I’ll Knit If I Want To: Episode 60

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!
In this week’s episode we cover:
1. I have been making the Stria cardigan for the march2maykal. Only the buttonband is keeping me from finishing it. Of course, I had to be all fancy and decided to do a color block button band, but so far I have not liked any method for picking up stitches for it. My grandma suggested a sew-on buttonband. Would that even work? I’d really appreciate any tips on sew-on buttonbands as well as for picking up stitches in half fisherman’s rib and at the top from the german twisted cast on edge.
2. Swatches and Yardage - I have learnt, the hard way (many oversized projects!), the importance of swatching and matching gauge. The current pattern I am working on provides 3 different blocked gauge - in stockinette, twisted ribbing and the project's pattern (all of these are used in the project). Each swatch took a few tries to get gauge. Even with a 10% bump in the pattern's yardage requirement, I am still worried all this swatching might have use up a lot of yarn. When you are swatching so much, is it ok to open the blocked swatch and re-use the yarn for the next try? The yarn I am using is single ply 50% wool and 50% silk .. will blocking change its properties, so that the subsequent swatches are not accurate?
3. I always hear knitting youtubers talked about changing the neckline for a crew neck vs turtle neck that the pattern called for. But how to do it? Do you cast on the same #'s of stitches and just don't knit that many row ? What if I want a wider neck line and there're german short row? Do I have to recalculate the pattern?
4. I struggle with tubular bind offs - they’re always tight with no give. When described, it sounds like it’s a great bind off, but what I’m doing is not great :). I can’t figure out where I’m going wrong, and I was wondering if you have any suggestions? Thanks for all of your videos :).
5. Hi Andrea! I'm just curious about where you get your neutral colored spinning fiber. I have no problem finding bright, colorful fibers but have a tough time finding neutrals. Thank you so much!
Inclinations Cowl KAL Ravelry Forum: www.ravelry.com/discuss/drear...
Join on Instagram with the hashtag #InclinacowlKAL
DRK March to May Shawl KAL Ravelry Forum: www.ravelry.com/discuss/drear...
DRK March to May Sweater KAL Ravelry Forum: www.ravelry.com/discuss/drear...
Join on Instagram with the hashtag #DRKmarch2mayKAL22
I am wearing the Shifty Sweater:
www.ravelry.com/patterns/libr...
www.dreareneeknits.com/shop/s...
With the Woolfolk Dress from Embody: pompommag.com/products/embody...
Ask a question for next week’s Q&A: forms.gle/pKM9gF9SixkdQwmS7
Sign up for the DRK Newsletter: eepurl.com/diPxsr

[@jennifera5656]

I'm a first-time commenter here on your channel, but I've (binge) watched all of the podcast episodes. The way you explain things is so clear and concise, and you just bubble with exuberance in every episode! I am a neophyte knitwear designer and have learned a ton from your videos. I'll be at Maryland Sheep and Wool this weekend also, since I am lucky enough to live nearby, and I hope to see you there to say hi, and thank you! for all that you do here!

[@Laurielle]

I can't explain how much I've learned from you since you started doing these. I barely knew how to knit and purl a year and sth ago and now I'm attempting my second sweater!

[@kat1984]

Thank you for continuing this podcast, it helps so much. I love the tips and it also motivates me to pick up my knitting. April was a horrendous month due to my partner being hospitalized and is currently away trying to get his medical issues under control. I've always knitted or spun as a way to cope with stress but my knitting mojo has been gone. I used to finish a pair of socks within 2 weeks, now I'm lucky to get 10 rows done in 2 weeks. I'm thinking about casting on a sweater to see if that helps and I happen to be in need of a new cardigan. I think I'm going to check out both of the cardigans you showed today to see if I have yarn in my stash that will work. If so, I'll dye a sweaters quantity and take it from there. I want to thank you for being so size inclusive with your patterns, I never have to worry about not being able to wear your patterns or if they'll fit my proportions. I hope you continue this podcast as it gives me some knitting company, unfortunately the covid cases are rising in my area and I'm immunocompromised and the thought of having to wear an n95 mask when the weather is heating up isn't appealing.

[@annettewiggins2220]

I love tubular bind off! Truly has changed my whole approach to starting and finishing. Your tutorials have been the most helpful.

[@kayebaker-schwanz1041]

I bing watched the first 50+ videos, now I have withdrawals, lol. Thank you, your little segments are a lovely ray of sunshine, and are greatly enjoyed and appreciated. I picked up some Bison/Wool roving, but am trying to decide if I want to play with it on my drop spindle, which does not like me, or if I want to save it until I get my wheel sometime this year. Oh decisions, decisions...lol

[@sharonkennedy8612]

Loved your video. Have a wonderful weekend, safe travels.

[@marlalena8598]

Happy birthday to you son ❤️ thank you for all your work!!!! I have learned so much and I always am so excited when you upload a new video 🙈 have a nice week❤️ see you next week

[@catherinevanderloos9417]

So informative and such a happy space😍. Keep up your great work🧶

[@rebeccaknudsen6190]

I'm so excited for you and your trip to your friends yarn opening and Maryland sheep and wool! Woo Hoo! Happy birthday Levi! I think your hair is fabulous, perfectly fits you whether up or down. Thanks for sharing your expertise it has really enhance my knitting projects.❤❤❤

[@knottyyarnies450]

Omg a day early, yay! Thanks for another great episode Andrea!

[@sandyh1594]

Thank you for continuing your videos! Hope you packed rain gear and have plenty of room for your purchases. Keeping my eye out in hopes of seeing you in person at MDSW!

[@sparrowhill6373]

Happy Birthday Levi!!🎈

[@caraxkins]

My instinct is always to rip out and reuse swatches, but my mom likes keeping them lol. She uses them as bookmarks, but also they're just small and cute and fun to have lol.

[@joycepastore3860]

Looking forward to meeting you this weekend!!

[@Moishi54]

For the person who asked about the crew vs turtleneck, would it make sense to do a provisional cast on and do the collar later to see how long you want it to be?

[@Maya-ii6im]

Thank you very much ,I wish you all the best

[@emileelawrence157]

Have fun at Maryland Sheep and Wool! Wish I could go too!

[@cathyo3494]

I love your show, Andrea! It’s great to hear the answers to many of the knitting questions I’ve had… but never asked! Most of the LYSs that I shop at will accept returned hanks if they have not been wound. So I often buy an extra skein… just in case. But-- I have found many times I just cannot return the extra hank/s -- because I hope to use it for another project in the future ;)

[@deathination]

Happy Birthday to your Cinco de mayo baby 🥳🥳

[@jilljarvis94]

Another fun video, thank you! Today is also my oldest sons birthday!

[@thekindles1183]

I love these! I'm the same way with my hair. Like I'll fixate on it, haha. Joining the KAL for the inclination shawl. I'm going to use my Ewenicorn colors. :) - Kimberly

[@shannonoliver5414]

Have a wonderful time at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival. 😊

[@miekevanreet2544]

Have a nice weekend

[@eileen5631]

Paradise fiber is my go to for fiber. They have my go to in a pinch, cause I can’t find it anywhere and I am tired of looking. They have any fiber color I need. Eileen

[@monica4705]

Hello Andrea! I am so inspired by you to keep trying to get better at my spinning, so thank you! My question is, were you like me in that when beginning to ply your reasonbaly satisfactory singles, did you struggle with everything getting tangled together down by the lazy kate before the plies could get to your fingers??? I am so frustrated! What am I doind wrong? I have been looking for a local place to get some lessons, but sadly, there are none near me. I did just order a tensioned kate, but I am a little worried it isn't going to solve this completely.

[@Julia-lz8vl]

Thank you for another very informative episode! Are there any fellow left-handed knitters here, who have some tips on doing kitchener stitch and tubular bindoff as a leftie? I find I struggle with those, as they go from right to left and I usually hold my hand in an awkward position and it starts to hurt after some time. I've also noticed that I've switched to doing these stitches with my right hand, without even realizing it. Thanks for any tips, have a great day everyone!

[@barbaraanne2136]

You look beautiful in your outfit.!

[@lindawatt1791]

Is there a formula you use to calculate short rows you want to use in a pattern that may not call for short row shaping? I'm new to sweater knitting and some patterns do not use short rows at the shoulders/neck. Thank you so much for your help!

[@karimertz1540]

Any chance you will release a pattern for the child size Inclinations cowl? Would love to knit for my three granddaughter - after I finish mine, of course!

[@susancohen8677]

What is the purple, fuchsia colored yarn name you refer to for your daughter?

[@maximueller4195]

Hi Andrea! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my question about the button band for Stria! I am happy to report that the button band finally is coming along beautifully! Sometimes all a project needs is a break and then a fresh brain to return to it. My issue was that I kept starting at the wrong side of the front, which is why I had the wrong side of my stitches on the right side of the sweater. If that makes sense. Looks like my Stria will be done for the KAL just in time ;)

[@maximueller4195]

Oh forgot to mention: I am doing the button band as per instructed in the pattern. No sew-on or any other brain breaking stuff.

[@TheWaywardSkein]

Hopefully your friends at Magpie will get some foot traffic from MDSW attendees!

[@barbaraanne2136]

does your daughter call that color "Fushia"? And how do you spell it?