I’ll Knit If I Want To: Episode 103

Welcome to I’ll Knit (& Spin!) If I want To! I asked y’all to send in some of your questions (from everything from fiber arts, to designing and on!) so I could put together a little video for y’all every Friday doing my best to answer your questions!
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In this week’s episode we cover:
1. Hello there! So, I am already 6 inches into my Shiftigan sweater.... which is beautiful. I bought Magpie's Dyed in the Skein and Spincycle DITW for my creation. However... I just read somewhere that I should not steek with Superwash and I just found out that Magpie's DITS is Superwash! Oh no. This is my first steek, but I am up for the challenge. I've researched it can be done and have found another project that used the exact same yarn in Ravelry. I guess I just wanted to ask your opinion because I know you are very familiar with these brands of yarn and what they can do. Should I abort and use something else or carry on? What would Andrea do? :). Thanks so much!
2. Hi Andrea! Congratulations on the 100th episode. Recently I saw lots of posts in social media about Vogue Knitting Live, and I have a question. I started knitting just before the pandemic. I use Ravelry and Instagram but don't know many knitter's in real life. Do you have any tips? This year I want to make more knitting friends, but I have two small children (age 4 and 2), so in-person knit nights are a bit tricky. I recently I reached out to and met up with a local knitter / designer via Instagram. I had a great time, but now I'm questioning myself maybe I sounded like a stalker! Should I message her to arrange another meet up or should I just wait for her to get in touch?? I don't know! Pandemic and early motherhood meant I lost a bit of social skills - please help!
3. Hi Andrea, can you talk a bit about washing knits for kids? My kiddo is 2 and I love to knit for him and I don't want to always be "managing" his wardrobe based on the activity of the hour. It's more important to me that he wear and enjoy his sweaters than they stay immaculate. And apple sauce, for example, is actually really hard to get out of knitted yarn (just soaking with no agitation doesn't cut it). Do you have any recommendations for cleaning knits that kids have gotten food, paint, or other fun things in?
4. I'm just starting to knit sweaters. I decided to start with seemed sweaters. Do you have hints or tools that can help with the rolled edges of stockinet stitches. I find this frustrating to keep the side seams unrolled to find the stitch to sew together. Also what method do you use to connect a new ball of yarn? Thank you so much. I love your youtube channel.
5. I’ve discovered that my best fitting sweaters have a finished bust of 50”. The problem is a lot of the items I want to knit have a finished bust of 48” or 52”. Is there an easy way to modify these to fit me? I’m sure it involves math and swatches but my brain just can’t understand it. Help!!!
DRK Spin It to Knit It…Along - Weekender Style - Ravelry Forum:
www.ravelry.com/discuss/drear...
Join on Instagram with the hashtags: #DRKspinittoknitKAL and #DRKspinsTHEWEEKENDER
Big Cozy Cardi KAL: thefarmersdaughterfibers.com/...
Trine Weekender KAL: spincycleyarns.com/pages/trin...
I am wearing the Douglas Cardi:
www.dreareneeknits.com/shop/d...
www.ravelry.com/patterns/libr...
Ask a question for next week’s Q&A: forms.gle/pKM9gF9SixkdQwmS7

[@nadineveitch5837]

Always so lovely to see you on my Friday night. 🙂 Loved the question about finding knitting friends. I'm also a big introvert and covid's definitely made it harder. Would love some knitting friends but need to take your advice and make the effort. Just having you and other wonderful podcasters has definitely made me feel less alone in all this so thanks for putting yourself out there for us xx

[@dawnmangano6722]

I’m a mother of two young children as well, and loved hearing your take on meeting other knitters and caring for knits for littles!

[@cindamersel4580]

Great podcast Andrea! Thank YOU!!😊

[@sjhodnefield]

Love your podcast and the great tips for meeting knitting friends in our area. You do get it and have a gift for making us feel supported and loved. Like so many others I love your new eye wear! And the great tips!!❤❤❤

[@jennhanley294]

Another easy way to increase just around the bust area is to go up a needle size in the bust area. I have done this before, it creates a little more positive ease but doesn't change stitch count and you really cannot notice a change in the stitch size. :) Happy knitting everyone!

[@claudiam5358]

I never heard of spit splicing! It is a game changer for me! Thank you!

[@evi1533]

Ohhhh.. I forgot to say THANK YOU for your superspecial offer for your 100 th video!!!!!

[@margreffle]

Local yarn shop knit nights are a great place to meet other knitters. I met my knitty friends in 2018 at my LYS's knit night. Our LYS closed since, but 5 of us decided to keep meeting every week at a coffee shop. Even through covid we continue to meet weekly online. This year will be our 3rd year that we are renting a farm house next to a small community a couple hours away for a knitting/crafting retreat. We try a new craft every year. Bonus - 3 yarn shops are within 15 minutes from the house !!!

[@meganthroughthebackloop]

Looove spit splicing! Feels like magic every time :D

[@MonDaveCreate]

OH my what a coincidence that you are wearing "The Douglas" Cards. That is the pattern I picked for the March to May Knit-A-Long! LOVE YOUR videos I have learned so very much! Thanks again.

[@bgummeson]

Love your Douglas cardi and your specs are fantastic! Thanks for all the great advice.

[@susiehanna8617]

I LOVE love your glasses today! Thanks for all the information, always learn something new.

[@Ameeta.theinkystitcher]

The question about knitting friends really hit home. I also picked up knitting during the pandemic, I moved during that time, have a small kid, and a full time job. The area we live in has knitting groups, but they apparently meet only on weekdays during the day - perfect for the retirees and the stay at home parents, less so for the working knitters. Ravelry had no knitting groups listed, and I am so socially awkward/introverted that it’s taken me until this year to just start commenting on videos/Instagram pages! I didn’t even go to vogue knitting live (which was 30 minutes away) because I was just too shy to go by myself and couldn’t convince my family to go with me. My resolution is to go next year, though.

[@susanschwerdtfeger7310]

Hi! I also find it really hard to go to events by myself. I encourage you to stick to your resolution for next year!! Who knows, maybe you will struck up a conversation in a class or while looking at yarn at the market place and make a life long knitting friend!! You can do it!

[@apollynx]

Second this! It's like you took my thoughts and put them into words. It's impossible to find a group that meets on a Sunday or a late night. And I also live about a half hour from VKL and I didn't go because I was afraid I'd be too socially awkward there by myself lol. There's always next year!!

[@recreationalknittingpodcast]

You should. Or….start your own. Meet at the library. Librarians will help you publicize it through the library. I’m so in need of knitting IRL friends. ❤

[@1Aroe1]

Sometimes you can find knitters through other community groups! I joined a knitting group at my church - I was spotted wearing a handknit one Sunday and it was like the secret handshake to get an invite. ;) We have a fun time. Not everyone knew how to knit when they joined, so it's been fun teaching each other and crafting together in the fall for coat and hat drives! It's great because there are no LYS's in our area.

[@jenniferrwheeler]

Oh my goodness, sweaters dancing in the window, getting the applesauce out is my new favorite image. I totally laughed out loud. My family thinks I am crazy.

[@pegorgan7910]

I also find it hard to push myself to go out and meet other people, but I know for my sanity it is important. I found the libraries in my area have knitting groups that meet weekly. Even though it was uncomforable for me, I went to my local library and joined the group and I'm so glad I did. We meet one night a week for 2 hours. Finally I now have knitting friends in the area.

[@colleenconlan5227]

I empathize with the letter writer seeking knitting friends. I'm not very social, but my weekly knitting group meeting has become such important friends, plus I've learned so much and we're able to help each other with those big and little issues that always come up. Sometimes school systems have adult ed programs and there might be a how-to-knit class (that's how I found my group in 1988!). Also try asking at your local library. They often have a community room where you could meet, and might be willing to help you advertise for starting a group or maybe one already meets (we meet at our local library). Finally, if on Facebook, reach out to locals who might be out there already, looking for knitting buddies. Good luck!

[@marniebush1384]

Love the glasses, love the lip balm color, and love your podcast. Thank you sharing your knowledge, tips and tricks, and ideas. I have become so much more adventurous with my knitting since watching your videos. I use to sew my clothes, for work and for pleasure, and am now approaching knitting in the same manner. I'm frogging early cardigans that don't really fit, washing yarn to reuse, reworking sleeves, etc. to make my knits fit perfectly. Thank you for the inspiration.

[@catherinenoble5788]

Also a shy person by nature and for my birthday I would treat myself to a knitting course at a local yarn store with family support as their gift to me when I needed a break for sanity. Love tips on cleaning knitwear. One thing I learned with young kids...peanut butter breaks down gum in kids sheets and hair. Rub in small section and after short time clean with a good soap...just not sure if thar is okay on knits. The good soap is needed to reduce oil staining. Andrea, thank you for being you!

[@annagreen3250]

For the mom looking for a knitting group….check the library, ask local stores, some are ok if you just come knit when you can or have various times for open knit.

[@YarnNTea]

❤ the question about kids knits ❤ I use to put my really grubby kids knits in a bucket (with a tight lid) of cold water (no soap) and shake the hell out of it for a bit. Then I just rinse and dry flat. It worked for everything but bananas (which stains anything black) and Australia’s infamous red dirt which won’t wash out of anything, ever 😢

[@hellosunshine71]

You're the best. :) I love knitting on Friday mornings to your videos.

[@elodi_rose]

Ohhhh my god your glasses are AMAZINGGGGGG on you 😍😍😍 and so gorgeous with the Douglas cardigan ❤️

[@Katepwe]

Kind of a Where’s Waldo vibe😊

[@my4kitties]

Thank you for the question about sizes. I have a similar challenge with pattern sizing. I am 34" bust and most sizes are 32 to 36 or even 38 inches. Thank you Andrea for explaining how to deal with that. I feel empowered that I can make the adjustments with your recommended techniques. 🤗

[@cynthiaburja3526]

Loooove those glasses!!!

[@melitacarder]

Love a good spit splicing demo. 💚 do you realise that most super wash yarns that contain wool can also be spit spliced? It takes a little more effort and I make a couple of changes and it ends up with the same result. First I double the length of the ends I’m splicing together - 10cm or 4 inches each side - move 1 or 2 strand’s depending on how many plys there are. Then overlap about 15cm and Ret wits the strands together mimicking how they were twisted in the yarn. Then spit or water and rub the ends which are overlapped until they bind together. 💚 happy spit splicing 💚

[@anonfornow359]

You are looking so fresh. Wonderful you are taking time to care for yourself and one of the best lessons youve shared 💗

[@chebbiereadsandknits672]

My one knitting friend’s husband got moved by work overseas (curses). Knit groups at the yarn store didn’t have people my age even though I did appreciate the older ladies I met. I actually met more people my age randomly at yarn stores. How cool that Andrea reaches out to meet knit friends too. ❤

[@evettewissler8232]

I love the glasses!

[@audreyfleming3344]

When patterns size for different bust sizes, I look at the other dimensions provided in the schematic. I like to have a little more room in the shoulders/sleeves so generally go up a size up top and knit the smaller size after the sleeves.

[@jcknits]

Another way to knit with others and to meet people who knit in your area is to join a Zoom KAL or knit night. Some yarn shops started these during the pandemic and are still doing them.

[@amivice5499]

Love these fun frames!!

[@fleeperification]

What about bust darts? That way you can pick the size that fits your shoulders and still add extra inches for the bust! I learned this when test knitting the building blocks drop cardi. There’s also a Pom Pom issue called embody that goes into great detail about bust darts and getting a good sweater fit.

[@denisewessman1079]

Thank you for sharing. Steeks are intimidating. You have made them seem easy. It’s just knitting!!!!!!❤😂❤❤❤

[@rosebud9856]

For question 4 I have never seamed a sweater but I have seamed a pillow cover and I found that useing wonder clips to hold the item that I'm seaming together makes it a lot easier to seam the item to be seamed. I hope this helps.

[@HeatherSB]

I love to spit splice, but had never thought about taking out one of the plys! I have always hated the little extra bulk where they are spliced. Thanks!

[@emilyjortner4252]

Andrea, your lip color is mesmerizing and perfect in this video! Like cocoa peach?? Nice one for your skin tone.

[@QueenAnneKnitsandSews]

OMG! Now when I dance in my kitchen imma be thinking about getting the applesauce out! Thank you for that great image! 🤣🤣🤣

[@pernille8600]

Regarding garments for kids and cleaning! Not sure if this is possible to get in the US, but I LOVE a soap called ‘Paa Stell’ - here in Norway you can get is as a foam, bar of soap, powder for the machine etc! It’s amazing! I have a 2 year old boy who loves his pancakes… and a father who has taught him to eat them with blueberry jam🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️ it’s easier to get the clothes clean than the boy 😂😂😂

[@knitwiz90]

For seaming sweaters, I’ve found that wonder clips can also help a ton. I always make sure to block the pieces first, because that helps so much, but wonder clips help keep everything in place while I’m seaming, and help with the last little bit of a roll that can be left after blocking.

[@tammybrassard2395]

When my grandkids were little I used all the lovely acrylics available so I didn't have to worry about laundry although my daughter in law is very good at laundry. As they've gotten older I use better yarn, my oldest granddaughter decided she was grown up when I knit her a merino/yak sweater and takes the best care of it.

[@robinphyfe5047]

I wear my Douglas Cardi all the time! The pockets are perfect for lip balm!! Love your podcasts!!

[@suzannroberts6745]

I’m with everyone who loves your spec’s… theyre perfect for you!! Am I patiently awaiting your new cowl.. I think you mentioned similar to The Shift? But not sure.. i keep checking and hope I didn’t miss seeing it, if you’ve already brought it out.. i didn’t get the name of it so can’t search Ravelry. Anyway.. made 1 shift with much duress.. it’s beyond me but my friends assured me.. “you can do this.. you can you can.” Well, i did but it took many un-knits..and re-counts.. have 2nd one started and hope to make more.. am obsessed with The Shift… had to take a break to make a baby blanket for April.. anxious to get the 2nd shift back in my hands. Thank you for all you dedication to these gorgeous yarns.. and all your fans! Take care

[@susanschwerdtfeger7310]

Thank you for putting together another lovely episode! I always take away something or many valuable ideas. I have learned so much from you! Today while I was watching/listening, I was also doing the Kitchener stitch to bind off the sleeve on my DRK everyday sweater… just one sleeve left! Yeah! I’m learning so much by making this (my first sweater).

[@merithomas2420]

As another introvert knitting groups are the one place I am not nervous. Another good way to find knitting friends is a guild. My guild meets for 2 hours every month. I also liked the advice about adding stitches for the bust, I am always trying to figure out a way to increase for my bust only since my back is small, sometimes I use long short rows after I split for the sleeves.

[@everystitchaprayer6268]

Wonderful as usual! And I love your new glasses!

[@knittingwithnoodles]

"Sweaters dancing in the washing machine, getting their apple sauce out" :)) Love your podcasts

[@emilypeterson1133]

I enjoyed this podcast and appreciate all of the information. I miss your presence in the knitting community and cannot wait for your glorious return! (Once you are in a healthy position to do so!) Thank you for all you do for us knitters!

[@All.things.grandish]

Regarding sewing up stockinette seams, besides the blocking that you should do before seaming, I always knit a selvage stitch on each side (slip the first stitch of each row purlwise, knit the last stitch) which makes seeing the stitches very easy. It also helps if you need to count rows. I also do this any time the stitches will be picked up (e.g. heel flaps).

[@robinhuselton8488]

I prefer to use non-superwash yarns, and find them to be pretty durable. The only sweater my son really destroyed was when they went to the Pumpkin Patch in kindergarten and got tons of hay stuck in it. I use a cold water soak to start with when scouring fleeces, and you can get away with a fair bit of gentle agitation and get dirty things out.

[@ericavelez5908]

I absolutely love your new glasses!!! So cute on you! ❤❤❤

[@carolejones5530]

Hello Enjoyed the quest/ answer regarding bust size. Can you talk a bit about adding short rows to the use area ??

[@jodihorgan4416]

I use Power Scour to wash my sheep fleeces and that gets out all kinds of dirt and crud. It's also safe for knits. I highly recommend it for getting stains out of knits.

[@LynnMLogue]

Love your podcasts. Such great tips!

[@catherinenoble5788]

Also forgot to mention some local libraries have knitting groups and usually are free. I'd bring my kids so they could read while I knit in the library or in a conference room if the knitting group was okay with kids.

[@elissamcgahren8473]

Great tips!

[@maryjomartinek1187]

it's always fun to wake up on Fridays and have a new episode of 'I'll knit if I want to' to watch while I drink my tea(cinnamon spice black tea this morning). I love watching your tips and tricks of the trade. I also have enjoyed watching your spinning adventures. It seems like you were born to spin the yarn is so lovely. what are some of the people you follow and read or even better what are the you tubes you follow for spinning? I know you watch Welford purls - I belong to that group too. and in a recent episode you mentioned Stitches and Starlight and now I watch her spinning podcast also. are there others you can suggest to us spinners? Thanks for keeping me company this morning's tea ; )

[@Moorandmist]

Love yours specs!

[@theislandlamb]

Thanks for another great episode. I really appreciated your answers regarding super wash yarn and steeking. I just cut the steek on your Spark cardigan design. I used cascade 220 in regular wool and their super wash for the variegated portion of the sweater. I didn’t realize that some super wash yarns are stickier and woolier then others. I have had a very successful experience after a lot of worrying. The reinforcement and the whip stitch really did the trick! Thank you!

[@e-comunque1761]

Well this comes with perfect timing! I’m planning on knit your Stripes sweater and voilà See you on March 1st❤

[@kimcunningham2107]

You're creations are so lovely...as are you! Love your videos, Andrea... Like visiting with a friend. 🥰💖💕

[@LizBethA63]

Great podcast. Information will be useful as I had a couple of those questions myself so love hearing your advise. Hoping your KAL includes “cardigans’ in your sweater category because I have the Douglas Cardi in a project bag waiting to go. After seeing you in yours makes me more anxious to get started!

[@deborahpreston6673]

Ever heard of the frequency of fibers and how they can help us, wool has frequency of 5000 so is linen, the body has frequency of 100, but if you wear wool and linen together they cancel each other out because one goes from right to left and the other left to right

[@joanmachado9063]

Great podcast thank you 🧶☕️☺️😊

[@The-Vintage-Needlecrafter]

Thank you for the tips. I recently made a top down circular cartigan sweater. I enjoyed it so much that I am wanting to make a shirt waist dress. For summer. I have a full cone of fingering weight merino so, I'm hopeful.😊🐑

[@lgassin]

Great podcast, as always. I wonder if we can use a stain removal spray on wools…especially those with oxy in them I find helpful for organic stains (like applesauce!). Definitely would want to test a swatch first, though.

[@catofthecastle1681]

I wouldn’t! The oxygenated bleaches used on them do react with acid dyes! I dye my own and that’s what I use to get it out!

[@snackchaser]

I love your podcasts and designs! I started LYS. My question is why are the button holes designed on the left side of the sweater? Thank you!

[@nicolelafontaine1720]

Thanks for all your tips and tricks. One question, what are you working on now ?

[@tazziegirl8231]

I also find it very hard to find knitting friends. My lys has knit and chats, however I never fit into the age range of the knitters there. I do enjoy the ladies there, but seems younger knitting ladies don't exist in my area.

[@morrismann6920]

get onto ravelry and send greatminds a pm and she'll give you links to a few groups where you can ask for catchups/knit times. plenty on both ends of the Island.

[@cathypatterson2746]

I love your podcast and treasure your tips and trick that you share answering our questions. My question is: " When you read a pattern and it states that the sweater is best with XX inches of positive ease, Is that ease build into the pattern or do i need to add it to my bust size? If Imaking a sweater say with a bust of 38" and it needs 2 " positve ease to I knit the 40" size or is that positve ease written into the pattern. If it is written into the pattern, HOw do i know? Thank you for taking time to answer my question.

[@papimom27]

It should be built in. There may/should also be a schematic that shows finished measurements for various parts of the garment. If not, try reaching out to the designer.

[@BreveXX]

Hi, really like your podcasts. I have a question about the Shift. I think it's really beautiful. The pattern calls for 3 different colors, but I have a really pretty colorful skein and a solid that go really well together. Is it possible to knit the shift using 2 colors instead of 3?

[@knitwit1994]

I just got such similar glasses! Are they from Krewe? They look great on you 😊

[@user-im2rp6qi1c]

❤️

[@marye813]

When you were answering the question about adjusting for being an in-between size (happens to me all the time) I remembered seeing a few patterns that used short rows to add dart type extra bust room. Is this a useful way to increase the bust area? Haven't tried yet. What type of short row do you think would work best? Is there another place I should ask questions?

[@catofthecastle1681]

There is a great tutorial in Vogue Knitting’s new book!

[@mariagraziadilorenzo9643]

🌻❤️

[@jenniferjuniper7368]

I really related to the person wanting to make some knitting friends. I used to go to a knitting group before the pandemic which was once a month and I couldn't always go, so struggled to make connections with people. I've not been since lockdown, so if there's anyone in the Manchester, UK area that knows of a friendly group then please get in touch! I also have a March to May KAL question - I've got the inclinations cowl next in my queue and I really want to cast it on, but will it qualify as a shawl for the KAL? If not, I'll knit something that does x

[@elenibraley8222]

HELP! I am new-ish to sock knitting. I am currently knitting the Twisted Mirrors by Crafts Meow and have completed the wrap and turn section of the heel. As I am working the heel, it is telling me to knit to the next wrapped stitch, knit the stitch together with its wrap and then wrap the following stitch, so the following stitch has two wraps. What I can't figure out, however, is when I go back to that stitch with two wraps, do I lift both wraps and knit together with the stitch? or just one? I have worked a couple of the double wrapped stitches with both wraps, but it looks somewhat tortured and I'm wondering if I'm doing it correctly. I haven't been able to find anything online to help me figure this out (or, at least, I'm not wording it correctly) help? Thank you so much. I have been knitting, on and off, since I was 9 (I'm 54 now) but have learned so much from you and your tutorials!!!

[@carolestes8373]

Does the spit splicing work only on Non-superwash?

[@TerriShaver1]

Where can we send our questions with a photo?

[@maralheggemeier6522]

So not a knitting comment… love your lipstick on this video. May I ask what brand and shade? You look awesome in that shade.

[@dreareneeknits]

Thank you! It’s a lip gloss from Beauty Counter- I think the shade is called Peony!

[@gailhalloshry410]

Always love your podcast…..so much good info. But 12 minutes in and there have been 3 different commercial breaks. Ughhhh

[@dreareneeknits]

Hmm- that shouldn’t be the case! I remove more than half of the ads that are automatically placed, so there should only be 2-4 per an entire episode. I’ll look into it!