I’ll Knit it If I Want To: Episode 163

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, love your new design, I can't wait to cast it on! My question today is about your wandering WIPs videos! How do you record them? They look so good on instagram. When I've tried to do it they're always crooked or I drop my phone and give up. Any tips or tool suggestions would be awesome. Thank you!
2. I just found out last October that I have Hashimoto’s. Crazy to think, but it seems like knitting helped me to keep my sanity, which I learned in 2019 when I knit a baby blanket for my last child and probably developed this disease. I just want to know what knitting has done for you through your health journey? I often see it mentioned as a great hobby to pick up for those dealing with autoimmune disease as it gives you something to focus on, rather than on your health issue. Would you say this has been a source of comfort for you during this time in your life?
3. Holding yarns together, both the same yarns and different yarns, to make a new weight yarn. I’ve been trying to figure this out and it’s just not something I am grasping. If I want to create a worsted weight yarn, what combos would I hold together? Same with bulky. I’ve seen blog post on a formula but it’s not making sense at all.
* 2 strands of lace weight = fingering
* 1 strand lace + 1 strand fingering = heavy fingering to sport
* 2 strands of fingering = sport weight to DK
* 1 strand lace or fingering + 1 strand sport = DK
* 2 strands of sport = DK to worsted
* 2 strands of DK = Aran
* 2 strands of Worsted = Chunky
* 2 strands of Aran = Super Bulky
4. You’ve inspired me to branch out and try spinning on a support spindle and I’m curious what equipment or tools you use to transfer your singles to bobbins for plying or finishing.
Dan Tracy Designs Spindle Kate: www.dantracydesigns.com/produ...
Weaving Bobbins: tinyurl.com/yrbpn4f8
Bobbin Winder: harrisville.com/products/swed...
5. When plying singles, do you have to draft the singles the same way? Do they have to be spun on the same spindle style? Or could I ply singles spun on a drop spindle with a single on a supported spindle?
6. Do you have tips for working colorwork flat? I've done some searching and found useful info on keeping the yarn turning points neat, but I haven't seen anything on color dominance. When working on the WS, do we need to change how we're holding the yarns? Is there anything else to watch out for? I always learn something interesting from your podcasts and really appreciate your taking the time to do them!
The float of the Dominant Color should always be stranded below the Background Color. (Dominant = color you are using to make the design)
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Ask a question for next week’s Q&A: forms.gle/pKM9gF9SixkdQwmS7

[@JenniferRoughOut]

Re: trapping balls of singles for plying ( 17:01 ): I put each ball of singles into its own coffee mug, and run the strand through the handle of the mug. Works great! Thanks for another great episode, Andrea! 💜

[@dreareneeknits]

Great tip! Thanks for sharing!!

[@StickToYourKnitting]

I love that you always shout out the makers that you appreciate. I find myself very often pausing your videos and racing over to Instagram to follow new artisans. Thank you for everything you do for the Maker Community!

[@annettewiggins2220]

I've recently taught myself to knit in reverse to avoid purling on stranded colorwork! There are many good tutorials on YT. Reverse knitting as a continental knitter means I'm "picking" from left to right needle on the front or knit side of the work and then "throwing" from the left needle to the right on the wrong side; I hold the working yarn in my left hand throughout. The front of the work is always facing me ( no turning!) so it's much easier to follow colorwork charts, and I can see right away if I've made a mistake. It's also easier to manage float tension. Finally, the edges of my work are so straight and smooth! I practiced on a cardigan knit in pieces, and seaming was a breeze without those awkward nubby purl bumps. Yes, it did take practice to get used to not turning my work and working from the right to left, but well worth it.

[@angrytrees7519]

So when you write "S" you start with a counterclockwise curve, when you write "Z" you start moving in a clockwise direction. That's usually how i remember. The fiber twist angle matches up with the middle of the letters "S" and "Z" too.

[@dreareneeknits]

That’s helpful! Thanks!

[@Plantsandmusicandyarn]

I ignorantly picked a color work shawl for my second ever color work project and struggled so much with WS color work! I knit colorwork with a strand in each hand, but can only comfortably continental purl Norwegian. Since you always hold the yarn in the back with the Norwegian purl, I also found that didn’t work well for me. I finally landed on Portuguese pulling where you wrap the yarn around your neck and that was so helpful for me!

[@leahtimmermann2708]

I have long found knitting helps my anxiety, depression and chronic pain, as well as my many autoimmune conditions!

[@kristinahill3708]

I can totally relate to that nostalgic moment remembering what I was listening to or watching as I knit a certain project. We really do weave memories into our projects.

[@gwenbuchanan1]

You are sweetest, gentle, knitting encourager... and you make me happy. Thank you for brightening my day

[@maryklute9578]

In “Respect the Spindle” (can’t recall the author’s name off the top of my head, but wanted to give credit), the author suggests trapping balls under small flowerpots and threading the singles through the hole in the bottom of each flowerpot. I haven’t tried this, but I think this idea sounds brilliant! I’ve slid yarn off of my spindles onto straight needles-just slide it right over. Then I’ve made something very similar to your spindle Kate out of a shoe box (shoe box idea also came from respect the spindle-what a great book!)

[@nicolelafontaine1720]

I love to see your joy at making your bats without having to wash the fleece. 😉

[@margreffle]

When you mentioned a different spin and ply for yarn that will be crocheted versus knit, I remember hearing that before. However, I've crocheted a lot on a couple of blankets with leftover yarn that I originally knit with to make socks or garments. I guess the opposite spin/ply for crochet yarn is for the more discerning crafter, but I gotta tell ya, I can't see the difference! 🤣

[@lavendercottagefibrearts]

i have a (non-autoimmune) chronic illness and knitting and crochet has definitely helped me to live with my symptoms rather than constantly trying to fight against them. my dad was really unwell in hospital last year and knitting also helped me to stay calm and be able to spend time with him in hospital without feeling very stressed and overwhelmed by the situation.

[@janprattley3312]

Hi I have just found you, I currently knit for charity and love it. Now trying to knit things for myself as well. I knit bottom up and love playing with colours and trying new skills

[@dreareneeknits]

Welcome!

[@saragoose]

I use a big marker like a whiteboard marker for doing centre pull balls instead of my thumb. I put the end under the lid and then wind the ball from there. I like it because I can pause what I’m doing without being stuck to my yarn!

[@mellyknits]

I love that the nails coordinate 💅 And I can’t wait to see what you do with those Guts!!! Woohoo! 😘

[@KDfromMI]

Andrea, I love your channel. Thank you for taking the time to chat with us and answer questions. May I ask where you get your eyeglasses? Your frames are so fun! I am nearly finished knitting my first pair of your DRK Everyday Socks, and I am loving the pattern - really well-written and easy to follow!

[@PatriciaCourtney-jg7nl]

I m deaf woman. I like knit

[@barbhelpin2775]

I believe that my new glasses are the same as yours!! However, I have a small face and have the small round ones. I was advised that they'd be heavy, but I just love the somewhat funky look that is very new and different for me. Yours look awesome on you as do all of your fun attractive styles. Thanks again for this podcast, a lovely weekend respite for me while I knit.

[@shannonyeaton8328]

Hello Andrea, thanks so much for another great episode and all of the spinning info! Can’t wait to see your new knits coming up. I’m wanting to know where you got your glasses? They are so cool, love them!

[@valeriehowden471]

Thanks for your explanation regarding colour dominance. I knit a pair of colourwork mittens 2 years ago and need to frog them because of the fit. Yes, I've procrastinated a bit on this one. Next project will be frogging along with reworking the fit with proper colourwork techniques to improve the final results on the motif.

[@MiliAwneshaVlog]

Nice ❤😊

[@eyrestudio60]

Loving this content around the spinning question. I’m in the learning phase so all answers were super relivant to me 👏

[@dreareneeknits]

I’m so glad to hear that!!

[@mikelavalenzuela9173]

I am holding 2 strands of silk mohair and one strand of dk woollen spun wool. Very fun fabric at a bulky gauge. Super light and floofy

[@deirdreschlunegger9867]

I have used the telesin magnetic neck mount for my phone camera

[@exshawknits]

haha i was wondering how the heck you did that! walking, knitting, recording WHOA

[@lindac1531]

bisous de france et bon tricot 😍

[@blindrootinhogs]

It would be a cool video of you making the batt on your drum carder --- I am not great at my drum carding !!

[@jackiewrightson1899]

Afternoon, i love all your patterns, i have just purchased your The Shift Cowl pattern do you have a KZbin for it please.

[@arlenehall5894]

Thanks for the great info! Non-knitting question: where did you get your glasses? They are super rad!

[@maureenott214]

💖💖💖

[@maureenkoehler6768]

Hey Andrea! I’m getting ready to start the Melt Shawl for my daughter and I want to use 4 colors. For my main color, I just want to use that in the garter sections. Do you have any idea how much yarn I would need for those specific sections? I’m totally in love with everything you design and wish I was an octopus so I could knit multiple projects at once! Thanks for always inspiring ❤️

[@pacrossett]

Could you possibly teach us how to actually to do the long draw? I recently was gifted an Ashford e-spinner 3 by my angel husband and am trying to do the 100 days. So far, still not even remotely consistent…could you help? Many thanks.

[@joannecrouch5645]

I liked your analysis of yarn weights but I'm not seeing it below as you mentioned? Would love to have that as a reference or general guideline.

[@dreareneeknits]

Hi there! Here ya go! * 2 strands of lace weight = fingering * 1 strand lace + 1 strand fingering = heavy fingering to sport * 2 strands of fingering = sport weight to DK * 1 strand lace or fingering + 1 strand sport = DK * 2 strands of sport = DK to worsted * 2 strands of DK = Aran * 2 strands of Worsted = Chunky * 2 strands of Aran = Super Bulky To help you find the show notes in the future: Right next to or below the title of the Episode there is a “more” button- click that and you will see the description for the whole show, which includes that breakdown ☺️ (depending on the device you are on, you might night to click more again to show everything.)

[@suelilley4729]

Hi I’m in England and yarn thickness and the different names for them is very complicated and confusing why can’t they just call yarns one ply two ply and so on this would be easier to understand x

[@HookedOnWishing]

🧶🧡

[@warriorthu]

"Sometimes you don't need anymore yarn..." I'm sorry, I just can't support you any longer, Andrea =P