In this episode of the Midweek Ramble, I'm doing a 'podcast recap' where I go through the comments from the last video and answer them here. Enjoy! ❤ PS: RE “rapid decreasing”, a great increase and decrease calculator for evenly distributed decreases and increases can be found here: www.worldknits.com/knitting-calculators/ PPS: I forgot to include a photo of my black tee. Here you go, for reference: instagram.com/p/CxUMPJJIVA6/?igshid=MXYzZ21lb282eng3ZQ==
TAYLOR! A video answering questions! Please please do more. I absolutely love the content on all of your videos. I am 64 years old and have been knitting since I was 10. There is always more to learn and I get so much out of the information you provide. You explain things in a straight forward and totally understandable way and I feel as though I would absolutely love to sit with you with a cup of tea/coffee!
Is it possible you mean balloon sleeve? My understanding is that a bell sleeve goes out, like the opening of a bell. So wider at the bottom than at the top of the arm, not ribbed.
QUESTION about a QUESTION! So about gauge and changes after blocking… I do understand that the gauge is measured on a blocked swatch BUUUT if the pattern says “knit until the piece measures 24 inches” are THESE INCHES intended after blocking too? Do I knit to 24 inches or do I stop earlier (calculating through the swatch what length will turn into 24 inches after blocking)? Thank you! Love this new series btw
Chantal from Knitatude had a great post on her page about this. Basically you should calculate the number of rows in the inches it says knit to based off the gauge. So if gauge is 10 rows in 4 inches and pattern says knit for 8 inches, you should knit 20 rows. After you block, it should measure the 8 inches. If you knit for 8 inches, not calculating the gauge rows, it’s likely your pattern will be even longer than specified after blocking.
Excellent QnA. I would just add a small caution around not soaking/reblocking wool sweaters. If your sweaters are getting stored for the season, or not worn as often in general, it is a good idea to soak them to clean off any body oils/sweat. These are more attractive to moths and other "wool eating" pests than just the wool itself, so making sure your items are clean before storing or sitting for long periods of time can help stave off the pests! :)
Thank you so much for mentioning that a Bic razor would work just as well and a de-linting tool. It worked so well on a wool cardigan I have that’s been bugging me. So far I have been finding your channel so helpful!
To the person who asked about what blocking a sweater does: (and I assuming Wool/animal fibers are being used) First a definition of blocking. When it comes to sweater knitting, "blocking" doesn't always actually mean a "hard block". Depending on the pattern, blocking may simply be refering to soaking, removing excess water, and laying flat to dry. In a wash and lay flat meaning of blocking, It will even out your stiches. Nothing crazy, but the nature of hand knits is variation. This will even out in wash. When laying the sweater flat, you are just putting it into an even looking sweater position. If you are knitting a lace pattern or a cable pattern, you may need to "hard block" the sweater. The nature of this type of knitting creates a fabric that needs to be stretched out to see its full beauty. Soaking, pinning out to size, and hard blocking, will create the finished desired look of the sweater. You will not constantly need to "reblock" when you do a full soak/wash of a sweater. Usually, the standard, soak/lay flat and sort of "smoosh" it into a general sweater shape is PLENTLY. It's unusual, imo, to need to Hard block a sweater (if knit correctly and has already been hard blocked) every single time you soak wash it. I like Taylor, but I disagree with her answer. I think it makes knitting sweaters and upkeep sound far more taxing/complicated than it should be.
Thank you for that explanation. I was under the impression that I was going to have to buy a blocking mat and pins and find room in my cat-friendly house for laying out the mat...lol undisturbed!?...for every knitted item. I like the sound of the 'soft block' method. :)
Hi Tayler. All great questions and very interesting. I love your glasses also but the link takes us to plastic frames. They look great on you! Great midweek ramble!😊
Love this video! Just a quick correction, the type of sleeves you made are actually called 'balloon sleeves" and not 'bell sleeves'. Bell sleeves are open at the end without any ribbing and get wider at the bottom... like a bell! 🙂 UPDATE: I see someone already called this out below. Once again, you've made an engaging and fun video. I feel like I'm hanging out with a friend when I watch you. ❤
Yes, everything you said! What a great video! I agree about the flappy parts on crew neck cardigans. They do look better buttoned up. I looked through all 15 pages of the Felix Cardigan with notes thinking someone must have modified it into a v-neck, but nope not one! Gleaner is great tool for defuzzing upholstered furniture too!
Thank you for those answers. The question regarding blocked/unblocked finished measurements spurred a question that has frequently come up for me. While knitting, the pattern may say knit to a specific number of cm/in. I often find this difficult because (naturally) the fabric is unblocked and achieving a flat fabric surface is impossible. Some articles say to just count the number of rows according to gauge - but that seems dangerous to me. What do you suggest? Thanks!
Thanks for addressing my question! I have made the Felix cardigan, by the way, and although I like it, I had to put elastic thread in the neckline to cinch it in. It ended up with a very wide neck. I don't think Felix cardigan pattern was modified enough from the Felix pullover.
If you have a small cut, you can use the thin layer found in between layers, it keeps your cut clean util u get whatever the doctor recommends. These layers have these tiny hexagonal structures that absorb water or blood if you use them as band-aid. Remember to follow doctor's instructiona, this is just something I learned from my Great-grandmother.
I love watching your informative videos! You should definitely try making a cardigan with a button band! I’ve only tried knitting two cardigans now. I want to try out the April cardigan one day but so many on my mind 😊
Thank you for answering my question. I’m famous by proxy now! YESSS!! 😂 In all seriousness, you’ve helped so much. I’m excited to use this technique on my next sweater project.
You were in my town! I actually used to work at Jamestown and currently work at Colonial Williamsburg. Hope you had a wonderful time exploring our area!
A really easy way of doing a tubular cast on is by making a crochet chain with the back of the chain looped around the knitting needle, then you just knit into those stitches and unravel the crochet chain after you’ve done a few rows/rounds. I don’t know if this is the technique in the Brooklyn tweed post, but the resul is very similar to what you get on a knitting machine.
Such a great episode! And, regarding washing sweaters, does a 50/50 wool cotton retain those anti microbial wool qualities? Since I'm wearing it next to my skin, it seems like washing it every wearing is necessary. Thoughts?
Love the idea, but you were 2:16 in before you identified exactly which video is "the previous video." Your production schedule could have meant either 10 sweaters or your most excellent video on a first sweater. I watch you on weekends while knitting more and I plan to return to this when I have finished 10 sweaters. Just a bit of feedback from my favorite knitting chair because I love the idea of response videos, it makes us more of a community.
Hi Dawn! Thank you for watching. Yes. Next time I will be more specific in terms of the exact video. I assumed that “the previous video” would do the trick, but I see that perhaps this may still not be clear enough. 👍
Hello, hello, hello 😊. Very cool idea to answer questions personally. Now I am a bit confused about blocking and washing 🙈. I thought it is the same. I know your video about washing/blocking a sweater and do it just like that. Or is there a difference between just letting it dry flat and blocking (as blocking is with pins and more aggressively)? Btw: Why is the first blocking/washing different in defyning stitches and shape? It really interests me technically. Sorry, I am not a native speaker and I hope you understand what I mean ;-)
For washing… thoughts on steam washing super wash merino. Specifically Malabarigo rios. Wondering if you have an idea how much this will grow. Adult sweater. No I didn’t swatch. I know I know …..
Regarding cardigans. I'm currently trying my hand at my first knit cardigan. I'm working on the The Harvest Cardigan by Tin Can Knits. Would you ever consider making that one? It has the v-neck style.
The Ranunculus has instructions for a balloon sleeve with an i-cord bind off instead of ribbing, but I imagine it would be the same idea with either technique.
I just finished a vest (Meander vest on Ravelry) and am thinking of starting another. I get too hot in sweaters and you use much less yarn when you don't do sleeves! lol
As a crocheter, I recently switched to knitting. I love the patterns and the look of knitted sweaters and cardigan. If I'm knitting a top-down sweater, it goes fast until I get to the body. I stop. With bottom-up sweaters, the first few rows are fine and then I stop. I can't seem to get through that monotonous "knitting in the round". What do you recommend for the knitting in the round blues?
What I would do is keep track of which rows WOULD HAVE decreases (using markers) and then when you get to the desired length, determine what the stitch count would be for that round of the sleeve had you decreased and then decrease the difference between the upper arm and that number all at once prior to ribbing your cuff. Does this make sense?
In this episode of the Midweek Ramble, I'm doing a 'podcast recap' where I go through the comments from the last video and answer them here. Enjoy! ❤
PS: RE “rapid decreasing”, a great increase and decrease calculator for evenly distributed decreases and increases can be found here:
www.worldknits.com/knitting-calculators/
PPS: I forgot to include a photo of my black tee. Here you go, for reference:
instagram.com/p/CxUMPJJIVA6/?igshid=MXYzZ21lb282eng3ZQ==
I really love the colour of that jumper on you! Especially with the red lip.
Thank you Vanessa! ❤❤
I'm so glad you talk about not washing your sweaters much. I hardly ever wash mine, and I think they're fine....at least for now! :)
TAYLOR! A video answering questions! Please please do more. I absolutely love the content on all of your videos. I am 64 years old and have been knitting since I was 10. There is always more to learn and I get so much out of the information you provide. You explain things in a straight forward and totally understandable way and I feel as though I would absolutely love to sit with you with a cup of tea/coffee!
Tayler 🫣
Is it possible you mean balloon sleeve? My understanding is that a bell sleeve goes out, like the opening of a bell. So wider at the bottom than at the top of the arm, not ribbed.
Yes yes yes. A balloon sleeve. Thank you!
QUESTION about a QUESTION! So about gauge and changes after blocking… I do understand that the gauge is measured on a blocked swatch BUUUT if the pattern says “knit until the piece measures 24 inches” are THESE INCHES intended after blocking too? Do I knit to 24 inches or do I stop earlier (calculating through the swatch what length will turn into 24 inches after blocking)? Thank you! Love this new series btw
Chantal from Knitatude had a great post on her page about this. Basically you should calculate the number of rows in the inches it says knit to based off the gauge. So if gauge is 10 rows in 4 inches and pattern says knit for 8 inches, you should knit 20 rows. After you block, it should measure the 8 inches. If you knit for 8 inches, not calculating the gauge rows, it’s likely your pattern will be even longer than specified after blocking.
Excellent QnA. I would just add a small caution around not soaking/reblocking wool sweaters. If your sweaters are getting stored for the season, or not worn as often in general, it is a good idea to soak them to clean off any body oils/sweat. These are more attractive to moths and other "wool eating" pests than just the wool itself, so making sure your items are clean before storing or sitting for long periods of time can help stave off the pests! :)
This is very good to know! Thank you.
Tayler, I’m glad you enjoyed this content, I’ll look forward to more Q&As. Your confidence is really infectious. Well done!!
Absolutely loved this episode with you answering questions. Looking forward to seeing and hearing more episodes like this 👏👏👏
You're wearing the bobbles!!! So lovely! This Q & A is a great idea.
Thank you so much for mentioning that a Bic razor would work just as well and a de-linting tool. It worked so well on a wool cardigan I have that’s been bugging me. So far I have been finding your channel so helpful!
Oh good! I’m so glad. It’s such a great way to keep sweaters looking nice without needing to spend much money. ❤️
Was very helpful and enjoyable as always. If I have a bad day or can't sleep I watch older episodes 😊
Ah Mary, that makes me smile to know that these episodes come in handy on those days. Thank you for telling me. ❤️
To the person who asked about what blocking a sweater does:
(and I assuming Wool/animal fibers are being used)
First a definition of blocking. When it comes to sweater knitting, "blocking" doesn't always actually mean a "hard block". Depending on the pattern, blocking may simply be refering to soaking, removing excess water, and laying flat to dry.
In a wash and lay flat meaning of blocking, It will even out your stiches. Nothing crazy, but the nature of hand knits is variation. This will even out in wash. When laying the sweater flat, you are just putting it into an even looking sweater position.
If you are knitting a lace pattern or a cable pattern, you may need to "hard block" the sweater. The nature of this type of knitting creates a fabric that needs to be stretched out to see its full beauty. Soaking, pinning out to size, and hard blocking, will create the finished desired look of the sweater.
You will not constantly need to "reblock" when you do a full soak/wash of a sweater.
Usually, the standard, soak/lay flat and sort of "smoosh" it into a general sweater shape is PLENTLY.
It's unusual, imo, to need to Hard block a sweater (if knit correctly and has already been hard blocked) every single time you soak wash it.
I like Taylor, but I disagree with her answer. I think it makes knitting sweaters and upkeep sound far more taxing/complicated than it should be.
Thank you for that explanation. I was under the impression that I was going to have to buy a blocking mat and pins and find room in my cat-friendly house for laying out the mat...lol undisturbed!?...for every knitted item. I like the sound of the 'soft block' method. :)
Good questions. Helpful answers. Thank you very much, Tayler.
This is such a great idea! 1 minute in and i noticed the bauble sweater! Yeah.
Your set up looks ultimately glorious! I need to see more of that background in detail ❤❤
"the bobble sound" 🤣🤣
The Digory Tee by Knitty McPurly would make the perfect little black tee.
Your magnolia sweater is just beautiful on you. ❤ it looks like you did all your decreases evenly on the rounds before the cuff. Just so pretty.
I love this follow up idea!
This was a great ramble! Thanks so nuch
Hi Tayler. All great questions and very interesting. I love your glasses also but the link takes us to plastic frames. They look great on you! Great midweek ramble!😊
Thea - You're correct. However, I do like those glasses too.
The sweater you’re wearing is gorgeous…a pretty color on you, as well. 🎶💞🎶
Love this video! Just a quick correction, the type of sleeves you made are actually called 'balloon sleeves" and not 'bell sleeves'. Bell sleeves are open at the end without any ribbing and get wider at the bottom... like a bell! 🙂 UPDATE: I see someone already called this out below.
Once again, you've made an engaging and fun video. I feel like I'm hanging out with a friend when I watch you. ❤
Love the concept of answering questions. The answers are very helpful.❤️
Tayler, your magnolia sweater looks great! I love my vuori pants too😂👍🏻.
You're rocking the bobbles! Wooo! 🎉 😍
Hey Tayler, you just got a fat shout-out and link from Roxanne Richardson! 😊
I love the little black tee, so classic. Another similar option I’ve been thinking about, but too scared to try in black 😅 is the wayfarer tee!
this is a great video format
Yes, everything you said! What a great video! I agree about the flappy parts on crew neck cardigans. They do look better buttoned up.
I looked through all 15 pages of the Felix Cardigan with notes thinking someone must have modified it into a v-neck, but nope not one!
Gleaner is great tool for defuzzing upholstered furniture too!
Thank you Sheryl! ❤️
Thank you for those answers. The question regarding blocked/unblocked finished measurements spurred a question that has frequently come up for me. While knitting, the pattern may say knit to a specific number of cm/in. I often find this difficult because (naturally) the fabric is unblocked and achieving a flat fabric surface is impossible. Some articles say to just count the number of rows according to gauge - but that seems dangerous to me. What do you suggest? Thanks!
Thanks for addressing my question! I have made the Felix cardigan, by the way, and although I like it, I had to put elastic thread in the neckline to cinch it in. It ended up with a very wide neck. I don't think Felix cardigan pattern was modified enough from the Felix pullover.
If you have a small cut, you can use the thin layer found in between layers, it keeps your cut clean util u get whatever the doctor recommends. These layers have these tiny hexagonal structures that absorb water or blood if you use them as band-aid. Remember to follow doctor's instructiona, this is just something I learned from my Great-grandmother.
I love watching your informative videos!
You should definitely try making a cardigan with a button band! I’ve only tried knitting two cardigans now. I want to try out the April cardigan one day but so many on my mind 😊
Thank you for answering my question. I’m famous by proxy now! YESSS!! 😂 In all seriousness, you’ve helped so much. I’m excited to use this technique on my next sweater project.
My pleasure! Thank you for asking it! ❤️❤️❤️
I love your sweater and that color ❤❤❤❤
The Tolsta tee by Rebecca Clow is also a good tee pattern, and she give options for different variation suggestions.
I like the Q&A on the midweek ramble❤
Thank you. So informative and helpful 🎉
You are so welcome! Thank you for watching!
You were in my town! I actually used to work at Jamestown and currently work at Colonial Williamsburg. Hope you had a wonderful time exploring our area!
We had a great time! Such a beautiful part of the country. ❤️
Thx Tayler. I loved this qanda session. ❤❤
A really easy way of doing a tubular cast on is by making a crochet chain with the back of the chain looped around the knitting needle, then you just knit into those stitches and unravel the crochet chain after you’ve done a few rows/rounds. I don’t know if this is the technique in the Brooklyn tweed post, but the resul is very similar to what you get on a knitting machine.
That sounds interesting! Do you know of a video that shows this technique?
@@victoriaressler3547 There’s a knit picks video and blog post.
th-cam.com/video/-p5AkBiU1NQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=O2RsX-95xw5Ri2H_
Such a great episode! And, regarding washing sweaters, does a 50/50 wool cotton retain those anti microbial wool qualities? Since I'm wearing it next to my skin, it seems like washing it every wearing is necessary. Thoughts?
Love these answer videos!! Thanks!
My pleasure Kati!
Great q and a session!
Love this format. 😊
Glad you enjoy it! I think it’s a great format as well. I’m looking forward to future videos like this. ❤️
Love the idea, but you were 2:16 in before you identified exactly which video is "the previous video." Your production schedule could have meant either 10 sweaters or your most excellent video on a first sweater. I watch you on weekends while knitting more and I plan to return to this when I have finished 10 sweaters. Just a bit of feedback from my favorite knitting chair because I love the idea of response videos, it makes us more of a community.
Hi Dawn! Thank you for watching. Yes. Next time I will be more specific in terms of the exact video. I assumed that “the previous video” would do the trick, but I see that perhaps this may still not be clear enough. 👍
Love your festive baubles
Thank you Paula. ❤️❤️
Hello, hello, hello 😊. Very cool idea to answer questions personally.
Now I am a bit confused about blocking and washing 🙈. I thought it is the same. I know your video about washing/blocking a sweater and do it just like that. Or is there a difference between just letting it dry flat and blocking (as blocking is with pins and more aggressively)?
Btw: Why is the first blocking/washing different in defyning stitches and shape? It really interests me technically.
Sorry, I am not a native speaker and I hope you understand what I mean ;-)
Carlos and Arnie say to just put your sweaters out in the sun to clean them.
Another easy, inexpensive option for depilling a sweater is a pumice stone, Just gently pull the stone over your knitting and the pils come right off.
For washing… thoughts on steam washing super wash merino. Specifically Malabarigo rios. Wondering if you have an idea how much this will grow. Adult sweater. No I didn’t swatch. I know I know …..
Thanks!
Thank you Rose! ❤️
Regarding cardigans. I'm currently trying my hand at my first knit cardigan. I'm working on the The Harvest Cardigan by Tin Can Knits. Would you ever consider making that one? It has the v-neck style.
I wondered if you can suggest a pattern where we can look for balloon sleeve instructions?
The Ranunculus has instructions for a balloon sleeve with an i-cord bind off instead of ribbing, but I imagine it would be the same idea with either technique.
Sipping a gin tonic with vest (Burgos) knitting in lap. Am I wrong or are there a lot of vests and slipovers in the hot right now list?
You’re not wrong. Vests are all the rage right now! ☺️
I just finished a vest (Meander vest on Ravelry) and am thinking of starting another. I get too hot in sweaters and you use much less yarn when you don't do sleeves! lol
As a crocheter, I recently switched to knitting. I love the patterns and the look of knitted sweaters and cardigan. If I'm knitting a top-down sweater, it goes fast until I get to the body. I stop. With bottom-up sweaters, the first few rows are fine and then I stop. I can't seem to get through that monotonous "knitting in the round". What do you recommend for the knitting in the round blues?
I just finished the Truss cardigan and really enjoyed it. There are pattern details on the body which made it interesting to knit!
Try listening to an audiobook while you knit
I decided to modify the sleeve length of the tee pattern I am knitting. I want to meet a 3/4 bell sleeve . How do I decide the size of the cuff?
What I would do is keep track of which rows WOULD HAVE decreases (using markers) and then when you get to the desired length, determine what the stitch count would be for that round of the sleeve had you decreased and then decrease the difference between the upper arm and that number all at once prior to ribbing your cuff. Does this make sense?
Yes I think that will be helpful ! Thanks!
LOL *I am not sponsored by Bic*
😂😂😂 Full transparency.