knittingthestash Episode 145: How I Plan My Sweater Projects

[@wildcottageknitting]

You absolutely deserve some relaxation time after 400 trees! Maybe a beach holiday, away from trees for a while 😉

[@bleemenne]

I love that you are carrying spinning fiber now. (That silver gray top is gorgeous!) Keep up the good work!

[@anntemplin6278]

Would like to see corridale and Finn thanks

[@kathryn6670]

How generous you are to have such a wonderful giveaway! I love roving, My request as far as what I'd like to see in your shop would be that descriptions have information about the micron count, or other general words about a fibers' characteristics.

[@lisas3268]

I would love to see BFL and Jacob fiber.

[@kayleepollander7755]

I would love Jacob or Montadale fiber in the shop!

[@gordonannesammons2752]

I can't believe I'm just seeing this episode!! Thanks for highlighting us @leaflivestockwoolco! Anne

[@metaspencer]

Sweater power! Great to see your behind the scenes approach

[@ingridspinknitlove1192]

Fiber I would love to see in the store is any rare/conservation breed, valais blacknose, or coopworth!

[@julzlarrabee]

Would love to see fiber blends including Targhee or Valais Blacknose. Love seeing small farm support!

[@davidgarza7568]

Hello! Always love your episodes. I would love to see critical breed Samplers in yarn and roving kind regards, Stephanie from California

[@thingingthings615]

So exciting to see you stock fibre! I always enjoy trying new breeds and combinations.

[@heatherspinsayarn]

I love spinning BFL blends 💖 great episode- congrats on getting all of the trees in the ground 🎉

[@amykehoe7183]

Would love to see some Shetland. BFL has been a lovely spin for me as well.

[@jberan9768]

New to spindle spinning and espinning. Very much enjoying it. Interested in BFL and Targhee. Also newish to sweater knitting and learning so much from you. Thank you.

[@janetvonholt8775]

Those fibers look amazing. Would love any of the blends that you would offer. Love your podcasts because they are always so full of great information. Thanks!

[@candygrubisic]

I was happy to see some fiber in the shop and was able to nab combed and roving. Tests spins so far say they like to be a 2 ply lol. I like to spin just about anything but am not entering the giveaway cuz I bought some. I started on a 10 stitch square scrap blanket. Time will tell how long I stay with it. That IS the beauty of wool...sticking to itself sometimes when a stitch is dropped. I didn't notice your destash til after my purchase. The Old Crow Artyarns were pretty. Loved seeing the Edgar and Alan name, that was cute.

[@knittingthestash]

Oh wonderful, Candy! I'm so glad to hear you're enjoying the fiber!!

[@ruthallan4289]

Hi Melissa. Once again you have inspired me. I have had Lunenburg in my favourites for several years and I have 2 skeins of L&L rustic sport in my stash. So this morning I ordered, not L&L but Briggs and Little sport which I have also been wanting to try (same type of base) and I will be doing a knitalong with you. I know you're making Spencer's sweater first so I plan to wait till you start the Lunenburg. Hope I can keep up.

[@knittingthestash]

Fun!

[@juliecanknit2]

I think it’s really cool to see unique fiber blends like the polypay/rambouillet!

[@hollyscott8772]

I'm excited to learn you have fiber. Would love to see anything unusual - a rare breed or nice fleece belonging to a sheep normally raised for meat. I have spun some lovely Dorset!

[@masz10676]

I would like to see bfl yarn. Ur site is great. I can't buy anymore this month but def interested in mini skeins. Hope to buy soon. Thanks

[@Angela-hn6mb]

I second the BFL yarn.

[@LizsFiberCraftingNook8066]

I would like a variety of natural color fibers, As usual you work is beautiful.

[@sharilynross1140]

I would love to see any of the down type wool fiber show up. (Like Southdown. It’s lovely and squishy to spin!)

[@knittingthestash]

Hi Sharilyn--you're one of the giveaway winners! Please send your postal info to me at [e-mail]

[@sharilynross1140]

We’ll, that’s super cool - thank you!

[@ellenhenrie4826]

I'm just now swatching the two-color broken seed stitch in my handspun! Having a hard time finding a pullover pattern, so I might have to wing it (but awaiting time and brainpower). As far as fiber, I love the natural shades but don't look so great in cream and brown. I'd love to see some hand-dyed fiber that's all one color or subtle tonal - something you could knit a garment with. It seems most dyed fiber comes very multi-colored, which is beautiful but with limited use (IMO) for garments.

[@folkartjane]

Hi & thank you. You inspire me. Those rovings are beautiful. The colors are stunning. I'm a fairly new spinner & have mostly spun merino. Wensleydale would be cool! Blessings

[@genier7829]

I'm glad to see the repairs, I have a fix to complete and this motivates me. I made a huge, stupid mistake on my Schneefloken using the Seven Sisters yarn, and although i ripped back I lost the urgency to complete the project now the weather is warming up. Maybe in next years Flock-along! Congratulation son the tree project.

[@knittingthestash]

Thanks, Gene! And yes, mending is always at the bottom of my list . . . until I do it and it goes so quickly! Makes me think I should take care of is sooner than later :)

[@bekahfisher3614]

Those fibers look delicious! I'd love to try any niche fibers you come across - if it's something I've never heard of, I absolutely want to touch it :D

[@sunnyw4148]

I am coming back to spinning after more than 20 years away. I am focusing on mainly single breeds or double breed roving in browns or dark grays. I am looking for Cormo roving. Thanks for another fun podcast.

[@knittingthestash]

Thanks, Sunny!

[@nlturcott5168]

How exciting to see some interesting new sheepy fibers in the shop. I really like hearing about different-to-the-usual sheep breeds and fiber blends. Those roving's look awesome and hope to see some on my wheel....Thanks again for your excellent sessions. I always learn something from your discussions.

[@lindaperron318]

I would love to see an alpaca wool blend

[@maryzcorner]

Yay Rosie and Megan! I have to say Melissa I am very happy that Spencer's sweater is first and then you will knit your Lunenburg. Reason being as you know I am knitting J's Auster sweater and THEN I will knit my Lunenburg which has been on my to knit list for 3-4 yrs now. With all that said it will give me some time so I can maybe knit mine at the same time and we all can chat in zoom time. ((happy dance)) I have picked out what yarns I think will work. I will share a pick on instagram with my yarn picks. =0]

[@knittingthestash]

hahah! Wonderful, Mary! Sounds like we have a few people on board for the mini-Lunenburg KAL :)

[@kristin.and.the.butterfly]

I’m still fairly new to spinning, but I’ve really been enjoying spinning some Corriedale, so something like that would be good. I’ve also found I prefer spinning natural color wool rather than dyed wool. Something about the dyeing process changes the texture of the fiber and it’s not as soft.

[@Janet-ov7zx]

So far I've only spun Shetland and Romney. I really enjoyed the Romney and would love to see some in the shop. harpingJanet

[@deejcarter2003]

I’d love to see some down breeds like Babydoll Southdown.🥰

[@CandiceBEvans]

My favorites to spin are cheviot and bfl, but I would love to try navajo churro

[@michellelindgren8419]

Hi Melissa. Interesting talk about gauge regarding Spencer’s sweater.

[@knittingthestash]

Thanks, Michelle! I ended up going up a needle size, after all, and working on a pattern size that was 2x up from his expected size. We shall see . . . .

[@KittenWAW]

X stitches times Y inches minus Z rows plus Q increases divided by cosine square beta. Sounds too Hawking-mathy to me. I go for the easy calculation: How many extra slices of cheesecake per week to fit into the next size up by the time I finish knitting it?

[@knittingthestash]

hahaha. I told Spencer that I'm kinda winging it on this one and he was supportive (as always), but I figure I'll just knit the damn thing twice . . .

[@vindeljay]

I love the Alieas, made one and have used some of the design features in other knits. I don't have the cuff repair issue, I can't stand the cuffs on my hands so always stop at the wrist. So I'm glad of that, just don't have cold enough winters here to need the coverage.

[@knittingthestash]

Ahhh, good on ya, Jenny! Every time I repair them I think: make them shorter! And I never do . . . lol.

[@eb85297]

I usually spin Shetland and Romney from my friends sheep so I’m really excited to sample your new blends!

[@windypineda3970]

Can someone explain to me how multiplying the size you are going for by your off-gauge will help you find out which size you should be making? Thanks! ❤

[@linneavarner2740]

Could you use your knitted strips as a border for a scrappy blanket? They are so lovely!

[@knittingthestash]

Nice idea, Linnea! I already built a border into my blanket, otherwise, I love that suggestion!!

[@rachelraye285]

Hi Melissa, How many stitches did you cast on to knit in the round for Spencer’s sweater?

[@kimwrye9068]

How about getting Tunis or Jacob in your shop

[@knittingthestash]

Hi Kim--you're one of the giveaway winners! Please send your postal info to me at [e-mail]

[@noreenlou]

I’m curious about yak or cashgora fibers

[@knittingthestash]

Oh, you and me both!

[@maker5035]

FIBER!! I would like to see only natural fiber, not gray and roving, not combed 😍