CRAFTING FAIL *everything I DIDN'T make in 2023* WIPS & abandoned projects

[@nataliecolbert5790]

Dear Mark, I appreciate the standard that you have for yourself, and I would never begin to try to talk you out of it, but my eyesight is not that good and I don’t see the puckers in your color work and your cable sweater is beautiful. It may not be my place, but I thought I would just suggest that maybe you gift them to an organization that helps people get jobs. They help them dress for success I have been Involved in an organization like that in Indiana, and as you know what you wear to an interview matters. I thought I might throw that out there and it might give you a reason to finish your projects that you have used such quality and beautiful Yarn on. I love your videos.❤

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Thank you for your kind words! That is a fabulous recommendation. Thank you for being here :)

[@kimmyk3640]

I love this episode. Sometimes watching knitters with KZbin channels can be intimidating--all the completed projects that were tremendous successes. It's so nice to see we're not alone! I have started and stopped dozens of projects and have yet to knit the "perfect" sweater.

[@karenbochinski]

I LOVE your crochet sheep. Please finish. It is so adorable. Thanks for your transparency with knitting. I am knitting many caps from Nancy Bates's National Parks and Knitting California. I do lots of charity knitting with caps and try out new fairisle techniques. I have a top that has sat many years with my handspun yarn; but I did complete a sweater took 4 years YEA. Love your show and professionalism

[@Bohemknit]

❤ "the movement of knitting"... Exactly! I've done crochet for a long time, but knitting is a completely different experience.

[@MakerMarkKnits]

YES! I'm glad you get what I mean. Thank you for watching :)

[@lottakiuru-ribar9378]

Those sweaters are totally worth finishing! 😊 for the one with mohair in the mix, I would recommend sweater surgery. Cut away the color work, reknit it, and craft the body and sleeve back on. For the sleeve pooling, either knit from 2-3 different balls of yarn, or knit back and forth.

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Excellent advice! Thank you 😊 I plan to finish it at least repurpose everything.

[@emilymartinko720]

Yeah I was about to reccomended switching between skeins! In my experience malabrigo can have insanely different colors between even the same lot of a color. I’m usually too lazy to alternate but I do agree that the pooling on this sweater sleeve was quite odd. I also love some sweater surgery, the kitchener is a pain but it’s better than re knitting the entire bottom!

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Yes! I've done surgery once or twice before. I'm always a fan of finding some sort of solution over frogging an entire project!

[@rebeccakrueger0229]

Hello! I love and appreciate you said that sometimes you take some time off because you're bored of a project or just need a break. I'm trying to keep that mindset for myself and not feel like a failure if i don't finish something or if I want to take a break. So thank you!!

[@KYERRN]

I love every single unfinished project you shared.

[@amymurdock5905]

Ooo! Mark! Finish the sheep!! It would SO CUTE on the shelf behind you as you film.

[@AmayaRodrigo]

Hello! I am a very monogamous knitter, I cast on, push through and finish before I start another one. I just can't deal with several projects at once, I lose my place and rhythm. So no unfinished projects from 2023 here! If something doesn't work for me I tend to frog asap and move on. I don't look back, I like that the yarn will be repurposed and give me more hours of pleasure for the same price 😂

[@MakerMarkKnits]

You're an inspiration! How amazing that you end up with no WIPS. I love what you've said about projects that don't work for you--frogging immediately and moving on is such good advice! Thank you for watching :)

[@Izzybeff1974]

Yay! Someone else is who like me. I do tend to have two projects at a time though, but I always finish or frog!

[@MakerMarkKnits]

I'm jealous!

[@bethholness5153]

I sufer from sleeve fear, my aunt told me to knit them first in a flat pattern. It works for me, sewing up panels sucks but a finish is a finish.

[@MakerMarkKnits]

I've heard lots of people say that they do sleeves before finishing the body of the sweater! I might try it one day.

[@BeataNozka]

I understand your "the socks" and probably by extension - "the mittens and gloves" phobia. I was using five needles back in the day and usually had some of them slipping out - very frustrating experience. The quality of your knits is amazing.

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Thank you SO much! I can relate to that feeling!

[@prettypanda]

I really appreciate this video. It provides a different perspective on the patterns you've mentioned as well as potential issues I could totally see myself having when mid project. I hope to see more of these kinds of knitting videos (from you and others). Thanks so much!

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Thank you for watching!

[@linxadragon6839]

Love the cable work on the grey speckled sweater. It would make a 🎶gorgeous🎶 bag.

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Thank you! I think I might play around with that idea :)

[@yay5112]

for your weekender maybe you can try helical knitting on the sleeves to prevent the color pooling? Edit: your first weekender lol

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Excellent idea! That might be my winning solution :)

[@emilymartinko720]

I love listening to your voice! I’d love to see a podcast from you of current projects and plans, if you ever feel like making one. Im also a plus size knitter (though female, which is maybe a different ballgame when it comes to fit) it’s nice to watch people who have the same experience as me!

[@MakerMarkKnits]

That's a great idea! And thank you for the comment about seeing things from a plus sized perspective 🙂

[@melissa_pup]

I used to hate working flat for two reasons... 1) turn turn turn turn etc & 2) seaming Now I knit backwards and I join as I go. Or in blanket squares, pick up on both then k1\p1 bind off for a chain look on the front. This has boosted my want to make and actually finish projects more in 23 than I've done in previous years.

[@MakerMarkKnits]

I'm glad to hear someone else say that! It sounds like you have a great system for getting your projects done!

[@melissa_pup]

@@MakerMarkKnits so far so good 👍 now if I stop with 2 new projects before 1 is finished 🤭😂 I might get somewhere

[@MakerMarkKnits]

:)

[@linxadragon6839]

Hi Mark, regarding the Artic Spring sweater: maybe finish and donate it to a shelter. I'm sure someone needing a sweater wouldn't mind the puckering. Love your vids, you're a really good teacher. Thank you for all you do.

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Beautiful suggestion! Thank you for watching :)

[@Kristel280]

My favorite one is the sheep. Looking forward to seeing you finish it. ❤

[@beanixdorf6977]

I’m really enjoying your videos, you’re voice is very calming and you share some basic things with us. I’ve been knitting for about 10 years now and have had some good successes but also some frustrating projects, you’re sharing of projects whether completed or are wip’s make me feel good about my work. That sounds pretty selfish on my part but … thanks for sharing with us

[@mendezcher]

Hi Mark, your sweaters are stunning and although we always have the “can you spot it galloping by in a horse” mentality, we knitters all understand the perfection we hold ourselves to. I only have one WIP from last year! 😱 Buuuuuut I have some from many years ago that are in time-out 🤪

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Thank you! That's a very good reminder. :)

[@laurenouellette6592]

I love the way you do the videography of your beautiful knits. It really shows off the texture and drape of the fabrics.

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Thank you so much!

[@beverlythompson3246]

You are a masterful knitter Mark and I really don’t see any problems in your projects. Perhaps if you finish them and put them away til next winter you will see the beauty in them,rather than any minors issues. Having said that, there are so many fantastic patterns, we shouldn’t feel obliged to continue on projects that are stealing our joy of knitting [ I have 3 of those myself at the moment 😕)

[@MakerMarkKnits]

I'm sorry about your 3 projects on hold. Your words are so kind! Thank you for watching :)

[@OriettaStitch]

Such a nice and honest video about your unfinished projects. I am usually pretty blunt with my projects and, if for whatever reason they are not working out the way I envisioned, I have zero problem frogging them or giving them away. I think I have about four projects I am carrying from 2023. One is a blanket, two are summer knits I didn’t finished in time, a crochet vest I need to make more square for as I am ahem.. wider then the designer LOL. Ah I forgot! I am also hiding somewhere my unfinished geogradient Kal! That just need the border but I don’t seem to find motivation for it. I know they will all get done eventually. 😅 and than I have three active wips… more than I usually keep going

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Wow, thank you! Sometimes it feels like our projects are just piling up on us...but I also think we thrive on variety :)

[@susanneschlesinger4857]

Hello Mark! Thanks for showing your so-called fails which most of your viewers might not see it that way. I think everything is worth finishing it and even if you see some "mistakes", no one else will notice. It's a design element. For the mouse: I never knit flat because those patterns also work in the round, but they are written for straight needles. If you give it a second try, convert the pattern and it is much more enjoyable then. The poor mouse should get her second ear and a sweater! My advice for the pooling situation on the sleeve of the Weekender is to alternative 3 strands and use helical knitting. This should help to "unpool" and spread the colors more evenly. The puckering line in the colorwork is really not visible at all. You might try a bit of steam ironing along the edge, but it is really not a big deal and it would be a shame not to finish it. Looking forward to your next videos. I personally love the tweed cable sweater but I'm with you that the cables don't pop out a lot. Nonetheless, it's a beautiful sweater and maybe someone would be happy to buy it. Socks... I love knitting socks and overcame the "Single sock syndrome" by casting on the second immediately after finishing the first sock, so I have a WIP and not a lonely sock. I knit on four needles because I don't like the magic loop, but if you knit big garments, it is of course more fiddly. Best regards from Germany!

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Thank you for all of that beautiful advice! I think I will make another knitted animal friend in the future, and I will absolutely convert it to be knit in the round. :) Thank you for watching!

[@khabsamum6074]

The colours of yarn you pick for your projects is beautiful, thank you

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Thank you! I often defer to my friend Megan. She has excellent color skills!

[@dorotheekschmid]

I love videos like this. Thank you fir sharing. The process of starting, continuing, finishing or abandoning projects is fascinating and troubleshooting is very interesting.

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Thank you for watching!

[@meowtrageous]

all your wips are super cool! i have a shameful number of wips but i finished a few at the beginning of the year! the joy of putting them in my ravelry projects library is very motivating.

[@MakerMarkKnits]

That's a good incentive. I'm very lazy with my recording my work on Ravelry. Investing more in good record keeping is one of my goals for the year. Thank you for watching!

[@dexaria]

I don't have any projects left over from 2023 but I do have a Ten Stitch Blanket that I've been working on since 2020!

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Oh wow! I'm impressed 😁

[@alisavanrooyen1030]

I personally had to learn two at a time magic loop method, because otherwise I figured I'd never have identical socks. Try it if you haven't already,you might find you enjoy it.

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Yes! I think that will be the only way I truly commit to sock knitting. Thank you for the suggestion!

[@pommebour5354]

I made a few of the crochet animals from Heidi Bears when my nieces and nephews were little, they were really well received! (and had a few grown ups request for them too!). Watching your video, I have an itch to make another one now :-)

[@juliedominicmacuich1710]

I enjoy knitting while watching your videos. I find you interesting and your voice very soothing. Right now I am knitting DK weight socks. I am obsessed So cozy and warm.

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Lovely! I think I would enjoy DK socks as well :)

[@carolhudak3173]

This is the second time today I am messaging you. I am the person with the knitted sweater turned bag! I saw you at Around the Table's booth at Wild and Wooly. I can give you pointers on doing a repurposed bag. I found your channel a couple days ago and am doing some catching up.

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Amazing! I'd love pointers 😊

[@virginiaanderson8875]

First, I love your music, want to get up and dance!! You have done, so much , that were beautiful works of art - some fails , i believe bring us back to a little bit of reality, - I beat myself up with quilt fails, now a lot of years later, I have learned to put them on the “free table” at our guild for someone else to love and finish. My knitting is more beginner, so, I am struggling but trying to pick something that I can finish and give me happiness -you are so talented and I think a perfectionist - I hope one day to get to your degree of knitting. 💕. Thanks for sharing your ups and downs !!!☺️

[@MakerMarkKnits]

You should dance next time! Sharing your quilts in progress sounds like a beautiful way to let those projects live on (without giving you any additional frustration). Thank you for watching!

[@r.mcd2921]

I'm sure others have written this, but just alternate skeins for the color pooling. It should help greatly. Also, you and I share a love for creating garments. I suspect you'd be happy to crochet a true sweater, not the funky chunky kind, but an honest basic sweater. And have you tried Tunisian crochet? If so, how does it sit with you?

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Great suggestion! I actually was alternating skeins for the body and the start of the sleeve. So maybe the answer is to use a single skein there...or to try helical knitting! I've learned how to do several stitches with Tunisian crochet. I love the look of it, however I don't like it as much as I like knitting. I might dive into a Tunisian project at some point- and by then it may steal my heart! Thank you so much for watching!

[@SuraAndCo]

I love your videos…I’m always learning new knitting terminology and getting more familiar with what I’m looking for whenever I hear certain words used for knitting in your videos😁(even though I haven’t started knitting yet). Thank you!!

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Wow, thank you!

[@linxadragon6839]

Maybe the sweater would look better to you with a different yarn? (the cable worked grey speckled one)

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Agreed! I think the tweed ended up being a bit too busy for my liking.

[@christenagervais7303]

If you put your Artic Spring wool and mohair sweater in the freezer, it will be easier to frog...

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Thank you for the tip!

[@spinningloft]

Thanks Mark! Another great episode, and I am so glad I stuck around to the end (wink, wink) and saw that cute project bag...you're the best.🐈

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Aw, thank you for watching!

[@sheba4711]

Hello Mark! Would you be willing to share your pattern / technique for sewing the ball sleeves? As soon as I saw them, it was a smack my forehead, "of course!" situation, simple but brilliant! Thank you for your calm videos, I appreciate you not rushing and taking your time.

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Thank you for watching! Do you mean the yarn cozies?

[@sheba4711]

@@MakerMarkKnits yes please! The yarn cozies.

[@MakerMarkKnits]

I learned from this tutorial: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j2jGkpynmbx-oK8

[@dianathorpe2280]

Do you still have the Arctic Spring sweater? Please try blocking it with the steam method that Arne and Carlos use in their videos. It works magic with color work. Just imagine you are just a day or so away from finishing that gorgeous sweater. I never use wet blocking for sweaters. I love the Arne and Carlos steam method. So easy!!!

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Great suggestion! Yes, I still have the sweater. I'll have a look at their tips and I'll give it a whirl :) Thank you so much!

[@dianathorpe2280]

@@MakerMarkKnits Good luck!!!😊

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Thank you!

[@WendyHAROLD-h6n]

Thank you

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Thank you for watching!

[@theresaleduc5056]

Hi Mark, In regards to your moody Weekender, have you thought of alternating two different skeins of your yarn (one row each) ? I’ve seen that advice from other podcasters to help avoid color pooling.

[@MakerMarkKnits]

I didn't say this in the video, but that's actually what I was doing for the body and sleeve. So perhaps my answer is to go to one skein. Another knitter recommended I work the sleeves with helical knitting. I'll have test these suggestions and hopefully they will lead me to a balanced sleeve (or two)! Thank you so much for watching!

[@Izzybeff1974]

First, I thought all your sweaters were beautiful, but I understand if you're not happy with them, you won't wear them. Any chance of felting the color work one and making it into a pillow or a bag? Also, the cabled one would make a terrific bag. I am the oddball I'm sure, but I have no WIP's that I'm not working on. I either finish or frog every project and I rarely have more than two cast on at a time. You're making me want to knit a sweater. I've only done it once. I'm going to Rhinebeck this fall, I probably should!

[@MakerMarkKnits]

I'm jealous of your ability to focus on a project until it is completed! Great idea about the bags :) Have fun at Rhinebeck!

[@fly_you_fools]

That’s a great idea to make the puckered sweater into a cardigan. A normal person isn’t going to notice the puckering on the back and you won’t have to look at it in the mirror so long as you don’t zip it all the way up. Just hope a judgy knitter isn’t standing behind you in the grocery store tsk tsking . (Not that that’s something I personally worry about. 🤥Because that would be neurotic of me)

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Thank you for the feedback! Judgy knitters always visit me in my dreams!

[@paulinecornwell5787]

I've fairly recently found your videos Mark so this may get overlooked, but I want to say how much i enjoy them. I notice your sweaters all seem to have a lovely drape to them and I wonder if this is because you have a loose tension (gauge)? Whatever it is, it works. Maybe it's that you choose your yarns well! ps do you remember the shawl in the shape of a tick? Have you remembered that here in England a tick is a check as well as the little creature in the long grass? Keep the videos coming. I find them inspirational in many ways. Pauline

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Hi Pauline, thank you for such a kind and thoughtful comment! You are right about my knitting gauge. I'm a bit loose so that definitely gives things more drape. Sometimes I do go down a needle size so that I can get the exact gauge and drape a designer had in mind. I also try to pick wool that will block out really well. I love seeing a very evenly finished piece of fabric after the blocking process 🙂 and yes, someone finally commented and reminded me about the English use of the word tick! Now it makes much more sense.

[@carmenlessard4925]

Thank you for the reminder to Subscribe; I have been watching your videos and just assumed that I was a subscriber. I am now!!

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Wow, thank you! I appreciate you being here :)

[@BeckyRhae]

If you don’t want to make a cardigan, you could take the Arctic Spring and make a pillow.

[@MABrody]

Re the color pooling - were you knitting from alternating skeins? Always a good idea with hand dyed yarn.

[@fleecefriend9286]

Mark, I only recently found your videos, but I really enjoy them. But I have to ask, are you knitting full time? How do you finish so much so fast - and even have more WIPs?

[@jss302]

Can u turn weekender 1 Into a vest?

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Not a bad idea! I might like that a lot.

[@rgmartin1040]

If you’re still thinking about frogging the project with mohair, I’ve had great success doing that by putting it in the freezer for a few days and then it frogs much easier.

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Great tip! Thank you :)

[@SheilaHorseman]

@lindaeld9660 [on here] has a comprehensive guide to knitting Louise Crowther's animal friends almost entirely in the round. It has worked very well for my first ever knitted toy [Trefor the Rat] from the Dorothy pattern. Pretty plain sailing except for embroidering the nose, which is driving me NUTS!

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Oh that's fabulous advice. Thank you for the recommendation! Good luck with Trefor's nose!

[@alisoneyers2450]

I am staggered by how fast you knit. Very impressive. Xx🫶🏻💫

[@catofthecastle1681]

Hahahaha!

[@MakerMarkKnits]

Thank you! 😊