I’ll Knit If I Want To: Episode 186

[@CherylDuke-b4c]

That brand for the wraps per inch tool I believe is Sunrise Grove! We carry some of their products in our shop and I recognize that flower.

[@kaffeefreundin2828]

Thank you for the tip! The handspun wool wants to be knit up at a gauge of at most 21 stitches- seems like worsted weight although it looks DK. I'll soon be picking up some more dark skeins that eluded the search last time as well as the spinning wheel and some fibre🥰

[@mayatinks]

I have a runny nose since I'm born, and not just when eating, it's a 24/7 state of life and gets worse when I'm cold/do exercise/laugh/everything 😅 of all the weird events life happens to throw at you, I definitely didn't expect to learn that it is actually a condition in the comments of a knitting video 😂 thank you for sharing about it and giving the opportunity to all those strangers to shine light in one of the greatest mysteries of my existence 💁🏻‍♀️

[@nicolelafontaine1720]

Sometimes when one of my seaters grows past what I find accepatable, I just throw it in the drying machine for a FEW minutes, 3 to 5, and that usually does the trick. I know most people wouldn't do that, but it seems to work for me. Have a great weekend.

[@brandykai1]

Me too! After I had my son my nose runs, just a little bit, all day every day. It has been 12 years. When I tell people this, they think I am nuts. Good to meet another with this issue.

[@karenesanbock3336]

It’s gusto rhinitis, when you eat your nose runs, and there’s vasomotor rhinitis also…things that trigger increase nasal congestion…cold, anxiety, exercise…it’s a bugger. Always have Kleenex in pockets or up the sleeve 😊 Love your podcasts…so much applicable information! And your patterns are awesome…always fit me well. Thanks!

[@Fran-yh8vy]

I recommend the So Faded. Was not my 1st sweater but was my first top down sweater and loved it so much I knit two. The instructions were very clear, very easy to follow and a very good fit. Also, I knit it all in one color only. Used Julie Asselin Journey Sport.

[@noelleparris9451]

The DRK Everyday sweater, yes! I have made two and could easily see myself making a bunch more. It's a straightforward pattern and I found the knitting restful and the final product eminently wearable. My daughter asked me for my first one which is why I had to make a second. But I love it and will definitely make another. Great one for a beginner's first pullover.

[@cbtringali6799]

I love sharing a few minutes on Friday - or a Saturday morning before my family is awake with you. I learn something new every week. Thank you for sharing your joyful and generous spirit with us all.

[@ruthswarthout1115]

A month ago or in one of your podcasts you talked about giving your knits a bath and you said to fold them into a little package while they ate still in the bath so when you take them out and squeeze they don't stretch and thank you so much I have been doing that and just patting into shape has really helped so I get a better shape. Also I am not pinning my sweaters that helps also. So looking forward to your new patterns. 😊

[@zephyraK]

Well, the first garment I knit was a full lace cardigan, so I might not be the one to ask for a beginner pattern. But, that being said, I think its most important to pick a pattern that you love and are inspired by. That will get you through the pattern and give you a finished product, even if there are some more difficult techniques included.

[@jessicalila3712]

I knit several of your sweater patterns "before I really knew what I was doing LOL" but I knit the DRK Everyday sweater this year and the fit was simply amazing. I think I only made one change and that was to use German short rows because it just works better with my brain. From start to finish, it was a great knitting experience and kind of wish it WAS my first sweater pattern!

[@dlindsay913]

Rain in the forecast here, so knitting my frame sweater (maybe finishing!) is the plan! The sweater you are wearing looks like one I would love to make!

[@ginamoskowitz9438]

Question 3: I did your Stripes sweater but solid as my first sweater knit after years of not knitting. I love it so much! I want to knit another one and actually do the stripes. But right now I'm doing a Gib for my hubby.

[@bebe033]

100% would recommend the DRK Everyday as a first sweater knit. There are some tricky parts, but they are well explained and there are video tutorials for the hard stuff. This is one of my faves!

[@sarasundb]

For the unknown yarn, I would just do a few swatches and then see what gauges it knits up and then pick a project based on the gauge that you like the fabric of the most. For the first sweater I recommend Bean and Olive. The Bean and Olive grown up was one of my first sweaters and my first Andrea sweater. It turned out awesome and is one of my favorites! You could even do it without the color work if you were uncomfortable trying both garment and color same time. But the thicker yarn makes it a quick project.

[@Lei-Lei27]

I just finished my ‘Nebula’ and I love it. My first Andrea Mowrey pattern and it was great! Your pattern was so well written and the sizing was accurate. I used alpaca and recycled silk sari yarn. I did the sleeveless version and wore it with a long sleeve T-shirt underneath on a very cool Melbourne day. I was comfortable all day. I didn’t get hot or cold and was outside all day. So happy with it I’m going to make another one. Definitely an Andrea Mowrey convert now. 😊

[@margreffle]

I have been knitting the Stria Cardigan this month, and loving it! I decided to knit the sleeves before I finished the body, so I would know which colour would be my last stripe before the ribbing. I did not want to do the body first, then end up with too long or too short sleeves just so I could have the last colour on the body and sleeves match.

[@marniebush3977]

I bought my wpi tool on Etsy from Sunrise Grove. Mine has a bee and flowers carved on it. Love it and use it all the time. Happy knitting and happy fall.

[@noelleparris9451]

{P.S. Now that I see your Gib, I now have to add THAT pattern as well to the list. The Stripes! is next up (planning to cast on soon, I already have the yarns set aside), but I LOVE the pattern stitch on the Gib and look forward to making that one, too. I really love your pattern instructions. So very clear and easy to follow.)

[@UVEyal]

My first sweater was the wool and honey! mainly because the part that worried me the most was picking yarn and I saw many people knit it with the cascade 220 fingering that was available to me :)

[@everystitchaprayer6268]

I'm working on the Brume and LOVING it! Thank You!!

[@valejandra255]

For the first sweater question… I think the most important thing is that you really like and want the sweater you choose, no fear, just go for it!

[@sweetsar04]

We went apple picking, and it was a warm fall day here in SW Michigan ❤. Have a wonderful week.

[@dreareneeknits]

Sounds so lovely!

[@katieroe2719]

Brume is another great beginner pattern, although the yarn choice can be a little tricky.

[@GenieDeli]

I have a runny nose since early adulthood, and a doctor told me it was a condition called vasomotor rhinitis. During pregnancy it got worse, I think it's fairly common. I think it's related to immune system, like allergy and asthma. For the question about first sweater, the Weekender is a good option because there is no shaping, and the boxy shape fits all morphologies. The original, in worsted weight yarn, knits pretty quickly, so it's encouraging to see fast progress, and it's not a big deal if you make mistake and have to unravel.

[@dreareneeknits]

Thanks for sharing!

[@handmakingapril]

It was 90 here in Denver the other day! Fall needs to arrive!

[@kristinahill3708]

Love the fall vibes chat at the end

[@thehumblehouby]

The DRK Everyday sweater was my first sweater (just earlier this year). It turned out great!

[@cassandras3465]

Spin raglan! That’s another great first sweater

[@chantald9661]

When blocking a sweater or item, I often use a lingerie bag. It helps contain the knit and it won’t stretch out when I pick it up.

[@denisewessman1079]

So sweet to honor your grandfather.

[@Serenity-fu8xz]

We’re all human. We love you, and that happens to me quite often.❤

[@peggiesmith1512]

I think the weekender is a good first sweater......just switch from tubular cast on for sure.

[@melShi0]

Nasal drip can be acid reflux…same for me after having kids, no heartburn at all it’s just a cycle of your mucus starting to flow to buffer the acid, the acid causes the drip..so nasal spray or Pepcid helps…also tissues everywhere especially in the dryer when I forget them in my pockets or sleeves..yay 🤓

[@danielalilius765]

I Love your Gib! 🫶 This weekend i am casting on a Sparky in a new islandic yarn (same family as Lettlopi and Alafosslopi) Fjallalopi ✌️

[@jessicastuppyknits871]

I love the stripes as a first sweater in 1 color

[@jessicaolson717]

The weekender was my second sweater :) It would have been my first if I had come aross you earlier!

[@themakersjournal]

I have permanent hay fever/allergies and I can’t stand it 😂 I can totally relate. It ruins the most simple of life’s moments. And when I’m pregnant (like now) it’s even worse! I take antihistamines basically 24/7 but sometimes it doesn’t cut it.

[@dreareneeknits]

My husband also has awful allergies! They’re the worst!

[@mindyswartz8627]

I've been actually considering the DRK everyday for a part of a basic capsule wardrobe, but mostly use fingering weight - do you have any recommendations for adapting it? My most worn sweater is I think the so faded? The fingering weight pullover one, it's just the right weight!

[@StickToYourKnitting]

My son gets a runny nose whenever he eats. He always has, and he’s 30 now! It is such an odd thing, at least to me, as I’m not one of the “afflicted.”😂 My First Ever Sweater, believe it or not, was the Throwback. I was in that glorious beginner period where you think, “How hard could this be? I will just follow the pattern,” and do you know what? It wasn’t that hard! I needed to watch a few videos on colorwork, and my friend, Melissa, taught me about color dominance, and it is one of my very most favorite sweaters (Although I wish I’d made it one size larger). My Second Ever Sweater was the Weekender and, probably gets worn more than any other sweater I own. I have plans to make at least one more of each!

[@dreareneeknits]

Thanks for sharing!!

[@kreadamen]

You are not alone with that running nose, I am also the owner of a nose like that 😊

[@alecsgirl]

I think that’s why moms start carrying the tissues 😆 Actually my nose was pierced on the left side. I found, post kids, that side was always dry, but the opposite side was always runny. Maybe it’s a combination 🤷‍♀️

[@marielee4335]

My Gib in a kelly green always gets compliments.

[@Sas_and_Rammy]

I loved the blocking tips - thank you! Would a re-block work for a sweater that’s a tiny bit too small? I was impatient and put it on the wool setting in my dryer. 🤦🏼‍♀️ Lesson learned!

[@dreareneeknits]

It wouldn’t hurt to try!

[@fancythatcookies]

Good morning ! ☔️

[@Oldorcuttyarnery]

I’m a runny nose when I eat person. I had an allergist tell me once it’s called Gustatory Rhinitis. So it’s not just you!

[@BostonMelG]

I am currently knitting Vellichor as my first ever sweater! And PS, my nose runs when I eat too (maybe because of my kids? They’re teenagers now so it’s hard to remember my nose before them 😂)

[@MeganM616]

I haven’t had kids but my whole life my nose has run on both sides every time I eat or drink, especially warm things but even cold ones. 😅I invested in a lot of cotton hankies a long time ago( I really don’t like paper tissues, they fall apart to easily). Don’t know is it’s a thin upper pallet or what.

[@katmahasti]

My left nostril is the one that likes to itch, tickle and run,AND it happened after I had kids! I'm on 3 nasal sprays from my allergist that have helped immensely, but that left one sometimes needs to be free and wild.🤸🏿‍♀️

[@zoedoodle]

Re: nasal drip . . . my allergist calls it vasomotor rhinitis and insists that it is not an allergy but just the nervous system reacting to various irritants in the environment and apparently, women routinely develop it as we age. Seems logical to me that all the body changes inherent in pregnancy and birth might be a trigger. And of course there is nothing to be done except manage it with medications that kind of suppress it or just ignore it. As for fabric growth, our swatches don't always reflect how much growth there will be because in garments, the heaviness of the entire garment can stretch it out but that won't show up in the little swatch. I think that you are right that probably a tighter knit fabric would be less likely to pull so much. Knitting is always an experiment.

[@krautkopf65]

😂 it’s not my nose but my left eye. I’ve been asked so many times what’s wrong? I’m not crying. Definitely don’t know how to cry only out of my left eye. 😂😂😂

[@paulafralick2905]

Post menopase, I find that my nose runs every morning while esting breakfast. Only meal where I have this problem.

[@jilliankonig2759]

If someone needs extra sleeve length on every sweater, shouldn't the shape of their forearm determine whether the decrease should be adjusted? If they have very muscular forearms, stretching out the rate of decrease may provide more ease. Otherwise, wouldn't the last 5" of the sleeve possibly be too narrow? I want to autumn, but 79 degrees in Maryland are feeling less fall-ish.

[@janlizKnit5968]

There are multiple etsy shops that sell those wpi tools.

[@kathleenkennedy2090]

I have boxes of tissues all over the house. I thought my constant drip followed radiation after a lumpectomy. Think it could also be something in my old farmhouse. Interested to hear I'm not the only one.

[@marilynsullivan4361]

I used to wonder why my mother always seemed to have a tissue stuffed into the cuff of her blouse or sweater - now that I am a grown-up (chronologically, anyway) I get it!

[@marymann3975]

I suffer from the same affliction as does a friend of mine who's male 😮I fear everyone always thinks I have a cold. Nope, I'm just eating thank you very much 🤣

[@dreareneeknits]

Glad to know I’m not alone 😂

[@margaretwright6677]

I got seasonal allergies with my 1st pregnancy, and it never left. Before that was afflicted with them. So it's not just you.

[@pelintezer3575]

Peony Flower Spinners control tool WPI ruler

[@meganjames6223]

For me it's my right nostril! 😄. No idea why. 🤷

[@stephanieajohnson6656]

We keep a Kleenex box on both ends of our table.

[@jeannaginasewell2254]

Every time I eat or drink my nose gets runny on the right side......😂

[@allnaturalnutknitting4272]

:)