Comparing PetiteKnit's Drop Shoulder Sweater Patterns

[@edinacole6382]

This video popped up moments after I started watching NE’s video ranking her Petite Knit patterns that she knit. Great timing!

[@stringthingsbymel]

What a great coincidence! I've put that one on my watch list.

[@calvin7592]

I thought the same thing when I first discovered Petiteknit. These all look the same?!? But after knitting many Petiteknit patterns, I now understand the differences between the patterns even if they are small. Construction/aesthetic might be similar or seemingly identical on many of them, but the subtle variations and little details keep things different. I have learned so much from her patterns and it has improved my knitting immensely. I like the fact that each pattern teaches me a new skill or makes me think differently about a skill I have done a million times. Example working on sweater xyz: “Ohh I never thought to do it that way - on the chestnut sweater it was done like this, but on xyz sweater it’s done like this” the finished objects both look nearly the same but the means of getting there was different. My overall knitted wardrobe is cohesive and the process to get there wasn’t boring. Win win for me. I don’t mind spending the money on the patterns, but could see how some people might find it frustrating. It’s funny how people almost accuse her of being sneaky or lazy for making these patterns for a profit. Because it’s a BUSINESS people 😂 How about uplifting a business owner and creative? It’s her business, of course she’s going to market and charge for patterns! Thanks for a fun video, and I like reading everyone’s perspective on this in the comments!

[@janthestitcher3084]

Really appreciate this assessment. But let's talk about how fabulous you look in that sweater. Absolutely beautiful and you're glowing.

[@stringthingsbymel]

Aww thank you! 😊

[@karenruthel7723]

Thank you for a very informative podcast Mel.I appreciate the time you spent sifting through the various similarities and differences.Personally I am not surprised that PetiteKnits patterns are all so similar.Have always had trouble distinguishing one from the other when I have seen them made by other podcasters and in my opinion a seasoned knitter could apply a little tweaking to almost any one of her patterns and get a fair resemblance to many of the others.I so enjoy the simple Scandinavian elegance of her styling and branding/marketing is great!Thanks again for this and all your KZbin videos -always great to watch and listen 😊xx

[@sydneytruitt3981]

This was my suggestion! Thank you so much for the time you put in to gather this information, I think it’s a great resource!

[@corteofs]

These comparaison are very well done and helpful , thanks

[@YoungfolkKnits]

Lots of great details! Thanks for deep diving into this🏊‍♀️

[@lauraheller2366]

Yes! This is the exact type of information I’ve been seeking! Thank you

[@stringthingsbymel]

You're welcome! Thanks so much for watching!

[@Dailywhatnots]

I am not at all surprised how similar PetiteKnit patterns are. They are very formulaic, and I find the instructions to be somewhat sparse. But she is a master of branding! Thank you so much for these comparison videos. Love them!

[@annaskowron-mora5181]

Mel, thank you very much for this - it is very detailed, which will help a lot. I'm a beginner, so I'm looking for universal patterns that will, on the one hand, help me develop and, on the other hand, won't ruin my budget. thanks again!

[@PrettyPureSalina]

Very helpful vídeo Mel, thanks a lot for sharing all your insights on these sweaters

[@CelesteKnits]

Thank you! I could not for the life of me figure out the difference between the Oslo and the Stockholm. Now, my plan is to gage swatch with the yarn and want to use and choose my pattern that way, knowing I can make whatever little modifications I want.

[@logikgirl12]

I have yet to knit any Petite Knit pattern because there are SO MANY free patterns that I still want to make loll but this so super useful Melissa, thank you 😃

[@TheMakingPodcast]

I love all of Petite Knits patterns, they are my style! I just finished the Melange and I love it!

[@teslaandhumanity7383]

I bought 2 cloud patterns, because I saw 2 pictures at separate times in different yarn 🧶. Thanks for sharing this information.

[@loreliemiller628]

Love these comparison podcasts! Thank you!

[@stringthingsbymel]

Glad you like them! Thanks so much for watching. 😊

[@anu_T95]

Thanks for a comparison video. I feel that most of patterns by some popular designers are similar and one has to spend time to compare them. I just don't understand why designers do so

[@tracyarena2756]

Wow. Love these podcasts. So helpful to have all the comparisons in one space. Thanks for producing this type of review. Very helpful. Must be time consuming for you. Please know very appreciated. LOVE the sweater you are wearing. Do you know where one can source the pattern book for it from. I’ve looked everywhere and am stumped

[@stringthingsbymel]

Thanks so much for watching! The pattern book is an old one (from 2021) so unfortunately hard to source. I came across it by chance as my LYS had it in their clearance section. Maybe we should all email Sandnes Garn to request digital copies! 😆

[@juliaholmedammann7601]

Thsnks for the video! I see that a lot of international knitters focus on how similar PetiteKnits patterns are. As a Svandinavian knitter, I think you are missing a point. She focuses a lot ln the yarn for her patterns - often a pattern is written with a specific yarn in mind. As a scandi knitter who started knitting with the yarn brands own designs (and yarn), I'm perhaps more used to this? But I love how she pulls up special yarns esp the Danish and Norwegian wool yarns and focuses on them. For me, that's an important dimension to her patterns. :)

[@stringthingsbymel]

Thanks for watching! You bring up a great point. Yarn choice certainly affects how a garment will behave and interact with one's body. For us in North America, I think access to some Norwegian and Danish yarns is difficult and/or expensive, hence many of us making yarn substitutions and focusing on the "look" rather than the "feel" of a pattern. This is a good reminder to direct some focus on the suggested yarn and experience a pattern that way too. Thanks!

[@lieslnew8247]

Great comparison vid. Thx heaps. Can’t wait for the raglan one to come out. ❤❤

[@bekahfisher3614]

On the Stockholm vs Oslo comparison - you say that the difference between the 4.5mm needle and the 4.0mm needle would give a more open fabric for the larger needle. However, the stitch gauge is exactly the same (and the row gauge is only one row tighter over four inches for the smaller needle) so I can't see how the fabric is discernibly more open if the gauges are so close to identical? I'm left thinking that the only reason the needle size is different for what amounts to the same gauge is that she used a different combo of silk mohair yarns in her design phase, and it was the relative difference in fluff that led to two different (but close) needle sizes...for the exact same stitch gauge.

[@stringthingsbymel]

My logic was that if you used the same yarn combo from the Stockholm sweater but knit the Oslo Sweater, you would have a slightly different fabric - the larger needle allows more "air". On Ravelry, yarn is listed as "lace + lace" for the Oslo so I was thinking it had a similar yarn combo/density but I've taken a closer look and now see the suggested yarn Tibet is not a lace mohair. Sorry for the confusion.

[@red_marion]

Love your sweater ❤ I own this pattern - planned to knit it someday.. well now I plan it to knit next😂

[@michiyaslana5974]

I haven’t done any PetiteKnit patterns yet. I love the Cloud sweater (obsessed with the finished edges!) and the Ingrid, both are on my radar but not a priority to make. I appreciate PN’s work as well-constructed classics but it’s simply not what I’m looking for right now. I’m a new-ish knitter and for this autumn/winter season I’m focusing on a handful of patterns that don’t look like sweaters I’ve already had a hundred times in my life. And for the Ingrid, I’m still torn between her and Veronika Lindberg’s Salty Days - I love both but I think I only want to make one of them for myself.

[@maxx6050]

Excellent research, thank you.

[@evaniki1995]

I think Oslo sweater is not two strands mohair, but cewek tibet + mohair. that is why the recommended needles differ from Stockholm sweater

[@WendyHAROLD-h6n]

Thank you, very informative

[@anitaferguson814]

This is sooooo helpful. Thank you

[@francioccafibers]

THANK YOU! I have been trying to figure out which one i want to buy and this helps a lot! I am also in Vancouver by the way :) I do have a question about row gauge. I never seem to be able to meet it and you were saying something interesting about how you can meet the same stitch gauge with different needle sizes and yarn weights, but the larger needle and yarn might also help meet row gauge. Do you have a specific source to suggest where I could read more about row gauge? I have found it hard to find articles about it. Thank you!

[@Linuxike]

Good explanation, thank you! I want to knit my first sweater (not too advanced techniques just yet) and looking at all the designs, it is almost overwhelming to discern the differences. It’s like, what’s an intermediate beginner supposed to cast on? 😃

[@sharondanielson3366]

I am a pretty new knitter and I did the Monday sweater for my first sweater and found it to be fairly easy. She did a great job with the pattern! And I loved the outcome!

[@oldwitchknits-Ursula]

Did you coordinate with Amy lol 😜 I noticed how similar some of Petiteknit patterns are. But there are slight differences and and it's good for beginners to find something they like without having to make any adjustments. Generally I love Petitknits style and have never been disappointed. I knit a couple on your list. Out of the aran category I made the Sonja and I absolutely love it. The fit is just perfect. Will definitely knit it again. I used one strand of nutiden with a lace weight yarn and its amazing.

[@stringthingsbymel]

Ha! What a happy coincidence with Amy 😋 I definitely wanted to make things easier for beginners to be able to choose between the patterns - it's a lot of information to go through. I like PetiteKnit too! I know some people try to stay away (even me for a bit), but her patterns generally work for me. Thanks so much for watching!

[@oldwitchknits-Ursula]

@@stringthingsbymel there is a reason she is so popular... I would happily support smaller designers (and I have) but to be honest very often the patterns aren't quite right for me. I have very specific visions (very plain usually) for my clothes in general. I am not going to knit a pattern that has details I don't like or where the fit isn't exactly what I want.

[@thepastrystash]

Interesting that Ravelry states Oslo is "lace + lace = DK" but the recommended yarn is Tibet CEWEC which is DK. It also does have decreases on the body, fwiw.

[@JeanetteMcMyler-ds5wl]

I'm interested in the size and shape of the armholes. Some are close fitting and some are baggy.

[@tulpenballerina]

I try to support designers other than PetiteKnit. I think she has enough attention and I only like a few of her designs. Since I don't knit drop shoulder sweaters, it's not a missed opportunity for me.

[@sandycall8854]

Can you explain to me the yolk of the seaside sweater as it is very complicated. Even master knitters couldn't explain this particular pattern to me! Please any help will help if you can explain to me where to put your markers as you start the yolk of this child's sweater. Thank you !

[@stringthingsbymel]

Hi, sorry to hear you're having some issues with your seaside sweater. Unfortunately, I'm unable to offer any recommendations as I neither have a copy of this pattern nor knit it before. If you use Ravelry you could try asking others who have completed this sweater?

[@beezaroni]

Hi Mel! Could you grant public access to your spreadsheet please?

[@stringthingsbymel]

Hi, should be good now. I forgot to update that setting 🤦🏻‍♀️. Thanks for letting me know!

[@beezaroni]

@@stringthingsbymel Thank you!! I do that all the time :)

[@SarahJo]

Why is this entire video just the "it's the same picture" meme XD

[@mille5913]

😂😂😂😂 I'm more surprised that Scandinavian knitters buy different patterns by her though they are mostly good knitters as it's a popular craft in there and actually they can easily knit those patters without ANY instructions. Ok you don't wanna make calculations, then choose one but no, they try "different" patterns 😂

[@My_slow_story]

I watched your videos before, very nicely put,informative - but when comes to comparison - this is strictly reading out of website and pattern details! Anyone can do it. I guess I expected more that simple repetition of information already available. Good for beginners thou I guess .

[@stringthingsbymel]

Yes, anyone can do it! And that's been the goal with these "Spot the Differences" videos - to help beginners find the information in order to make these comparisons on their own. I also provide a spreadsheet which can help anyone (not just beginners) on a time crunch compare the data in one place.

[@mille5913]

@@stringthingsbymelthank you very much. I don't want to crawl on different designers' websites analyzing the differences. I'm glad smb can do all that job for us ❤