How To Knit a Sweater Top Down - Planning My Sweater Projects - Part 1
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ส.ค. 2020
- #howtoknitasweater #sweaterknitting #knitsweater
In this video, I chat about how to knit a sweater top down. Specifically, I focus on planning for a sweater project... if you're a beginner, this video will help reduce the stress of your first sweater! If you're a pro, let's just chat about sweaters! I go through what I think about when picking a sweater pattern to knit, how I pick yarn for my sweater and colors, and how I gauge swatch so I can pick a proper size for my top down sweater. When knitting a sweater, I think planning is so important so you knit a sweater that you will love and wear! Come talk sweaters with me and see how I go about my process to knit a sweater top down that I will love!
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To learn how to make a speed swatch check out this video:
• How to Swatch in the R... - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
Swatching is so important! When I started making sweaters, I was totally the same way. BUT then I made a sweater that didn’t fit great, so I got more serious about swatching. Then I got a perfect fit! Once that perfect fit sweater is the result from a proper gauge swatch, you learn to love the swatch. I don’t allow myself to start the project unless I get gauge, which is very hard, because I sometimes have to go down 2-3 needle sizes 😭 I’m a loose knitter. But the results have not failed me. Swatching is key to a successful sweater 💖
Swatching really is the key! I tend to just do the math to make my swatch work, if I like the fabric. It’s worked so far! Haha.
I am amazed how much you've already learnt in such a short time! I have been knitting seriously for 10 years and I am learning so much from you! (I do the exact same thing with swatches it's uncanny! Though I think I'm also not very good at measuring - or I am so resentful knitting my swatch that it actually affect my gauge!) Love your channel - susbcribing right now!
I like your honesty about swatching. I feel the same way.
Hey! I am right there with you about swatching. I DO it but I don't WANT to lol. One of the things I do now is I have a pair of socks going (which is new to me because I'm a pretty monogamous knitter), then I swatch and while it's soaking I knit the socks. I always block overnight so that the next day I'm ready to measure and hopefully get knitting! I will say that I've been knitting for 5 years now and know that I often have to go up a needle size, so when I swatch, I start with the recommended needle for the pattern, knit 4" then knit another 4" with the next needle size. This saves me the headache of having to re-swatch (which saves me the frustration and anxiety of YET more waiting!)
Glad I found your channel!
Thanks for the IG love, Caleb. So glad that led me here!! Yay for sweater knits - and double yay for these behind the scenes peeks. Thank you!!
Oh wow! Thanks for popping over to watch! So cool! I am a fan... I actually mentioned you in my vid about my favorite yarns and patterns ☺️
Love this vlog. Knitted my first cardigan when I was 16 no experience at all. My gauge was off and it was big,loved it anyway. Did it on the flat with frills and buttonholes.
Four decades later returned to knitting making my first loose fitting jumper.
Loving the process, because I sew I understand fit and now O am researching how to do full bust adjustment on my next project for a close fitting jumper.
hope it's worked well for you :)
your approach and thoughts are EXACTLY mine...I feel so much better knowing all of my quirks may just be normal! So happy I found you on IG and here!
Getting more confident to try my first sweater thanks to this series!
I love these type of vlogs/podcasts - tips and experiences are so helpful no matter the craft - thank you. Great guidance on color and yarn selection - 😍.
I used to have the same “ugh I don’t want to ...” feelings about swatching until I heard a tip at knit night. I no longer wait til I’m ready to start a project to make a swatch, I make it as I’m working on different projects way before I start the new project. The swatch is like a take along commute/car/CTA ride or small make by itself. That way it is completed and in the project bag whenever I’m ready to start.
That is such a great tip! I love that! I'm generally thinking about my next project while I'm working on a current project anyways, so might as well get prepared! Thank you!
Hey, Caleb. Love your channel. I'm a relatively new knitter and haven't yet knit my first sweater, but am working up to it. I share your distaste for swatching, but obviously know the importance of it. Thanks for all your tips in this video and others!
Finished all of your podcasts this afternoon. I love the vlogeues of them. I'm a fan now. Looking forward to your next visit.
Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed my videos.
Thank you so much for the honest experience with knitting sweaters. I'm only about a year into my journey but I think a Jessie Maed sweater will be next up. Seeing such beautiful work from a dedicated but newer knitter gives me hope they my sweater will turn out. I really enjoy your wonderful content and look forward to each new video!
Just found your podcast and am catching up with your friendly, welcoming presence! Something that makes swatching a little more pleasant is for me is about timing: I use it as a way to try out yarn that I'm excited about but don't yet have time for in my active WIPs. So if there's some downtime in my current WIPs and I just feel a little restless, I swatch with a totally new yarn that I maybe am starting to have ideas for. That way I get a little something done while still having active things on the go. Plus I get to spend a little more time with the swatch before its final project to just play with it and dream about what it might become and by the time I actually use it, I feel familiar/confident with it and even more excited!
You are such an inspiring voice with your honest takes on the process, the confidence, all of it. Thanks to you, I found a sweater vest (not ready for sleeves) pattern and made it. It's terrible, but I love it. Keep up the great videos!
I like what you have to say and I have been knitting on and off since I was a youngster. I have never done a swatch and because of what you have to say about swatching
about swatches I am going to start doing it from now on. I love the sweaters you have made that I have seen so far. I would rather knit a sweater then
a scarf as you previously stated. Thank you for so much useful information. Grace Ann Cassese
I Love the Color Choices in that Sweater with the Green in it , Looks great
thank you again😊 it was important for me to learn about the blocking . i wasn't awair of that. so thank you
I love your idea of swatching with garter and stockinette. I have been fighting with curling swatches for far too long. I love your podcast and appreciate hearing you think through a project.
Thank you! I should have mentioned that I leave a three or four stitch garter border on the sides of my swatch as well!
The first 5-6 minutes could have come from my brain/experiences!
I'm watching this after your "5 things beginner knitters don't do" (and commented). When you mentioned knitting sweaters flat and not knowing if they fit, hating seaming,.... try the Weasley Sweater (on Ravelry). It's super easy (and since Mrs. Weasley isn't a perfect knitter, any flaws in construction are totally fine!)
I'm so excited I found this channel! Thanks for all your hard work!
Hello there Caleb! Nice to see you enjoying the whole process of choosing, picking, matching and more importantly swatching! Well done. I’m like you ... thru trial and error being brutally frank about colour choices etc before I start a sweater project now. I love your knitting style. I am a combination knitter (aka Norwegian style of picking off the index finger) but combine throwing during colourwork / when it gets hectic lol. Wishing you continued success with your podcast! Looking forward to seeing your amazing finished sweater. Blessings. 👏💐🤗🇨🇦
Thank you so much! I have tried to throw during colorwork while I'm knitting continental with one hand and I just can't get in the rhythm. So I ended up just holding all of my colors in my left hand and knitting them all continental. I wouldn't say I'm the best at it, but it gets the job done :-)
Thank you. Yes, the process of how to select yarn and a pattern is where I am at. I have knit one sweater for myself which was only partially successful as far as fit. I knit a man's sweater for an aquaintance. And lastly I knit a baby sweater. I am ready to create something I will love for myself.
I’m really impressed with this podcast and have found some helpful information in this most recent on sweater tips! I’ve made a few sweaters now and it’s helpful just to learn my thought process is not unique. In addition to your tips though I found it helpful to knit baby sweaters first as I learned the techniques in a faster way, and who doesn’t know someone who can use a baby sweater?
Keep up the podcasts and know your work is greatly admired!
That's a such a nice compliment! Thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying my videos!
I’m finding it helpful hearing of your thought / preparation process. Even the speed swatch, not cutting the yarn. Good tip.
Glad it was helpful!
Hi Caleb I’m from Baltimore I knit the tin can knits sweater you did and also left out one yarn. I also swatch every time and often need to go down a needle size. Interesting listening to you talk about the process...thanks for sharing! Pat
How did you like your Flax's fit?
Thanks for sharing your thought process it made me think about mine and also gave me patience to finish a swatch for my as if T
Glad it was helpful!
Caleb, your sweaters are gorgeous!
Hello, new to your channel - thanks to Zack Stout. I am a fairly new sweater knitter and can't believe I never knew how to swatch in the round!! What an eye opener!!! Thanks so much for sharing. Good luck on your channel and looking forward to more great tips!
Zack is the best! Thanks for coming over to my channel to watch and for wishing me luck :-)
I love your thinking and being able to express your thoughts in words about your knitting process, very enjoyable and informative Podcast. I too found you from The Grocery Girls and have subscribed.
Thanks for coming to watch my videos :-)
I've finished three sweaters and have been working on my fourth for months, much much longer than the others.
The first two were patterns, very first I followed a pattern to the T, didn't swatch, ignored all of my suspicions about the size and ended up with something way bigger than I wanted but I'm still happy with it.
Second, I used the wrong needle size for the yarn even though it fits great (made adjustment to the pattern), my initial swatch for the pattern seemed fine even though it was a looser gauge than on the ball of yarn, a light worsted vs the heavier worsted the pattern was for and it's a pill-y mess now after wearing it through the winter with two total washes and a few steamings. I plan on frogging and reknitting it :)
Third, I designed myself and I swatched well and love the outcome BUT didn't add enough positive ease so it's a tight and itchy sweater, still wearable but itchy nonetheless with an undershirt, also planning on frogging and reknitting it.
I can confidently say each sweater was an amazing learning process for me despite my expectations being betrayed each time. Going into my fourth, I started with the same yarn and needle size as the second and got everything but the sleeves done. Trying to make the sleeves on it was so difficult bc I didn't design it well enough or think it through. I ended up frogging what I had bc I saw how poorly the second sweater was holding up, it was very difficult to start from square one.
I learned how to adjust for the fit and designing issues before casting on again with smaller needles. So far, I'm still having some trouble with the sleeves (row gauge and spacing increases AAAAAAA), I've started and frogged sososo many times and it's really desensitized me to frogging, which used to be a last resort for me.
With each sweater, I've pushed myself past my comfort zone, once being intimidated by the sheer size of a sweater, then seaming, then modifying patterns, then designing, different bind offs or grafting, cable difficulty, frogging, etc etc... More than any other kind of project I've ever made, sweaters are STILL my favorite bc they have forced me in the right direction in my knitting life.
Start with the finished project and work backwards, be honest with yourself about what you really want, let your worst fears happen! Whether it's running out of yarn and needing to mix match dye lots, abandoning ship, starting over, modifying a pattern, letting it hibernate, you will get through it and be better off for it.
Army green is my absolute favorite colour!
Just found you! Omg! I watched all of your podcast to get caught up. I subscribed immediately! ❤️❤️
Yay! Thank you!
Caleb I just found you yesterday! Ima go watch ALL your other shows right now!
So glad you are here! Thank you for watching :-)
Good information Caleb, thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
im half way through my third sweater and also just started my forth. all knitted flat and stitched together. im stll a beginner and am not using a pattern, i am using a book i found at a local thrift store for reference when it comes to shaping. i didnt swatch for any of them because i was using a yarn i thought i knew well. the first sweater is unwearable even for a doll, but i finished it and that was my goal so im happy with it. with that experience i made my second, tight, yet wearable. and from that ive learned so much, like i should swatch my yarn.
I also really want to try circular needles, and plan to pick up a set next week
Thank you for the video, also love the photo behind you!
The avocado? That was a print I bought off of Etsy as a pdf and then had printed on photo paper.
Great topic for a podcast. You knit really fast. I was always brought up knitting sweaters in bits and the endless hated seaming and I am so glad for in the round knitting. I started with the flax by Tin Can Knits and went from there.
I also made a flax! I am not the biggest fan of the fit because it lacks short rows or any other shaping for the neckline. Did you find that to be bothersome as well?
I love the teal for you.
This was so great. Really reminded me to slow down and enjoy the process.
Thanks Caleb. 🙂Kimberly
It's something I have to remind myself to do all the time... and I'm not always successful! I need to learn patience one of these days. Haha.
that’s so funny about the orange and brown color work! i’m knitting my first sweater, striped with moody neutrals but also an orange and teal. the only colors i minded if they touched in the color order was the orange and the dark brown because it was giving me pumpkin spice vibes a little to strongly lol!
Happy to find you! Subbed and rang the bell ( : I just got my Cozy Raglan pattern! Considering yarns at this very moment!
How exciting! Did you decide on what you want to go with?!
dude, yes. everything you said, yes me too!!!
Thanks Caleb I really enjoyed this video 🤗
I'm glad you enjoyed it :-) I have part 2 coming out this weekend!
This was very very helpful. I’m scared to knit sweaters. Fit. Seaming. All of it. Top down scares me too. Swatching 😱. But hearing how you plan it all out really helps me see that I can take a different approach and perhaps take the plunge. Thanks.
You can definitely do it! Start with a baby sweater perhaps! If you don't know a baby who could use one, you could always donate it! And acrylic would be perfect because it's easy care.
Great ideas, 🙏
I was so excited to hear you praised on Grocery Girls!
Awww that's sweet! Thanks! I was so excited too... I couldn't even believe it was happening!
YES! Me too! I'm just now watching their vlog from yesterday.
OMG...Get ready to be bombarded...Jodi just mentioned you to Traci on yesterday's Live show.But I found you first!❤
When they mentioned me, I almost fell out of my chair! I was so excited. I have gained so many viewers since then and I am so grateful to them!
I've knitted a few sweaters in a range of different yarns. I know what yarns give me the gauge that I need for my size. So I don't gauge that often, yes I know its bad but I know what works for me and what yarns work for my tension and the way the yarn blooms after washing. I also like to knit with handspun yarns more then commercial wools, if I can find the yarn that I want in a yarn shop i haul out my spinning wheel and a big bag of natural wool and spin it myself and then I dye it myself as well.
There are some sweaters that I like to take the time and plan it out piece by piece and do a gauge swatch like the Wool and Honey sweater and there are other easy sweaters that are just a basic raglan or a yoked sweater that I can just pick up some yarn and needles and go. I get a looser gauge when working with my ChiaGoos and a tighter gauge when using my Lykke's. I prefer the wood to the steel for sweaters.
Great comment~! Thanks for sharing all of that~info that people don't usually say anything about,but I for one,,find really interesting 🙂
@@vivienneclarke2421 agreed! I have done some knitting with hand spun yarns. These are the yarns I am drawn to.
Hi, I just found out about your podcast after watching the “grocery girls”. Glad I tuned in. I have never completed a sweater. I started the boxy sweater (bottom up) but it’s just a wip. I want to try a different type and will use your tips in doing so. Awesome podcast.
I hope you do try another! Once you get past that first one, I think you'll love it!
Drowning in Yarn I will with your tips in mind. After binge watching I’m inspired. It actually has made me take a second look at my stash, too. Pretty yarn but not colors I actually wear. I have more yarn than I can knit lol
I'm so glad to hear your though process and learn more about swatching. I didn't swatch for this sweater and now I'm worried about it. It's worked flat and then seamed so I can't try it on until it's finished. I suck at seaming so I wish that I had gotten help to change it up and make this in the round. Just praying at this point. Thanks for another great episode!
I’ve never done a seamed sweater! But... somebody in a comment suggested laying the pieces on top of a sweater that you know fits (like a store bought one, if you have it) to help confirm the sizing. Maybe doing that would bring you some comfort?
@@DrowninginYarn Thank you so much!
Hi great video:)
I knit sweaters i the round sometimes , but I learnt knitting seamed sweaters and like the variety in switching between the two.
There are a couple of things that I prefer about seamed sweaters, firstly if you need to rip back to fix a mistake on the body it's less work on a seamed sweater because it's a smaller piece and secondly it's a lot easier to adapt the neckline.
I find it quicker to check the fit of a seamed sweater, just lay in on top of a sweater with a similar fit to what you are aiming for, no need to worry about it falling off needles as you try it on; on the other hand it's more reassuring to try on a seamless sweater and see exactly how it looks.
Seaming isn't too bad:) the easiest way I know is to do a running stitch making sure to have an entire stitch on each side on the inside of the seam (hope that makes sense) it's not invisible, but on unstretched stocking stitch it looks like a column of purls
Oh, that sizing tip for seamless sweaters makes a lot of sense! Thank you!
Nice job wow.
Not new to sweater knitting but new to your channel and happy to have found it. Pleased to meet you Caleb.
Also, as a podcaster and podcast viewer, I appreciate all your edits! So listenable. Thank you for creating knitting content! TH-cam is my knitting circle and now you’re in it. ✨
Wow... thank you for those compliments! I'm happy you came over to my channel to watch! I subscribed to yours and I'm excited to get to know you now too :-)
Excellent prodcast would to learn how to knit down
I shall be watching your prodcast
Thank you
I happened on your podcast. I’m a semi beginner, I knit, purl. I was going to try socks. I have knit simple shawls. The thought of a sweater is exciting, a little scary, but still excited. I’m not experienced enough to know how to choose patterns, yarns, let alone how much yarn, etc. I am comfortable with magic loop. I like them better than straight needles. Can you make recommendations on kits, or yarns, pattern, etc. I am your fan and subscriber now. Podcasts are terrific. Thank you for your awesome information. Jacque Dooley
Hey Caleb (I hope that's how you spell your name),
I loved watching this video on how you build your sweaters. I've completed about 6 of my own, however I only wear 3 of them. The other 3 didn't work out for many reasons (gauge was off, wrong choice of yarn, or I didn't like that colour in the end). I'm really not the best in the planning phase, so I have come to terms with stuff that can and does go wrong. I think not being so hard on myself is the secret to a long loved form of crafting. Plus I want to make all the mistakes I can now with relatively affordable yarns, so that when I have the funds to buy the more luxurious ones I can avoid most of the older problems. In writing that - it's really so personal for each of us and that's what makes our own adventures with yarn so uniquely brilliant. Thank you for your well informative video... and keep making those beautiful sweaters. I am inspired to start a new one now.
I’m glad you found it helpful! Don’t be afraid to unravel the yarn from those sweaters you don’t like and make that yarn into a new sweater using all the lessons you learned from the old one! I have friends that have done that with amazing results!
So happy to see this topic! I'm ready to start my first sweater, and anything that makes the process easier or go smoother is greatly appreciated! How do you decide if you want to do a top down or a bottom up sweater? And if you have done both, do you find the arm hole shaping to be easier/fit better on one over the other? Can't wait to see your video on swatching for size! Take care!
I have done one bottom up sweater, and it wasn't my favorite process... it is harder to try on as you go, so it requires a bit more faith in the process. That being said, it ended up fitting wonderfully! It's the Leelanau Sweater that I talk about in this video: th-cam.com/video/55UxVsDdQCw/w-d-xo.html&t . I think a top down is a bit simpler for a first sweater, for sure. It is easier to try on as you go which makes it a bit less anxiety-inducing! Both are relatively easy as far as the arms go... there isn't too much shaping to worry about (just basic increases/decreases), so don't be scared about that!
I've knit many sweaters and always swatch in a manner similar to yours and it definitely helps me decide on colours, whether I like the fabric, and which size to knit.But I've learned you can't only rely on that swatch to get a well fitting sweater. The gauge can change in a bigger piece of knitting; also you may knit tighter on sleeves for example and have to go up a needle size. My advice is, use the swatch as a guide but make sure you try that sweater on as soon as you can, at least as soon as you can after you've split for the sleeves; and be prepared to alter your needle size or the size you're knitting depending on the outcome.
Such good advice! Thank you :-)
Love that pop of teal in that brown sweater. Hope to learn colour work one day. Am doing 2 cardigans now for myself. Started with one that requires seaming because I was worried about doing the raglan. Started a child size raglan (for my niece) and enjoyed the process so much, I started one for myself 😅. I have a love hate relationship with swatching mainly because it feels like a waste of yarn but it keeps the math for sizing.
I felt the same about swatching at first, but then I realized I could always unravel them later if I don't want to keep them around for future reference! You could save them and unravel them for a fun scrappy project one day! Or for colorwork once you learn when you just need tiny bits of a color! I learned colorwork by taking a class at my local yarn store, but you could absolutely learn online... maybe start out with mosaic knitting first (if you haven't already done it). It's easy color work that you do holding only one strand of yarn at a time and the design is just done with slipped stitches. Andrea Mowry has a hat called the Tincture Hat that is so cute and is very easy to do! It would be a great introduction.
The tincture hat I made in Brooklyn Tweed Arbor: instagram.com/p/CDM6wyhpGSD/
My process is a lot like yours. :-) I usually buy the yarn first, then find a pattern to fit it. One thing I will add, if you are doing cabling or other techniques, make a swatch of that, too. The gauge will be different than your stockinette.
Just found your podcast. Feel the same way about swatching and should be better about it. Look forward to watching your other videos!
Thanks for coming to watch!
Hi Caleb, I found you while looking for tips on sweater knitting. I love your enthusiasm and have since found a renewed excitement of knitting my sweater. I would like to ask where you got your project bag from in this video. Thank you for posting!
Your sweaters are gorgeous
Thank you so much!
Heard about you from watching Grocery Girls and am looking forward to catching up on all of your podcasts. I don't know how you can knit without watching your knitting. I'm sure I would be dropping all kinds of stitches and messing up on every row. LOL
Hahaha. I only do it when I'm knitting something super easy. And I glance at it constantly to make sure everything is going as expected.
So impressive ! How yu do knitting without even looking at the work!! Yu are so skillful!
I needed this video!! I'm terrified of knitting a sweater 🥺🙈! I imagine a sweater that doesn't fit. 1 sleeve inches too long. Socks bore me. I just can't get excited about socks. So I worry about making 2 of the same thing. And them matching! 🧦🧶🙏
Instant like and subscribe when i saw a guy knitting. But apart from that your tutorials and tips are great! I hope to learn to make sweaters like you do. Thank you. Grazie
Thank you! 😊
Everyone should watch this video.
I have made MANY crocheted sweaters that are seamed, and I have disliked the process every time. My first knit garment was a seamed sweater-ish (really a poncho with sleeves) and I disliked that as well! I am actually pretty decent at seaming, but the stress of making sure all the edges matched up is really not worth it for me after spending all of the time making the panels, so I fix that by only making sweaters that are done in the round (for both knit and crochet.) I agree that you should be able to enjoy the process!
Thanks for sharing stay safe x
😊 I hope you stay safe as well! Thank you for watching!
Wow! I am so pleased to have found you here for the first time. Your presentation is excellent. I have been knitting a swatch and listening to you and you have a very calming voice. The information about swatching was very useful - particularly about washing and drying it. I have resisted swatching myself in the past and sorely regretted it later! Now, I can swatch and listen to you at the same time! Much easier! Also, your jumpers are incredible. You are very talented and inspirational. Thank you. 🇬🇧
Thanks for the tips! I have found that knitting a baby sweater is great for learning new techniques without a huge investment--just use scraps! If you don't have a baby to give it to; you can always give the sweater to charity.
Donating a baby sweater is a great idea!
I never thought about this before, but this is an extremely good idea!
I'm going to do this for my first sweater knit experience.love the idea.
I loved this video, I have been crocheting for a few years, I have only tried blankets and scarves but I pick up a lot from the videos that are on youtube. I would like to learn to knit, as a child my mom taught me the basics how to cast on stitches, the stockinette stitch and I think I could probably even purl a few stitches. But I am interested in the comfy classic raglan sweater and I'm unsure if this is a sweater that should be considered a first, or if I should be looking into something on an easier level. When watching this video, I was going through the same things that were being stated, I'm terrible at mixing colors so I tend to go back to my favorites, I don't like making swatches because I don't want to take away from the yarn that I bought to make my project, so I like to dig right in. But as I said I would like to know if this would make a good first project ?
I’m afraid to knit a sweater. I want to and I get so inspired by sweaters others have knit up. But I get nervous I’m gonna mess it up or not wear it and bc of time/money invested that makes me hesitant. But watching you definitely inspires me to jump in n try it. Another great video, love hearing about your process and I look forward to your next video.
Thanks for the compliment! Maybe you could try a bulky sweater or even a baby sweater first! It’s a great way to try it without as much of a time/money investment. Or, and this is gonna sound weird, there are some tiny sweater patterns that have the EXACT same construction as a human-sized top down raglan! You could make one with fingering weight scraps and then you have an ornament and get a feel for the process on a smaller scale. I will find the pattern I’m thinking of that is an in the round tiny sweater. My boyfriend and I made them and then twisted some wire from a wire hanger into a tiny hanger and put them on the tree.
Oh and also, for a baby sweater acrylic is great because then the parents can just toss it in the wash and not worry about caring for it in any special way. So it can be very cheap!
Drowning in Yarn The tiny sweater ornaments sound cute! I’ve been thinking about Christmas knitting so even making them for gift tags on presents would be cute. Baby sweaters are great steps into sweaters also, I’ve never thought of that. I’ll look on Ravelry for pattern ideas. I’ve crocheted lots of baby blankets and have plenty of acrylic yarn leftover from those. That would give me confidence to leap into sweater making too. Thank you for the ideas. 😁
Heather, no problem!!! Here is a pattern for the tiny ornament: www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tiny-sweaters-2. And for the baby sweater, the Flax by tin can knits is what I made. It’s free and a great introduction for a baby or kid. It’s not my favorite for me (because it lacks shaping for the neck), but I think it’s perfect for a little one!
Drowning in Yarn OHHHH! The little sweater ornament is so cute! Gonna start with those as I can easily gift them as ornaments or string them together for a garland! I appreciate your suggestions bc I wouldn’t have thought of those as an intro to sweater making. Awesome! I can see myself making a kid size Flax sweater but I’m gonna dip my toe in with the sweater ornaments... lol 😊
Such great information as I am a new knitter.. I made two sweaters, the one in my thumbnail is one of them and I was pretty happy with it. I want to do another sweater in multi colors like the one you have in this video but I feel a little intimidated with color work, did you find it hard to do? You did such a good job. I really love your cozy raglan sweater and would love to do one like that.
Caleb, thank you for this pair of videos. I am currently in the process of knitting my FIRST TOP-DOWN RAGLAN sweater. I’m using a recipe pattern that I got off of Ravelry. I want to make a crew neck, but the pattern does not have a whole lot of detail on how to do it. I know that the neck stitches get picked up in the end and the collar is added last. Could you share some of your experience regarding your favourite rib pattern for crew neck sweaters and which bind off you’d recommend for a beautiful, finished look and adequate stretch. The neck of my sweater has 62 stitches. Thanks for any help you can offer. Jack
I also don’t like sewing together the pieces when I knit sweaters in parts, but I recently found out that it gives me a very good result to crochet the pieces together. Just place the right sides together and crochet instead of sewing. Much more fun, and the result is a stunningly firm fabric 🤗 If you knitted stocking stitches you can also play a bit with the fitting when you crochet the pieces together, to make a better fit, if you need to.
That's a great idea! So, by play with the fit, you mean you can pick out the crochet easier and redo parts that need it? Does this leave a bothersome ridge on the inside?
Drowning in Yarn
I’m not sure what you mean with picking out... if you mean rip up the seam and redo it, yes it’s very easy to rip up, and it’s much more fun to crochet than sew.
And about the ridge, it’s the same, just funnier to do than sewing.
Hello Caleb! Very interesting video. I am planning to knit my first sweater in a couple of weeks. I made a few samples based on my body measurements and sweaters I have. I have 2 questions. Can we knit in one piece a sweater ? Also, do you know a knit point more thick for the collar ? Thanks!
This is such a lovely sweater--you did a great job and I love your yarn choice. Would you mind sharing what yarns you used? Thanks so much :)
I love your cosy classic sweater, the colours are absolutely fantastic! Can you tell me how many rows of each colour did you do and how did you match up the stripes on the sleeves please? I'm an advanced beginner and I did knit a flat sweater and although the pattern did not have any stripes, I thought I'd be a bit adventures and add stripes. The stripes did not match up on the sleeves and I was so disappointed that I've been put off of ever being adventures again!
I would love to knit your cosy sweater for my first born in the exact same pattern you did. Any help for a novice will be greatly appreciated x
One of my goals, to knit a sweater! Heard about you from Zach Stout!
Zach is such a sweet guy! It was so nice of him to give me a shoutout :-)
Also, you can definitely knit a sweater!!!
Very experienced knitting sweaters but I still hate swatching for the same reasons as you. Because of that I cheat and only make a 2" swatch or so. It has absolutely come back to bite me! Thank you for encouraging me to be more thorough. What really interests me is your very unusual and unique style of knitting. Are you a leftie? From whom did you learn? I'm a flicker. Always have been but never knew it even had a name. Let's just say my kids are your age and I learned when I was 6. I was taught to hold one straight needle in my right armpit. Looking forward to the next. And your sweaters are so beautiful. I like best the one you like least. ;)
Thank you for the compliment on the sweaters! I need to be better about ALWAYS doing a four inch swatch! I knit continental! I hold my yarn in my left hand because I started with crochet and that’s how I felt most comfortable when I started knitting... tensioning with my right hand feels so unnatural to me which is weird because I am right handed. I’ve tried flicking and CAN do it but not well at all. I’m jealous that you can! Do you find that it lets you knit faster?
It can be very fast. I barely release the needles. What I meant was, I've never seen anyone knit continental off of the middle finger, only the index finger. Maybe also a remnant of crochet where, to me at least, the middle finger is instrumental.
Hi Caleb! Just discovered your channel and LOVE your style. Do you make the pattern available for the striped hoodie in your intro? Very cool!
I hope you wear Marshland more than you expected to because it's gorgeous.
Thank you! I think I’ve worn it like twice. It’s just not very “me”. Haha. But it was a great learning experience!
The key to making sure those seamed sweaters fit is (you guessed it) swatching!! I think of it just like a sewing project, you have to make sure the pieces you make are a certain size, so that when you seam it it will fit together. And just like a sewing project, you can adjust the size of the pieces depending on where you need more/less room. Whenever I do a seamed sweater I'll make a huge gauge swatch because it's that much more important than with a seamless sweater.
Hmmm. If I am not a fan of sewing, do you think I wouldn’t like the seamed or is it different enough that it could still be enjoyable? I’ve heard people do like the structure of their seamed sweaters (sometimes much better than in the round. How do you feel about the fit vs a seamless sweater?
@@DrowninginYarn I prefer seamed sweaters for the fit, absolutely! But of course I prefer the process of knitting a sweater in the round. And there are patterns you only need to seams the sleeves on and the shoulders, so you can knit body/sleeves in the round (like the Wayne sweater by Sari Nordlund). I'd say it's a hugely different process to knitting in the round so give it a try at least once! Seaming is honestly a practiced skill and once you get the hang of it isn't too bad. 💪🏼
Thanks for that info! I will look at that sweater you suggested!
I'm not sure how I found you, but I'm so glad I did. The colors in the sweater at 13:17 looks stunning - absolutely brilliant and amazing. Could you share the yarn and color? thank you.
Thank you! I’m glad you’re enjoying my videos! So the blue yarn is Long Dog Yarn’s Silent Night and the gray yarn is from Three Irish Girls. I can’t seem to find the tag, so I’m not sure what color it is. I will have to hunt it down! The other two colors are yarns that I dyed myself.
I am looking at you while you are knitting without looking at your work....... It s stunning to see. I am trying to start my first knitted Man sweater... Maybe can you help me to focus how to start the work? Hope so
I'm TERRIBLE at weaving in tails,and seaming~!! I tried knitting a sweater flat one time. I checked it as best I could and thought it would fit. I had one seam left to see before I discovered it was too tight under my armpits~!! As I said,,I'm bad at weaving in tails,and I'd made such a mess of it I was unable pull the tails out and salvage all that yarn I'd spent a fortune on.....
Every now and again I pull it out and pick at those woven tails lol😂
One of these days I'll get it~!!🥢🧶💕
Hi! I know I'm late on the train ... I began to knit 4 years ago. To begin with I'm left handed so I learned with youtube and my knitting ddin't make sense to others knitters. So long story short I re-learned (just to do lace and cable lol) . Now everything is corrected on that front. But I am afraid to knit in the round and even more to knit a sweater in the round with a yoke... I knit all (cardigan, sweather) flat bottom-up and I don't mind seeming. But I want to do those beautiful pattern with color and all... how do I do start without having to frog to much? thank you your video are helpful and you are a good knitting companion!!! Have a nice day !!1
I have a question for you bro . I am going to try my best to do my first sweater. I have ordered the yarn I thought I would like . Premier Nordica self patterning . It’s 546 yards and I have 5 balls .it’s 100% anti pulling acrylic . It’s light 3 and I’m trying to find a pattern that is simple because it’s self stripping so I know I need one simple . So if you or anyone can point me in the right direction for a pattern I would love the help . Thanks .
Caleb, I have loved watching several of your videos and your sweaters are beautiful!! One question though….a couple of times I have heard you say in videos that you would post a link below for different things, but I can never find them. I am not very familiar with TH-cam so I might not be looking where I should. Can you help point me in the right direction? Thank You!!
Hi, the links are always in the video description. Generally that’s right below the video with either an arrow you click on or it might say “show more”. It may be helpful to Google how to see the description on your specific device.
@@DrowninginYarn Thank you so much!
Caleb maybe you have advice on worrying about the neck of the sweater. I ended up making a neck line too shallow and it looks like it is off the shoulder...not really a very good look on my 2 year old son. I was more afraid of his head not fitting through the neck hole
I really don't like swatching, I feel it takes my time away from knitting lol. I'm also trying to understand the need for circular swatches. Are we not measuring flat anyway? Am I missing something? lol.
I'm learning how to create my own designs as I find other patterns I've bought I'm having to rewrite them or there's mistakes. So frustrating, Saying that I've always wanted to create my own anyway so I guess that's a lesson.
Great video. Thank you
Have you heard of a website called yarnsub.com? Really helpful for substituting yarns. Also your Marshland sweater is gorgeous and looks fab on you! Wear it more often!!
Thank you! I have used that website before when I started knitting... It's a good resource when you're unsure!
Have you discussed the bag you keep your project in?
I can't remember if I did, honestly. Haha. But that is a Field Bag by Fringe Supply Co. Unfortunately, they closed down their business last year, so they are probably hard, if not impossible, to find nowadays.
Caleb will you pleas do a video on how you hold your yarn and how you knit . Cause how in the world can you and others do it without looking . I have tried it on a swatch and it was a mess . With close up cause you are to far away on this one .lol
I’m not sure it has to do with how I hold my yarn. I think it’s just muscle memory from watching tv while I knit. Haha. I also practiced by forcing myself to do it even when it felt uncomfortable and I would mess up.
Very much enjoying your videos. I have a quick question. The quick jog between frames, sometimes only a word at a time.. Ive seen it in other bloggers and was wondering where this comes from, is it from over editing or is it a video style choice? I often wonder. It doesn't bother me, just curious more than anything? X
Thank you for asking! I honestly have been going back and forth on how I want to handle this going forward because I have mixed feelings about some of the editing in my videos up to this point. I made the choice to edit in that manner for a few reasons... 1) I wanted to keep up a certain pace that I personally think is more engaging, 2) I want my videos to not have too much extra fat so I wanted to cut any long pauses, ummms (which I say a LOT apparently haha) and other extraneous material and 3) I just am not very good at this yet. That last point isn't to be self-deprecating at all but I have a problem not going off on a tangent or stopping for too long to think of what to say next (or saying ummm ten too many times), and I just didn't want that in my videos. I am working on getting better at sticking to my talking points (which I draft in an outline style script) and recording in more bite-sized chunks. This should help me to meet my goals of brevity, remaining engaging and not falling into the trap of saying unnecessary stuff as often! I do want to leave lots of room for little stories and jokes and just not being a script reading machine though, so it's a balance I'm working on! I appreciate your question because it helped me sort of think through what I'm doing and what I'm after a bit more. Sorry for the wall of text! Haha.
What an interesting answer! Thanks so much for taking the time to reply and I really hope it came across inquisitive and not rude, I've asked other podcasters but not had an answer. It makes total sense and for what its worth I think you're getting the effect you want, and i think if you ever changed it up (if you ever did a live for example) people would respond just as positively. My podcast is very much the opposite, uneditted, so its fun to learn about other people's approaches and think about the future of my own.
It didn't come across rude at all! I am open to all questions :-)
FYI...There are no more TH-cam notifications. They have stopped sending emails even if we hit the little bell. This is ok for large established channels but smaller ones can get lost unless we make a concerted effort to search them out and maintain support.
I'm just finishing my second Sweater, the Flax sweater by Tin Can Knits. It's a very good beginner sweater.
I think they still send the notifications but you have to make sure (at least on your phone) that the notifications are turned on in the settings on your phone as well. I could be wrong but that was my understanding. I hope they work anyways. Haha. Glad you hear you are finishing your second sweater! If you post it on instagram, I'd love to see it :-)
Please come back to you tube !!!
Caleb, I hope you are ok. I haven’t seen anything from you in a while
LOVE your sofa, where is it from?
Thank you! It's the Briar sofa from Joybird.com in the color Bella Navy.
Drowning in Yarn thank you!!