I’ll Knit If I Want To: Episode 174

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! The last few top-down sweaters I have finished fit great in the bust/yoke but are too large in the body. Could you describe how I might go about knitting one size in the yoke and a smaller size after I split for the sleeves? Thank you!
Amy Herzog - www.knitpicks.com/ultimate-sw...
2. Hi there. First off I just want to say I am a huge fan. I have been making your patterns ever since you came out with The Shift (I make at last 1 Shift a year to add to my collection 😅 ) and I love them all. I also just finished my Nebula and am totally in love. For my questions. The first is hopefully quick, but I love all of your glasses and was wondering where you get them from. My second question is in regards to spinning. I was just wondering what technique you use to ply? Do you do any special techniques like chain plying etc?
North Optical: www.northoptical.me
Anne & Valentin: anneetvalentin.com/en
Ahlem: www.ahlemeyewear.com
3. Hi Andrea! I have made one Birch Pullover and could not figure out why mine looked so different from yours. I recently discovered that I have always purled my stitches wrong (wrapping under instead of over, so my stitches are twisted). Now, I either do a Norwegian purl or knit through the back loop on the following row. I’m definitely NOT frogging my Birch sweater (mom of 2 littles who does not have time for that!), but I think I’d like to make another one. I think I would also probably go up a size. I have always loved your Stria cardigan, but don’t find myself wearing a lot of cardigans! Is the Stria the cardigan version of the Birch? If so, could I use the yarn/colors you used on the Stria to make a new Birch pullover, now that I have my purls figured out?
Birch Pullover:
www.dreareneeknits.com/shop/b...
www.ravelry.com/patterns/libr...
4. I'm struggling with the best way to catch long floats in colorwork knitting. I tried different methods, but I'm not satisfied with the front side. I guess my float tension is not even. What is your preferred method for catching long floats. Any advice is appreciated.
Catching floats: • How To Knit: Trapping ...
5. I have just knit my first ever brioche project (a shawl, using 2 colour brioche) and I love the effect of it, but I have heard that all over brioche is a bit tricky to use for garments due to how stretchy the fabric is. I have not tried fisherman's rib before but I know if has a similar look to brioche. Does the fabric produced by fisherman's rib have a bit more structure to it, and if so, is it possible to make a two colour version. Do you have any pattern suggestions for a sweater using a two coloured ribbing technique?
Ronan: www.ravelry.com/patterns/libr...
Junction: www.ravelry.com/patterns/libr...
Vintage ‘83: www.ravelry.com/patterns/libr...
Lesley of Knitgraffiti: knitgraffiti.com/?s=sweater
Today I am wearing Tessellated Vest
Ravelry: www.ravelry.com/patterns/libr...
My Website: www.dreareneeknits.com/shop/t...
Instagram: @mellyknits for Tour de Fleece Stash Dashers!
Instagram: #100daysoflongdraw
Ravelry: www.ravelry.com/discuss/drear...
Instagram: #100daysofknitting2024
Ravelry: www.ravelry.com/discuss/drear...
DRK Spin It to Knit It KAL
Ravelry KAL Forum: www.ravelry.com/discuss/drear...
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Ask a question for next week’s Q&A: forms.gle/pKM9gF9SixkdQwmS7

[@Northforkroadie]

Toothy, Woolly and Grippy would be a great name for a law firm 😹😹😹

[@sarahjanewheatley5472]

Thank you for another week of delightful chat about your knitting, designs and for answering questions. I do really enjoy your informal approach to your videos. It’s refreshing because it’s different! I hope you feel better soon.

[@ruthswarthout1115]

Thank you Andrea for explaining the difference between sw and more wooly yarns and the difference of how they affect garments. I used to buy yarn because of the colors or softness but now I choose yarn on what they are made of and I look at the projects made with them and also what the designer recommends and then go from that. Looking forward to your new patterns 😊

[@lettylettebowskie]

Your videos are not only a fantastic source of knowledge but also sooo relaxing! ♥

[@everystitchaprayer6268]

Love these chats! Thank you for answering the glases question!

[@sweetyarnsstore]

I'm working on Stria right now. The stripes are done with two rows - one is knit or purl, the other is the rib. So much fun!! I might have to do the Birch too and add in the stripes. lol

[@sharonmerton9812]

Thanks Andrea. I so love it when you talk through sweater design issues. It helps me to feel more comfortable doing minor mods ❤🙏🏼

[@ladydlc550]

Kim of Fleece and Harmony has an excellent tutorial on catching floats using the continental method.

[@kristinahill3708]

I love these helpful chats!

[@omaeve]

The best fitting garments I ever had were from Thailand. My husband was over there for one year and he sent home a form for me to measure body parts for me and another form for my baby. On the form, you measure every single part of the body by 1 inch so that means you would measure your head right above your ears and then you would go up 1 inch and measure again same thing with the sleeves, the legs, the body, the bust they had so many measurements. Basically you could’ve just gone into a Machine and sliced into 1 inch rounds . I thought it was so interesting that I copied the entire slip of paper before I sent it back to Thailand. He also said that this guy was really great, but he didn’t have good thread. Could I send him some thread so I went to the local store and bought him 10 white and 10 black. Of guterman thread. So I always feel there are two important things about making your own garments. The quality of the yarn and the quality of the measurements used for the pattern.

[@paulamcmellon6171]

I enjoy your videos so much and love how genuine you are! ❤

[@jenniferoden9343]

I used the ladderback jacquard method in combination with catching floats the last time I did colorwork with long floats, and it turned out fantastic.

[@janiceclark1039]

Confident Knitting has a set of videos on catching floats for different ways of holding your yarn which I found really helpful

[@queenofpixels5458]

This time next week I'll be working on my travler shawl. I just bought a bunch of spincycle yarn (oh my aching bank account) as a present to myself (happy cake day self) and it is arriving Monday I can't wait.

[@patsyvincent9483]

I love your vest.

[@janewheel]

Forgive my question if this is a well-known fixed date and I have just missed it, but do you release your Rhinebeck sweater pattern in late July or sometime in August? Fairly slow knitter here and even if I don't attend the event, I always like to make a just-in-case new sweater to mark the fall festival. Just planning ahead--and daydreaming about fall...

[@GroVaage]

Great episode 👍 about cathing floats i think Arne & Carlos has an ep about it continental style 🧶

[@colettefoley5526]

Hi, Andrea, I want to make 2 sweaters for my significant other. He has Parkinson's and is becoming very hunchback. Should I add short rows? Is so, where? Below the shoulders, below the hump?. One sweater is brioche and the other is an Irish Cable. I'm thinking I should only do the cables on the front and do plain stockinette on the back. Both sweaters are flat knit.

[@nicolelafontaine1720]

🥰

[@lindaurban9051]

The knitter who wants a smaller body to her sweater might also try going down one needle size at that point, as long as they still like the fabric that's made.

[@jenniswisher2441]

Not knitted related. You might want to look into having an egd. (Scope to look at your throat, esophagus, and stomach.) Coughing when drinking could be something else; like reflux. Not a diagnosis or medical advice. Just an observation.