To prevent that large knit before a purl, I pay attention to what happens to the yarn after the knit stitch. I’m an English knitter / flicker, so my yarn after a knit stitch comes out the back of the stitch about half way up the back curve of the needle and then up and over my right index finger. When I then bring the yarn to the front ready for the subsequent purl, that ‘backwards and upwards’ orientaion of the yarn persists to some degree and makes a little bit of slack before the subsequent purl stitch. Tugging hard on the yarn towards the front doesn’t really help, I’ve found. But if I scooch the knit stitch I just made to the lowest point of the curve of the needle, and even give a little downward tug on the yarn, it helps get the yarn in the right position for the purl that I am just about to do. Basically, I am trying to get the stitch I have just completed and the yarn to lay in the exact position/ orientation that I would be getting if I had just purled, rather than just knitted. It is not 100% the same orientation but definitely better and ameliorates though not eradicates the larger column of rib. I hope this makes sense x
Thank you for the info on carpet beetles!! Watched your whole vid, told my husband about it, and he very innocently and calmly said “oh yeah we have those. Those are the little beetles on the windowsills sometimes. They don’t hurt you” so needless to say I’m deep cleaning my house now!!!
Good luck!! My understanding (which could be wrong!!) is that the larvae are the problem more than the beetles, so hopefully if your yarn is sealed you'll be a-ok :)
Yeah, I've had those. Disgusting. You can get them buying flowers and other stuff, it just happens. I'm also used to living in old buildings. I really recommend that you take out the yarn over one day and then freeze again for another week! Ps. You're allowed to photocopy ca. 10-20% for private use / librarian
When I was your age...about 35yrs ago 😮, I was looking for the perfect cabled-sweater pattern. I ended up using a plain pattern, charting out different cables, etc, that I liked, and knitting them into the plain pattern. Somehow, it worked out beautifully, I was so proud of myself! Not so good, though, was my ignorance in yarn choices. I used a very bad 100% acrylic yarn which stretched and stretched terribly. I really haven't been able to wear it for years, but finally just this past year have donated it.
That sounds awesome! I'm sad you had to give it away but it sounds like it had a good life. This is encouraging for me and my potential attempt to try the same thing. Thank you Sandra.
I compost all my natural fibers and even whole thrifted sweaters that no longer serve me and they have broken down surprisingly quickly in my garden!!! It’s satisfying to see them release into new life
Good work on the infestation- I didn't know about this species either. My first sweater was an Aran allover cable design, and unfortunately it had wide honeycomb panels front and back. Hated doing these (I used a cable needle) and I don't like the texture as much as other motifs. For a heavy garment of this sort I strongly recommend knit in pieces for structural integrity and ease of knitting- much lighter and more manageable.
I know the struggle of finding the perfect cable sweater pattern. I had an all over cabled cardigan I wanted to make in a specific yarn, but I couldn't find a pattern that was what I had in mind. So many pretty pattern, but just not quite what I wanted. I ended up creating my own pattern, which turned out surprisingly well
Thanks for another video! Just a though on your step by step sweater, with roll neck sweaters I usually (very carefully) put a rolled up towel into the neck when blocking (I also do the same on sleeves sometimes), which really helps relax the neck, particularly if the yarn is less naturally drapey.
Is the 1x1 rib band at the bottom knitted with the same size ribbing as the rest of the sweater? If so, that might be the cause. However, it's a very cute sweater! Looks great on you!
You reacted much better than I would, you started cleaning and composting right away, I applaud you! I guess I have been very lucky thus far and had no infestation yet but I bring lots of plants, flowers and just stuff i find curbside 😅😅
Ok, my spicy take on taking cable/stitch patterns and using them in a sweater design--there is already a super popular designer that does that with the Japanese knitting stitch books by Hitomi Shida... Granted, there's probably a lot of work into incorporating her motifs into the entirety of the sweater, but it feels like much of the work is done if you've got a base for a sweater established. Love the idea of getting knitting books from the library! I raided my mum's stash of old knitting books and she had a lot of titles by Kaffe Fassett that have many 80-90s colourful intarsia patchwork designs.
Congratulations on finishing the crochet blanket! I also got inspired to join Finish it February to finish my crochet pillow case started all the way in 2022, I was picking it up anytime I would watch a podcast and to my surprise I finished it in a few days!
I have found a few carpet beetle larvae in my house as well and did the sane thjng with cleaning and storing all my yarn in pest proof locking containers. The one thing Im unsure about though is finished sweaters. At first i put all my handknit sweaters in plastic bins in my closet but quickly realized that wouldn’t be sustainable for everyday wear. Have you found a solution for finished garments and keeping them safe?
Not yet unfortunately. I'm hoping as we move into warmer weather where I am I can wash them and store them in the plastic bins and hope the lack of access for the larvae is enough to get rid of them before sweater season comes around again. Good luck in fighting yours too!!
Really enjoyed seeing all the library books- I'm also in the process of trying to find my ideal cabled sweater pattern! The In the Company of Cables blanket reminded me a lot of the free Fisherman Sweater And Hat pattern from Lion Brand which is one I've been eyeing
I’m a combination knitter and I row out on 2x2 rib or larger rib (i.e. ribs larger than 1x1). It happens to me both knitting flat and in the round (I am an Eastern knitter using Norwegian purl in the round). I have gone down the same journey you did, because I hate how loose it looks! And of course everyone gives the same advice, i.e., do a combination purl on that last column. Well I’ve finally given up trying to solve the problem, because I’m certain I’m the only one who notices. Eager to hear what you discover. Maybe Norah Gaughan has suggestions? Because I think she’s a combination knitter and prolific designer/thought leader in the knitting world. Good luck!!!!
I will keep investigating but I have run into the exact same thing! The main advice is do a combination purl but that is what's causing the problem? You're right though, we are certainly the onllllly people who will notice.
Sorry have to - octopuses. It would have been octopi had the word octopus been Latin. But it's from Greek, and Greek has surprisingly similar plurals as English but also ones that are very different, so we don't bother trying to make those "correct" as much. Octopodes was a bit too difficult lol.
but i dont wanna put the yarn away, its so pretty... (literally every shelf/table in my room has skeins of yarn on it right now) im just gonna cross my fingers no bugs get in XD
Suzanne Bryan has videos to address this issue of that loose knit stitch in ribbing. There are 2: tidy ribbing flat and tidy ribbing in round. My problem of wonky ribbing was corrected. th-cam.com/video/vZz3HxYV7bg/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/32R6S5x14HA/w-d-xo.html
I'm not a combination knitter, but this video looks like they are changing the direction of the yarn th-cam.com/video/AR2qWJfjgLc/w-d-xo.html ? Your sweater looks great btw! I would def re-block, I saved one of my other sweaters that was creased/stretched funny when I used to block without a blocking mat 😂
To prevent that large knit before a purl, I pay attention to what happens to the yarn after the knit stitch. I’m an English knitter / flicker, so my yarn after a knit stitch comes out the back of the stitch about half way up the back curve of the needle and then up and over my right index finger. When I then bring the yarn to the front ready for the subsequent purl, that ‘backwards and upwards’ orientaion of the yarn persists to some degree and makes a little bit of slack before the subsequent purl stitch. Tugging hard on the yarn towards the front doesn’t really help, I’ve found. But if I scooch the knit stitch I just made to the lowest point of the curve of the needle, and even give a little downward tug on the yarn, it helps get the yarn in the right position for the purl that I am just about to do. Basically, I am trying to get the stitch I have just completed and the yarn to lay in the exact position/ orientation that I would be getting if I had just purled, rather than just knitted. It is not 100% the same orientation but definitely better and ameliorates though not eradicates the larger column of rib. I hope this makes sense x
Thank you for the info on carpet beetles!! Watched your whole vid, told my husband about it, and he very innocently and calmly said “oh yeah we have those. Those are the little beetles on the windowsills sometimes. They don’t hurt you” so needless to say I’m deep cleaning my house now!!!
Good luck!! My understanding (which could be wrong!!) is that the larvae are the problem more than the beetles, so hopefully if your yarn is sealed you'll be a-ok :)
That is a beautiful blanket. Congratulations on finish it February
Yeah, I've had those. Disgusting. You can get them buying flowers and other stuff, it just happens. I'm also used to living in old buildings. I really recommend that you take out the yarn over one day and then freeze again for another week! Ps. You're allowed to photocopy ca. 10-20% for private use / librarian
Thanks for the tips!
When I was your age...about 35yrs ago 😮, I was looking for the perfect cabled-sweater pattern. I ended up using a plain pattern, charting out different cables, etc, that I liked, and knitting them into the plain pattern. Somehow, it worked out beautifully, I was so proud of myself! Not so good, though, was my ignorance in yarn choices. I used a very bad 100% acrylic yarn which stretched and stretched terribly. I really haven't been able to wear it for years, but finally just this past year have donated it.
That sounds awesome! I'm sad you had to give it away but it sounds like it had a good life. This is encouraging for me and my potential attempt to try the same thing. Thank you Sandra.
(Not even 2 minutes in yet but) congratulations on the blanket!!!!!! It looks SO good!
Thank you!!
I compost all my natural fibers and even whole thrifted sweaters that no longer serve me and they have broken down surprisingly quickly in my garden!!! It’s satisfying to see them release into new life
Good work on the infestation- I didn't know about this species either. My first sweater was an Aran allover cable design, and unfortunately it had wide honeycomb panels front and back. Hated doing these (I used a cable needle) and I don't like the texture as much as other motifs. For a heavy garment of this sort I strongly recommend knit in pieces for structural integrity and ease of knitting- much lighter and more manageable.
Oh very cool! Thanks for the info!
Wow! The blanket is beautiful!
Have you tried Norwegian purling? That fixed the ribbing problem for me, good luck
Great episode! Loved the section on knitting books from the library :)
I know the struggle of finding the perfect cable sweater pattern. I had an all over cabled cardigan I wanted to make in a specific yarn, but I couldn't find a pattern that was what I had in mind. So many pretty pattern, but just not quite what I wanted. I ended up creating my own pattern, which turned out surprisingly well
Good to know! I love hearing how others just went for coming up with a cable sweater themselves.
Perennial is available as a separate pattern just recently!!! I’m knitting it now in drops merino extra fine and it is beautiful
Omg yes thank you for informing me!!
Thanks for another video!
Just a though on your step by step sweater, with roll neck sweaters I usually (very carefully) put a rolled up towel into the neck when blocking (I also do the same on sleeves sometimes), which really helps relax the neck, particularly if the yarn is less naturally drapey.
Is the 1x1 rib band at the bottom knitted with the same size ribbing as the rest of the sweater? If so, that might be the cause. However, it's a very cute sweater! Looks great on you!
Oh my goodness this is absolutely part or all of the problem. Thank you for pointing that out to me!!
Just leave long floats in the back of your swatch so it lays flat and so you don’t have to cut. Then you can undo it.
You reacted much better than I would, you started cleaning and composting right away, I applaud you! I guess I have been very lucky thus far and had no infestation yet but I bring lots of plants, flowers and just stuff i find curbside 😅😅
Ok, my spicy take on taking cable/stitch patterns and using them in a sweater design--there is already a super popular designer that does that with the Japanese knitting stitch books by Hitomi Shida... Granted, there's probably a lot of work into incorporating her motifs into the entirety of the sweater, but it feels like much of the work is done if you've got a base for a sweater established.
Love the idea of getting knitting books from the library! I raided my mum's stash of old knitting books and she had a lot of titles by Kaffe Fassett that have many 80-90s colourful intarsia patchwork designs.
Kaffe Fassett's work is so cool too! A cafe here has one of his books and the designs look like a blast to knit.
Congratulations on finishing the crochet blanket! I also got inspired to join Finish it February to finish my crochet pillow case started all the way in 2022, I was picking it up anytime I would watch a podcast and to my surprise I finished it in a few days!
The loose knit stitch'- I'm having that on my button band for the seasons cardi 😢 maybe it's cuz we're lefties? Lol
Boo that sucks :( have you looked up nimble needles' video on ribbing? If you aren't knitting combination right now, that might help you!
I have found a few carpet beetle larvae in my house as well and did the sane thjng with cleaning and storing all my yarn in pest proof locking containers. The one thing Im unsure about though is finished sweaters. At first i put all my handknit sweaters in plastic bins in my closet but quickly realized that wouldn’t be sustainable for everyday wear. Have you found a solution for finished garments and keeping them safe?
Not yet unfortunately. I'm hoping as we move into warmer weather where I am I can wash them and store them in the plastic bins and hope the lack of access for the larvae is enough to get rid of them before sweater season comes around again. Good luck in fighting yours too!!
Really enjoyed seeing all the library books- I'm also in the process of trying to find my ideal cabled sweater pattern! The In the Company of Cables blanket reminded me a lot of the free Fisherman Sweater And Hat pattern from Lion Brand which is one I've been eyeing
Ooh, thanks for the recommendation! I'd not seen that pattern before.
Hello from St.Louis Missouri!
I’m a combination knitter and I row out on 2x2 rib or larger rib (i.e. ribs larger than 1x1). It happens to me both knitting flat and in the round (I am an Eastern knitter using Norwegian purl in the round). I have gone down the same journey you did, because I hate how loose it looks! And of course everyone gives the same advice, i.e., do a combination purl on that last column. Well I’ve finally given up trying to solve the problem, because I’m certain I’m the only one who notices. Eager to hear what you discover. Maybe Norah Gaughan has suggestions? Because I think she’s a combination knitter and prolific designer/thought leader in the knitting world. Good luck!!!!
I will keep investigating but I have run into the exact same thing! The main advice is do a combination purl but that is what's causing the problem? You're right though, we are certainly the onllllly people who will notice.
Sorry have to - octopuses. It would have been octopi had the word octopus been Latin. But it's from Greek, and Greek has surprisingly similar plurals as English but also ones that are very different, so we don't bother trying to make those "correct" as much. Octopodes was a bit too difficult lol.
Thank you for clarifying! Now I can talk about them without having to preface with every possible plural form I can think of :)
ur making me want to crochet again lol
but i dont wanna put the yarn away, its so pretty... (literally every shelf/table in my room has skeins of yarn on it right now) im just gonna cross my fingers no bugs get in XD
I would just needle felt down those ends in your crotchet blanket so they aren’t sticking out!
when you say combination, do you mean flat and in the round?
It's a name of a specific style of knitting that uses the "eastern" purl :)
Suzanne Bryan has videos to address this issue of that loose knit stitch in ribbing. There are 2: tidy ribbing flat and tidy ribbing in round. My problem of wonky ribbing was corrected.
th-cam.com/video/vZz3HxYV7bg/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/32R6S5x14HA/w-d-xo.html
I'm not a combination knitter, but this video looks like they are changing the direction of the yarn th-cam.com/video/AR2qWJfjgLc/w-d-xo.html ? Your sweater looks great btw! I would def re-block, I saved one of my other sweaters that was creased/stretched funny when I used to block without a blocking mat 😂