An Italian Knitting Podcast Ep. 5 | Daily Ritual Raglan, Skagen Tee

Ciao! My name is Francesca. I'm an Italian knitter and I'm currently based in Italy, after a few years living (and knitting!) abroad. Please join be in this fifth episode where I'm sharing my finished objects, works in progress and also some new yarn!
// DISCOUNT
- Strikke it
strikk.it/
Use FRANCESCAG10 discount code for 10 euros off a minimum order of 40 euros (I also receive a discount if you use this code!)
// WHERE TO FIND ME
- Instagram / anitalianknitter
- Ravelry www.ravelry.co...
- Email [e-mail]
// FINISHED OBJECTS
- Daily Ritual Raglan by Park Williams
www.ravelry.co...
- Skagen Tee by Witre Design (in the round instead of cardigan)
www.ravelry.co...
// WORKS IN PROGRESS
- Ripple Bralette in terracotta/clay color
www.ravelry.co...
- No Frills Sweater ("Sweatshirt") by PetiteKnit in pearl gray with twisted rib collar
www.ravelry.co...
// PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
- More Ripple Bralettes!
www.ravelry.co...
- Cozy Classic Raglan by Jessie Meed Designs
www.ravelry.co...
// WELCOME SPRING KAL
Plant-based/summer knit-a-long hosted by @wegrowild #WELCOMESPRINGKAL
• My wild knitting podca...
Discord group
/ discord

[@franci9936]

I have no idea why I like knitting so much but I can’t get enough of it. It’s better to b addicted to this than something that can be bad for your health. Plus I like your channel. 🤓

[@AnItalianKnitter]

I completely agree, Frances! 😂 I think this is a healthy (enough) hobby and we should stick with it!

[@woolseeknitting]

I absolutely love your daily ritual raglan and the pearl grey colour of your no frills. I've been waffling over whether or not I need the daily ritual raglan for a year now and yours is a strong endorsement of the "pro" column - maybe a 2023 knit..... :)

[@AnItalianKnitter]

Hey hi! ❤️ I feel like it’s quite a versatile pattern. If you follow it exactly, I think you get a somewhat more fitted look that what I’m used to (i.e. PetiteKnit patterns) but if you’re not feeling that, you could always skip the decreases along the sleeves and the body. Either way, I do like that it’s more fitted than other things in my wardrobe, just to switch it up a little here and there.

[@marie-helenetedford6759]

I love your sweater and your modifications are perfect.

[@AnItalianKnitter]

Thank you! I have a couple of sweaters in progress at the moment to which I made ZERO modifications, so we’ll see how they will turn out. 🤞🏼

[@katsohal]

Love your style of knitting, I also like uncomplicated designs

[@debradantonio2974]

Congratulations Francesca in completing your first bottom up garment. I have finished five top down sweaters but the one time I tried a bottom up construction, I wasn't happy with the end result. So, I understand your apprehension. I am so happy you have something that you will wear!

[@AnItalianKnitter]

Glad you understand me! If I can avoid it, I don’t think I’ll make another bottom up garment. All in all, I was lucky with this one, but not sure I’ll be so lucky in the future too 😬

[@katrinaknits08]

The red and the red clay colours both look lovely on you!

[@AnItalianKnitter]

I like them both too, which is funny because I’ve never considered myself a person who likes red 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@lauriekimmelstiel2976]

so nice to find this blog. I look forward to watching all your episodes!

[@carolbulmer8253]

Francesco, I love both of your FOs. The red is very flattering on you❤️ I like your WIPs and the colours that you have picked for future projects😊

[@AnItalianKnitter]

Happy you find I look good in red…… especially because I just bought another sweater quantity in a similar color 😂 (technically it will be rust but it’ll probably look similar). Thank you for your support!

[@bead9609]

Lovely sweater and a summer shirt, love your style and it is timeless classic just the way I like it too. On a construction that you would knit up with a provisional cust on then knitting down for me it is a visual problem of knit stitches V up and V down in a same garment it makes me to think I might not like it. Q: is the drops safran yarn soft? Happy knitting !!!

[@AnItalianKnitter]

Yes, I know what you mean about the orientation of the stitches, but I’m not sure it would actually bother me 😅 The provisional cast on is not super fun for me though so not sure if I’ll actually go for it at some point… Drops Safran has been the first 100% cotton I’ve tried and the fabric came out beautifully. It’s quite soft and drapey. Not sure if it’s better than other cotton yarns though honestly… It is less soft than wool unfortunately, as you can imagine, but I accepted that I cannot wear wool all year around and I do need some lightweight summer garments too and cotton is a good option for me. Thank you for stopping by!

[@nicolarielly7679]

lovely to find your little space on the web. Thank you for sharing all your knowledge and things that you are learning x Good luck with you new podcast x

[@AnItalianKnitter]

So happy you found me! Thank you for saying hello, really appreciate it. 👋🏼

[@sarahb4330]

So pleased to find your podcast today, off to watch your vlog now, that red clay colourway is beautiful. Great knits and plans

[@AnItalianKnitter]

Thank you for your support, Sarah! It means a lot. I love watching knitting vlogs while I knit, so hopefully you’ll enjoy mine too and I’ll be able to keep you company a little bit 🤞🏼

[@vgs4888]

You are a breath of fresh air on the knitting podcast world. Way to go and keep it up. Your personality and knitting style shines through!

[@AnItalianKnitter]

That is such a lovely compliment! I’m so happy you enjoy spending time watching me podcast ❤️ It has been quite fun so far and hopefully you’ll continue to see more episodes soon

[@whiskandpurlpodcast2846]

Hi Francesca, love your podcast! Congrats on fifth episode, looking forward to more! :)

[@AnItalianKnitter]

Thank you for stopping by! Looking forward to record a new episode very soon.

[@bluejay5531]

Ciao Francesca! so happy to see another video of yours so soon 😊 First of all your hair looks great 🌷 Love the sweater, the color and the shape, brava! I also love your summer top, I already saw it in your vlog, keep doing those if you enjoy doing them, it is so satisfying to see a project from start to finish with all the steps, etc. I just ordered some yarn for my first summer tops! I did some summery yarns in the past but not much, but you are right here in Italy in the summer knitting with woolly, warm yarn is tough 😅😅😅 As for the construction aspect...I just knit my first ever top down and I get why it's so popular! I knit it for my mom - as you already know😊 - and it was great to be able to keep trying it on and I got the perfect fit! I am ALWAYS modifying patterns all the time 😂 which is also why I am so slow...Up till this one I had always knit everything in pieces, because I am self taught through magazines and internet and I only found out more recently about circular knitting and top down etc. I really enjoy it but I still want to learn other methods to have more flexibility with shaping and fit, and because I read that knitting in pieces gives a better tailored fit, so for certain styles it's better. What you were saying about knitting in different moments top down and bottom up is a technique I have heard about, some patterns are written that way, also because when you have a specific design you are making, with colour work or lace, the direction of the knitting changes the pattern of course...yay for all your bralette projects, and the tank top (?) looks very cute. and yay for the yarn order, You are lucky you need less yarn 😊🧶 I am also curious about trying yarn I often hear about...and I am a sucker for any discount 😂 (going to check that website now) however I need to be mindful about new purchases (so far failing miserably) wishing you a lovely week with lots of self care and we shall keep in touch 💚💚

[@AnItalianKnitter]

You're always so supportive, thank you for that! It's always so heartwarming to read one of your messages. ❤️ I'm not sure I would aver be persuaded to knit in pieces and then seam them together. I'm not good at seaming and I do not enjoy that. What you say makes sense though, you would be able to know more fitted/tailored shapes with that construction probably. I haven't encountered a similar construction in any of the patterns that I've bought recently (within the next couple of years) though, but that's probably/possibly because I gravitate towards simple looking patterns anyway... I'm going to put a discount code for Strikk.it in the description box as soon as I have one! 🤞

[@bluejay5531]

@@AnItalianKnitter 🌷 Maybe because I have knit some jacket like cardigans, with the set in (?) sleeves which is more of a "in pieces" construction, although, I have heard of ways to knit in the round top down seamless and still have set in sleeves and also a V neck, so I will slowly try to learn them...just taking it gradually to hone my skills

[@kikibird351]

I love your podcast, your energy and your sense of humour:)) You also have such a good taste! You’re a source of inspiration for me and my knitting! Bravo!!!! Long life your podcast!

[@AnItalianKnitter]

That is so, so nice of you, Isabelle! 🙏🏼 Love your support, very much appreciated, especially today when I’m not feeling particularly inspired or creative. Hope to see you around in the future too. Happy knitting! ❤️

[@KnittingThrough]

You made me laugh when you said California cold! Of course, it's always relative to what you're used to, but I agree! I am from Indiana (which is further north in the US and we can get some very harsh winters) and I was surprised at how cold California is at night and sometimes near the ocean during the day it can be quite chilly!

[@AnItalianKnitter]

I knew someone was going to call me out on that 😂 I think the term “chilly” is the right one. I did love the fact that it didn’t get super cold in the winter or super hot in the summer though. I haven’t visited Indiana but it seems like it would make for some great knitting if the winters are cold (I picture you in front of a nice fireplace). 🔥

[@nonnasstitchingloungewithr7281]

Ciao Francesca, I love the fact that you talk about how much you spend on your yarn! Always good to be conscientious of cost! All of your sweaters are beautiful, but I love the red on you! I live in Toronto Canada. It is currently about -5 C. In the summer it can go up to 30C. I can't imagine San Francisco being that cold... LOL! However, my parents were from Calabria. So my European blood finds Canadian winters very very cold! Ciao for now! Rosie

[@AnItalianKnitter]

I’m so glad you love the red on me because……. I just ordered another sweater quantity in a similar color 😅 Technically it’s a RUST color, but I guess that’s the same color family, right? Either way, you’ll see it in my next episode. Haha I knew I should not have said anything about the weather in SF 😂😂 Calabria is GORGEOUS. We’re going to be in Sardinia (not too far from Calabria) for a week this summer and I’m so, so excited.

[@gabikuschelhuhn]

Another lovely podcast. Thank you. I like your new red Sweater, it looks so nice on you. Thanks for sharing the prices for the yarn. That brings a good overview for me. The Sandnes garn is so pretty. Both would be great cardigans. Greetings from Germany.

[@AnItalianKnitter]

Hey Gabi! I love wearing cardigans but I do not love having to knit them flat (knit and purl). I wonder if this could be a good chance to try steeking… Mmm I need to do more research on this. Anyway, if you have some cardigan pattern recommendations, feel free to let me know 🙏🏼

[@gabikuschelhuhn]

@@AnItalianKnitter steeking is so easy. Try it. I knitted 2 cardigans with the pattern from tincanknits the strange brew. They have nice patterns for colourwork sweaters, but in the book they also explain, how to do your own pattern, top down, bottom up, however you like...and the steek. How to do the neckline shaping etc. I love this book. And for the sandnes garn it is perfect.

[@didi8496]

Sei troppo produttiva ❤

[@AnItalianKnitter]

Vado come un treno! 🚂

[@rosamimmino1393]

Really lovely both sweaters! The short sleeved one has such a lovely neckline! Like it that you choose your own colours and don't just go for what's in fashion, like many other knitting blogs do. Although for me I always mix many colours together, for your style it seems to me you should not mix the new yarns, each one is so beautiful by itself. Missing the cat, could you please include it in your next episode?

[@AnItalianKnitter]

Hey Rosa, I was honestly very surprised too that the neckline of my summer shirt turned out well… I wasn’t expecting that 😂 I’m curious to see if it will stretch with time, as I’ve heard that cotton stretches a little bit? Not sure if it’s actually true. I’ve already started projects with both my new sweater quantities and I’m excited to see what you think of them when you see them 😬 One is NOT a plain raglan sweater! 😮 I would love to include the cat in my next episode, if he doesn’t want to join me I can always just take a few clips of him on the sofa and sneak them into the podcast 😬

[@rosamimmino1393]

@@AnItalianKnitter With cotton this unfortunately happens, I bring it in form again sewing backstitches on the inside usually. Curious to see your projects! Siiiiiii per il gatto 🐾😻

[@BeckyInCa]

I'm so glad that you've chosen to do your podcast in English. But I am curious, why did you choose to do your podcast in English instead of Italian? I love the colors of both of your finished projects. They both turned out lovely.

[@AnItalianKnitter]

Great question! I’ve learnt how to knit from KZbin videos and they were all in English so all the knitting terminology I guess is in English 😅 I also follow quite a lot of podcasters here on KZbin so I always hear English and I guess when talking about knitting it comes more naturally to me, compared to Italian. I also hope that I can reach more people if I speak in English! I’m so glad to see you here again, Becky! Thank you for stopping by 🙏🏼

[@anniedion8326]

Hi I really like your podcast. For the Daily ritual Raglan Do you know if there is a way to knit it top down from the collar instead if picking Up stiches? Thank you Annie

[@AnItalianKnitter]

Hi Annie, to be honest I don’t think there is. The pattern has you knit a little bit flat and then you join in the round and then you continue to the bottom for there, so then you need to go back and pick up stitches for the turtleneck and knit the actual turtleneck going up. I didn’t think picking up stitches was too bad, but if you don’t want to do that, you could take inspiration from other patterns (maybe the No Frills Sweater) and use those instructions for the top-down collar and then continue with the Daily Ritual Raglan pattern from there. You would have to make sure that the stitch count at the end of the collar matches though. Honestly I would not be bothered to do all this 😂

[@anniedion8326]

@@AnItalianKnitter Thank you maybe I should not be affraid of picking up stiches and try this new technique :)

[@AnItalianKnitter]

I find picking up stitches quite tedious too honestly. If you play a podcast or audiobook in the meantime it might help 😬 Cannot guarantee it though 😂

[@moiragarner1253]

I was taught to knit bottom up , so find top down scary 😬

[@AnItalianKnitter]

Hi Moira! This is so interesting, but I guess it makes a lot of sense to be more comfortable with whatever we have more experience with. Do you have plans to try any top down patterns in the future?

[@moiragarner1253]

@@AnItalianKnitter I have started a top down cardigan. Most of the patterns I have on my list are top down so I will be practicing 🙂

[@AnItalianKnitter]

@@moiragarner1253 Good luck with your endeavors! 💪🏼

[@alessandrafontana2684]

Ciao Francesca sei molto simpatica, perché non registri anche in italiano i tuoi podcast?

[@AnItalianKnitter]

Ciao Alessandra! Ho imparato a lavorare a maglia quando vivevo negli Stati Uniti e molti termini di maglia in italiano non li so neanche quindi non saprei parlarne 😅😂 Un saluto e benvenuta!

[@giuseppinapillitu1979]

ho fatto da poco tempo l iscrizione al tuo canale,purtroppo mi risulta difficile seguirti visto che ti esprimi in inglese , peccato che le persone che non capiscono l inglese come me sono tagliate fuori .....

[@AnItalianKnitter]

Mi dispiace, Giuseppina! Io ho imparato a lavorare a maglia seguendo tutorial in inglese e mi viene molto più facile parlarne in inglese. Un saluto!