Everything I Knitted in 2024 (my first year of knitting!)

[@annelieseott3804]

As a stranger with an unbiased opinion, you did AMAZING!! Your arms look great and you look so much younger than 27. This is such a bold first year of knitting and I think you’re going to be so successful and be able to make anything you want to make! Tip for a sensitive skin girlie, baby alpaca fiber, merino wool, and blown yarns are magical!!

[@nutzworth9094]

i am so shocked you arent more popular... i expected this to have like 1 million views and it DOESNT. and youre REALLY CHARMING! i really enjoyed seeing your knit works + as a beginner knitter myself THIS IS REALLY ENCOURAGING! i saved the beginner sweater + socks you linked to try out some time in the future and im really excited for it. THE CABLE CARDIGAN AND FANTASTIC MR FOX SWEATER ARE THE COOLEST THINGS IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!! cant wait to see what you make next!!! thanks for making this :-)

[@RachelMakesThings]

Thank you so much!! You are too kind. I hope you get to try the sweater and sock patterns, they really are great! ❤️

[@rebeccableidorn891]

You are such a good knitter! I can’t believe you’ve only been knitting for a year! You have done so much and done so well! I think you are much to critical of yourself and your work. I thoroughly enjoyed this podcast and plan to go watch your other episodes. I really hope you will post videos on a regular basis. I enjoyed it so much. It was very inspiring! Thank you!

[@RachelMakesThings]

Thank you so much!! You are too kind ❤️

[@Elianaalfonso7703]

I think all your ‘failures’ are actually successes and look great on you. You’ve learned so much over the year. Also, your arms are lovely. Don’t obsess over them.

[@RachelMakesThings]

Thank you so much! ❤️

[@marsy1480]

If only I had such arms 😍

[@marsy1480]

I'd make a lining for your bag 💕

[@marsy1480]

Great knitting…no holes is amazing for your first projects! Well done on your speedy progress, incredible!

[@JustineEvans-wo8nc]

This video just literally saved me i was about to quit knitting i started in about july/August and everything i make is a flop either doesn't fit or full of mistakes but to see you include all you're projects including less than perfect ones has really given me hope and your colourwork sweater is amazing you've come so far and I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me what I needed to carry on with my knitting journey ❤

[@RachelMakesThings]

😭😭 this is incredible. I’m so glad you’re going to continue!! You’ve got this ❤️

[@dianefujimoto9832]

Rachel, thank you for your honest openness about your journey as a beginner. You have accomplished so much in one year and you have been so brave to try so many new things. i am one too and also view tons of You Tube videos of others who seem to always make perfect garments. I encountered many of the same issues you did during the first year of knitting. Keep going- and keep us posted on your progress. It's inspirational!

[@RachelMakesThings]

Thank you so much! I always enjoy seeing people be honest and real even if there are mistakes, so I try to do the same ❤️

[@PaulaSimoes67]

I don't see no flops...I see fun knits and great achievements. Kristen is also my socks mentor😊...very nice and thank you for sharing . Love from Lisbon ❤

[@RachelMakesThings]

You are too kind ❤️

[@Mks.bookclub]

As a 3 projects in knitter, I thought at the very begining "did she make the fox sweater too? No no... couldn't have... it's her first year, it looks storebought or thrifted maybe" I'm blown away-- it's STUNNING!!! My goal is to try colorwork this year! Amazing progress!!

[@RachelMakesThings]

Thank you so much!! You should absolutely give color work a go!

[@missymom53525]

I'm 3:16 into this video and all I can think is that if you dropped a couple needles sizes and picked up the stitches on that first hat, you could knit some 1x1 ribbing to cinch it up a bit and make it into more of a puffy (maybe slightly slouchy) type of beanie. Or you could reclaim the yarn and reknit the hat with what you know now. I'm going to go finish watching the rest of the video now.

[@katarmstrong8694]

It is so incredible to see how much you've made in just a year! And so cool to see you improve-- they all look amazing to my untrained eye, but the book club cardigan and the into the wild sweater literally look like they could be bought in a store. I love it!

[@RachelMakesThings]

@@katarmstrong8694 thank you kat!! Love you ❤️

[@katarmstrong8694]

@@RachelMakesThings Love you!💕

[@AdventurerKnits]

I’m a newish knitter too that started a channel in March. It’s funny, I actually have never thought about what I have to talk about when I make a video in terms of what’s finished or not. All that to say, I think we’re mostly here for the person, their journey, what they’ve cast on, etc so enjoy making the videos whenever you want!

[@RachelMakesThings]

Thank you for the encouragement! ❤️ love your vids!

[@thelefthandedreader6632]

@@RachelMakesThings, thanks Rachel!

[@darlenedavis3585]

What a great podcast and your knitting is wonderful. No matter how long of a knitter you are, there is ALWAYS things to learn. Every different yarn knits differently, even if the same weight #. I think you have done incredibly well. I love you used the elastic thread for the neckline. I love it and use it all the time. I think the Tolsta Tee colorway looks amazing on you. It’s a shame to not wear it. Your crochet bag is really nice but I did the same thing, with a knitted bag. It’s too long so it grows so much with weight in it. Just a little tip on sweater length, which you probably have already determined, pick a top you like the length and measure it from the armhole down. It’s a good guide of what you like to get in the right ballpark of what you want to wear. Drape can change the length some but another thing that I do is for a top down sweater, once you get to the armhole and split for body and sleeves, I knit a few inches on the body and then I put the body sts on a holder and work, a few inches on each sleeve, even up to 6”. Then go back and finish the body. You can get a better fit length when the armhole is filled in with the sleeves too. I find that makes a big difference. Your beige Tolsta Tee, you could try the elastic thread in that neckline too. It may not have enough ribbing but it could work well enough to please. That sweater does have a wide neckline. Not something I’m comfortable wearing either. I think your knitting is beautiful and you are doing amazing. You’ve even used some really well known designers, and I haven’t even used them and I’ve been knitting for a lifetime. I think I’m too cheap to pay for what the patterns cost now. Love those turquoise/brown alpaca socks. They are really beautiful. Vanilla socks are definitely a perfect project for on the go knitting. Oh my goodness, your Book Club Cjardigan is stunning. You definitely should be very proud of yourself. That is a massive amount of knitting and a lot of cables and you did an incredible job. Beautiful. Wear it with pride. That was a great idea for the inside of the pocket. I totally agree, no one sees inside there. Very smart. Definitely wear this sweater to school but just plan to take it off when you need to. You need to show it off. Your Into the Wild sweater is beautiful too. You did a great job on it too. Do not worry about your floats, the outside is stunning. You did amazing. It dosen’t look puckered at all. I’m amazed. You are a great inspiration. Enjoy your knitting and I look forward to more podcasts.

[@RachelMakesThings]

Oh my goodness, thank you so much for the incredibly kind words and wonderful advice!! ❤️❤️

[@SavanKnits]

I loved seeing your progress through the video! Can't wait to see what you knit up this year. :)

[@RachelMakesThings]

Thank you so much! ❤️

[@stitchyreispeices]

Wow, amazing progress through the year! I love those last two! So good. You SHOULD be proud! I taught myself to knit in October so I'm excited to see how I progress through 2025! Can't wait to see more videos from you!

[@RachelMakesThings]

Thank you! I hope you love this year of knitting! ❤️

[@mia-knit-girl]

I like to see these types of videos, especially from beginners as a fellow beginner - to see what kind of projects I should pick. Your progress from the first sweater to the fox one is wow!

[@RachelMakesThings]

Thank you so much! Would definitely recommend all of these patterns!

[@ChristieArcher]

VERY impressive! Thank you for sharing Rachel. BTW, I’m originally from Greenville, SC. I’ve also lived in Hilton Head and Charleston and of course Myrtle Beach was always our go to as teenagers for little vacays, lol. It’s so nice to meet another knitter from back home. I’m in Southern Cali now, so like you, too hot for true winter wear. I’m currently working on a heavily modified Audrey Top by Sari Nordlund. ❤😊

[@RachelMakesThings]

@@ChristieArcher love all those places! We’re in Beaufort ❤️ and the Audrey top is beautiful!

[@debbie.mckenzie]

​@@RachelMakesThingsOMG... You're in my favorite author's hometown. Pat Conroy of course. I'm from SE Tennessee and we've vacationed in Hilton Head 20 times since 1992. I Love the Low Country❤

[@RachelMakesThings]

@ oh my goodness that’s amazing!

[@heatherholly6563]

I'm just getting ready to try knitting. I'm amazed at what you learned to make in one year! You are very inspiring!

[@RachelMakesThings]

Thank you! You’re in for a treat ❤️

[@Happyknitter2]

Wow. I’m so impressed with your knitting. I’m inspired for sure. I started knitting in 2010 😂 I made 20 million dish rags. In 2024 I tried my hand at a toddler dress. Not bad but I was super proud of myself. You e inspired me to try sweaters this years. Thanks for sharing your knits. They’re awesome, beautiful and so lovely. ❤❤❤

[@RachelMakesThings]

I hope you love making sweaters! They’re my fav. And thank you ❤️

[@loreliemiller628]

That’s amazing progress in your knitting! Also love the 2 last sweaters

[@RachelMakesThings]

Thank you! ❤️

[@KendiABlose]

I was going to ask about the anker tee eyelets hah. I loved it so much that way!

[@RachelMakesThings]

It was a very happy accident! ❤️

[@bridgetrsews]

Hi, KZbin suggested your video ,and I’m happy it did. Loved seeing all your knits and wow ! What progress you have made, you should be proud! You have a lovely personality for vlogs , I hope we see more of you, Bridget R

[@RachelMakesThings]

Thank you so much!! ❤️

[@raquelcox436]

I’m so proud of your progress! I’ve been crocheting for about a yr now and I’m wanting to learn to knit bc I want to do both and I can only cast on rn!! 😂 I can’t transfer the yarn over so your progress over the yr is inspiring and I’m sure I’ll be making all the same mistakes and more once I get to that step of making things

[@RachelMakesThings]

Thank you! Being able to do both opens you up to soooo many options, it’s awesome! You’ve got this!

[@patriciajans2831]

I love your bravery. I am 60, knitting since I was 12, and still too afraid to put myself out here in KZbin land. I am excited to watch you grow in the craft

[@RachelMakesThings]

You should! It’s so fun to connect ❤️ and thank you!

[@8Gammie]

I love that you shared everything, good or bad.... You are very talented. Love most everything you did. Very inspiring video!!

[@RachelMakesThings]

Thank you! ❤️

[@Kararasmussen]

I always hold on to my first few projects no matter how ugly. They're great to look back on and see how far you've come.

[@RachelMakesThings]

Exactly! They’re part of our journey :)

[@KaylaGraystitches]

I subscribed immediately when you said you were thinking no one wants to see what you have to say-bc it isn’t true!! but also I THINK THAT ALL THE TIME 😅I also have a channel where I talk about cross stitch and knitting and honestly am so inconsistent because I talk myself out of sharing so much. I haven’t even finished your video so I’m going to keep watching now ….. I really love the eyelets in your anker tee! They look so good I love how adventurous you were in your first year of knitting, it is so impressive. Book club cardigan is stunning

[@RachelMakesThings]

Self doubt is such a sad thing!! I’m excited to watch your videos ❤️

[@cherelled6419]

Hey! So I am where you were a year or so ago when you were watching all the "What I made this year" videos. I am so glad your video was suggested to me as the past 48mins has been so inspiring! I am new to knitting (literally started in December, a week before Christmas). I have made a scarf and have just been learning new ways of knitting and different stitches. I cannot believe that you progressed from a hat to full on colour work and cables!! The thought that this could possibly be how my year goes is so exciting :) I'll be trying a blanket next and then a hat. Can I ask how often you knit? And don't feel bad about being inconsistent with your uploads. Post when you can I say. `I am a new subscriber for sure x

[@RachelMakesThings]

I’m so excited for you and your knitting journey! It really is such a wonderful hobby. And my knitting time ebbs and flows, but on weeknights probably about an hour when I watch a show with my husband and on the weekends sometimes more! But not every day

[@nikitinaknits]

wooow so many beautiful knits 😍

[@RachelMakesThings]

Thank you!!

[@tulpenballerina]

Even though I have never knitted the Anker´s SUmmer SHirt I find your version is even prettier than the original! Maybe now I´ll do this but with eyelid´s like your´s!🤩🧶

[@RachelMakesThings]

Thank you! I honestly like it too!

[@debbie.mckenzie]

Finally! A knitter who is also sensitive but loves to knit. I'm in SE Tennessee and I love knitting with Cascade and other wools, but just can't wear them easily...except for socks. No problem there. I can manage Patons just fine on my feet. I just found you today and can't wait to see more. Thank you for this one. Hey where do you get your Sandnes garn? I've never seen it in person, but would love to try some since you can wear it easily.

[@RachelMakesThings]

@@debbie.mckenzie it’s so hard because there’s so many beautiful yarns I want to try but I just know I won’t be able to wear them next to skin. And I’ve purchased it from Wool & Company online each time!

[@TanyaMullis]

Fellow South Carolinian here!(Midlands) So enjoyed watching this video and mightily impressed with your progress. the Book club, the Fox, the Cumulus, they are gorgeous. I just picked up knitting again after a few decades (!) and a little apprehensive about some pattern but seeing what you have accomplished in your first year makes me want to go knit ALL the things.

[@RachelMakesThings]

Hello fellow South Carolinian! Thank you so much! And you absolutely should knit ALL the things!!

[@nikitaroberts3327]

I love your unintentional eyelets on the ankers tee, I like it even more than the original design! Great progress in your first year of knitting!

[@RachelMakesThings]

Thank you! Very happy accident and I love the way it looks!

[@carlafawcett6494]

This was really fun. You’ve come a long way and you are having fun! That’s important ☺ I may have laughed out loud at your Felix cardigan. It reminded me of the first sweater I knit my husband. It fit us both, AT THE SAME TIME. It was pretty much a piano blanket 😜

[@RachelMakesThings]

That is incredible 😂 it can be your snuggle sweater ❤️

[@dianefujimoto9832]

Funny that my Anker summer top is also the first one I made that turned out so well. The first garment that I was proud to wear.

[@sew_So_beautiful]

I can hardly wait to see your knitting growth this year. Everything you have done this year is impressive. Sure some have areas that stretch out, but your stitches are so perfect and even. If you put the majority of your knitting next to that of a seasoned knitter, I'd be hard pressed to pick out the beginner Knits. I think the striped Tolsta tee looks great on you. And don't hide your arms. They are lovely and perfect. You have enough time to worry about them when you are my age (I'm a senior) and they have gone crepy and the skin hangs down.. and even then I still don't worry about my arms. I've worked hard all my life and have earned every wrinkle, stretch mark, scar, loose piece of skin, etc. that I have. When I was young, I worried that everyone could see the most miniscule flaws on me and that was all they thought about, but as I've gotten older, I've learned that if anyone even notices it, it might just be for a fleeting moment and that's it. They are too concerned that you might see their miniscule flaws.

[@beatewolf7477]

Amazing what you learned in 1 year! Perfect knitting, congratulations !

[@RachelMakesThings]

Thank you!!

[@christeneelizabeth3477]

Omg I made the step by step sweater as my first sweater with the exact same yarn 😂 I did do all the extra shaping and I still had the same issues that you did with the bunching/pulling and too short sleeves. That’s so funny we had the exact same experience! Your pieces look so cute!!❤

[@RachelMakesThings]

Omg I love that 😭 we’re really sweater twins!!

[@katistenberg7496]

Wow🥰 You are an amazing knitter🎉 I think I also have to make me a "Into the Wild sweater" it is so pretty🦊 It doesn't look like it's your first colorwork.. It looks so professional. I'm a sock knitter who wants to do more sweaters, but it feels like they are too big to get done..

[@RachelMakesThings]

Thank you so much! You should absolutely give sweaters a go! Using thicker yarn makes it feel so much faster than a sock to me, even though I know socks are faster

[@lindaspencer6547]

What a delightful video. I love your makes. You are way too hard on yourself as your color choices (maybe not the one that is your flesh tone) are great and your arms are nothing to be ashamed of. I love the striped Tolsa and hope you can find joy in wearing it in public.

[@RachelMakesThings]

Thank you so much!! ❤️

This is so inspiring! I'm a crocheter just learning to knit this year. Haven't even made my first project yet. My dream is to make things like your fox sweater! Seeing you progress so much so fast gives me hope that I'll be able to get past these failed hats I keep getting nowhere with 😅 Amazing work!

[@RachelMakesThings]

You’ve got this!! Keep practicing and you’ll see so much progress!

[@hyrunnisa997]

what state are you in? it seems you can’t really do winter knits. maybe just stick to summer knits? Its really impressive how much you did in 1 year! congrats on so much progress. I am working on my first sweater. the first thing I did was slippers and now I am jumping into a sweater right after! edit: whooow!!! the colorwork sweater is to die for!! 😍amazing work! same with the bookkeeper cardigan! you improved so much! I hope I can improve like that this year too!

[@RachelMakesThings]

I’m in SC! Definitely love a good summer knit :) and thank you so much for the kind words!! ❤️

[@tyraavery4841]

You are so cute! I loved watching your video! I am so afraid to start/try knitting. Then I'm looking at you and your accomplishments and I am just wondering if I should try it or not.

[@RachelMakesThings]

@@tyraavery4841 you absolutely should give it a try! I bet you’d love it! And thank you ❤️

[@sew_So_beautiful]

I forgot to say too, don't worry if you have times in the year when you don't seem to be accomplishing a lot. We all do. Just come on and tell us about the struggles as well as the successes. We are all human and go through the same things, and it will help those of us who don't crank out 3 cabled and colourwork sweaters in fingering weight yarn a month like some vloggers seem able to do. How they do it, I don't know. They certainly aren't the norm. But just be proud of what you do and enjoy it. It is a hobby after all. 😊

[@RachelMakesThings]

Thank you so much for your kind words!! ❤️❤️ I’m hoping to keep that in mind this year!

[@carolto9950]

You might try frogging the neck ribbing in your Tolsta and picking up fewer stitches. That would draw it in to make it smaller, maybe make it taller too so it covers more

[@RachelMakesThings]

That’s a good idea!

[@anac.roques3453]

hi! I'm a Cotton knitting "girly" too, wash your yellow cardigan and put it in the dryer... it will do the same as jeans!! it will grow again but you can shrink it a bit for a few uses at a time

[@RachelMakesThings]

That’s a great idea, I’ll have to try that!

[@Animalbandittt]

I just found your channel and love it! Please keep making content ❤ For your tolsta, maybe it would be worth dying a navy color with Rit? You may or may not still see the stripes but perhaps worth trying?

[@RachelMakesThings]

That’s a good idea! I might have to do try that

[@camderden2879]

Try the Freestyle Shirt by Suzanne Mueller. I really like the fit and earth sleeve. I tried the Tolsta Tee and don’t really like it either.

[@RachelMakesThings]

I’ll have to look that one up, thanks for the rec!

[@AdventurerKnits]

I love your fox sweater! How is the Cascade 220? Did you use the superwash version or non superwash? I’ve been wanting to try it!

[@RachelMakesThings]

Thank you! I really am enjoying it! It’s not super itchy for me if I wear a t under it. And I used non-super wash!

[@thelefthandedreader6632]

@@RachelMakesThings, thanks for the feedback. I’m going to try it out!

[@patriciajans2831]

The vest would look great over a dress

[@RachelMakesThings]

I think I’ll have to try that!