I'll Knit If I Want To: Episode 38
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 ก.ย. 2024
- ETA: Re-uploaded! Thanks to everyone who pointed out that the original had cut off the ending, a full 6 minutes!
Welcome to I’ll Knit If I want To! I asked y’all to send in some of your questions (from everything from fiber arts, to designing and on!) so I could put together a little video for y’all every Friday doing my best to answer your questions!
In this week’s episode we cover:
1. Now that I have a half dozen shawls in my collection, I’ve run out of storage space. How do you organize your hand kits, specifically the shawls, to help keep them from stretching, and to keep them visible enough to see what you want to wear? In your videos it looks like they are draped over a room divider…could you show us in an upcoming IKIIWT?
2. I have been knitting continental for half a year now. I noticed I keep making some kind of mistake, where the rows seem to have intertwined or to have switched places, mostly 1-3 stitches are concerned. While I know how to correct it, I can‘t seem to find out what my mistake is. Am I accidentally twisting a stitch? But why are the rows wrong? You don‘t really see the mistake on the right side, it only appears irregular, it‘s more noticeable on the wrong side. It mainly bothers me because I don‘t know what I‘m doing wrong. Thanks for sharing your many helpful answers,
3. Not sure if this has been answered yet but I have a question about row gauge. I generally get stitch gauge but am usually under measurement for row gauge. What is the magic to fix this?
4. What non wool yarn can I use for mittens? I have this lovely pattern I have knit in wool and turns out great but need to make a pair for a friend who is not ok wearing wool on her hands. I have a ton of alpaca but I don’t think if it grows as used this would be a good option?? I want them to be soft but hold shape enough to be functional. Can you give me a little guidance on this please? Thanks so much for the videos they are so helpful.
Knits about winter By Emily Foden: pompommag.com/...
5. What are your recommendations around incorporating knitwear with running? I live in an area that gets pretty cold a few months out of the year, and I’d love to figure out a good way to incorporate my own handmade items into my running gear to keep warm, but I’m not sure what would work best. I don’t want to accidentally felt anything, but I feel like wool keeps me warmer than most other fibers. Any suggestions? Thank you!
Old Port Hat:
www.ravelry.co...
www.dreareneek...
DRK Everyday Sweater:
www.ravelry.co...
www.dreareneek...
Bonus Question: I don’t have a local yarn shop, so I have to buy yarn online. I recently ordered Brooklyn tweeds “Loft” for a shawl. I didn’t use it because it felt so stiff. I know it is a woolen spun yarn, but I don’t know how to decide on which yarns will work best in which patterns. I usually am concerned with color and weight/gauge when I buy yarn, but this has added another aspect to consider. How do you choose yarn type for your patterns? Thank you!
Fall Sock KAL Challenge!
Curio Sock pattern:
www.ravelry.co...
www.dreareneek...
DreaReneeKnits’s Raverly group KAL forum:
www.ravelry.co...
Hashtag to use on Instagram: #curiokalchallenge
I am wearing the Evenfall Sweater:
www.ravelry.co...
www.dreareneek...
Ask a question for next week’s Q&A: forms.gle/pKM9...
(For specific pattern questions that you need an email response to, please email the address listed on the last page of your patten!)
Sign up for the DRK Newsletter: eepurl.com/diPxsr
This podcast has quickly become a favorite! Feels like an information-packed, sit down chat with a friend 💗
I laughed at your contortions to show knitting into the stitch below!😊 I've been knitting for more than 60 years and find these videos to be both informative and entertaining. Thank you for doing them.
A quilt ladder works great for displaying shawls/wraps as well as knitted or crocheted blankets. They drape beautifully, work as room decor, and when they're out being seen in the room its easier to remember to use them... either as an accessory or a cozy layer for relaxing around the house.
Totally agree about giving true wools a chance! I knit a sweater out of Tahki Donegal Tweed, I had ordered the yarn online and when I saw it my first thought was, "oh no". This yarn feels like someone took a clump of hair and rubbed it between their palms until it coiled into a rope 😂
Fast forward through wash, block and wear and I loooove this sweater! It softened up considerably, it holds its shape, doesn't pill or shed and regulates my temperature, I never overheat in this sweater. It was a game changer for me! Goodbye soft superwash that always make me feel hot and sweaty!🙂
I'm probably showing my age knowing this, but I couldn't understand why I had the song "Girl from Impanema" in my head. Then I heard your "do do" music and realized. HAHAHA
Ha Amy. Touche, yes, I've been playing it on the piano today! Music and knitting inspiration in one podcast 😄
I knitted continental for 11 years (self taught) before I realized, thanks to The Nimble Needles TH-cam channel, I was wrapping the yarn the wrong direction when purling…I had always thought my flat stockinette looked wonky, but never knew why…now it is so much better!
I live in Wisconsin, and winter running is my favorite. The downside is that my fingers stay cold so long, so I wear my Elizabeth Zimmermann’s thumbless curled-tipped jogger’s mitts. With them I can keep my fingers and thumb warm together. I knit them in undyed wool double-layered and then kool-aid dyed lime green yarn to intarsia knit the Foo Fighters logo on them. They have gotten me through many winter running miles, and I love them!
Lori, I also live in Wisconsin ... so I am curious where you live. !!!
OMG What you said about how you didn't know you were twisting your knit stitches until your grandma pointed it out is exactly what was wrong with my knitting for YEARS and actually made me quit knitting for almost a decade. I knew there was something I didn't understand/was doing incorrectly that caused my knitting to look inconsistent and I got so fed up with it! It wasn't until my late twenties when I decided to give knitting another chance that I had stitch orientation explained to me by a local yarn store owner. Mind blowing!!! I love being self-taught, but it definitely has its difficulties haha! Love your videos so so much, lots of golden nuggets to hang onto!
For running attire, I have a felted headband and I LOVE it for keeping my ears warm! I also have a neck gaiter/buff that I knit that I love to wear when it's really cold
You also inspired me to try walking and knitting! It was so easy! I tried it with the Harlow hat and it worked great!
Regarding the need for a fiber besides sheep wool I love, love using yak yarn, specifically mYak Medium or Lace yarn. It is super light and warm. I’ve never had it pill and it holds its shape beautifully. Not only that but I have ripped it out repeatedly and the yarn does not lose its integrity. Just a caveat, my daughter does work for mYak, which is how I was introduced to the yarn. I especially love that it benefits the nomads who raise the yak of Tibet.
Zip up cotton pillow protectors work well for storing hand knits. Usually throw in lavender sachets or cedar blocks also
I definitely like negative ease in my hats too. I used to think I liked them larger but I discovered they fall off when I’m shovelling snow or tobogganing which was a huge pain lol
Thank you for re uploading this! Definitely agree with previous comment about a cliff hanger!😉 But grateful for the part 2🥰
For wool sensitive friends I've made lined hats with cashmere on the inside, wool on the outside. I've done the same with mittens and they've held up great. Certainly more expensive but makes warm handknits accessible to those with wool issues.
I just want to say that I love and look forward to these videos every week! I hope you keep doing them, they inspired me to pick up my needles again when I was going through a “knitting funk”😊 Thank you, and I LOVE your patterns 💞
Evenfall has been in my queue and now I have the inspiration to start it. Thank you!
I just discovered your podcasts and I'm loving them. I first learned the basics of knitting in the 7th grade (many years ago). When I retired recently, I started knitting again. I thought I remembered those basic stitches, but couldn't remember how to wrap the yarn. (I'm a bit dyslexic). Finally, I realized that the yarn should be wrapped counter-clockwise and that made it much easier to remember. Also, I have no desire to knit socks, DPNs are my nemesis and I haven't had a lot of luck with other methods either, but I love to knit hats. I have knitted many simple rib stitch hats and really feel the need to branch out to something more challenging. Please keep up the good work.
For running: kneewarmers! (I use them while cycling) Just short ribbed tubes, they make a huge difference. Have also seen lots of handknits on rowers! Hats, cowls, vests, you name it
I appreciate you acknowledging how many of us are self taught! I learned from watching a friend once in college and from a book. I used to knit through the back leg and even when I started knitting through the front leg, I still did it wrong. I was fine for squares and rectangles but anything beyond knit and purl in a square, my stitches would unravel if I tried to increase or decrease. It took me years to figure it all out and I think I may still purl “wrong” 🤦🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️😂.
I agree with the rustic yarn thing. I have a cardigan knit in Briggs & Little Tuffy which I've knit it to work outside. Someone once told me that it looked indestructible, which I agree on. I also have mittens and socks in the same yarn. At first, they're all a little scratchy but with wash and wear, really, it becomes a lot better. My cardigan has a high collar, I wear it over a simple tank top and it's not annoying at all. Yes, some people really have a problem with wool against their skin, but I think maybe a lot of people are too used to the synthetic oh-so-soft fabric the store bought clothes are made of. I love a nice rustic yarn. It feels handmade, it feels solid, it feels protective, it feels like it's gonna last forever.
A running friend asked me to make her winter running socks, so I spun a mix of Corriedale for elasticity, alpaca for warmth and strength, and a touch of angora for extra warmth. I made a 3-ply fingering weight, so the socks were lightweight yet warm. They felted some with wear, but ribbing around the middle of the foot helped keep the socks from shifting. (Of course once they felted, it wasn’t possible to replace the afterthought heels/toes when they developed holes, but they were lovely until then!)
I really enjoy your videos and love that you don't settle for explaining something but you have to demonstrate or show an example. Your personality is so fun and spontaneous!
Love that you include other options for your designs.
Love the camera gymnastics! You always know how to make it work! Fun episode!
For running knits, I haven't made it yet, but I had an idea of making a simple thin scarf that I could wrap around my waist phone pouch when I run that would hang down on one side. I would like to make it out of reflective yarn so that whether I run at day or night, it would look cool, fly behind me as I run, and be helpful when running in the early morning or evening. I live in Florida, so I don't really need anything so warm, but the hat you shared sounds perfect for our "chilly" days to keep my ears warm but still release heat through my head.
I loved the spinning information, Im in my first year of spinning and your thoughts on the different techniques was especially helpful 💕
I'm actually on the prowl for a glass front cedar cabinet for my knits and wips! I think having them on display makes for a cool conversation starter and it could be inspirational for friends to pick up fiber work!
Haha love the walk and knit! Literally walking, working on a baby sweater, and listening to this video right now! Stockinette in the round, a crossbody bag, and well-paved sidewalks!
I just love your weekly videos! You are so relaxed and natural. Look forward to this every week. Thank you for doing them!
You are so adorable. And I really look forward to your weekly videos. I am so excited for your walking and knitting video. Thanks so much Julie
I was taught to knit English-style at a young age by my grandmother, but like you, only learned the knit stitch, and otherwise I was fully self-taught. I didn't knit a lot of stockinette in the first year or so I was knitting, and if I did it was in the round, not worked flat, so it wasn't until I tried to make something flat that I discovered I was wrapping my purls in the wrong direction! This was also, if not pre-TH-cam, pre-video tutorials, so I never got to see the motions done, and had to learn from books and photo tutorials.
Ha! I also am self-taught and I purled upside down so every other row was twisted, too. I discovered it when I knit a vest in the round until the arm holes and then flat for the top. The top half of the vest had that texture you described. Thank goodness for friends who knit and can help.
You are always a favorite podcast! I learn so much listening to you. You are real and approachable. Thank you!
I think there was a question about non-nylon yarns for socks. For the spinners out there, try breed-specific Southdown fiber or Southdown silk blends. The Sheepspot has beautiful options that would work great for the Curio sock!
I recently knit a shawl with Loft and it is so light, airy, warm, soft and lovely! I am so glad that you encourage us to use any yarn and try it out.
I really like headbands I er hats. The bulky wool yarn with a cable that's 3-4 in wide to keep your ears warm.
I have one of those shoe hangers that have little cubbies (front to back - not pockets) in my front hall closet. I roll my sweaters and slip them into a cubbie. For my shawls I have one of those scarf hangers with all the rings (from IKEA) and then I can see them at a glance. I LOVE your podcast, I never miss watching! xoxo
So refreshing to see that you hate sewing in ends too 😂 so many of my makes have internal strays!
My guage changes when I'm on vacation. You can literally see the difference between my regular and vacation stitches.
Love your videos, thanks for taking the time to do these weekly videos. They are packed with knitting info and just fun!!
I’ll be looking for the worsted weight yarn Harlow pattern!! Just learned the brioche stitch and loving it. Knitting on a pair of Curio socks and appreciate your clear directions and videos for the Turkish cast on and afterthought heel. All new learning adventures for me!
I learned from a book and later discovered I was knitting through the back loop too.
Thanks so much for keeping these great videos coming! Very empowering and I learn so much! Looking forward to knitting the Marley, What the Fade and so many more!
I love your unscripted, yet very helpful videos. I have such fun watching and look forward to it each week. :)
I really enjoy your video clips and always learn something. I look forward to your knitting video, thank you Pauline
Self taught here too and when a friend first saw me knit she fixed my tension issue and how I purled. Her mom is a master knitter so she knew how to help me. A few years later she and I began teaching some women in our community how to knit. Unfortunately the pandemic hit and we are unable to do that for now. I am doing the curio socks and would have finished them in time but life happened....stove quit the day after Thanksgiving. I am going to post a photo of my finished socks when I am done. If I had about 2 more hours I would have made it. I also walk and knit. I use a bag my friend Stacy who lives where you live made it for me.
Thank you addressing the walk and knit question with a video! I can’t wait. 🌻
A thin acrylic glove worn under the wool mitten works well if you have a problem with wool against the skin.
I wear knitted accessories a fair bit when running. I have a sockhead slouch hat for when it's chilly, a bandana cowl for sprinkling rain, and my favorite LEG WARMERS made of a chunky wooly wool.
I've been knitting for about 25 years but have never done brioche so I just bought the Marley scarf and can't wait to try it!!
I display my shawls on a large drying rack in my spare bedroom. Usually I’ll fold them in half lengthwise then drape over the bars.
I’m really enjoying these videos. My second Curio sock is on the needles!
Ha Amy. Touche, I've been playing it on the piano today. Knitting and music inspiration in one podcast 😄
I run wearing my knitted leg and arm warmers. For snowboarding I’ve knitted a Dickie. I’ve never ran with it but I might try this winter
Love the color of your new hat! It really complements your coloring well!
For the running - what about a knit pullover vest? Keeps your core warm and you dont have to worry so much about the pilling and felting on the underarms.
Runner here and only worn fingerless gloves and a hat my MIL knit for me which hasn’t felted and has gotten me through years of running and cycling in the coldest, nasties, sweatiest of conditions! That’ll be the Molly Hat by Erin Ruth and she used Juniper Moon Farm Tenzing in colour 05 (a gorgeous jewel-toned blue green). It’s the best hat for deep freezing cold runs, snowy runs (thrown over a visor or baseball hat), and so on. Hope this helps!
Oh as for socks, I only use Smartwool PhD Socks as I worry that he donors may cause blisters (I sweat A LOT and run nothing under 5km per run, so I am afraid to play with that)
A headband to keep ears warm could also be a nice way to add a ha donut touch to your running gear and the chances of getting would be even lower as there’s nothing ribbon against your head and ears. Perhaps ass a little slit to have a ponytail fit through it for additional security to prevent any slipping down of the band.
Brilliant. Love all your Q & As . Laughed about your messy cook book as mine all have messy pages 😂. Have a super weekend. We have snow in Cumbria (England) today. See you next week. 🧶🧶
I taught myself to knit, and somehow I didn't realize that you turned the work at the end of a row! A friend of mine had the same "what are you doing" moment as she saw me knitting left to right
Love ❤️ your style and 🤓
I wish I could master the continental way .
Love your quirky informal way .
Maybe the person who is having trouble with wonky rows is picking up the knitting mid-row and accidently working the row in the wrong direction. This will show up as a hole in the fabric.
Love the Evenfall sweater you're wearing. I'll have to try that one.
I taught myself how to purl, and I wrapped the yarn clockwise to start, so all of those stitches were coming out twisted on the stockinette side. It's so interesting how differently everyone knits!
My whole first project (the everyway shawl!) I knit through the back leg on accident. Glad I’m not alone in that fun little mistake haha
I can’t wait for the worsted Harlow hat. I’ve knit 2 Harlows already and have some luscious Brooklyn Tweed Shelter in my stash.
I love the long videos. 😂
Thanks I have had so much fun being a part of your CriousockKAL
I'm a continental knitter and when I use very fine fingering yarn, sometimes as I'm pulling the yarn back through my loop the tip of the needle grabs the stitch below and drops the current stitch off and I will get a tiny hole. I usually catch it before I knit over it. If I don't catch it right away I grab a smaller gauge crochet hook and pull the yarn up until I have the rows level again. This is easy to do when you are knitting fast and for me mostly when I'm doing a cable or something where there are twists. I always catch it though because it's pretty obvious.
For a quick camera change to close up knitting check out a Canvas lamp! I have been contemplating one for some close up shots of art. They even have a magnet attachment for your phone! Might be a good Christmas gift?
Hi! I agree with you about the wonky stitch. I sometimes find the same thing, especially when I’m knitting without looking. It’s really easy to knit into the stitch below. I make sure to check every few rounds and drop down to fix them.
I think the wonky stitches only happen when I’m knitting knit stitches, I was knitting in the round when it happened. And it happened a lot, like 5 times per sleeve, it frustrated me. I think now the problem was that I was in too much of a hurry, I guess that’s what happens when I’m trying to finish my Christmas presents in time 🙈 and trying to knit without looking 👀, now that you mention that, this actually just helped me 🙏It also helps that I’ m not the only one though 😄😇 So thank you 👍😊
And thanks @Andrea Mowry for picking my question 🥰
My best friend is very allergic to lanolin and animal fibers typically... but Malabrigo Rios doesn't bother her, at all whereas cashmere and alpaca do. So, I think the best bet is having the friend go to the yarn shop with you and try out different yarns and how they feel.
Super fun video with great tips as usual . Thank you xx
You have now lead me to a whole rabbit whole I need to dive down of woolen spun and worsted spun (are there other spins? Does worsted weight mean worsted spun? I don't think so, but idk!) I was literally taking notes on what you said 😂. Actually kind of excited to learn more about this! So thanks!
I will wear a hand-knit neck warmer/cowl while running in the cold weather. 32 or below. Knitted hats/mitts are also useful below 40 degrees F.
When I learned how to knit I was doing it through the back loop as well!
Happy Thanksgiving from Canada! Thanks again for an amazing video.Your advice is so appreciated.
I think the Continental knitter was referring to “rowing out” where her tension is uneven, so from the back her rows separate.
I'm not running these days, but I just finished knitting a pair of legwarmers, and I LOVE them. I would absolutely try wearing them on runs, if my knees wanted me to do that. Someone should give it a try. Mine are the Olallie Legwarmers by Rachel Kieselburg, which is a FREE pattern. Purl Soho has several other free patterns for legwarmers that I have already printed out!
About the continental knitting question. Try to see how you are doing your purl. I found and easier way to do the purling without having to bring my left index finger down :)! But I did dot realize that I was twisting the stitch and I had to do the stockinette stitch through the back loop. Check russian knitting to see if you are purling that way.
That is how I’ve purled for 25 years! Just realized it a month ago from one of Andrea’s tutorials. Don’t know if I was taught that way or switched it up myself. Keep forgetting to ask my mom!
Thanks again🌷Merry Christmas 🎄
Row count. I find that my row count is always longer than the pattern gauge calls for so I ignore it, but I do find that if I am knitting a yoke or sleeves that when I've finished my decreases or increases I'm pretty much at the required length and sometimes over length. It seems to work out because I'm tall and long in the body but there has been the odd time I've had to rip back and decrease the number of rows between the decreases/increases in order to get to the correct length. Hopefully that made sense. Love the podcast. I started at your latest and am working my way backwards but they are very informative and alot of fun to watch.
For running, I made just a basic hat with a brim that can fold up for more ear warmth. I want to figure out how to put in a hole for my glasses arms because that's where I get too much cold air leakage. The top is kind of loose knit so it breaths. I have an idea for basically a sleeve extender. Fingerless mitts, without a thumb hole, and a flap that can tuck around my fingers and into the cuff, but will fold out of the way when my hands get too warm. I'm also going to take some scraps and just make a headband to keep the ears warm.
Of of these days I'll try my socks for running. I'm concerned the purl bumps on the inside will be irritating after a mile or so, but I guess I could always flip them inside out. Hmmm...
love it ! you made me laugh 😁
I do not like negative ease for hats. Snug hats give me a headache (maybe something to do with wearing glasses [often large and heavy]) and now masks, it’s just too much squeezing. What do you think about Scout by Kelbourne Woolens for the worsted Harlow? Love this podcast so so much!!!
For the non-wool mittens an alpaca silk blend would hold its shape better than pure alpaca. If the wearer can tolerate mohair you could also hold a strand of alpaca and a strand of silk mohair. Or suri alpaca.
Be SO careful storing any handknits out in the open! I have had 4 different things (1 was acrylic even) that has had moths eat holes in them. 💔 I now store my things in a cedar chest, in a drawer with cedar chips and lavender sachets or in my Ikea Billy bookcase with Oxberg glass doors. Every once in awhile I will refold them so that they don't crease. ETA: I do have a few pairs of socks on my dresser, but I have multiple cedar bags sitting on top of them to deter the moths and so far I haven't had any problems. They sell the little bags that can hang too, and cedar smells delicious.
I taught myself to knit in 2018. I had crocheted previously so I would wrap my yarn the wrong way. I showed my friend my first project and she said I think you're twisting your stitches. Sure enough, I was haha I'm glad that she noticed so I could correct it before I had been doing it a long time!
Hi Andrea, would you please talk about what projects work best when walking and knitting? I have tried with a sweater and it was heavy and I worried that my gauge would change if it was draping down while I walked. Hope that makes sense. Love your videos! Thanks so much!
For running, I would try to add thumb holes to a sweater
I love love love your videos. I sooo hate the ads.
I love shawls. I wish I could knit one. Too much of a beginner though.
You can do it! Just find a pattern you love and go for it! My second knitting project (after a washcloth) was a shawl.
There are some really awesome garter stitch shawl patterns out there that would be great for a beginner as you only need to know how to knit, turn and increase. It's a fun project after you get tired of knitting endless scarves, and you're really only adding 1 new technique.
I agree you should try it! I would avoid crescents for the first one and go with a triangle that starts at one end, like Andrea’s “Free Your Fade.” She always gives great directions (Thanks, Andrea!) but you can look up what you don’t know on TH-cam. And any mistakes can just be “surprise design elements!” :)
@@angelayarnivoregirl5009 I can’t get the hang of knitting in the round. I’ve been trying for 4hrs every day for 3months now and I still can’t do it.
Thank you for the advice maybe I will find one that uses straight needles.
Take Care
@@terrielemaire5884 that’s a good idea! Only thing is I can’t knit in the round. I’ve tried for hours every day for months and it just twists up. I got them to knit hats with as my sewing up is a disaster!!
Take Care & thank you for your advice
I am just watching this now - did the video about how you walk and knit ever get posted? very eager to work toward this! thanks!
What brand of wool running socks do you wear? I live in Southern Michigan and like a knit headband for all but the coldest days. I may have to knit myself an Old port, though, because that looks like a great option! Those mornings with a really low wind chill call for a balaclava that i actually knit to wear while shoveling snow during a polar vortex. Of course, then I have issues with glasses fog. Lol! Oh, I also double up with a pair of thin gloves under mittens and usually by the end of the run both are in my pockets.
For running knits I wear a warm knit dicky and I recently saw a knit hat with a ponytail hole I thought was genius!
Every time I knit in front of my mom I swear she stares at me and wonders how she can re-teach me how to knit lol. Because I learned when I was so young I have always picked used the yarn, wrapped it around the needle, and then dropped it. That’s how I was taught because that’s how it was easiest to teach a little kid. I don’t even know how to get out of the habit of doing that. Trying to figure our how to wrap the yarn around my fingers and hold it over my finger just feels weird. It’s so interesting to hear and see how everyone has learned to knit
I twisted my purls for 3 years before I figured it out! 🤣
Hi Andrea - I hike a lot all year around and would love to wear some knitted clothing - can you recommend any sweaters, socks, mittens etc.? Your channel is great and I learn something new every time I watch one of your episodes. All the best from Denmark.
Wow, I just found your podcast and I am so happy I did. I am loving binge watching all of your episodes! my question is : While traveling have you had any problem with being allowed to take your needles on flights?
Next time let “Boo” join us! 😉 I just think it’s so cute when kids join the video.
Thanks for all your helpful advice!
Can you list your all time favorite knitting books?
I need suggestions for my Christmas Wish List!
Feeding the algorithm. Thinking of doing even fall with my adevent
Great video thanks!! I can’t wear wool while running. I have to wear technical fiber.