Episode 8 - Lorraine Pistorio Hand-Knitted Toys, and Rowan Yarns

[@g-girl9867]

I’ve been watching this series for years, since the beginning, and have decided to watch it again in it’s entirety for all the wonderful interviews and technical knowledge imparted by Andrea and her guests. As a lifelong knitter I thought I knew everything! Yet the fount of knowledge I have learned here has elevated my knitting quality as well as enjoyment of my craft. I hope Andrea and Madeline I am not speaking out of turn to tell you how my heart often breaks anew seeing and hearing the sweet and charming Andrew as well. His interest and dedication to his new craft as well as his humorous asides to his learning from the expert Andrea have really touched my heart. What a dear he was. I hope you know how many of us “out here” think of him and the painful loss your family is still managing to endure. Love and light and blessings to you both as you go forward together. We are here with you too. ⭐️💖

[@sophieremizova6756]

I can't believe that I've only just discovered this amazing podcast! I recently got your current episodes suggested to me by KZbin, so I decided to watch from the start, so now I'm binge watching this. You are such amazing beautiful lovely people, and the show is at the same time educational, inspirational and fun. I'll keep watching. Love from Russia, Sophie

[@martaaldama6419]

I am watching on December 17, 2020. Praying for Andrew and the family.

[@auntpurl5325]

Thanks for introducing us to Lorraine. I've never wanted to knit toys until now. So many interesting details and techniques.

[@patmillett8056]

Thanks for finding this marvellous designer of toys. I've seen many knitted toys but none as beautiful as these. I would like to believe I might be a skilled enough knitter to try one of these! Andrew, good work on the socks.

[@FruityKnitting]

So glad you enjoyed the interview. I'm sure you are able to knit one of her lovely designs. She has very clear instructions and you can always email her if you get stuck.

[@kimmagee21]

Fantastic episode! Lorraine's toys are stunning!! Andrea that is so cool that you have a jumper that you can wear that your grandmother made :-)

[@FlorenceFrazier2002]

Absolutely lovely podcast. So glad I found it. Thank you!

[@karenbochinski]

This is an excellent podcast. The both of you are very charming and stick to topic on hand. Educational. Learned a lot about Rowen yarns.

[@annamanna6098]

You are always making such a beautiful podcasts and extremely talented interviews! ) I could't find out better questions to ask from the guests! You are doing really great job, guys! I can imagine how hard it is... Thank you for the pleasure to watch your channel :)

[@FruityKnitting]

Thanks, Anna.

[@Happinessiscrossstitching]

I totally agree with you that Rowan yarns are lovely, I also usually use their yarn unless someone has purchased the wool as a gift for me. Thankyou for introducing me to Alice Starmore, in particular Tudor Rose, I looooove that garment, maybe one day I will build up my experience to knit such a lovely creation. Also you introduced me to Kim Hargreaves and Marie Wallin, gosh I am dizzy with the beautiful things these ladies design! You are such a fabulous knitter, I love watching your podcasts.

[@FruityKnitting]

Hi Lynn. Not sure whether you've caught our latest episode yet - sounds like you will enjoy it... Thank your for watching, we appreciate your feedback.

[@Happinessiscrossstitching]

No not yet, just working through all of the episodes from the beginning, I have seen you are interviewing Marie but have resisted watching it out of order! Lol......

[@peggyw172]

You two are delightful!

[@evaofthecharmofit]

Those toys are so cute! I will definitely be checking out her patterns if I need to knit another toy for anyone. :) I really enjoyed hearing your thoughts on design; we both have a taste for detailed/intricate knitting I think (I have Jane Seymour in my queue! I'm using different yarn though & plan to leave off the triangles). I've never really come across Rowan yarns or patterns over here; your podcast is making me wish I could flip through some of their magazines. Their photography & styling alone is just breathtaking! And I smiled when you said you love clothes; so do I. And all of this makes it even funnier that I almost never use the yarn that a designer calls for! It seems like even when I find a pattern I really love I can't help making certain tweaks to it, hehe. For instance, I want to make a cardigan inspired by this sea anemone shell I have on my bookcase. The Jane Seymour pattern had the right lines/looks, but Alice Starmore doesn't have the right purples in her yarn. Plus I wanted more of a worsted than woolen finish to the fabric. So, I'll be using a different yarn. I definitely want to do a colourwork sweater with Hebridean 2 Ply though...it turns everything I knit with it into a masterpiece. And I do have a stash, but a lot of it is sweater quantities! I don't really buy one-offs, unless it's for socks. I tend to ask for yarn for my birthday & Christmas, hence the stashing instead of just buying before I start the project. :) Ok, that's enough rambling. Another fun episode & both your projects are coming along wonderfully!

[@imageary]

Great as usual. I found you on podcast 3 and then went back and my wife and I have watched them all. Really informative, fun and enjoyable :-) After seeing the toy knitting my wife finally understood why I wish to knit some for the grandkids, and I have the go ahead! Loved the last episode with the bourgeois, purchased the book as recommended. Waiting to see who you add in for "the knitters of the world" from Australia, I'm from the Blue Mountains west of Sydney. Cheers Stefan Imageary of Ravelery

[@maureenlehman139]

Great episode! The toy designer was amazing!

[@LizT207]

As always, your vlog is very well done and professional.

[@MrSquirrelDog]

Another great episode!! Thank you both!

[@FruityKnitting]

Thanks, Dog. (-;

[@darlenesears6808]

I absolutely love your podcast! I am encouraged to find a color works pattern and knit myself a sweater. Your (Andrew and Andrea) stitching is beautiful!!!!

[@FruityKnitting]

Thanks, Darlene. Enjoy catching up on all the Episodes - there is a lot of fun to come!

[@bernadetteburgoyne8238]

I purchased the knowledgeable knitter, it arrived this week.xx

[@maryzcorner]

I have been loving your podcast. I have started from the beginning so I can see how Andrew progresses with his knitting. I love how persistent he is to keep moving forward. About Kaffe Fassett name pronunciation. I watched a video of his talking about his designs he said the way you remember how to say his name is it rhymes with Safe Asset. =o]

[@BeeBee123ist]

As I previously said, I’m catching up 😁 So on Andrew’s socks, yes, must always count stitches to avoid Picking back your knitting (and my count is also 32 Andrea) especially if you are doing a lace patterned sock. And Andrea, the way you picked up the stitches from your chopped sleeves is the same method used to pick up the stitches from the Waste Yarn holding the stitches for the Afterthought Heel.

[@Davidraikeshot]

I'm just discovering you both and i have to say WOW, Love it Love it Love it. You guys are so easy to watch and ill be watching tall your episodes. Ill share some Pod love for you on my next recording. Much love :) xxx

[@PopleBackyardFarm]

Thank you I learned a lot from this :) The sweater is gorgeous!

[@pjenkins8206]

Beautiful fairisle sweater!

[@MaroufMOM]

Thank you for these great podcasts. Please make one of the beautiful sweaters and vests you wear during filming. This color is perfect on you.

[@maryreynolds5762]

can u help me with wrap and turn in your knit pattern of santa and mrs claus please im stuck in the wrap and turn in the circular neeedles as its difficult to do in circular needles

[@moniquelomax6721]

So beautiful!😊

[@betsykleger4808]

I learned two handed fair isle technique from Ann Borgois about 15 years ago when they came to Denver. What a delightful couple. I agree that they should be supported.

[@FruityKnitting]

It's amazing how many people they have influenced. So generous.

[@michaelmich6111]

It's a strange synchronicity, but just this morning I was looking at all the Guido sweater projects on Ravelry and saw yours before randomly hitting this video. I also happen to have the Ashie pattern you used as a background from the and knitting the Craggie from the same magazine. You have very good taste.

[@FruityKnitting]

They're both great sweaters, get lots of wear in the right seasons.

[@adriennerichter425]

When you talk about a gauge swatch, and the pattern says to do the swatch in pattern, do you actually use the pattern in the body of the garment to do the swatch in? How do you count the stitches when swatching in pattern?

[@offplumbnan]

YIKES - I ordered the Tudor Roses book - and it is different! Did not know there was more than one . . =:-\\\

[@suzzette1980]

For those intending to do the Pistorino designs, I suggest you watch a lot of videos on shaping (with needle and thread) because that is the hardest part of the pattern. Most of the tutorials you will find are in Russian, so you won't understand a word, but looking at the video will give you a better understanding. I bought 3 patterns and I failed miserably on that part and pistorino doesn't have any more info, picture or tutorials on that.

[@Gleekjunkie]

Crochet isn't very difficult, I've done it since I was 13 and I'm 50 now. I however am not coordinated enough to knit. You'll do fine with in Andrea. I miss it but arthritis in my thumbs has brought me crochet to a stop.

[@teslaandhumanity7383]

I do something wrong every time on heels with the slip stitch at ends I think 🤔 I make a double stitch at ends .

[@95nasim95]

Why do people say continental knitting (yarn in left hand) has a looser gauge? Personally I have found the exact opposite. But more generally it seems to be whatever style of knitting you learn first and are more comfortable with will be the tighter gauge.

[@tombooth6539]

Hi Andrea and Andrew!~ Andrea, is there any chance that you could provide us with a tutorial on the way you do your seaming for flat pieces? Also, as a guy who knits and makes sweaters would you mind sharing some designers, pattern books, sources of where to find men's jumpers? I'm in the US and have an awful hard time finding patterns that would suit my tastes. Another thing that would be nice as well is if you could share with us your gauge technique. We've heard you mention this several times and even heard you comment on how you taught Andrew your gauge technique. Many thanks! Tom

[@FruityKnitting]

Hi Tom. Andrea has a few tutorial videos which go over seaming. This one goes over a whole garment - kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3vXe5msiNh5m5o. The Description of that video includes links directly to different sections of the video, so you should be able to jump directly to a suitable spot. We've got a Playlist for all project tutorials. Hope that helps. On the books, we did mention one - Check out Episode 10, or the program notes here: fruityknitting.com/2016/08/03/conservation-grazing-yarns-and-a-knitted-hiking-jacket/ Hope that helps, and thanks for watching.

[@tombooth6539]

HAHA - I've finally made it up to Episode 8! I guess that explains a lot. I am so very far behind but I just love watching most of them more than once. Love, and I mean absolutely LOVE the interviews, the Extreme Knitting segments as well as all the rest. I have no clue how you two decided on your format but it is an excellent choice. Please keep up the good work. Thanks again for the reply!! Tom

[@1024ashfi]

this might be a question you've answered already, but why does andrew have giant (what looks like) safety pins on his socks?is this for afterthought heel?

[@FruityKnitting]

Hi, Andrew here. I think the giant safety pins (perfectly good description) are known as stitch holders. Those stitches are just sitting on the giant safety pin whilst I do the heel flap. At some point, I will (with Andrea's help) put them back on needles to continue knitting those stitches. It would be possible to put them onto double pointed needles, but on the stitch holder they're nice and secure. Thanks for watching and asking!

[@matburnstopia]

So, Andrea, I have a question. I love that you don't have a yarn stash, I think it must be liberating. (I do have a stash, a small stash, but I knit a lot for my young children, and I know about how many skeins I need for those small sweaters.) But I was wondering if you have a stash of pattern books? Do you pattern shop by the photographs only, or do you read or skim the pattern before planning a garment?

[@FruityKnitting]

That's a good question. I have a few pattern books but actually not that many. When I find a pattern I really want to knit, I try to check it out on ravelry to see if others have had problems with it and what they say about it. Usually I find designers that I like first then keep checking up on their latest releases.

[@elaineshopland8408]

Andrew, I know it has been awhile since this podcast was filmed but can you tell me what the colorway is on the Rowan Fine Art yarn. As usual, I learned so much from your podcast .

[@FruityKnitting]

Hi Elaine. I mentioned it in the shownotes for an earlier episode: fruityknitting.com/2016/05/31/grafting-your-knitting-and-a-german-yarn-festival-episode-6/ I do believe that the yarn was discontinued, which is a shame, because it was beautiful...

[@elaineshopland8408]

Fruity Knitting Thanks Andrew.....I was able to get 2 skeins in a Ravelry de-stash 👍🏻!

[@sewpositivestitches2175]

Love you 💕

[@sarahcollett6297]

Andrea can u do a vedio on how to read patterns

[@pambrown8697]

Looks really hard to do!

[@sonalpatel6119]

Family planning : advance progress

[@liliawebb9377]

It's pronounced Kafe with a long "a" sound even though it's spelled differently. Hope that helps.

[@karenbaker7616]

check out arne and carlos to llearn how to crochet!

[@FruityKnitting]

Arne and Carlos are so cool. We did see that they had a little course on crochet, so we'll have to check it out.

[@karenbloedorn8699]

Has she ever made a turtle or any other sea creatures?

[@FruityKnitting]

Hi Karen. I just had a quick look on Ravelry and didn't see any sea creatures. You could check that out yourself - Lorraine Pistorio under Designers on Ravelry. You could suggest it to her! Thanks for watching!