I’ll Knit If I Want To: Episode 203

Welcome to I’ll Knit (& Spin!) If I want To! I asked y’all to send in some of your questions (from everything from fiber arts, to designing and on!) so I could put together a little video for y’all every Friday doing my best to answer your questions!
Sign up for my newsletter here: Sign up for the DRK Newsletter: eepurl.com/diPxsr
In this week’s episode we cover:
1. My question is with regards to yarn. This year I want to be more mindful of what I'm knitting and focus a bit more on quality over quantity and specifically on knits that will stand the test of time. Unfortunately, not all yarns are created equal and I'm noticing that some of my handknit sweaters look great after wearing them and others look "meh": pilling all over, not holding their shape, or even felting in the underarm area.
I'm not afraid of a good rustic wooly yarn but I'm even noticing that rustic doesn't necessarily mean it's going to last longer then a softer yarn because some of my softer yarns seem to last. Prior to buying yarn and spending the time to knit a sweater - is there a way to find out how the yarn will stand up over time? I look to knitter comments of finished sweaters on Ravelry to see if they mention the yarn but that's often right after the sweater is complete and not after it's been worn for a season. Are there any specific characteristics I should look for in a yarn that will look good for years to come? Do you have any favorite yarns that still look great after multiple wears, blocking
Mountain Meadow: mountainmeadow...
2. Hi Andrea. I love your podcast and I have learned so much from you. I just started spinning and love to see all your handspun yarn. I love the look of a comb spin. I have 3 beautiful but different braids, but do not know what to do next! My question is how do you separate and organize your fiber to accomplish that gorgeous look? P.S. I am having a hard time spinning across the fiber and any hints with that would be greatly appreciated!
combo spin example
3.Metaphoric was on my “must make“ list for 2025, so I’m super excited about the Spincycle KAL. I’ve decided I’d like to make Metamorphic as a cardigan instead of a pullover. As I wrote out your pattern with my modifications for a steek, I came across two things I was curious about.
First, would it make more sense to have a steek of 5 purls? Usually I’d knit a five stitch steek, BUT as the right side is the wrong side, I think it would make more sense to steek once I’ve turned the sweater to the finished side. But am I thinking right?
Second, when I got to the increase rounds, I realized something I hadn’t thought of: the right front section will have one more knit stitch then the left front since the right front section starts with the steek and not the decorative stitch. Since it’s a single stitch I don’t think that’s a big deal, but is there something I haven’t yet thought about that would make this difference a big deal?
4. I've been knitting my first project where I hold mohair together with another yarn for the first time. I've had to frog back quite a few times, and when I frog back I just wound both of the yarns into one ball. I realized that when I knit from that ball it looks super weird and ugly, and I think it's because the yarns are super twisted around each other so the tension on each stitch looks kind of weirdly and wiggly and uneven. Do I just have to frog each yarn completely separately every time, which is a total nightmare? (I did this for one ball and even after creating a weird engineering contraption out of a curtain rod and a stool and a hairclip it still took two hours....) Is everyone doing that every time they frog a project held with mohair?! Or do I just somehow knit in a weird way that makes my yarns twist a lot?? Help!
5. Hi Andrea! I'm excited to make your traveler hoodie. (I just finished the Brume, which I am LIVING in right now!). I want to use Mountain Meadow Wool, like you used in your DRK Everyday Sweater. I just have never felt it before and am reluctant to order an entire sweater's quantity in case I don't like it. What would you recommend? Should I buy one skien and swatch it to see if I like it and THEN order a sweater's quantity? Or just go ahead and order the whole sweater's quantity and try to return it all if I don't like it? There are so many yarns I'm curious about that I can't get locally and need a good strategy for deciding what/how to try them!
Today I am wearing DRK Everyday Sweater:
Ravelry: www.ravelry.co...
My Website: www.dreareneek...
DRK Spin It to Knit It KAL
Ravelry KAL Forum: www.ravelry.co...
Instagram Hashtags: #DRKspinittoknitKAL2024 #DRKspinsTHETRAVELER
Ask a question for next week’s Q&A: forms.gle/pKM9...

[@graelist]

Honestly, the longer you chat the happier I get ❤ As far as I'm concerned you never need to feel like you should cut the "chatter" short!

[@japrice355]

I loved the question about frogging when knitting yarn held together. My favorite gadget is to wind both together onto a toilet paper roll. Then the roll goes on a paper towel holder where it stays stationary while the yarn is unwound from the top. It’s a whole procedure, but it keeps me from losing my mind.

[@lisasweet2536]

Highly recommend: Juniper Moon Patagonia; I wear this sweater several times a week, and it has barely pilled in 11 months. Gorgeous color, and economical. LOVE it.

[@kimcunningham2107]

Not JUST your glorious knits but that blue wall behind you, makes you look STUNNINGLY beautiful! 🥰💖💕💙

[@ST-sy2ki]

I have two DRK sweaters and I agree!! Love them so much!!

[@mYakTibetanFibers]

Thank you Andrea for mentioning mYak! Our Baby Yak medium is indeed very soft but strong and it does not pill making a great choice for a durable sweater or a beautiful accessory like the ones you designed in mYak ❤

[@cassandras3465]

Lettlopi wears like iron!! I love my lettlopi sweaters. Also my sweaters I’ve added mohair to, and lichen and lace wool has held up well. Gilliatt seems to be wearing well too.

[@nicolelafontaine1720]

I love all your answers even when they are lenghty. I learn so much, thanks !

[@sarahburke8955]

Can't wait to see that special hand spun knit up! What an interesting way to combine colors!

[@CherylPepper-ck3bs]

Maybe its just the world in which we find ourselves in, IDK but your initial description of being able to look to see if a yarn will be a good candidate to stand the test of time just really hit me as metaphorical for humanity as well - a lesson I will continue to ponder today - Thank you - Excited to hop into the Metamorphic as I have had the yarn since the pattern was released so even though it was not next in my queue and I am up to my eyeballs with WIPS - it brought me joy to use my stash and CO and hopefully complete this lovely sweater during the KAL. Love all things Andrea Mowry ❤

[@Janeknitsoninsta]

Always enjoy this part of the weekend when I knit and listen to your pearls of wisdom ☺ - longer episodes are even better in my opinion, thx!

[@marilynsullivan4361]

I do wish that “wool spun or worsted spun” would be listed on a ball band and/or in the advertising if we’re shopping online.

[@lgm204]

I cannot wait to see that hand spun knit into something glorious!

[@estherandeileen]

I loved the long episode this week - you got me through my Saturday morning workout after a long hiatus from the gym! Gorgeous skein in the show and tell this week - might have to try that method!

[@daniellejohnson3364]

I agree-the mountain meadow yarn wears incredibly well! ❤ magpie Nest has also been a great yarn, I’ve made sweaters with both sport and worsted weights and they have worn beautifully.

[@aka-r3v]

you right lol that wonder. i knit during system backups ( the boss someone must be there) ok. i knit too

[@deborahstephenson9490]

I also love Mountain Meadow but have wondered how it is treated. I have never asked and I stop at the mill nearly every year on my way to Montana. I have even done the mill tour! Looooooove the yarn.

[@elizabethbradley7794]

love the new handspun skein!!

[@BeatriceNelson-mo6hj]

Miracle Morning is supposed to be a good read for morning routine

[@alecsgirl]

Girl, I hear you about mornings! Same 😂 I homeschool though, so I have a really good definite end to my gentle wake up morning time. Getting up early helps!

[@valeriehowden471]

Thanks for a more than usual answer length for the first question. I have knit a cool sweater with a 50-50 wool cooton blend and have yet to wear it in the really cold winter. It was a joy to knit with so I can try the wrist band idea with the scraps before I knit another sweater with the same yarn. Also thanks for keeping me company while I frog a project.

[@bronaobrien1661]

Fab episode, full of great info! Love that skein of handspun, the colours are stunning! Thank you.

[@kathywasong2725]

I loved loved loved today's episode! The longer chat was so interesting and informative and today's questions were great. I'm not a spinner (yet-the drop spindles and fiber are in the glass-front drawer in front of me, giving me the side-eye), but I thoroughly enjoy those discussions as well. I'm always learning from you and I'm always inspired by you. I had to get a new dentist last year, and BONUS! She loves to knit your patterns! We always have a fun time comparing WIPs. How many people get to say they have fun at the dentist? Thank you for all of it!

[@sandrakirkpatrick3116]

Cascade 220 is a tough great durable yarn. I made a skirt and it looks great still

[@kristinahill3708]

You are so relatable!! I'm literally nodding and saying yes girl!!!!

[@cindymswyo]

Love your patterns/knits. I have a question “ I have a hard time with sweaters too far up on my neck in front. Any tips on how I can make them lower/looser in front. Thanks. I just purchased Moon Mint and look forward to starting.

[@cindycompertfineart7276]

Don’t feel bad, I’m a morning lollygagger too. After yoga and a long dog walk, I find myself relaxing on the couch with my knitting and videos. Then there’s lunch and where did the day go? I’ve reconciled that my day off yoga days are when I get my to do list done and I’m learning to relax without guilt!

[@dianegiannini8968]

I am on my second sleeve of my traveler and hoping to get it done by tomorrow. I plan to do I cord on the neck so that if I decide later to make it into a hoodie I can easily remove it.

[@juliaabernethy2500]

Regarding long lasting yarns/sweaters, I have to give a shout out to COlourmart yarns. I've made a LOT of sweaters over the years with various Colourmart yarns, mostly merino-cashmere and silk blends, but honestly a wide variety of fiber contents. They have mostly knit up beautifully and held up really well with lots of wearings.

[@jenniferkesler7934]

For getting info on how yarn wears, I find a lot of KZbin creators share this type of content in their “Everything I knit in 2024”…or any year. Hard to search for a specific yarn, but if you watch them anyway, you can grab some good insights there.

[@eileennahan7830]

I love your chats. This time Iearned to start my ribbing before cutting my steek. I am going to research the little rabbit hole, right now. Thank you. Your chats can go on for forever as far as I’m concerned. I’ve learned so much from them. ❤👍🫶🏽

[@WafflingAboutWool]

Will the yarn be durable test: knit a swatch, sit on it, get it damp, keep in your pocket, rub it on the seats of your car, etc for like a week. I found out really fast when making wool cloth diaper covers what can hold up to use and what cannot.

[@rockstarkate78]

I am all about just buying one or two skeins to try out a yarn. I have yarns I have swatched for many projects before finding the right one for that yarn. I also have patterns I want to make for which I have made many swatches in various yarns before finding the correct yarn for the pattern. I think of it like yarn-pattern matchmaking. You can’t tell if they’re compatible until they spend some time together 😂

[@krautkopf65]

Love all your detailed answers. And just chatting. It was great!

[@deyaneria]

I'm like that about the morning too. It's a hard balance. I have trouble working if my house is messy too.

[@slkendall85]

Didn’t hear a thing, too distracted by how mesmerizing Andrea’s light blue eyes were with this light and background.

[@patsyvincent9483]

I enjoyed your podcast. I have been watching for a while. See you next time.

[@lisabeanie]

Oh I loved What Alice Forgot. ❤

[@HeatherSB]

I have one sleeve left on my DRK Everyday sweater. I am having a hard time finding motivation to finish it. Maybe our next cold spell will push me so I can wear this year!

[@sunnyw4148]

always enjoyable

[@michelleadkins7086]

I just finished the traveler hoodie in mountain meadow wool tweed flint color way. Such a good yarn and worked out so well for this pattern. This would have to be one of my favorite yarns as well. Used the same in the drk everyday sweater and has held up very well. Everything you said about it is true! Hope this helps whoever was on the fence about trying this wool.

[@silkymilkymoon]

Thanks

[@dreareneeknits]

Thank you so much!! ❤️

[@MarisaShewchuk]

I love that you have to blow your nose!🤧 I constantly have to have a kerchief/tissue/old burp rag handy for my nose and I’m so glad I’m not the only one🫶🏼 To my question💁🏻‍♀️ I’m really digging the tessellated pullover and thinking about attempting it..(is it too much for a beginner??? I hope the answer is no🙏🏼) but I’m not a busty lady and I’m worried that the structure of it is going to make me look like I’m wearing a pyramid. Do you know of anyone with a smaller bust that has made and worn it successfully? Or do you have any thoughts/tips/etc. that may be beneficial?? Oh! And I think in this video you talked about the ribbing of certain sweaters losing their “bounce back” and I remember thinking that the yarn used for the tessellated pullover was going to be made with that; increasing my concern for an odd fit on my beam-pole frame😬 Thanks!!

[@CynthiaSchmidt-i7j]

DRK everyday sweater was the first sweater I knit. I need to make another

[@nottheborg836]

that handspun is absolutely stunning, well done!! can't wait to see what it turns into (*^▽^*)

[@sibleyhoneybee427]

I noticed that in a lot of "What I Made in 2024" videos a lot of people said they really liked the way Sandnes Garn Peer Gynt wore over time. I definitely want to try peer gynt this year! ❤🧶