Great video -- well-thought-out, organized and encouraging. Not a beginner myself, but lots of people ask me how to start. Now I know where to send them. Thank you!

The wrap and turn is definitely chosen so the pattern gets a set in sleeve seamed look when you're knitting a top down seamless pattern like this. Barbara Walker talks about it in her book Knitting From The Top.

I am really excited to be coming to Toronto in October from Australia. Do you have any yarn shop recommendations? Oh and the bunching is very similar to what I got from the Aros Sweater by Petite Knit and it's a similar construction. The increase rates for the saddle shoulders are usually every round vs every second round when you switch to arm increases. I love this method though because you kind of get the relaxed fit of a drop shoulder with a kind of raglan feature almost.

Definitely check out NeKnits!

Thank you for this!! I've been crocehting forever but new to natural yarns

I love your podcast so much! Im very new to knitting and so far ive knit two pairs of socks(one for my partner, and one for my friend), and im finally working on one thats just for me! Since I'm new to knitting I also have one question about your comment about superwash merino, is it just as good as normal non superwash merino? is there any merit to normal merino that superwash doesnt have? also i lived in ottawa for a year and LOVED it so so much, i hope you enjoy the canal and winterlude!

Loved this video concept!

I love your podcast! I also love that you hype Briggs & Little! I live in Nova Scotia so it's by far my most economical rustic wool. I've made 4 Felix sweaters with B&L Heritage, and I'm currently knitting Gib I by Andrea Mowery in heritage (dark marroon.) I've been hesitant to try Regal because the colour selection is more limited, but I think I have to try it now. ☺️ I also love their Sport 1 ply and knit a Lunenburg pullover with it last year. As a fellow Canadian I wanted to let you know about an awesome lys in Nova Scotia called Fia Fia. They carry so many of the international trendy wools like Isagar, Jameson & Smith, Drops, Sandnes Garn etc. but also Briggs & Little. Excellent domestic shipping rate too, $12 within Canada and free in orders over $150. Highly recommend you check them out!

Someone who learned to knit thinking it would save money on clothes is like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster. I don’t think they exist.

This video is Amazing! I really only like natural fibers for consumption reasons and I struggle to afford so many :’) But I will absolutely be trying these out!

Patons Kroy was the first sock yarn I ever tried, and all the luxury sock yarns I have tried can't hold a candle to it! It is so sturdy and holds up beautifully, my only complaint is that I wish there were more options for solid colors.

This is an amazing video! I want to recommend Emily at The Blue Mouse Knits on KZbin for tutorials and free patterns if you want to learn to knit continental! She has tutorials for smaller projects, as well as full video tutorials for beginner cardigans and sweaters! I learned to knit from watching her videos a few years ago and now I can't imagine my life without knitting!

I'm so glad I found your Podcast. It is very informative. I wish you would hold up your yarn examples so we can see the labels. Also, your own projects, like sweaters, I would like to see more.

You are adorable!!!

Hi Rachel, This was an outstanding video! Thank you for sharing it and I really, REALLY appreciate all the pattern recommendations. I am learning to knit and I know I will be referring back to this video many times in the future. I am currently working on The World’s Simplest Mittens. Best wishes for 2025! Fiona

Hi, what a great video. I'm an intermediate knitter but agree with all you have said. I learned as a child but gave up in high school and only started knitting and crochet again properly last few years. Great for managing stress and mental wellbeing and ended a candy crush phone game addiction for me. I'm so inspired by the fact you have gone through chemo and your outlook. I work in the area of oncology so I know exactly what you have to deal with. Well done. And stay positive and healthy 🙏

bless you forever for keeping the CAD rep <3 fr fr love to see it :D

Someone got me the “gift” of a book with directions for making a huge (boring, square) blanket with a million squares featuring different stitch patterns. No way I would go that. Instead: learn those different stitch patterns by knitting a shawl (westknits, or other designer). You have a few new interesting stitch patterns, an interesting shape, and it stays engaging, and you can wear it around. Highly recommend for “adventurous beginner”

Just start with a sweater. Thick yarn, simple pattern. Boom.

Totally agree!! Scarves are so boring (at least plain ones are). Start with something fun. My first was a simple sweater with a simple cable down the center! Addicting.

Great interesting podcast

Excellent video. Small projects are the best for baby knitters.

Yay! Happy new year and thanks for the guide.

Beautifully done video, and so useful. Your suggestions are very well organized so that a novice can build skills in a way that makes sense. The only thing I would have at it would have been to recommend learning how to put in a lifeline. I was quite relieved when my novice self learned this strategy that ensures I can tackle something new in a project and undo errors without having to start all over. I’m now an experienced knitter who is still intimidated by short rows and so I’m prevented from knitting many, many lovely patterns that call for them. I am definitely going to tackle the step-by-step sweater as my next project so as to master them at long last! Thanks and happy new year!

This is a great video which I already shared. The Arin Socks are no longere in Ravelry available unfortunately 😞thank you for this video, much appreciated.

the fit of the blue checkered top is so fantastic omg and idk the fabric looks so chic and stylish it just makes the whole garment look so professional? i am also a mockneck/turtleneck lover so i support you wanting to make it a mockneck but i think it looks great as is too!

omg thank you for putting this together! this is an amazing beginner's syllabus and i shall be sharing with all my knit-curious friends!

I made a cardigan out of Lion Brand Pima Cotton and it was nice being able to pick it up from a big box store. It was super soft and squishy and perfect for Florida

I agree with all you’ve said about Patons Kroy😅. However, it has been my experience that you don’t get the full meterage/grams per skein. Quite disappointing.I weigh all my yarn before starting a project.

Great roundup with helpful insights - and I’m digging your Ravelry bundle! Thank you for putting this all together and sharing with us😊

You've done the fiber arts community a huge service with this video, thank you!! 🩷

omg prk buddy!!!! i was also not a candidate for lasik lol. i agree, it was extremely freeing for me with like -7.75/-8 in both eyes lol i recently got into your videos and love them!

i fell in love with peer gynt... incredible colours, makes a great fabric and i find it pleasantly rough but not particularly itchy

This is so helpful 💖

I would also add Cascade 220. It is usually 10$ per 100 grams and is pretty comparable to peer gynt. Peer gynt is usually 6-7 dollars per 50 grams so the cascade feels like a steel.

I think Norway still has the infrastructure to treat all their wool. And they definitely have very strong environmental regulations in place. For people who mind about animal wellbeing, there is no mulesing at all because they don't need it (I don't remember the name of the disease that makes it necessary in other places, but basically it's too cold for this fly to survive, so this disease doesn't exist over there). Norway has poor quality soil. So not so good for agriculture but good for sheep raising.

Thank you! With your inspiring suggestions, I am already planning gift knits for next year! Yay!

I got my mom a magnifying glass lamp so she could see her cross stitching. It isnt very portable but something like that and portable might help your elbows and eyes

I have bought several colors of Patons Kroy and loved making socks from it. I am currently knitting Everyday November Mitts in one of the colors. I also have used and like Berroco vintage DK, baby, and even chunky (made a tunic top that I wear all the time!). I will look into Peer Gynt and Simply Wool for sweaters - thanks!

It takes 200 years for acrylic to biodegrade.

I love this topic! I started knitting socks with the Patons kroy, but boy do they itch when I wear them. I put the Etrofil DK on my list, thanks for the recommendation. What Canadian online store do you suggest? I’m in the US.

Drops is VERY difficult to get in the United States. Wool Warehouse out of the UK is about the easiest way to buy it. If someone knows of a shop in the US that offers Drops, what is it? Yes Drops mails to the US , but I guess I am looking for an American seller.

can u make a video about fav yarn stores in toronto :) been looking for more local shops since the romni on queen is gone!

Such a helpful topic. I love Hobbii Highland Wool, incredibly soft non-superwash and discounted for quantity. Also, Little Knits in Seattle has fabulous sales on my fave BFL and many high-cost yarns drastically reduced.

Lion Brand Fishermen's wool is also fantastic for a natural untreated wool in natural colors. It's more than $10 per skein, but the skeins are twice as big. $14USD for 8 oz. (the tweeds are 6 oz.) 465yd/425m (348yd/318m in tweed).

Stopped watching as you stopped showing the yarn skeins. I don't want to see garments that you've made out of the yarn I want to see the skein of yarn with the label.

Not me watching this while casting on with Berrocco Vintage dk for the first time! Glad to hear it's approved :)

Can you please show the labels. You do say the name of the yarn but you move on quickly and do a close up of the fiber. E.g. grandfathers sweater. 😢

the yarn recommendations are great. i think, however, that the reason that the reason so many companies have these complex supply chains is because it's cheaper.

Berocco vintage dk is a great yarn! Made a summer top with it. If you haven’t tried Drops Baby fine Merino, try it! It is a cut above most merinos because fine merino only uses the wool from the chest of the sheep. And THE BEST place to buy any drops yarn is Linde Hobby! Super low shipping and quick turnaround on orders.