everything I knit in 2023 | favourites, flops and trying on all my projects from this year

[@thriftythreader5998]

I really appreciate the number and timing of the visuals of your projects. Showing you wearing them is also really helpful. Keep up the good work.

[@hipknithooray]

Thank you!! ☺️☺️

[@stilllookingfortreasure]

Have you tried steam walking the acrylic? Don't let the iron or the steamer touch the acrylic just hover and hold long enough to "kill" the fabric. I've managed to really stretch out acrylic they way and it doesn't bounce back because you're essentially melting the fibers and setting it into a new position.

[@deborahderden4860]

I agree with a previous comment. When using acrylic, if you don’t want the ribbing at the bottom of the sweater to be tighter, you can just use the same size needle as you used on the body. The sweater looks good on you and this would solve the problem you have with the sweater. Redoing the bottom ribbing with a larger needle should not take very long.

[@hipknithooray]

Thanks for the advice! I will give that a try ☺️ and if it doesn’t work, I’ll maybe knit a split hem

[@VeeZee2194]

@@hipknithoorayI would love to hear about the wearability of this sweater once you do. The color is gorgeous. Canada is so ridiculously expensive for wool yarn, I’m trying to find some wearable options that doesn’t make me sweat!

[@michellel1632]

You are such a talented knitter! I think your projects turned out lovely. I really like the hoodie and when you first showed it my jaw dropped because it doesn't look hand-knit at all! Just wear it with the hood down. : ) The final sweater was my favorite.

[@laurenzalkind3957]

So glad I just found you! Appreciate your trying on your FO's instead of the just showing them; makes a huge difference in understanding what a pattern is doing. :)

[@hipknithooray]

It was fun to try them all on! I also agree - seeing a garment on the body in video is a lot more telling of how it fits at different areas and the drape is a lot more noticeable. Good reminder to keep doing it in the future for my vids!

[@thesimplemaker]

The mini mock neck looks STUNNING on you and in that yarn!

[@hipknithooray]

Ahh thank you!! 💕💕💕

[@alicejonechang5255]

I love hearing your thoughts on each of the projects! What a stunning collection! I also really like how you experiment with a variety of yarns that more widely accessible. Would love to see a yarn review video from you on your favorite yarns to knit with for different types of projects!

[@hipknithooray]

Ah thank you for the kind words! Thanks for the great video idea - noted ☺️

[@czrczrczr3]

It might be worth looking into "killing" acrylic for the port sweater - it uses heat and is like a permanent block, based on what I've heard

[@yas24586]

I love how you use so many different types of yarns!! Its super interesting to see different choices I'm not familiar with to spark some creativity ☺

[@hipknithooray]

Eeee thank you! A lot of this yarn I purchased a few years ago when I was a student with a very limited budget and I’m just getting to working with them now 😅 I think my fibre preferences have definitely changed now but it’s still fun to work with these!

[@normalloyd2885]

consider taking out the body ribbing and use same size needle as main body. You've put in a lot of work in the item & the color is pretty on you!

[@hipknithooray]

Good point! Trying the sweater on for this video made me realize how much of a shame it is that I haven’t worn it - just need to make that mod

[@RachelJennetti]

I definitely agree with steaming the acrylic! It’s such a beautiful color on you!

[@hipknithooray]

Ah thank you! Four months later and I still haven’t done it 😂 but maybe soon I’ll finally stop procrastinating and steam it

[@RachelJennetti]

@@hipknithooray i get you 😂 i’m making my first acrylic sweater in YEARS so i gotta bust out the steamer

[@nas5947]

Thank you for sharing all these beauties!

[@DivinelyGuided2911]

Excellent work. Thank you for sharing. *I really liked your Barbie sweater on you. Lots of great pieces.

[@phoenixhulsey2868]

All of your projects are so beautiful, thanks for sharing! 🥰

[@denimandrain]

I know you don't like it but that port sweater is really pretty! But I am a fan of anything green. lol You knit so many beautiful things! :D

[@hipknithooray]

All these comments and trying it on again made my realize why did I never wear it in the first place!! I love the green as well 🤩

[@TheSolipsist0]

35:00 you could thread a elastic through the strabs to lift the top.

[@hipknithooray]

Great idea - might try it out when I wear the top more in the summer ☺️

[@QueensYarnBoutique]

Thanks for keeping me company while I did the bind off for my Home Cardigan. I really like the after thought pocket on your Zipper Jacket.

[@hipknithooray]

Cutting the yarn was one of the most nerve racking things I’ve done while knitting but the pockets are so useful 😅

[@tatyanaevtikhova8394]

For the first time in a long time, I enjoyed a knitting video and got inspired for new projects. Well done! Absolutely love the way you describe the process of knitting a particular item 💖

[@hipknithooray]

Ahh thank you for the kind words!! Everything I knit videos are also one of my favorites to watch as well to get some inspiration 🤩

[@jamiethrogmorton2540]

I’m happy I found your channel today. You’re very clear and enthusiastic about knitting, thank you!! 🧶🧡

[@hipknithooray]

Thank you for the kind words!! ☺️

[@TheSeamlessKnitter]

Use the same needle size for the ribbing that you used for the body on your heartland sweater.

[@pepperknits]

So many lovely pieces! I love the look of the 3/4 length sleeves on your Cumulus Tee, I want to make one myself now 🥰

[@hipknithooray]

Yess please do!! It was so fun

[@wt30001]

I think the sweater looks lovely on you. The color is beautiful.

[@vickywelsch3852]

Thank you so much. I will definitely check out the ornament patterns. So good to use up scraps and make cute things.😀

[@hipknithooray]

They are perfect for scrap yarn! And so fun to knit ornaments to gift during the holiday season because you can personalize them pretty easily ☺️

[@moniquem8093]

Hi, your April Cardigan is beautiful, can you please elaborate on the slipped stitches for the ribbing? i would like to try that thank you

[@CharlotteEliza]

you can always cut zippers at the end or make them shorter. it wont be as nice of a finish but it works

[@hillsidefiber-stitchingwit5350]

Loved your video! Thank you for all of the information you shared!

[@jungwonsgarden4574]

For acrylic, I've heard that steam blocking does wonders! You might want to try steam blocking instead of wet blocking if that's what you did last time.

[@hipknithooray]

Oh interesting! I didn’t know there was a difference but makes sense since steam blocking is a higher temperature. I’ll have to try steam blocking the hem and see - thank you for the tip! ☺️

[@anishinaabae]

@@hipknithooray with acrylic, you'll have to steam the entire project. you're essentially melting the plastic fibers so they relax, which changes the feel and drape of the finished fabric. that also means that whatever you block is permanent, so be extra sure you're blocking into the final shape.

[@sophieceline8952]

I am obsessed with the mini mock neck tank!! I'm more of a crocheter, but I might just have to knit this piece!

[@hipknithooray]

Ahhh I’d 100% recommend - I hope you go for it! 😊

[@NatalieDellutri]

6:24 I’d recommend pairing that yarn with Melted Baby Suri Alpaca from Qing Fibre in the color way “Hero” - it’s a GREAT blue and is incredibly soft. Not sure if it’s currently in stock, but I’m sure it’s returning if not.

[@karencooper1978]

Port sweater is lovely. If you aren’t wearing it why not cut the bottom rib and go up a needle size(S) and reknit it. Or, do a French tuck at the front to blouse the front middle. Enjoyed your podcast!

[@judithtaylor6916]

The hoodie is very well knitted. So smooth the texture. The hat hoodie part is just knit too short. Knit it longer or remove it and knit a rib neck.

[@FeelingF_]

Have you tried steam blocking the acrylic sweater? I did that and worked beautifully to obtain drape and stretch the ribbings. I proceed by sections, steaming the sweater until it is humid and gently pulling and pinning it in the desired shape. Recently I did that with a Terrazzo sweater, before steam blocking the high turtle neck was very tight and without any draping, while after a little bit of hot steam it bloomed wonderfully. In general for acrylic yarn wet blocking doesn’t work so much, it needs a little bit of heating to reshape the fibers. Just pay attention not to melt it, so do not put the steamer directly in contact with the fabric!

[@hipknithooray]

Thanks for the advice! I will try out this technique ☺️

[@FeelingF_]

@@hipknithooray Let me know if it works!

[@colleenwilliams1452]

Hello from New Zealand. I love them minto jersey you made. Your knitting is beautiful. I love the APRIL CARDIGAN. It is what I need.

[@MakingItwithDee]

You're a very talented knitter! Well done with all your projects. I love ALL the sweaters and cardigans. 👍

[@hipknithooray]

Thank you! Sweaters are definitely my favourite kinda project ☺️

[@kathrynbarry3059]

Love all the patterns you have chosen ❤

[@Bihfob3]

Loved the video, mayby you could reknit the ribbing of the first sweater on bigger needles so the ribbing isnt as tight !

[@hipknithooray]

Thank you for the advice! A few people have also suggested this idea - so I’ll have to give it a go ☺️

[@judeoliver5256]

Drops Kid Silk colours seem to have changed as you have noted! That white core is prevelanet in several of their colours. 2000 I knit a Cumulus in Ash Grey which is now a totaly different to tey current Ash Grey they sell. I would never use it as the only yarn any more as it seems to sag and droop and have less structure. I think it needs another more stable yarn as the second yarn versus 2 strands Drop Skid Slik. Beautiful blouse though, Rebecca!

[@hipknithooray]

Omg same! I used ash grey for my october sweater and zipper jacket…knit about a year apart and completely different look! Sad to see the quality has dropped as I really liked the yarn pre 2022! 😅

[@EV-D-10]

Sometimes it helps alot to increase stitches before starting the ribbing of the hem, Use your gauge to do some maths to know how many sts you should increase to get a hem that has the same width as the body and still knit with a smaller needle size to get a neat professional rib-look. Irina Revo has a tutorial about this and she explains the math as well. Her sweater(s) look great! Good luck!

[@hipknithooray]

Thanks for the advice!! I’ll have to check out Irina’s tutorial

[@hipknithooray]

Thanks for the advice!! I’ll have to check out Irina’s tutorial

[@danielleegolf4290]

Yay! I've been really looking forward to seeing this video from you!

[@nonnasstitchingloungewithr7281]

Love all of your makes. Where do you get your Loops and Threads Merino? Do you order online from Michaels?

[@hipknithooray]

I purchase them in store at my local Michaels! I believe the cozy wool merino has been discontinued though. The luxe merino seems to be the same composition so maybe a replacement for that yarn with different shades!

[@CreatingHannah]

Another thing you could do with the port sweater is change the ribbing to a split hem! It would allow for it lay nicer over your hips

[@hipknithooray]

Yes great idea - I love my split hens haha! Everyone has left such helpful comments to fix my port sweater so I’ll have to definitely reevaluate and make some modifications this year. Thank you ☺️

[@logikgirl12]

So many nice pieces 😍✨ very professional-looking too 👌🏾👌🏾 Thanks for the inspiration

[@hipknithooray]

Ahhh thank you! 😄💖

[@adeleb7753]

I really like the green heartland sweater... I think reknitting the sleeves a bit slimmer would be a better fit :)) I like the body of the sweater :))

[@PaulaSimoes67]

❤very nice!!!! Thank you! Love from Lisbon!❤

[@tafas15]

Port sweater looks really good on u❤

[@ouineque]

Hello, this is the first video I watched from you, I saw you in Vanissia's live stream. Beautiful pieces! I haven't tried drops kidsilk but from what you tell us the lighter colours seem to be softer than the darker ones. (and yes, Andalusian cotton sounds completely correct). 😊

[@hipknithooray]

Ah so happy to hear that! And yes, I think that’s what I’m starting to realize as well! After using the drops kid silk I have in stash, I think I’ll stitch to the lighter shades

[@LauraPeter-t1l]

Thank you for that interesting video and the effort you put into it! I like most of your garments :-) Haha and btw, I am also not happy with my camisole no.9, also due to the folded down edges which are quite uneven in my project. Nice to see that I am not alone with that experience ;-)

[@deborahderden4860]

Consider purchasing/making a heavy wool cape to wear with your sweaters that don’t fit comfortably in a coat.

[@hipknithooray]

Ah another great idea, Deborah! Currently browsing online for one now

[@helenmt2000]

Great video, Rebecca! Thanks for your honesty/ Sometimes it's difficult to admit a knit is a flop when we've put so much time and money into it. But realizing what went wrong will always help us in the long run. I'm considering frogging one of the Cozy Classic Raglans I made in 2023 because the neck is just way too wide, it's cropped, and it was the first sweater I made after taking a 2 year knitting hiatus so overall it just wasn't the best lol. I've still worn it several times though! Hard to build up the motivation though to rework a frogged project.

[@hipknithooray]

Ah thank you ☺️ It is hard to admit a project is a flip but I’ve never once regretting frogging something I didn’t wear/wasn’t happy with! I wonder if you could redo the neckline without having to frog the whole project and undo the bind off and knit the body a bit longer?

[@helenmt2000]

I definitely considered that, but overall I think a different silhouette for the yarn would work better. My first vision when I bought the yarn way back in 2020 was to do a broken rib pattern. But I was way too ambitious and was trying to self-draft a pattern and it never went anywhere. When I restarted knitting last year, I just wanted to do something easy by using a pattern I used before and get the yarn out of my stash since it’s no longer my style (it’s Pollen in Malabrigo Worsted, so a rich yellow). I think I’m going to use the Waffle Loop Roll Neck by Other Loops since it’s close to my original vision.

[@hipknithooray]

Ahh that will be lovely! It will be nice to reknit and compare how you were as a knitter last year after your hiatus and now

[@maleja13]

Try steaming your Port Sweater :)

[@hipknithooray]

Someone else also said how steaming makes a difference with acrylic yarn - which I didn’t know! Thanks for the advice I’ll have to give it a try ☺️

[@crrizello5157]

Great review! You are a great knitter. How do you get involved in test knits? I am an experienced knitter and would love to do this

[@hipknithooray]

I started test knitting in 2021 and almost all of them I applied to through an open test call! I follow designers on Instagram and/or their newsletters where they usually announce their open test calls. I applied to several before I got my first test knit so while it may take a few tries, many designers like choosing people who have never test knit before as well. I’d also recommend applying for newer/up and coming designers as your chances of being accepted may be higher. Hope this helps!

[@danielleegolf4290]

I love your April cardigan with the double knit button band! Was it hard to make that adjustment? This pattern is something I have on my list.

[@hipknithooray]

It wasn’t too hard but a lot more time consuming! You work also knit the band at the end and pick up the same number of stitches. I explain which video tutorials I used in my last podcast episode as I used a couple kimmie Munkholm videos if you’re interested ☺️

[@Goodknits_]

Great episode Rebecca! Can’t believe how much you had last year 👏🏻 Shame you don’t like the yarn for the port sweater as it looks great on you. I’m adding that to my list as I love the louvre I have but the details on this one look more interesting. The hood of that hoodie 😂 Agree with you on the lakes tee fit. I think that’s a beautiful design and looks great on you. Nice colour choice too.

[@hipknithooray]

Thank you, Sheri! 🥰 the hood really did not turn out hahaha I’m thinking of gifting it to my mom (who has a much smaller head than me 😅) or perhaps frogging it for the yarn. I also love the lakes design - the saddle shoulder is such a nice visual detail and it’s fun to knit up!

[@lynnmcentire4014]

Find a semisolid to match and extend the length

[@thriftythreader5998]

Live and learn when it comes to yarn choices. I’ve never worked with synthetic fibers, but started out with superwash wools. Now I’m totally turned off by them. I don’t like how much they grow when washed and the amount of chemicals used to produce them is a big NO for me and the environment. My favorites are Merino, Alpaca, linen, and wool-silk blends.

[@handmadebytori]

Hi Rebecca! This is a great video and I like that you share all of the positives and negatives. For your Port sweater out of the acrylic yarn have you tried steam blocking it? I typically use acrylic yarn for crochet and steam block it. the heat kind of melts the acrylic and can allow it to hold its shape more. The sweater is beautiful and I hope you can get some wear out of it

[@hipknithooray]

A few others have mentioned steam blocking the sweater so I think I will have to give it a go! Thanks for the advice ☺️

[@jilliankonig2759]

Just an observation from someone who sews as well as knits...You might try using narrow elastic from the neck to the sleeve seam on the pink sweater, to give more strength to a seam that will be stretched when wearing, due to the weight of the sleeves. You could also use narrow elastic along the bottom of the brown (black) camisole, so that you can get it on.

[@hipknithooray]

Thanks for the advice! I have some thin electric that I bought for necklines so maybe I’ll give that a try 😊

[@Derya679]

🧶