 100% agree with them. Also, thanks for the tip about Drops.
I agree on the test knitting front. In any other context that would be seen as working for someone. I've seen so many that are incredibly short on the timescale while requiring you to meet so many criteria including the ability to promote them.
I dont have super strong views on stashes but I generally think people need to be more wary of storing natural fibres well and that doesn't get talked about much. Having had a problem with moths it's pretty annoying to deal with Other than that buy what you can afford and store.
A lot of libraries have knitting groups too!
I not only agree with your opinion that we get ‘spoiled” by very extensive patterns but I even find all these written out rows more complicating then if they would give you ‘the ‘system’ as in the old days, so you understand what you are doing and remember it immediately. In short: it doesn’t make it easier. And it also leaves you with soooo many pages…. Uhggg.
I’m going to agree with most everything you say, except slip stitch crochet. Some people do that not because it looks like knit. I’ve seen some really beautiful pieces made using it.
Great thoughts! I honestly agree on a lot of them. I'm torn with mohair, I agree that it does not have to be in everything and I enjoy it more knitting without it, but I just love wearing it. And yes, I wear it around the house, running errands, I even nap in it 😅 The size of the yarn stash is a personal decision of course, what just stresses me out honestly is seeing these huge quantities of expensive yarn all displayed in open shelves, exposed to air, sunlight, moths, dust and humidity.
@@maiiamiii I am actually very glad to hear from so many people who are indeed daily mohair wearers!! And yes, I had a moth scare a few months ago and ever since then all my yarn goes in sealed plastic bins.
I recently bought my first mohair yarn and oh my was it the nicest yarn I've ever worked with. So smooth it literally glides through my fingers. Unfortunately it was also 12 euros a skein for a project that calls for five skeins of yarn. Acceptable for a Christmas gift (for a person I love dearly and who appreciates the effort and money that hand crafted gifts take) but definitely NOT for every project. 😂 So unless I somehow become a millionaire I'll keep substituting fancy yarns with four euro skeins thank you very much. Knowing how to substitute one yarn to another is a life saving skill for a crafter.
Totally agree about design stealing unless it's something very unique. I dont understand people putting stipulations on use for very basic patterns. Especially if it looks like something my granny would've made.
Yesterday I found a sweater on revelry, and I knit *exactly* the same that summer. It’s a basic construction with boat collar and wide sleeves. It’s exactly the same but I knitted it before seeing the pattern. So really it’s a joke, if you look at the Monday sweater for exemple, it’s a basic sweater everyone can knit without knowing about the pattern.
I do wear a pair of merino/mohair fingerless gloves regularly, but that was a relatively inexpensive project because it took only one ball of each.
I fully get behind so much of what you're saying. Thanks for voicing things I hadn't put into words
I hate video tutorials so much. My version of "following" a video tutorial is skipping around at 1.5x, jotting down steps, and following my notes instead of the tutorial
I haven’t watched the Video yet but moment incoming 😭🤣
I will watch when I have time later but I’m interested to see others feeling how I did. I left the online crochet community as it’s not a hobby based community it’s a sales/side hustle based community with a *hint* of influencer marketing & that’s where it’s going wrong imo. Over consumption & over priced patterns (tip, you can buy a magazine for £5 and get 20 patterns in it) along with entitled behaviour is so off putting to me.
*note, I encourage accessibility all day long however it’s not a regulated industry it’s a hobby culture so you can’t expect people to provide this service when their focus is money making*
I do many fibre arts. I knit, crochet, spin(altho my spinning wheel is currently out of commission so im using my spindle) and am curently getting back into weaving. The whole luxury yarns thing is a pita frankly. I love alpaca and merino and merino silk to spin with, but damn its expensive. I buy a bag of 100 to 500g of roving when i can afford it but that doesnt make enough yarn for much. Its one of the appeals of doing things for yourelf, that you can use beautiful materials....with the caveat that you have to be able to afford it. I have to admit that most of my knitting and crochet is done with acrylic. Thats not my choice but i simply cant afford wool, bamboo, alpaca, silk or anything else.......but then i think "why bother?? If i cant use nice materials why put all that work in?" And the reason is that even if i cant have the lovely materials i CAN customise things....and i DO wear all my jumpers/ cardis that ive crocheted or knitted but itd be nice if all that work was on a nicer material. But it would also be nice for people to stop pretending that everyone is using luxury yarns
Omg I am full of admiration about your spinning and weaving - life goals tbh!
Thank you for saying what a lot of us are thinking... you had me at mohair is overused!
Okay, I’m only a few minutes in, and I already have to say: PREACH SISTER!! I am so tired of the mohair trend. It is soooooo expensive and unnecessary. Sensory-wise, mohair isn’t the greatest for most folks. I also think a lot of yarn selections from yarn influencers etc are very shortsighted. How do these yarns really look after a few times of washing and wearing!?. When I knit a sweater and work hours and hours on it, I am expecting it to last for YEARS. Please let‘s not make yarn knitting fast fashion with yarns and patterns that only look good for a season. Also, as a hand knitter who took a many, many year break, and returning to the yarn scene: holy wow, when did these prices happen!?!? I am basically priced out of a sweater. (Maybe I used to just buy cheaper yarns before I got influenced hahaha. Acrylics mixes aren’t the devil, but I do think I prefer the now more widely available pure wools and they are more expensive)
I have now started the process of sourcing 3 basic kinds of animal/silk yarns I like to knit with and buying in bulk and hand dying. (It‘s not that hard and also fun. I have selected easy to dye yarn for this reason) It will save me all the swatching in the future and is cheaper and I know what to expect with the quality. Also, 2 hobbies in one hahahah
Anyway thank you for speaking about your controversial opinions, because I share them 😂
In regards to pattern testing, I used to design crochet patterns and sell them. I never made enough to pay pattern testers and started moving away from having them tested, to instead hiring a tech editor. Many pattern designers have their patterns stolen during the testing phase, hence all the extra steps (like threatening to charge if you don't finish, releasing in stages). Idk if it's still an issue in the space, but pattern designers who got popular would have people sign up to test as an "early access program", download the pattern, and then ghost the designer. Pattern testing is an imperfect system.🤷
I think hiring a tech editor is such good practice and gets around some of the issues of ghosting and of exploitative testing practices!
@@CinemaKnits There is an absolutely astounding amount of mathematical calculations that go into pattern designing. Having someone who understands the math and has a mind for it check your work - it is such a relief.
@RebekahHaasCrochet yes, it's a mathematical vortex!
oooh! not so long ago. I came across a designer who was like 'test it, and create 5 insta posts and 100 stories and i also need 50 pictures taken by a professional photographer'. I immediately unfollowed them, but I wasn't aware this was a thing that more people do!
honestly shocking
Love love love everything you shared!!!!❤❤❤
the only issue i have with respect your elders is that as queer or "weird" in any way it can be hard finding friendly elders who actually treat you kindly. ive had bad experiences with weird rude older ppl. (shoutout to a middle age lady in the library though, 8yrs ago when i had just started, who happened to be browsing the knitting books at the same time as me and i anxiously asked sorry but do you know how to do decreases and increases? and she actually did help explain very kindly!!!) but, also, the magic of youtube for elders and skilled people sharing their knowledge across borders and time!! i learnt to cast on and make my first rows from an irish lady, what purl is from a finnish one, bindoffs from an american... i dont remember most channels or exact videos anymore but those people live in my yarn and taught me when i needed it. really spreading the knowledge and skills and experience to anyone. and now recently ive been part of starting a queer handicrafts club in town!! so now i finally have people to craft with and who can share things and help each other and its great 💜
I agree with you about how crochet and knit have their purposes, and trying to make one look like the other is a bit odd. But having said that, I prefer the look of a knit but it does not lend itself to doll making like crochet does. So I can see why there's a knit-like crochet stitch. (The stitch makes no sense to me so Ill stick with crochet for the dolls and maybe knit them clothes). I'm also the type of person who buys wool or wool-like materials because it feels the best when Im working with it. While every material works best for some things, I dont see a problem with using it for everything. Some people can only afford synthetics, some people prefer the feel of natural, and some people use a bit of everything. Whatever works for you, your skin and your wallet, is what should matter in the end.
the only exception to the knit what is knit thing is cuffs. i despise knitting bc i constantly make mistakes and it’s hard to take back, so backloop slip stitches are perfect for those tiny areas to make them stretchy
also i love having a medium yarn stash, because i often start things in the middle of the night when i see something cute!! as long as you arnt buying yarn to post hauls, it’s amazing to have extra!!
@@wr3ns.d1ary oof yes - when I am deep in a small circumference in the round circle of cuff hell I often think about how slip stitch crochet ribbing would be so much easier!
I never use mohair. I don't like how scratchy it is.
I love good quality mohair and suri alpaca. Sometimes it’s so helpful adding a strand of mohair to get gauge. I dislike cheap mohair. It’s just too itchy.
Loved your opinions! Especially about mohair! I have been looking for a mohair free pattern for a turtle neck sweater and can't find anything i like! The one i like calls for mohair and i don't want to go up to a DK and have it thick and bunchy. I don't have the confidence to self draft it. 😢
I often substitute in a light dk for a mohair & merino combo! Sometimes I have to adjust needle size to meet gauge but I basically never use the mohair all the scandi patterns recommend 😝
Mohair is perfect for winter. Only mohair garment i have is a balaclava. Which works great for five feet of snow. Most of my handmade garments i made have, have purpose. Socks are my fav project cause it on the go and the project can be complicated or not.
@@r4inwolf five feet of snow sounds like perfect mohair weather! I want to start knitting socks because they seem like such great travel projects but I am scared of my DPNs!
@@CinemaKnits I would recommend metal dpns because from personal experience of breaking wood ones from tension or a crush bag. Dpns is what I start my sock journey with almost 8 years ago. There's a order in how to knit dpns without getting the other needles in the way, if you knit continental. Doesn't really matter to much on english throw.
Would recommend too is a dpn cover.
Also, looking for patterns that are make with dpns. That can help with how the order of needle organize works.
There is a couple good sock knitting books that go into dpns but it not as difficult as it looks.
Sock can also be knit with 9in cirulars, super long circular and two circular needles.
All I want for Christmas is a cashmere goat
Sitting here knitting from a library book right now. 27:18
"I am an opinionated little yapper" she just like me fr✋😔 I just can't keep my mouth shut hahahahhaha
@@carmenalns4156 born to yap 📣📣📣
Really enjoyed this and agree with many of your opinions - if I see another pattern that needs not 2 but 3 yarns held together- 🫤- looking at you Scandinavians , who can buy some of these in the supermarket whereas I’m looking at exorbitant shipping, 45:20 exchange rates, customs .
One thing I slightly disagree with you has to do with test knits. A reputable designer should have had their pattern tech edited before testing so that there shouldn’t be mistakes for the testers. Andrea Mowry has said she doesn’t expect testers to fix her patterns, the purpose of having different people knit the same pattern is to get a range of amount of yarn needed and to see that pattern knit by different hands in different yarns. This does diffuse the testing as a job theory. I’ve only done one test knit, the pattern was perfect, there was a lovely community, the designer was supportive and she offered another pattern upon completion so I figure that’s how it should be. But totally agree that free marketing and obligations are just not acceptable.😅
@@jennymiles4426 thank you for your comment! 🤎 & yes I have had a few comments about tech editing and I *totally* messed up by not clarifying that established designers often tech edit before pattern testers get the pattern! I’m planning on doing a video about pattern testing at some point and will make sure to include the role of tech editor as opposed to volunteer pattern tester, so thank you!
In my experience though, particularly with newer designers and designers that grade size inclusively (eg 10 or more sizes) issues with the pattern do still come up and it’s rarely been a totally smooth sail during my testing experiences!
I also feel like mohair is used to hide uneven tension. I've never used it, but I would definitely substitute if I came across it in a pattern.
absolutely! Speaking as someone with uneven tension I have really notice that my projects made with a yarn that has a halo look so much better than the ones made with merino or another smooth yarn, where there's nothing to disguise my rowing out! I definitely think mohair has a place but I do get frustrated that it's used in SO many patterns at the moment, and it makes it hard to see how the work would look if it was just knitted with one strand of dk or aran wool rather than with a fluffy lace weight added in.
Readers have a similar situation to test knitters. Sometimes to read an indie author's ARC they want you to do promotion for them. The one author I'm still on an ARC team for, is happy with me sending her typo corrections and plot inconsistencies. I'm more a beta reader than a reviewer. And then she also has people on a street team for promo.
Interesting - not my experience at all! But maybe I am in a very different area of writing and publishing...
Everyday mohair gang here, for real (but I live in Scandinavia).
I love all of your hot takes! I should also note that I am watching this knitting a PetiteKnit sweater holding yarn double 🙊 I did sub for Drops air & brushed alpaca though 😊
Air & brushed alpaca are two of my faves!
Definitely with you on the mohair. And i've seen so many pattern testing horror stories on reddit
Oh my god! THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAY MOHAIR IS OVERATED! Thank you! Finally. Someone. Finally. 😂❤❤❤
I also think that it's overused because it's very forgiving. You can f up your stitches all you want and it will still look nice in a picture. Also, can we just take a moment to note that a lot of people can't stand mohair on their skin?
IT IS SO ITCHY!! I do think it has its place (it’s warm and looks great) but cmon. Brushed alpaca being cheaper, softer and just better than mohair is the hill I will die on.