Re the olive ‘dk’ top. It’s personal preference, I think the oversized look suits you. I am currently knitting the ‘cherry genser’ by Sandness Garn. It’s an intentional similar look. Maybe worth a look to see what you think of the images… good luck and go with your instinct…
Thanks for the nice comment. I decided to frog this time but mostly because I wouldn't have enough yarn to finish this specific pattern so I am going to plan for a different DK T next year and get new yarn for the Freestyle
Love your podcast! Because you asked, I’ll give my two cents on the Freestyle sweater. The longer you wait to finish it, the dimmer are your chances to get the same lot/color. That itself will beat the choice of putting in hibernation. If to use as is or even reducing the increases, as you said, you’ll need more yarn. I would frog it and free my mind of the bittersweet memory. ❤
Appreciate your 2cents 🤗 This is what I am thinking as well. I checked other DK shirt pattens and I have enough yarn to knit it at the proper gauge so I think that is a better decision. And then I'll find other yarn for the freestyle if I still want to make it next year.
I love it when a spontaneous purchase was worth it in the end :P glad you enjoyed the intro tech editing class!! Also, your Micaela sweater looks amazing ❤
I am really glad I could help with the yarn! Knowing that it's no longer in my stash and that it's actually used is the best! And your sweater is amazing, I just love this colour :)
Suggestion re: sewing machines - Don’t buy a cheap, new machine. At the price point you have mentioned, it is going to give you a lot more frustration than joy. Instead, look for an old machine (1960s and before, fully mechanical machine). They won’t do as much as regards fancy stitches and such, but they are very easy to trouble shoot if something goes wonky. They are very simple machines, but they sew marvelously, have all metal moving parts (new ones are plastic inside) and will likely cost you less than 50 Euros. For the simple sewing you plan to do, it would likely be the better option.
I second this advise. I bought a cheap machine which makes me so frustrated. My mother has a green metal machine from the 50's. It's a Singer or Husqvarna. It's such a trusty machine. I'd buy it from a sewing machine dealer who does maintenance. They can guarantee that it's in working order.
@@Goodknits_ look for Singer and Husqvarna. Husqvarna is Swedish, they have been making everything from chain saws to motorcycles for years. The Finnish gun maker Tikkakoski also made sewing machines back in the days. However the sewing machines are antiquities now. I'd buy one, though, if I find one in working order. Brother is considered a "cheap", nonreliable brand in Finland. Singer, Pfaff and Juki make sewing machines for professional use.
Totally agree!! If Facebook marketplace is a thing in Amsterdam that might be a great spot to start. I have a Janome and I love it! I bet you're going to eventually want to try some sewing garments because you're so creative and it's amazing to make things that actually fit!❤
Hi! Here comes a suggestion for a nice pick up. If you need to tighten up your stiches when picking up (as in the Micaela sweater armhole) you can use a needel 1-2 sizes smaller for the pic up row. Thank you for a nice podcast.
Love the skirt and the Micaela sweater! Both look really good on you. Sometimes I think we as knitters are too critical of our knits and how they look on us when others who don’t knit would never notice any imperfections 😊
💯 we are our own worst critics. I think it's just hard when we spend so much time working on each piece and then end up disappointed in the end. But I am trying to also hold onto the fact that I got to enjoy the process and I can always fix something in the end.
The skirt turned out so good. 😍 And the mohair sweater looks so cozy. I thought maybe a shirt underneath it would be cute and make use of the wider collar. I vote for frogging the FREESTYLE sweater and make something else that will suit the yarn. Love the colour of that yarn. Thanks for sharing.
Good idea for the shirt under the mohair. I am going to try that and see how it looks. Thinking though it may just be best to rip back & do a non-folded one, but will give myself a few weeks with it. Agree on the freestyle!
I really enjoyed this episode. Love your skirt and I think your Michaela sweater looks really pretty on you. The color is gorgeous and really suits you. My heart sank for you with the whole Freestyle shirt situation. It is such an easy thing to happen. When i stuff up, I always think to myself. Oh well, i wont do that again. And then, somehow, i do. Mistakes happen. It’s frustrating, but at least we can rip back if needed. Not like sewing where, often, the pieces have been cut. I think giving yourself time is a good idea. Try it on again when you have had a bit of space from it. Thanks for a lovely hour. :)
Wise words Tash. Mistakes happen, and then happen again, and again 😂 I will probably never gauge swatch for everything I do but you are right that at least we can frog and try again. Not the end of the world.
Beautiful project, loving the color of your Michaela sweater so much! I am also not a fan of a double knitted collar in mohair. I do love it in other yarns though. Looking forward to a new episode 🙂
I did the same thing once. I bought a dk when I was supposed to get the worsted. 😊I look at it like this: we will probably never make that mistake again. I love the green on you.
For the tee, I'd say just frog back to where you want the underarms to end and don't cast on additional stitches. You could also do underarm decreases if you wanted the body to be slimmer. For the braidy loop, it's gorgeous! And both Veronika Lindberg and Florence Miller have great double knit button band tutorials. It's really not that bad and it's fun to see work up!
I have a singer sewing machine and I love it! It's a common brand which means it is easy to get repaired or serviced if needed and I believe you can buy one at lidl! ALSO I feel you with not wanting a folded collar all the time, you can do a a faux folded collar by just ending with 2 rows of double knitting and then an Italian bind off, it is such a nice alternative to a proper fold as it continues for the eye without the bulk.
Hi Sheri, I love your channel and look forward to each upload! I had the same dilemma when needing to buy larger Chiaogoo tips, however I soon discovered they make Interchangeable Adapters that you twist onto the large tips and connect to your existing small cables! Tah dah - game changer for me! Small cost to be able to not need any new cables! Hope this helps, looking forward to your next upload! Fiona (Sydney, Aus)
So glad you enjoy my content Fiona 🥰 And I am just hearing from people about those adapters (how did I not know about them before?!) so I will definitely be buying!
I just finished the Other Loops Cardigan. I used Florence’s step by step cardigan video to learn how to do a double knit button band with button holes built right in. Other loops in an 11 stitch band and Florence’s is 9 stitches, but it is functionally the same other than that. With the other loops I picked up every other stitch but the button band wasn’t lining up well. So then I tore it out picked up every stitch but that was too much. 😢 I’m leaving it alone but I think I personally should have chosen 3 of every 4 stitches. Maybe. I hope it flows well for you!!
This is so helpful to hear from someone who also knit this specific cardigan! I wasn't sure if I could follow that video from Florence but now I will. Looks more tedious than challenging after watching it last night. And thank you for the tip on the pickup rate.
So I love your Micaela sweater and the neck but, I personally prefer a wider neck or V neck. Try the elastic or go back and pick up fewer stitches with a smaller needle. As for your green sweater, I would just frog back to the yoke and take away some of the raglan increases. That will naturally decrease the width of the sweater. I've made so many errors because i hate guage swatching, but live and learn....
Love your videos! I recently learned that Chiaogoo actually makes interchangeable adapters, so you should be able to use L cable needles with S cables.
Love the colour of the Freestyle on you. I would rip it out sooner rather than later. Maybe you would have enough yarn for a Tolsta DK. If not, try and buy a few more balls that you could use for ribbing if you can’t get the Dyelot. The colour is just fab in you. Make something beautiful with it. Good luck with whatever you decide.
Thanks Erica! I agree that I am going to rip it out. Was also thinking it could make a nice Tolsta and maybe I just take the finishing details from the freestyle like the purl raglan, neckline and folded trims to kind of combine the ideas.
I bought a Brother LS14s sewing machine a few years ago. Its simple and lightweight. Perfect for those small jobs. I bought it from Argos. It was around 90-100 euro at the time. No regrets. 🙏
RE your freestyle shirt-it’s not just the gauge swatch. It is a good habit to multiply your yards/meters per unit of yarn by the number of units you have and see if that aligns with the required amount. I believe the discrepancy was about 60-70 yards per ball. That number would have been equal to about 2-3 units which would definitely have given you a check in your plans. Knowing from the beginning that you were 30% off in your yarn amount compared to yardage needed would cause you to take another look at the numbers. A 30 second simple math calculation has saved me on more than one occasion! The yarn is a beautiful color on you!
I've never heard this before but it makes a ton of sense so thanks for pointing it out. I always do that when selecting yarn if it differs from the recommended yarn, but I should also double check before I start just to be sure. I never even gave it a thought on this one.
On the pink sweater I agree that the collar is a bit too much for this sheer sweater. I would try again with just a single collar. To match the ribbing on the sleeves and body. Sometimes less is more. 😂❤ You can get other cables for your addiclick needles. The Gold colored ones are a bit more sturdy. I like them better than the red lace cables. But the lace tips are better. The tips on the regular needles are so blunt. 😢
I also have gold ones and they are definitely a bit better. Now that the cardigan is a bit wider I can switch to the gold cord. Totally agree about the regular tips being so blunt. When I origjnally bought the set I ended up then investing in a ton of lace tips that were shorter in length. So a lot of extra money to spend. Good idea for the collar. I am thinking that is what I'll do and then also pickup less stitches.
I enjoy your videos a lot! I am about to cast on a mohair sweater. I looked at Micaela ,but thought that the neck band is too thick while the rest of the sweater looks much lighter and ethereal. I decided I will go for CP05 V-neck by Minimi Knit Design. This will be my first ever mohair project and I hope for the best. Skirt looks great!
What a strange name for a sweater pattern. 😂 Looks beautiful though, great choice! Mohair sweaters are lovely. They just tend to show the mistakes a bit more so remain vigilant
Enjoyed the podcast as usual. As per the Freestyle shirt, frog it now. You won't like it better in 6 months. If you frog it know, you will have a chance of getting more of the yarn and you can start over with this pattern (old another pattern) after swatching, of course, and get the fit that you want instead of "making do." I do love the green color on you.
This seems to be the majority opinion and I agree. I have enough yarn to make a proper DK weight tee next year so I think I'll frog and do the freestyle in something else. Or find a similar pattern (like the tolsta) and just do the finishig details similar to the freestyle
With regards to the need for the larger cable for the 5.5 mm needles you can purchase adaptors that mean you can use the small cables. They are really economical
Enjoyed your podcast. As for your Freestyle sweater I would be be tempted to frog and repurpose for another project. I am also guilty of not gauge swatching. I do tend to check gauge as I am knitting and trying on a few times for fir checks.
Re the 5,5 mm Chiaogoo needles: you can just buy an adapter to screw the bigger needles on the small cables. I only use small cables and always work with the adapters if I need a bigger needle. The item number from Chiaogoo for this is 2501-A.
Just arrived! So happy everyone told me about those as I had no idea they existed. Gotta be extra careful about tightening them though. I lost a bunch of stitches on my first round 🤦♀️
I'm glad your Addi Clicks aren't coming undone, I had to stop using mine because the tips kept coming off even if I clicked it in correctly, so I can't use mine anymore - I should give them away!
Oh interesting! I have way more issues with my chiagoos for coming apart. My addi's sometimes do it but I always try yo check they are secured properly before starting. I should also look at selling mine. I only use them for the bigger needles
Hi Sheri regarding your Chiaogoo needles - Chiaogoo make a cable adapter that allows you to use your small size cables on the large size interchangeable needle tips. It’s a great investment. I’m a huge fan of Chiaogoo needles and only use the small size cables on the full range of large needles. Other cables drive me crazy and take away the enjoyment of my knitting. Such a small item but with huge results. You might like to consider instead of the frustration.
I think you should frog and use that lovely yarn in another project. Shame but I think you will feel better. The Braidly loop cardigan is going to do cosy. Love it. I would love a cable sweater in that yarn.
Love your Braidy Loop cardigan. It will be beautiful when it’s finished! May I offer a suggestion about your Addi Click cables? Before I bought my ChiaoGoo, my first set of interchangeable needles was Hiya Hiya. The cables are stiff and therefore frustrating. Each time I took one out I ended up throwing the cable in very, very hot water to get it to relax. Thank goodness! Thank you for today’s episode.😊
For the sewing machine I suggest buying one second hand. I paid 50 Euros for mine and it works perfectly! I'm sure you can find a similar bargain, there are lots of cheap, older machines out there looking for a new home.
See if you can find a sewing machine repair shop. They will often have used ones for sale and they can help you pick out a good one that will suit your budget and other requirements.
I would guess the intention for closing off the waistband on the skirt was to pass the last stitch over after you knit the two together. That’s how I do all my closed bands anyway! Sort of like a three needle bind off.
For your sleeve stitch pick up on the mohair sweater, I find if I pick up the stitches using a smaller gauge needle it makes things much neater for me. I really love how the sleeves turned out! I’ve been finding many of my sleeves are shortening on me during blocking/over time. 🫣
Sorry I have a lot to say today. 😊 I have adapters for my Chiagoo needles to go from the larger needle threading to fit the small cord receiver. I ended up buying enough of the adapters so I could just keep them on the large needles all the time.
No need to apologize, I love all the comments 😉 And I'm so glad you told me this cause I really had no idea there were adapters. Makes so much sense so you don't need to buy even more cords. I'll try to find some
@@talitharitter3176 this is what I do too. I have also found that when knitting with thin yarn it's good to do the pick up round and then knit a round even if the pattern tells you to go straight into short rows.
@@annachapman8369 good advise! Soaking or steaming always makes the yarn relax and the fabric look smoother. I am a tight knitter. All my cable knits look like they could never fit me before blocking. However I have found that superwash yarns relax too much. This is why blocking the gauge swatch is super important.
Your Micaela sweater looks really great 😍 Regarding sewing machines: I would recommend Brother, Pfaff or Singer I never used mohair yarn so I’m wondering if you still can sense the softness of cashmere when it’s combined with mohair? Or is the mohair overpowering other fibers?
I've never paired mohair with 100% cashmere but on my merino's or now my lana Gatto VIP I find the softness still comes through and the mohair just gives it some extra density and warmth. It's a really nice fabric to pair with.
The collar doesn’t look bad at all… but if you wanted to redo it,, I would try smaller needles and just do a ribbing and BO with a needle. Sometimes I change to an even smaller needle size toward the end (doesn’t always apply though). In general I take a needle size that is at least 1 cm less than the needles I used for the body.
That's the funny thing here, the collar is already need 1.5mm smaller than the rest of the sweater so I am surprised it looks so bulky. I added some elastic and it helped a bit, but I may still rip out and just do the ribbing like you suggest
Go with your instinct regarding the Micaela sweater. It’s so nice that I may make one but the collar is too heavy looking for such a lovely airy sweater. I would frog the collar and make a half twisted rib (knit from the wrong side). It will be less bulky and very neat. Sorry to sound so opinionated but as a fellow knitter I know what it’s like to have a detail feel off on a garment and never end up wearing it. I’m sure whatever you do, the sweater will be beautiful.
I think you are right on the collar. When you say you would knit from the wrong side do you mean you would still do folded collar but just fold it over the other way (similar to MFTK cami 9?). Any example photos/links you have?
@@Goodknits_ no I would do a non folded collar. If you do it on the wrong side the stitches will be straighter and if you do it on the right side it will still be straight but softer. I can’t wait to see what you do with it because I know it will be so nice. I really feel like making one.
A lot of the new designs (top down) have wide collars which I personally don’t like so it eliminates a lot of patterns for me. It is so weird to have a warm winter woolly with a wide neck. Makes no sense. Is it a calculation error in design? But do like the colour and the rest of the design of your Michaela jumper. Thank you for showing 💕🌿
I am also noticing this and don't necessarily love it. I think it's a trendy thing right now, but if I do another pattern with a bigger collar I think I will modify with picking up less stitches and doing less rows.
I wonder if steam blocking would make that collar less thick. Cover the sweater with a wet (not dripping wet) kitchen towel on an ironing board and press down with a hot iron.
@@Goodknits_ just the collar. The rest can be left as fluffy as its. Did you knit the collar by double knitting. You might have benefitted from going down in needle size. If you knitted a fold down collar, the bit which ended up behind could be knitted with a smaller sized needle. However that might result in an even bulkier collar. Try swatching this too, because it might be a tension issue.
Your freestyle looks really great, but size preference and amount of ease is very personal, so I get you won’t wear it if you’re not happy. I’d rip back to where you want the armholes to end up, add your underarm stitches (it’s probably 1 or 2 sizes smaller so add that amount) join body in the round and knit a few inches/cm to see if that’s closer to the fit you’re looking for. I rarely gauge swatch or if I do make a small one and have never blocked a swatch. However, I like an oversized fit so what works for me may not work for you. Anyway, don’t let this get you down. Your knitting looks great.
I wonder if, for the Micaela Sweater, she has a larger neckline because mohair doesn't have as much stretch/recovery as wool does? So if the stitch count was smaller, making the neckline fit more close to your neck, it might be too small/tight to go over your head since the fiber is not naturally as stretchy? I think adding elastic is a good idea!
That could definitely be it. I see in her photos too the neckline is also quite large. But it seems to be a bit of a trend on her sweater designers so maybe that is just what she's going for? Added some elastic and it helped a tiny bit. Will leave for now
Regarding your sewing machine question, I am not sure that using the sewing machine would be the best option for some of the tasks you mentioned. Sewing a lining for a bag and steeking a garment would by much easier with a machine, but sewing down a waistband and putting in a zipper may not go so well on a machine. I have not tried this stuff, but based on my pretty extensive knowledge of sewing, I would imagine that the presser foot would put way too much pressure on your knitted fabric and cause a lot of waves in the knit garment. Hand sewing would probably be the best option for these tasks to get a nice looking result, even though it would take longer. Your finished knits are looking great!!
Appreciate you giving this input and it's definitely something to consider. For the waistband it would just be to sew the band itself together and then I would still knit it down into skirt, but that is a good point on the zippers, and maybe even for things like pillowcases.
@@angelaobernesser9167 I second the hand sewing on steeks and zippers. Prym sells needle sets including a curved neeedle (like a half cicle). I use this needle to sew invisible stiches when upholstering furniture. Google the term latch hook. A thin(ish) latch hook is good for attaching zippers to knitwear.
My row gauge is always off the way that makes raglan and colorwork yoke armholes too big. But what can I do? If I change the needle size, the stich gauge will be off. Anyone have tip for me?
I don't typically have issues with row gauge myself but the main tip I've heard if row is really off is to try changing needle material. So if you knit with metal try switching to bamboo (for example). Or you can also modify your pattern to account for the difference but then there is a bit of math involved.
@@Goodknits_ Trying a different needle material is a good tip! I have metal, carbon and wooden ones. Buying new needles is a less expensive solution than buying yarn to satisisfy one's urge to shop knitting stuff 😆
At that price point for sewing machines you can't go wrong with brother I guess but I would honestly add 50-100. and look second hand or used from a sewing shop, especially if there is a retailer anywhere near you. I'm in the US so not sure how they are sold there but people trade in for new machines and they are serviced good as new so you can get a older, better made, more expensive machine for less. Try to get the best one with the most conveniences as possible. Such as needle stop up and down, speed control, automatic needle threader, etc. Don't turn around in 3 years and wish if you had just spent a little bit more there would be so much more fun you could have or how much you didn't realize how having those conveniences, making sewing more approachable and enjoyable is the reason you like doing it and not dreading it... You asked for our thoughts, girl, at 54 now, that's my thoughts on buying a sewing machine. I've owned everything from plastic and barely usable to my current juki HZL DX7 I even love looking at it. Now that she and I have had a couple of years or so to learn each other it's going much better. There is a learning curve to a jump as large as I was thankfully given.
Excellent advice Kera! Thanks so much. I am going to see if I can find a used shop here so I can go get some advice and hopefully buy with some kind of warranty. Everyone is saying used is the way to go.
I love your Michaela sweater - I think it is one of my favourite of your knits. I think the colour looks lovely.
Thank you! 🫶
Re the olive ‘dk’ top. It’s personal preference, I think the oversized look suits you. I am currently knitting the ‘cherry genser’ by Sandness Garn. It’s an intentional similar look. Maybe worth a look to see what you think of the images… good luck and go with your instinct…
Thanks for the nice comment. I decided to frog this time but mostly because I wouldn't have enough yarn to finish this specific pattern so I am going to plan for a different DK T next year and get new yarn for the Freestyle
Love your podcast! Because you asked, I’ll give my two cents on the Freestyle sweater. The longer you wait to finish it, the dimmer are your chances to get the same lot/color. That itself will beat the choice of putting in hibernation. If to use as is or even reducing the increases, as you said, you’ll need more yarn. I would frog it and free my mind of the bittersweet memory. ❤
Appreciate your 2cents 🤗 This is what I am thinking as well. I checked other DK shirt pattens and I have enough yarn to knit it at the proper gauge so I think that is a better decision. And then I'll find other yarn for the freestyle if I still want to make it next year.
Congrats 🎉on the skirt. It looks fabulous.
🫶
I love it when a spontaneous purchase was worth it in the end :P glad you enjoyed the intro tech editing class!! Also, your Micaela sweater looks amazing ❤
Sometimes the spontaneous purchases work out, and sometimes they don't. Glad this one was fun and taught me some new skills!
I am really glad I could help with the yarn! Knowing that it's no longer in my stash and that it's actually used is the best! And your sweater is amazing, I just love this colour :)
Can't thank you enough!
Suggestion re: sewing machines - Don’t buy a cheap, new machine. At the price point you have mentioned, it is going to give you a lot more frustration than joy. Instead, look for an old machine (1960s and before, fully mechanical machine). They won’t do as much as regards fancy stitches and such, but they are very easy to trouble shoot if something goes wonky. They are very simple machines, but they sew marvelously, have all metal moving parts (new ones are plastic inside) and will likely cost you less than 50 Euros. For the simple sewing you plan to do, it would likely be the better option.
That’s exactly what I did! Mine is gorgeous, but I fear it sits because I need to get up the gumption to give it a full lube and service. 🫣
I second this advise. I bought a cheap machine which makes me so frustrated. My mother has a green metal machine from the 50's. It's a Singer or Husqvarna. It's such a trusty machine. I'd buy it from a sewing machine dealer who does maintenance. They can guarantee that it's in working order.
Thank you for the advice! Any specific brands you think I should look for if I bought a used one?
@@Goodknits_ look for Singer and Husqvarna. Husqvarna is Swedish, they have been making everything from chain saws to motorcycles for years. The Finnish gun maker Tikkakoski also made sewing machines back in the days. However the sewing machines are antiquities now. I'd buy one, though, if I find one in working order. Brother is considered a "cheap", nonreliable brand in Finland. Singer, Pfaff and Juki make sewing machines for professional use.
Totally agree!! If Facebook marketplace is a thing in Amsterdam that might be a great spot to start. I have a Janome and I love it! I bet you're going to eventually want to try some sewing garments because you're so creative and it's amazing to make things that actually fit!❤
I am very curious about Moreca patterns. I‘d love to knit them one day. Thank you for this episode! 💕
They are very well done so definitely give them a try! Lots of beautiful options
Hi! Here comes a suggestion for a nice pick up. If you need to tighten up your stiches when picking up (as in the Micaela sweater armhole) you can use a needel 1-2 sizes smaller for the pic up row. Thank you for a nice podcast.
Thanks! I will try that for the sleeves next time I work on a project with these nice arm details
The skirt looks great on you! Also love your dark nails, especially in combination with the Micaela sweater.
Thanks for noticing the nails 😂 I just got them done and I love them.
Love the skirt and the Micaela sweater! Both look really good on you. Sometimes I think we as knitters are too critical of our knits and how they look on us when others who don’t knit would never notice any imperfections 😊
💯 we are our own worst critics. I think it's just hard when we spend so much time working on each piece and then end up disappointed in the end. But I am trying to also hold onto the fact that I got to enjoy the process and I can always fix something in the end.
The skirt turned out so good. 😍 And the mohair sweater looks so cozy. I thought maybe a shirt underneath it would be cute and make use of the wider collar. I vote for frogging the FREESTYLE sweater and make something else that will suit the yarn. Love the colour of that yarn. Thanks for sharing.
Good idea for the shirt under the mohair. I am going to try that and see how it looks. Thinking though it may just be best to rip back & do a non-folded one, but will give myself a few weeks with it.
Agree on the freestyle!
I really enjoyed this episode. Love your skirt and I think your Michaela sweater looks really pretty on you. The color is gorgeous and really suits you. My heart sank for you with the whole Freestyle shirt situation. It is such an easy thing to happen. When i stuff up, I always think to myself. Oh well, i wont do that again. And then, somehow, i do. Mistakes happen. It’s frustrating, but at least we can rip back if needed. Not like sewing where, often, the pieces have been cut. I think giving yourself time is a good idea. Try it on again when you have had a bit of space from it. Thanks for a lovely hour. :)
Wise words Tash. Mistakes happen, and then happen again, and again 😂 I will probably never gauge swatch for everything I do but you are right that at least we can frog and try again. Not the end of the world.
Beautiful project, loving the color of your Michaela sweater so much! I am also not a fan of a double knitted collar in mohair. I do love it in other yarns though. Looking forward to a new episode 🙂
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Don't know why those collars don't work for mohair but it definitely throws off the whole piece. Think I'll frog and do a single layer
Hello from Swansea, Illinois.😊😊
I did the same thing once. I bought a dk when I was supposed to get the worsted. 😊I look at it like this: we will probably never make that mistake again.
I love the green on you.
I sure hope I won't make the mistake again! Will definitely be checking those yarn names with a magnifying glass going forward 🕵🏻
Your skirt and sweater look great! Glad you enjoyed your class - way above my level at this point but sounds interesting.
Also above my level 😂 I always find it fun to learn though so it was interesting but I don't appear to be talented enough (yet) to make a go of it
For the tee, I'd say just frog back to where you want the underarms to end and don't cast on additional stitches. You could also do underarm decreases if you wanted the body to be slimmer. For the braidy loop, it's gorgeous! And both Veronika Lindberg and Florence Miller have great double knit button band tutorials. It's really not that bad and it's fun to see work up!
I watched the Florence one yesterday and I like that she incorporates the button holes at the same time so I think I will follow that!
I like the neckline.
you can buy adapters for Chiaogoo to use a large needle for a small cable, I have S to M adapter so you don't need the additional cables😊
I have a singer sewing machine and I love it! It's a common brand which means it is easy to get repaired or serviced if needed and I believe you can buy one at lidl! ALSO I feel you with not wanting a folded collar all the time, you can do a a faux folded collar by just ending with 2 rows of double knitting and then an Italian bind off, it is such a nice alternative to a proper fold as it continues for the eye without the bulk.
Will check Lidl! And good idea for the collar with the double knitting at end.
Hi Sheri, I love your channel and look forward to each upload! I had the same dilemma when needing to buy larger Chiaogoo tips, however I soon discovered they make Interchangeable Adapters that you twist onto the large tips and connect to your existing small cables! Tah dah - game changer for me! Small cost to be able to not need any new cables! Hope this helps, looking forward to your next upload! Fiona (Sydney, Aus)
So glad you enjoy my content Fiona 🥰 And I am just hearing from people about those adapters (how did I not know about them before?!) so I will definitely be buying!
I just finished the Other Loops Cardigan. I used Florence’s step by step cardigan video to learn how to do a double knit button band with button holes built right in. Other loops in an 11 stitch band and Florence’s is 9 stitches, but it is functionally the same other than that. With the other loops I picked up every other stitch but the button band wasn’t lining up well. So then I tore it out picked up every stitch but that was too much. 😢 I’m leaving it alone but I think I personally should have chosen 3 of every 4 stitches. Maybe. I hope it flows well for you!!
This is so helpful to hear from someone who also knit this specific cardigan! I wasn't sure if I could follow that video from Florence but now I will. Looks more tedious than challenging after watching it last night. And thank you for the tip on the pickup rate.
Just found your podcast. The Pepita skirt looks so lovely! 🥰
Welcome! And thank you 😘
The pepita skirt is stunning.
Such a beautiful design. I really love Ann-Kathrin's patterns
So I love your Micaela sweater and the neck but, I personally prefer a wider neck or V neck. Try the elastic or go back and pick up fewer stitches with a smaller needle. As for your green sweater, I would just frog back to the yoke and take away some of the raglan increases. That will naturally decrease the width of the sweater. I've made so many errors because i hate guage swatching, but live and learn....
Thanks for the advice 😘 Good to hear I am not the only one over here not gauge swatching.
Love your videos! I recently learned that Chiaogoo actually makes interchangeable adapters, so you should be able to use L cable needles with S cables.
I'm so happy everyone has been telling me this! I somehow had no idea so I have ordered them and just waiting patiently to arrive.
Love the colour of the Freestyle on you. I would rip it out sooner rather than later. Maybe you would have enough yarn for a Tolsta DK. If not, try and buy a few more balls that you could use for ribbing if you can’t get the Dyelot. The colour is just fab in you. Make something beautiful with it. Good luck with whatever you decide.
Thanks Erica! I agree that I am going to rip it out. Was also thinking it could make a nice Tolsta and maybe I just take the finishing details from the freestyle like the purl raglan, neckline and folded trims to kind of combine the ideas.
I bought a Brother LS14s sewing machine a few years ago. Its simple and lightweight. Perfect for those small jobs. I bought it from Argos. It was around 90-100 euro at the time. No regrets. 🙏
Thanks for sharing!
RE your freestyle shirt-it’s not just the gauge swatch. It is a good habit to multiply your yards/meters per unit of yarn by the number of units you have and see if that aligns with the required amount. I believe the discrepancy was about 60-70 yards per ball. That number would have been equal to about 2-3 units which would definitely have given you a check in your plans. Knowing from the beginning that you were 30% off in your yarn amount compared to yardage needed would cause you to take another look at the numbers. A 30 second simple math calculation has saved me on more than one occasion! The yarn is a beautiful color on you!
I've never heard this before but it makes a ton of sense so thanks for pointing it out. I always do that when selecting yarn if it differs from the recommended yarn, but I should also double check before I start just to be sure. I never even gave it a thought on this one.
On the pink sweater I agree that the collar is a bit too much for this sheer sweater. I would try again with just a single collar. To match the ribbing on the sleeves and body.
Sometimes less is more. 😂❤
You can get other cables for your addiclick needles. The Gold colored ones are a bit more sturdy. I like them better than the red lace cables. But the lace tips are better. The tips on the regular needles are so blunt. 😢
I also have gold ones and they are definitely a bit better. Now that the cardigan is a bit wider I can switch to the gold cord. Totally agree about the regular tips being so blunt. When I origjnally bought the set I ended up then investing in a ton of lace tips that were shorter in length. So a lot of extra money to spend.
Good idea for the collar. I am thinking that is what I'll do and then also pickup less stitches.
Love the skirt!!
🥰
I enjoy your videos a lot! I am about to cast on a mohair sweater. I looked at Micaela ,but thought that the neck band is too thick while the rest of the sweater looks much lighter and ethereal. I decided I will go for CP05 V-neck by Minimi Knit Design. This will be my first ever mohair project and I hope for the best. Skirt looks great!
What a strange name for a sweater pattern. 😂 Looks beautiful though, great choice! Mohair sweaters are lovely. They just tend to show the mistakes a bit more so remain vigilant
Enjoyed the podcast as usual. As per the Freestyle shirt, frog it now. You won't like it better in 6 months. If you frog it know, you will have a chance of getting more of the yarn and you can start over with this pattern (old another pattern) after swatching, of course, and get the fit that you want instead of "making do." I do love the green color on you.
This seems to be the majority opinion and I agree. I have enough yarn to make a proper DK weight tee next year so I think I'll frog and do the freestyle in something else. Or find a similar pattern (like the tolsta) and just do the finishig details similar to the freestyle
Good news! Elastic gradually wears out so soon the almost too tight waist will be just right!
That would be nice if it happens!
With regards to the need for the larger cable for the 5.5 mm needles you can purchase adaptors that mean you can use the small cables. They are really economical
So happy people are telling me about them as I had no idea
Enjoyed your podcast. As for your Freestyle sweater I would be be tempted to frog and repurpose for another project. I am also guilty of not gauge swatching. I do tend to check gauge as I am knitting and trying on a few times for fir checks.
I agree, I think I am going to frog as I have enough yarn for this to be a proper DK shirt.
Re the 5,5 mm Chiaogoo needles: you can just buy an adapter to screw the bigger needles on the small cables. I only use small cables and always work with the adapters if I need a bigger needle. The item number from Chiaogoo for this is 2501-A.
Just arrived! So happy everyone told me about those as I had no idea they existed. Gotta be extra careful about tightening them though. I lost a bunch of stitches on my first round 🤦♀️
I'm glad your Addi Clicks aren't coming undone, I had to stop using mine because the tips kept coming off even if I clicked it in correctly, so I can't use mine anymore - I should give them away!
Oh interesting! I have way more issues with my chiagoos for coming apart. My addi's sometimes do it but I always try yo check they are secured properly before starting.
I should also look at selling mine. I only use them for the bigger needles
Hi Sheri regarding your Chiaogoo needles - Chiaogoo make a cable adapter that allows you to use your small size cables on the large size interchangeable needle tips. It’s a great investment. I’m a huge fan of Chiaogoo needles and only use the small size cables on the full range of large needles. Other cables drive me crazy and take away the enjoyment of my knitting. Such a small item but with huge results. You might like to consider instead of the frustration.
Absolutely! I am wondering how I never realized those existed before. Will be buying some today
I think you should frog and use that lovely yarn in another project. Shame but I think you will feel better. The Braidly loop cardigan is going to do cosy. Love it. I would love a cable sweater in that yarn.
Thinking the same for the shirt. It's really nice yarn and there are plenty of T's I can make that will also fit within the quantity I already have
I think if you wear the Michaela for a bit you will find the puffiness in the neck and will flatten as it settles into place.
The neckline looks perfect! I simply don’t know what you’re talking about.
Good to hear! I did thread some elastic through and now I think I'm happy enough to leave it alone.
Love your Braidy Loop cardigan. It will be beautiful when it’s finished! May I offer a suggestion about your Addi Click cables? Before I bought my ChiaoGoo, my first set of interchangeable needles was Hiya Hiya. The cables are stiff and therefore frustrating. Each time I took one out I ended up throwing the cable in very, very hot water to get it to relax. Thank goodness! Thank you for today’s episode.😊
Excellent suggestion. Will give that a try
I would front the shirt next season and make something else - the yarn is beautiful and will shine better in a looser gauge I think!
This is the direction my mind is heading too!
For the sewing machine I suggest buying one second hand. I paid 50 Euros for mine and it works perfectly! I'm sure you can find a similar bargain, there are lots of cheap, older machines out there looking for a new home.
Common advice from everyone so this is really helpful! What brand/model did you get?
@@Goodknits_ I have a Pfaff Hobbymatic 905
See if you can find a sewing machine repair shop. They will often have used ones for sale and they can help you pick out a good one that will suit your budget and other requirements.
Looking into this!
I would guess the intention for closing off the waistband on the skirt was to pass the last stitch over after you knit the two together. That’s how I do all my closed bands anyway! Sort of like a three needle bind off.
For your sleeve stitch pick up on the mohair sweater, I find if I pick up the stitches using a smaller gauge needle it makes things much neater for me. I really love how the sleeves turned out! I’ve been finding many of my sleeves are shortening on me during blocking/over time. 🫣
Sorry I have a lot to say today. 😊 I have adapters for my Chiagoo needles to go from the larger needle threading to fit the small cord receiver. I ended up buying enough of the adapters so I could just keep them on the large needles all the time.
Good tip!
No need to apologize, I love all the comments 😉 And I'm so glad you told me this cause I really had no idea there were adapters. Makes so much sense so you don't need to buy even more cords. I'll try to find some
@@talitharitter3176 this is what I do too. I have also found that when knitting with thin yarn it's good to do the pick up round and then knit a round even if the pattern tells you to go straight into short rows.
Never buy a cheap sowingmachine, try to find a good secondhand!!
Seems to be the advice of everyone so far as well!
@@Goodknits_ I bought a second hand in a thriftshop for 35 euros! And it is a really good one! Even got 1 year warranty!
Really like your podcast. Thanks for the time you are spending in it. But wondering, how are you doing with your new job?
Thank you for watching! New job is going well - I am freelancing for the first time and really enjoying the flexibility
I've heard some knitters suggest taking cables that tend to twist and curl a lot and submerging them in hot water to help relax that curl memory.
I've heard this before too but never tried.
@@annachapman8369 good advise! Soaking or steaming always makes the yarn relax and the fabric look smoother. I am a tight knitter. All my cable knits look like they could never fit me before blocking. However I have found that superwash yarns relax too much. This is why blocking the gauge swatch is super important.
Your Micaela sweater looks really great 😍
Regarding sewing machines: I would recommend Brother, Pfaff or Singer
I never used mohair yarn so I’m wondering if you still can sense the softness of cashmere when it’s combined with mohair? Or is the mohair overpowering other fibers?
I've never paired mohair with 100% cashmere but on my merino's or now my lana Gatto VIP I find the softness still comes through and the mohair just gives it some extra density and warmth. It's a really nice fabric to pair with.
❤️🌈
The collar doesn’t look bad at all… but if you wanted to redo it,, I would try smaller needles and just do a ribbing and BO with a needle. Sometimes I change to an even smaller needle size toward the end (doesn’t always apply though). In general I take a needle size that is at least 1 cm less than the needles I used for the body.
That's the funny thing here, the collar is already need 1.5mm smaller than the rest of the sweater so I am surprised it looks so bulky. I added some elastic and it helped a bit, but I may still rip out and just do the ribbing like you suggest
Go with your instinct regarding the Micaela sweater. It’s so nice that I may make one but the collar is too heavy looking for such a lovely airy sweater. I would frog the collar and make a half twisted rib (knit from the wrong side). It will be less bulky and very neat. Sorry to sound so opinionated but as a fellow knitter I know what it’s like to have a detail feel off on a garment and never end up wearing it. I’m sure whatever you do, the sweater will be beautiful.
I think you are right on the collar. When you say you would knit from the wrong side do you mean you would still do folded collar but just fold it over the other way (similar to MFTK cami 9?). Any example photos/links you have?
@@Goodknits_ no I would do a non folded collar. If you do it on the wrong side the stitches will be straighter and if you do it on the right side it will still be straight but softer. I can’t wait to see what you do with it because I know it will be so nice. I really feel like making one.
@@kathrynd7746 thanks for this! And it really is a lovely pattern and fairly quick to knit. Just gotta sort the neck out and it will be good to go
A lot of the new designs (top down) have wide collars which I personally don’t like so it eliminates a lot of patterns for me. It is so weird to have a warm winter woolly with a wide neck. Makes no sense. Is it a calculation error in design? But do like the colour and the rest of the design of your Michaela jumper. Thank you for showing 💕🌿
I am also noticing this and don't necessarily love it. I think it's a trendy thing right now, but if I do another pattern with a bigger collar I think I will modify with picking up less stitches and doing less rows.
That pink sweater looks great , I am pretty sure you will get used to the collar, give it some time
🫶
I wonder if steam blocking would make that collar less thick. Cover the sweater with a wet (not dripping wet) kitchen towel on an ironing board and press down with a hot iron.
I will give this a try!
@@Goodknits_ just the collar. The rest can be left as fluffy as its. Did you knit the collar by double knitting. You might have benefitted from going down in needle size. If you knitted a fold down collar, the bit which ended up behind could be knitted with a smaller sized needle. However that might result in an even bulkier collar. Try swatching this too, because it might be a tension issue.
Your freestyle looks really great, but size preference and amount of ease is very personal, so I get you won’t wear it if you’re not happy. I’d rip back to where you want the armholes to end up, add your underarm stitches (it’s probably 1 or 2 sizes smaller so add that amount) join body in the round and knit a few inches/cm to see if that’s closer to the fit you’re looking for.
I rarely gauge swatch or if I do make a small one and have never blocked a swatch. However, I like an oversized fit so what works for me may not work for you. Anyway, don’t let this get you down. Your knitting looks great.
Good to know I am not the only one not swatching all the time 😂
I wonder if, for the Micaela Sweater, she has a larger neckline because mohair doesn't have as much stretch/recovery as wool does? So if the stitch count was smaller, making the neckline fit more close to your neck, it might be too small/tight to go over your head since the fiber is not naturally as stretchy? I think adding elastic is a good idea!
That could definitely be it. I see in her photos too the neckline is also quite large. But it seems to be a bit of a trend on her sweater designers so maybe that is just what she's going for?
Added some elastic and it helped a tiny bit. Will leave for now
@@Goodknits_ Hmmmm. Maybe that is the look she likes then!
Regarding your sewing machine question, I am not sure that using the sewing machine would be the best option for some of the tasks you mentioned. Sewing a lining for a bag and steeking a garment would by much easier with a machine, but sewing down a waistband and putting in a zipper may not go so well on a machine. I have not tried this stuff, but based on my pretty extensive knowledge of sewing, I would imagine that the presser foot would put way too much pressure on your knitted fabric and cause a lot of waves in the knit garment. Hand sewing would probably be the best option for these tasks to get a nice looking result, even though it would take longer. Your finished knits are looking great!!
Appreciate you giving this input and it's definitely something to consider. For the waistband it would just be to sew the band itself together and then I would still knit it down into skirt, but that is a good point on the zippers, and maybe even for things like pillowcases.
@@angelaobernesser9167 I second the hand sewing on steeks and zippers. Prym sells needle sets including a curved neeedle (like a half cicle). I use this needle to sew invisible stiches when upholstering furniture. Google the term latch hook. A thin(ish) latch hook is good for attaching zippers to knitwear.
My row gauge is always off the way that makes raglan and colorwork yoke armholes too big. But what can I do? If I change the needle size, the stich gauge will be off. Anyone have tip for me?
I don't typically have issues with row gauge myself but the main tip I've heard if row is really off is to try changing needle material. So if you knit with metal try switching to bamboo (for example). Or you can also modify your pattern to account for the difference but then there is a bit of math involved.
@@Goodknits_ Trying a different needle material is a good tip! I have metal, carbon and wooden ones. Buying new needles is a less expensive solution than buying yarn to satisisfy one's urge to shop knitting stuff 😆
At that price point for sewing machines you can't go wrong with brother I guess but I would honestly add 50-100. and look second hand or used from a sewing shop, especially if there is a retailer anywhere near you. I'm in the US so not sure how they are sold there but people trade in for new machines and they are serviced good as new so you can get a older, better made, more expensive machine for less. Try to get the best one with the most conveniences as possible. Such as needle stop up and down, speed control, automatic needle threader, etc. Don't turn around in 3 years and wish if you had just spent a little bit more there would be so much more fun you could have or how much you didn't realize how having those conveniences, making sewing more approachable and enjoyable is the reason you like doing it and not dreading it... You asked for our thoughts, girl, at 54 now, that's my thoughts on buying a sewing machine. I've owned everything from plastic and barely usable to my current juki HZL DX7 I even love looking at it. Now that she and I have had a couple of years or so to learn each other it's going much better. There is a learning curve to a jump as large as I was thankfully given.
Excellent advice Kera! Thanks so much. I am going to see if I can find a used shop here so I can go get some advice and hopefully buy with some kind of warranty. Everyone is saying used is the way to go.
I think you will be happier if you frog the Freestyle shirt and make it in correct yarn. You ultimately want a finished product you love.
Agree! It will be getting frogged 🐸
I bought the wrong wishy of yarn before and accidentally ended up with a baby blanket instead of a throw...😅
Oh no! Were you just thinking "trust the process" when it didn't appear to be getting to the correct size as you worked on it? 😅
Find a good seamstress… cheap sewing machines are bad… and take space