Flower Fair Isle beret & my first sweater design - Ep. 17 - Seedling Stitch Knitting Podcast

[@elizabethandersen6068]

Dear Athena, I am sending you my best wishes for your dissertation defence. I have a PhD also and the work that it takes to complete this advanced degree is phenomenal. I can’t believe that you still take time to create your podcasts for us. That feat is amazing in itself. And your beautiful creations are just perfect. I wish you all the best. On the day of your defence my best advice is to take a moment to make sure you know where your keys and wallet and phone are. Given the jitters it is easy to misplace basic everyday things like keys and that adds to the stress. For example on the day of my defence I had to park in a dark garage. I had some time to wait so I turned on the overhead lights in my car so I could read my carefully prepared and extensive notes. Then I left for my defence…but I left the car lights on. My car battery died and I needed a jump start. That is what I remember most about the day of my defence. So, now I tell all my grad students just to be a little bit cautious about the basic necessities on the big day. I am certain everything will be smooth for you. And thank you once again for the time you spend creating the interesting podcasts and the knit along group for us. We are grateful.

[@SeedlingStitch]

Thank you so much for the good wishes and advice! It’s essential to pay attention to the basics at the most difficult moments. I’ll make sure I do that before my defense!🙌

[@pjk4361]

Your best episode yet! Loved it. I enjoy your sharing with us about Chinese yarns and culture very much. It's very interesting and I feel I've traveled a bit without leaving my chair. It's also fine with me if you edit your episodes less, you seem more and more comfortable with talking to us, and it is fun to listen to your enthusiasm about our craft even with some pauses and um's. Looking forward to following your sewing adventures too. Next time we can call you Dr. and happy early birthday dear fellow maker.

[@SeedlingStitch]

Thank you so much! I am trying to be less critical about myself when editing my footage. Your comment is very encouraging.🥰 I ordered some Japanese sewing book too! I’m so excited about sewing!

[@maureencandlish8292]

Thank you, I love your channel. Love the variety of things and interesting topics. You look so lovely in your beret and fair isle vest. Looking forward to hearing about your sewing too. Have a lovely birthday and congratulations on your PhD ❤

[@SeedlingStitch]

Thank you for the good wishes! And thanks for donating on Ko-Fi! 🥰🙌

[@janeybeasley9525]

I love your podcasts and your approach to knitting, you are quite methodical while being very creative. I like that your share details especially how you blocked your hat. You are also very chatty and friendly so I feel we are sitting together and sharing all your exciting news. I wish you all good thoughts for your PhD defence and enjoy your day sewing to relax afterwards. Much love x

[@SeedlingStitch]

Thank you for the good wishes! Chat with you soon next time!😄

[@lisapettit7403]

Your Harbin sweater is amazing! Good luck with your PhD defense and happy birthday!

[@SeedlingStitch]

Thank you!😄

[@barbarabaughman4350]

You do a wonderful job with your videos. I never miss a one. I’m constantly amazed at how talented you are. Good luck defending your phD and happy birthday.

[@SeedlingStitch]

Thank you for the good wishes 🥰

[@yukonviv9166]

Thank you for another great video. Best wishes on your defence, and happy early birthday. Regarding the editing jumps, I don’t notice them much as I mostly listen and take looks when you are showing, I’m not watching constantly. If I think I missed seeing something while listen I back it up a bit so I’m good with however you are comfortable editing. And please yes, keep showing items that may not be available to us. As you say, this isn’t a shopping experience, it’s a sharing experience. I love to hear and see what is available and in practice elsewhere. I live in relative isolation it feels like (I’m an introverted First Nation woman living in the Yukon Territory) and my personal view of the world is narrow. I find podcasts from people from different backgrounds, different places, etc just open up the world to me. By all means keep showing the yarn from China, the books, etc. And thank you for the bits of background whether it’s your hometown or Japan or even Vancouver!

[@SeedlingStitch]

Thanks for the feedback! I’d love to keep showing the yarny goodness that I find around the world.😃

[@woxanna]

Athena, Don't fret on your presentation. It is very thorough, clear and understandable. Your projects are fun. As I heard from another podcaster, "You do you" and don't worry about the small stuff. If you prefer to drop the Um's or white space then do it. If it becomes to time consuming don't. It's your podcast, hopefully you get as much joy as we do from your sharing. Good luck on your thesis defense and future endeavors.

[@SeedlingStitch]

Thank you for the feedback!

[@sarahlovesdonuts9601]

The beret looks great on you!💗

[@SeedlingStitch]

Thank you!☺️

[@wildcottageknitting]

Happy upcoming birthday & best wishes also on your PhD defense! I so enjoyed hearing more about your design, hometown, & the fantastic looking patterns in your Chinese books! And the yarns of course-- and I'm super excited that I've won some Chinese yarn 😃 I love your Fair Isle sweater & beret, they look fantastic! 🧶🤗

[@SeedlingStitch]

Thank you! Enjoy your gift 🧶🎁

[@kayf2631]

Good luck with your PhD defence and happy early birthday! Looking forward to hearing about your sewing adventures as well.

[@SeedlingStitch]

Thanks! Can’t wait to finish PhD and start sewing 😆

[@CathyWuVancouver]

Yay, I clicked on with the notification! Thanks for another great video.

[@SeedlingStitch]

Enjoy!

[@miajones6302]

Love 💕 the hat beautiful colors

[@SeedlingStitch]

Thank you, Mia!

[@sanan8568]

Hi Athena, you look so lovely in your Fair Isle Beret! The colours are perfect. Your "Harbin Sweater" is beautiful. I'm amazed at your designing ability. I'm trying to remember where I have heard or read about the alternative to short rows. It seems to me to be a simpler method of raising the back neck of a sweater. Love your purple yarns and look forward to seeing the sweater you will make with it. With appreciation, Sarah

[@SeedlingStitch]

I’m adopting this back shaping for all my new sweater design. It’s is simple and effective!

[@DonnaMull]

I love your beret! Nice job!

[@MarckKnitwear]

Love your beret and fair isle vest. Very chic!! I would want to wear every day too!!!

[@SeedlingStitch]

Thank you so much!

[@MarckKnitwear]

@@SeedlingStitch I actually found you whilst looking for tutorials on knitting a fair isle beret. I am currently knitting one to match a fair isle vest I also knitted which you can see in one of my previous podcasts. I am not following any particular pattern so just wanted to know after the ribbing how many inches of colour work did you do before you did the Tammy wheel pattern? I am knitting with 4ply yarn and 3.25 MM needles.? Thank you 🙏

[@SeedlingStitch]

@MarckKnitwear After the ribbing, there is a 4 cm increasing section, then 6.5 cm of no-increase section, then rapid decrease to form the top flower motif.

[@slowstitches]

Thanks for the podcast, Athena. I think your editing is fine. Good luck with your PhD defense. And since your birthday is soon, maybe you could tell us about some Chinese traditions for celebrating birthdays.

[@SeedlingStitch]

Thank you! That’s an interesting topic. I’ll be sure to chat about Chinese birthday!

[@joanmather7218]

Love the beret, especially the top. Very nice. I haven't come across your alternative to short rows but I haven't knit many colorwork sweaters. Do you know what that technique might be called in English? I know some designers do the short rows after the yoke. Apart from the Chinese translated books it sounds like you know how to read Japanese...is that right? I think a feature of you editing your videos is that your voice is constant, rather than there being some pauses/silence/slower pace. Everyone probably has a different view but in my opinion I think some pauses would make for easier listening.

[@SeedlingStitch]

Thanks for the feedback in editing! I don’t know the English name for the back shaping method. I’ve never seen this method in an English pattern (although I haven’t knitted many sweaters to begin with). It’s probably too simple to have a name - just knit a few rows in the flat for the back after the yoke. It’s more common in Japanese patterns and I would guess some Japanese designers who publish patterns in English might use it. I’ve learned Japanese for a few years so I can read simple Japanese text like knitting patterns with the help of a dictionary. Also because written Japanese is similar to Chinese, it’s helpful for me to guess Japanese text too!