I’ll Knit If I Want To: Episode 132

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. Hi Andrea!! I love your weekly videos and can't wait to meet you at NY Sheep and Wool this year. I live in the Hudson Valley, so hearing it called "Rhinebeck" is funny because normally Rhinebeck is just another little town in Dutchess County! I am currently working on my Tesselated Vest, which is my first ever NY Sheep and Wool knit along. My question is: when working this mosaic pattern, how loose should my floats be? For stranded colorwork I would stretch my stitches out on the right needle a bit to ensure a loose float, but should I do the same thing here? I'm wondering if the slipped stitches between my contrasting color stitches would become narrower since they will be stretched upward slightly. Thank you!!
Managing floats tutorial: • Tips for tensioning yo...
2. Hello Drea, I love your work and I'm from Brasil . Im knitting the tesselated pullover right now. I have a doubt: when the recipe says (sl2 wyib,k2 ) you mean that I will not knit these 2 stitches only the other colour thread passes behind? or all stiches must be knitted?. Did I make myself understood? Because im about to start the front yoke and i think that maybe i did all wrong... thank very much
3. Hi Andrea, love your podcast and look forward to it every week 🥰 I am not a spinner but it really interests me and is something I may want to explore in the future which brings me to my question. Is it possible to ply two thin commercial yarns together to make a thicker yarn? I bought some beautiful lace weight silk for weaving and would like to ply two strands together to make a fingering weight to knit with. Is this possible or is it better to just knit with the yarn held double? The silk is very slippery and I thought that having it plied with itself might just make it easier to manage while I am knitting with it. I would love to hear your thoughts on this.
4. Hi Andrea, I am working on the Inclinations Cowl and have a question about blocking it. I seem to recall you said you don't wet block brioche because it grows too much. Is the same true of half fisherman's rib? If so, should I steam block? Do nothing? Thank you for any guidance.
Vanilla Fog: www.ravelry.co...
5. Hi there!! I excitedly purchased a bunch of patterns during your birthday sale and cannot wait to make them. I am new to knitting and just finished a simple raglan sweater that was worked in the round, and it went great. I then started a bottom up stockinette top that was going well when I was working in the round, but when I split for the armholes and began working flat I noticed my purling tension was so crazy different that it changed the whole look of my stockinette stitches. I have been trying my best to fix the problem, but even going up 2 needle sizes and working the purls really loosely isn't fixing it 100%. How would you recommend adjusting my purl stitches so they aren't so wonky? Even my ribbing looks wildly different on the RS than the WS. I can't figure out where I am going wrong, please help!!
I am wearing The Weekender Crew:
www.ravelry.co...
www.dreareneek...
Rhinebeck 2023 Tessellated KAL: Instagram - #RhinebeckTessellatedKAL & link: / rhinebecktessellatedkal
Ravelry KAL Forum - www.ravelry.co...
Facebook KAL Forum - / 6509872319032927
Attune Shawl SAL/KAL Ravelry forum: www.ravelry.co...
Instagram: #spintoknitATTUNE
Ask a question for next week’s Q&A: forms.gle/pKM9...

[@nuwelle778]

Wow my mind was now just blown. I have been knitting for a few years now and almost always there's a few things in patterns I don't fully understand and I just do how I feel is right at that moment and don't worry about it too much if I like the result. One thing I stumbled upon but at some point just accepted that when a pattern differentiated between knitting/purling through the back loop or not I sometimes noticed it was different for me. I couldn't follow it blindly and sometimes I had to knit/purl through the back loop when the pattern didn't state it. And now I found out the pattern were just propably based on a different way of purling than I do which is going continental from under!! That's why I usually have to work them from the back when going in rounds. It's amazing how long I've been doing this and not realizing why that was just accepting it as it was. Thank you so much for shedding light onto this mystery 😂🎉 Also now I learned the different ways it affects rowing which is so helpful, thank you so much ❤

[@marjoriebahm9239]

Love your new sweater!

[@bgbaltuth]

Lovely episode . Thank you

[@cakefeathers]

Love the new Crew Weekender!!

[@CaroleN199]

I have gotten this pattern and I think this is so stylish for my age to wear with leggings at 75 yrs old! Can’t wait to cast on! Yes big fan of your designs! Thank you! (Weekender Crew)

[@thefloweronfire]

Andrea!! I submitted the purling question and THANK YOU!! I was purling from back to front and didn't realize. I will knit through the back loop now to fix it. I appreciate you answering my question so much!!! YAY

[@bronaobrien1661]

Love the new Weekender Crew....pockets are calling me...may just have to cast on! 😂🧶

[@mariajones8912]

Couldn't resist the Weekender Crew. 😄I've loved all132 episodes and I'll keep your secret! 😉xx

[@elizabethkerridgemiller8712]

Love all your podcasts, always look forward to watching them. You’re such a natural in front of the camera. Strangely, I feel like I know you after watching so many! Thanks for all the inspiration and patterns x

[@lillacgrey]

This new version of the weekender is so great!!! I want it.

[@sandracroley9784]

I've been knitting for over 40yrs, but just heard of combination knitting this past year...I use it for all my ribbing now, love it!

[@turtlewoman13]

I must admit that I did not like the boat neck on the original Weekender so am thrilled to know there is a crew version and in DK no less. I just purchased the pattern and will order Dapple. Now to decide what color I want. I'm thinking I'll make a cropped length version and a 2nd one longer to wear as a tunic with my yoga tights.

[@aminata2422]

You are so much fun to watch! Love the Pockets 😊❤

[@suzannehuening1435]

Your new Weekender is so special! I share your delight in using your precious handspun. Purling Portuguese style across a row gives me a beautiful fabric. It’s quick and easy on the hands. For ribbing, I do Norwegian Purl. One of the many great tips I learned from you.

[@pattigolden1]

Really cute sweater... When you were talking about working stockinette flat, I laughed at myself.... I'm working on a shawlette that's mostly stockinette and had to stop and check my stitches.... They're perfectly even!! 😂🤣😂 I've never had the problem of purling being too tight or loose. MY problem is doing a yarnover from knit to purl without being too loose. 🤷

[@kimcunningham2107]

You look stunning sporting your bun. 😄 Love EVERYTHING you create, Andrea! 🥰💖🥰💖🥰💖 I've been with you since day one! Wouldn't miss it! ❤️

[@hellosunshine71]

Your handspun is absolutely beautiful! Love your new pattern too! Can't wait to cast on.

[@Maya-ii6im]

Love your podcast ,love your projects 😂many greetings from Germany 👋

[@charleneryan1722]

So I have knitted for 25 plus years. You have just improved my knitting. I have always purled wrapping under... knitting stockinette flat has always looked horrible. I was self taught with help from my left handed mother. I don't know if that is how my confusion of purl wraps. I do throw but can pick as well so I will be doing some extra swatching with this new knowledge. THANKYOU!

[@KnitStitchGrow]

Many thanks Andrea for the tip about working purl stitches by wrapping the yarn underneath rather than over. I have been noticing a lot recently that my ribbing looks much better on the reverse than on the front and didn't realise this could be a problem with tight purls! It's been driving me crazy! Will definitely give the wrap under/ktbl technique a try 😊

[@amandaniemann9903]

As a combination knitter, if I am rowing out it's always because my purls are tighter than my knits, normally just because I'm being too quick and getting lazy with my knit tension. I do love combination knitting though because I can "pick" for both knits and purls

[@peggykragh7941]

Thank you so much for coming out with the crew neck! I love the pockets and sleeve changes too. I am not a boat-necked gal 😊

[@making_co]

We love a good pockets song. 😍 The sweater is so lovely!

[@editekeditek8600]

Lovely… beautiful …merci 💗🐏🐑💗

[@melaniew4354]

I am an English Thrower, and wrapping my purls in the opposite direction completely fixed my rowing out problem.

[@hideyholes]

For the person who was thinking of plying a commercial yarn to increase the thickness and is not yet a spinner, one thing to be aware of is that you will need to ply in the opposite direction that the yarn is spun. While it can be done either way, I think it's most common to spin with a Z twist, and ply with an S twist. My guess is that your single yarn may already be an S twist, so you would need to ply Z if that's the case. There are plenty of videos and resources if you want to look it up and really understand the process, but I just wanted to make you aware of it if you weren't already. Andrea was my gateway to spinning, which I had no interest in before I started watching these videos. I'm so happy I caught the bug. :)

[@marniebush3977]

I also purchased the Weekender Crew and bumped it to the front of the line!

[@ruthswarthout1115]

Loved the video this week I purchased the weekender crew can't wait to make it thank you for explaining why you choose different kinds of yarns it makes sense. 😊

[@wendym9021]

As soon as I saw the picture of the Weekender Crew I bought the pattern and cast on.

[@Sarah.and.Stitches]

I’m so excited for the Weekender Crew! I usually only wear crew necks so this is perfect. I’m thinking of casting it on in two colors - one MC for the body and then a CC for the hem, sleeve, and collar ribbing. I want to use stash and that is what I pulled together.

[@Sharon-ov6ft]

Love the crewneck on your new Weekender sweater! Beautiful yarn too! Just purchased it. Boatneck not my style...shows straps! Thanks Andrea 🦋

[@jhuntsman17]

Love your videos Andrea. I love the new weekender crew. I bought it the day it came out. Thanks for the discount. I am attending a wool and fiber festival this weekend and will be looking for the perfect yarn for this pattern. I made the og weekender in 2020and it is my favorite. Have a great weekend Julie

[@robinphyfe5047]

I made the original Weekender in DK after I made one in Peace Fleece. I wear the Peace Fleece one ALL the time. . I Made the mods for the DK based on my gauge search. Came out great … except ….. i used superwash wool 😢

[@Plantsandmusicandyarn]

I was team frog for the Harlow and I’m glad you did. 🎉 the other one was nice too but this one is just so lovely! I will have to add the weekender crew to my project queue. It looks so cozy!

[@Leigh1131]

Oh yeah on the Weekender Crew! No question - bought it - gonna make it - gonna swatch and cast on this weekend. I’m already sick of making holiday gifts. What is up with me????? I feel selfish, but they all will get prezzies, just possibly not hand knit goodies. So there. 😊

[@jessinorton6469]

I got my first fleece at NY Sheep and Wool last year! I did some research on my own, but the wonderful person working the table picked up on the fact that I was unsure and helped me through - I’m sure they would for you too.

[@mikelafiddle]

My purls were tighter than my knits because I like knitting Continental and purling English style. I realized just recently I tend to hold my stitches down with the right hand to keep them in place after I make them, and it also stops them from tightening around the needle. So if I let the tension of the yarn pull that last knit stitch tighter it helps my rowing out a lot and I don't have to go up like 2 sizes on my purl row. So I was rowing out because of my KNIT stitches being too loose, and my purls were fine.

[@susannah1393]

this Weekender Crew looks like it would be really lovely if you steeked it down where the slip stitches are and made it a cardi. Maybe I'll give it a go :)

[@dianegiannini8968]

Stay safe this weekend with Hurricane Lee bringing weather your way.

[@marynate3760]

I fixed my loose purl rowing out by wrapping the yarn around my pinky an extra time while purling

[@sueaitkin8030]

Thanks!

[@ihesharema]

Your skeins are beautiful!!!! I’m trying to be good and wait until Christmas time to get my e spinner but I’m soooo tempted 😅

[@tacistudio]

I love every single episode. I’m just now knitting the 1st weekender because I have always loved it, wanted to knit it and I already bought the pattern, but the k ew one keeps calling me and I want to knit it sooooo bad … I might have to knit both ha ha. 😘

[@annabelle7123]

I used to do Norwegian purling but I fixed my habit because original Italian bind off didn’t work. Could you please share how to do Italian bind off after Norwegian purling? Thanks so much! ❤

[@jandkcon]

Waiting for a single skein to arrive bf ordering sweaters quantity for Weekendercrew!

[@bozicaviotti3594]

Hello! what style do you knit with? Continental or English style ??🌷🌷🌷

[@tayloradair743]

I bought the pattern, and I know how to knit (and spin and weave and make bobbin lace etc.). I’m going to crochet the weekender crew because I needed a challenge 😅😅

[@phyllisburke4141]

Thank yo. Hooefully th

[@nicoleeast3796]

Regarding brioche knits growing with blocking, do you ever knit a smaller size to prevent oversize outcome?

[@ChristineDorsey1]

Love your podcast. I have a question about left vs. right hand. On your latest podcast you explained the difference between English and Continental style knitters, describing it as right handed throwing or left handed picking. Are you only referring to people who knit right handed? I knit left handed Continental style, so I hold my working yarn in my right hand, (and my yarn moves from the right needle to the left). Should I be interpreting your tip opposite because I’m a lefty?

[@luhwheeze]

Yes, she is referring to right handed knitters, so your idea of interpreting the tip is correct: just flip it around :)

[@TheKnittedBean]

hair clips are a hashimoto's persons best friend arent they?

[@sangrailrydell2086]

Is superwash a good choice for the hoodie?

[@lsherry2429]

I’m so disheartened with this sweater I’m knitting due my mom. I’ve taken the neck apart two times Ave this 3d time knitting the picked up stitches is leaving huge holes. Baby Alpaca is very difficult. Help I’m not fits with patterns and trying to design a sideways v neck knitting from top down