I’ll Knit If I Want To: Episode 61

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. Hi Andrea, I love your new sweater design! I bought it right away when the Email came in. I want to make it for my husband. Now that I have read the glossary I'm a little bit intimidated. I never made cables before. Do you think it is a suitable first cable project?? Thank you for your answer!
www.ravelry.com/patterns/libr...
www.dreareneeknits.com/shop/g...
• Cabling Without a Need...
2. How do you store and label your swatches? I love swatching but don't have a system in place of how to keep track of what yarn and needles I used and was wondering if you have a good system!
3. Hi! I love your patterns, your KZbin videos and I am so grateful for all of the joy, creativity, knowledge and awesomeness that you bring to the knitting community! I have been knitting forever and carrying yarn up the side of my knitting when working flat still confuses me! Whenever I get to that part of a knitting project, I freeze and don't know what to do. I end up trying it a million different ways and ripping out that same part over and over and still, I feel like I have no idea what I am doing! So, how do I carrying yarn up the side when knitting with multiple colors? Does it make a difference if I am just knitting or just purling? Going from a knit row to a purl row or a purl row to a knit row? Do I carry it differently when doing smaller stripes where I am switching colors every RS row as opposed to wider stripes where I knit the same color for a bunch of rows and then switch? Thank you SO much for your help!
4. Two unrelated maybe relatively simple questions I am curious about. 1. Why start a shawl with a garter tan and not just the required number of stitches for row 1? 2. Why do some patterns refer to brioche as “brioche-tuck” ? Thank you
5. You talked about doing short rows to raise the back neckline. I have knitted several sweaters and wonder about why some designers have you make short rows immediately after the collar (before the yoke) and others have you make short rows after the yoke (before the body). Is there a reason for where these are placed in a sweater? How does it change how the sweater fits? How does it change how the sweater looks? Thank you for taking the time to address this question.
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 Stonecrop Cardi:
www.ravelry.com/patterns/libr...
www.dreareneeknits.com/shop/s...
With the Orchard’s Dress: www.vivianshaochen.com/patter... (extended sizing coming soon)
Ask a question for next week’s Q&A: forms.gle/pKM9gF9SixkdQwmS7
Sign up for the DRK Newsletter: eepurl.com/diPxsr

[@katereid4167]

For the "swatch labelling" question - I cut business-card sized pieces out of old cereal boxes/other lightweight trash cardboard, and put the date, yarn, needle size, pattern (if applicable) and stitch & row count. I also usually write whether i've blocked it or not. Then I just tie it to the swatch using either my cast-on or cast-off tail. Then I just chuck the swatch into a huge box with all the others 😂

[@intheyellowcorner]

Thats a great idea! Thanks for sharing.

[@lainieepstein7753]

I do pretty much the same but use index cards. I'm going to adopt your idea of using 'trash' cardboard- thanks for that!

[@spinningloft]

I like to hand sew a tiny label made of Tyvec on the back of each swatch. Some USPS mailers are made of this material, so I cut little 1/4" squares, mark the needle size with a permanent fine point sharpie, (because I always forget what needle I used) and sew it on with a couple of stitches of sewing thread. Tyvec can be washed. I keep a few little squares on my pincushion ready to go. It is a little hard to get a needle through it, so I make the hole with. a pin ahead of time...

[@dianacooper4314]

I like the idea of cut cardboard. That would give more space to write. Do they tear off very easily?

[@hotoilin]

Andrea, you are so sweet as well as being a wealth of knowledge :) Learning loads from your videos and they brighten my days too. Thank you.

[@kellybodie6022]

Hi Andrea, I have been sewing as long as I have been knitting which is about 51 years. My summer go to dress patterns are: the Fringe Dress by Chalk and Notch, York Pinafore by Helen’s Closet, Charlie Caftan by Closet Core Patterns, Bondi dress by Tessuti, Bettine dress by TIlly and the Buttons and the Alder shirt by Grainline studio. The quickest sew is the Bondi dress in a washed linen. I have been looking for a pattern for my son and the Gib sweater fits the bill so thank-you!

[@Chaotic_Pixie]

With the carrying yarns up the side of the flat projects, I find it really helpful to image all the yarns are coming down to the project from above. I can more easily visually see what needs to happen then to entrap the unused yarns with the actively used yarn. I too like to slip the first stitch of each row for a clean edge, but depending on if I'm holding the active working yarn in front or back of the row depends on if I'm looking at the right side or wrong side of the fabric and if I'm having to entrap those currently unused yarns. I actually never had to think about this until I did Stephen West's Shawlography and that was actually a really enlightening experience because he has you carrying colors up the side of a flat worked piece and the right side of the project isn't always a knit row so he very carefully tells you when to pull your working yarn forward and back to ensnare those carried yarns. Alas, I've seen many, many colorwork patterns that are worked flat that give zero clue on how to carry the unused yarns. They just expect you to either know or know how to search for that information on the internet.

[@caraxkins]

MY HEART MELTED HE PRINTED YOUR BLOG. so sweet.

[@DCrockZ131]

Love the sweater you are wearing...your passion for knitting shows...you are am inspiration❤

[@mtstamper]

You are one of the bright spots of my week!🌞

[@liza5532]

Swatches: I keep mine in a gallon jar with lid for future mending needs. I am new at Swiss darning, but had just recently darned a sweater but instead of unraveling the swatch I used the yarn I thought it was. It wasn’t. Now since that yarn it a tiny bit darker it looks like a grease stain.

[@MySweetT1]

Thinking about the swatches... What if you had a filing cabinet. Where you could have the swatch with the yarn label or spinning notes, patterns, etc... They could be bagged and then filed in whatever order you wanted to make it easy to find when needed. You could also file yarn scrapes for any later repairs under the file for that project.

[@dianacooper4314]

For my swatches I use split ring key tags from the office supply store. I write the needle size and gauge info on one side and yarn info on the other. Then I pull the split ring thru a stitch on the swatch and store them in a plastic box.

[@mariajones8912]

Thank you Andrea for yet another informative podcast. I too love your new design and of course couldn't resist adding it to my ever growing 'Andrea Mowry' pattern file!! 😄xx

[@wanderingheartknits]

I just love your videos! I just restarted sewing and made a couple of pairs of linen pants and now I’m completely hooked! I want to see all the things!

[@warriorthu]

I've been doing Sew Liberated's Learn to Sew series, and the Studio Tunic class JUST dropped this week! I'm waiting for my fabric order to come in--I'm excited to learn about working with facings!

[@independence_yarn_crafts]

Thanks for a great episode

[@lovemesomeslippers]

Norman at Nimble Needles uses yarn overs to leave holes for each millimeter of his needles. So 3m has 3 holes in the border of the swatch. Or he suggests leaving knots in the tail of the swatch. I don’t remember what he’d do for the other info.

[@rondaboyle9362]

I do sew. My Ravelrey name is actually Sewingduck (I love ducks as well). I once had dreams of creating my own clothing line through sewing called Duck Reality. My path took me an entirely different way and I am now a teacher of the Deaf. I have never completely stopped sewing but I have recently been insprired by you to look for independent designers of sewing patterns and sew more again. The only problem is that when I am sewing, I cannot be knitting.....

[@cateashton6952]

Hi, Andrea - I've recently discovered Merchant and Mills patterns. I made the Whittaker jumper in denim I found at Marden's and I love it! It was a bit challenging working in metric measurements, but a fun pattern to sew up. I've got 2 more of their patterns to try - Hattie and Ellis, and the Trapeze.

[@deborahcoyle7612]

My daughter (visiting a friend in Frederick, MD) just sent me a snap of Magpie! What a stunning yarn shop!

[@deejcarter2003]

I also sew and am working on padding up a dress form to my measurements so I can use it for sewing patterns,draping, and knits.

[@ruthmcniff4765]

Hi Andrea! As I was watching this podcast I was sewing McCalls 9395 Asian inspired dress 👗 for a wedding. The fabric is an indigo and cream inspired Shashiko pattern. To go with this I’m knitting your Wildwood Shawl in dark blue, cream and greenish-aqua. It has been a fun knit! I’ve been waiting for you to wear it on the podcast. I may have a bit of a busy look with this outfit but I’m excited 😊.

[@sunnyw4148]

Knitting like crazy on my Weekender Light. On first sleeve with size 3 needle. Either way it has been a fun KAL with a great group of people.

[@photoaddict555]

Oh did I miss this. I really want to start the weekender light. Can you tell me where I can find the KALL please?

[@sunnyw4148]

@@photoaddict555 It is in Ravelry. Click on Groups then drea renee knits. There are two threads both starting with 2022 FRK March to May Sweater. . . Lots of amazing knits to check out and be inspired by

[@sharonkennedy8612]

Hi Andrea, I’m a quilter and bag maker and knitter. I do not make clothes very often. I have in the past (simple skirts) and enjoyed them. I want to start making clothes again but so busy with all the other crafts.

[@caraxkins]

Anushka at the Crimson Stitchery has some nice videos on her channel about swatching. If I'm afraid I'll forget the needle size I'll use her method of yarn overs and purple bumps to mark the size in the swatch

[@susanharris-rohde1127]

Love the Cardi!!!

[@rachelcunningham2498]

I use my swatches as mug rugs and i write all the details in my notebook on a page for swatch details

[@dreareneeknits]

Great idea!

[@leabonnier212]

I need to find time to make myself a new pair of lander pants and a new pair of arenite pants. I have both in linen and need more before the ones I have fall apart from all the wear they get!

[@susanbossung9098]

I’m not sure this is where I ask a question, but here it goes. I have brioche flat down pat, but when I try brioche in the round I have problems at the beginning of the round. It seems it never works, or works and I don’t know what I’ve done differently. All the tutorials I’ve watched haven’t explained it well enough for me to understand. I’m hoping you can help.

[@catherinelemay9892]

For sewing, sewliberated had special patterns bundle until the end of may. I want to Do the one with arthur pants.

[@jaynemerrill4426]

It was so lovely to meet you at Knitwit last Saturday. You were so helpful with yarn advice for Vellichor. I left there feeling super inspired! My yarn is wound and I have started to swatch, but I have a question: as I knit, the yarn keeps twisting up on itself. Does this have anything to do with the direction in which it was wound from the skein? What can I do to correct this? Thank you, I look forward to your answer.

[@donlanghorne9656]

😊

[@shermainemitchell3952]

Did you make your top? I have the Friday Pattern company Saguaro set and Named clothing Ilma smock top on my list for the month!

[@kathisews9425]

Aaaaaawww you answered my question!! So exciting!! Thank you so so much 💕💕💕💕

[@TheAmaaanndaaa]

My 11 year old likes to steal my swatches. She wants to make them into a blanket one day. Lol :)

[@dreareneeknits]

Aw - so sweet!

[@mindfulmelbournemaker]

I’m starting on the free range slacks

[@miekevanreet2544]

Have a nice a weekend, I am making a dress .. big hug

[@marycalderwood18]

I’ve been having the edge question on the Ramble shawl- they are 2 row stripes knit flat, and I think the edge says knit one, yarn over so you can’t slip the first one, can you?

[@noramcdonald2669]

I love the clothes you sew. I looked up the company and you have to get the patterns by PDF. How do you print your patterns? If a print shop prints them for you, it sounds expensive.

[@SherbetLollipop]

You can print them at home with a standard print and tape the pages together. You can also get them printed out as a0 at a shop. It's not too expensive. There are also some businesses who print out the patterns and send them to you, check out pdf plotting

[@glendabarber8242]

Hello, couldn't find the link for questions, so thought I'd ask here. Just finishing the DKR everyday sweater and wondering if I could use the larger size for my husband? He likes plain knits, with no texture/patterns, although is happy for me to "Marl" things up abit :) Are your women's patterns written specifically for women or could I use this pattern for him.? I'm having trouble finding a plain well constructed sweater pattern in the round for a male. (Incidentally, I used Hedgehog fibers held double for the everyday sweater, and its a gorgeous feel and look. Thanks for your response and your great patterns! Glenda

[@dreareneeknits]

I am working on a mens version :)

[@adiegiese23]

Does the spinning wheel that you have in the background take a lot of space? I live in an apartment and really would like to get it but afraid that it will take to much space.

[@dreareneeknits]

It is a bit bigger! I would recommend a castle style wheel, which is more compact!

[@MissSholia]

A good method for the swatches? Yeah: you write all the info in your Ravelry stash, maybe with pictures if you want, then you keep the swatch for yarn chicken!! 🐔😄 I never ever cut the strands of the in-the-round swatches. I just make them long enough so that the swatch can still dry flat. If I ever need a bit more yarn to finish my project, that's where I'm gonna get it. I know some people like to keep the physical swatches for future reference like to feel the fabric, but for me it's a waste of material and money if a swatch is made in a way that prevents me from reusing the yarn if I need it.

[@katekennedy4730]

Yep. And then if I win yarn chicken and don't need the swatch yarn, I turn them into little teddy bears for my charity knitting group. They put them in with jumpers and things so the kids get a toy as well. And I don't have a pike of swatches I have no idea what to do with 😂

[@MissSholia]

@@katekennedy4730 Oh yeah, why not? You can do a lot with small yarn quantities

[@vegasgoldenknitspodcast-susi]

Why do you call your husband Spicy Pete? I laugh every time I hear it!