ROOKIE MISTAKES (AND A NEW SWEATER SAGA BEGINS)

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

Hi everyone! Thank you for joining me for today’s episode. Here’s the link for the show notes: www.woolneedleshands.com/show-links/march12 Enjoy the episode and drop me a line in the comments! ❤ #knitting #knittingpodcast

[@verylikecheryl]

I’m so happy I helped. My little Yorkshire heart has been blessed from Nevada! I love your chart. And that you are modelling how to grab hold of a project by the scruff of its neck and make yourself a way of seeing that works and is fun to do. I will definitely use colour coded stitch marking next time I knit from a chart. Don’t you just love the reciprocal learning in this space? Vygotsky would be proud! 😊🎉

[@noelleparris9451]

Well done, Cheryl! Eagle eye viewer!!! I think that the mistake made here was extremely useful (for me anyway) as I am only now starting to look at charts and trying to learn how to read them so I can use them. They are still rather difficult for me, but I'm picking things up.... and Tayler's mistake and her solution? Fabulous lesson. I am so thankful for all I am learning from the knitting (handwork) community.

[@courtniebri]

I recently knit an ENTIRE lace shawl incorrectly and only noticed when blocking and comparing photos to mine. I did the same thing. I always knit in the round and was not 'reversing' the wrong side rows. It is it's own unique shawl now, but I've certainly learned the correct way!!!

[@daniellejuliette]

"Behold my neuroses" actually cracked me up. Awesome episode as always. Your enthusiasm for knitting and color is so inspiring and now I need to buy some Mandala to make that exact blanket. SO beautiful.

[@holoinfinity4691]

Yesterday at my church this lady (same as last week) handed me another tote bag full of mostly sock/fingering weight wool & merino yarns. My jaw dropped with the quantity of these amazing fibers since I'm just getting into more natural fibers and getting bags handed to me. My dad went through these bags since I was about to donate some of it, but he saw the Caron Simply Soft yarn in the color "off white" and asked me to knit him a vest. So, I began last night then worked on it in the car ride back to school. My dad isn't really the type of person to wear sweaters or vests so I'm willing to knit this for him since he really wants one with this color. In the past week, I knitted up these really adorable pink baby socks for a couple at my church who has an 8-month-old girl, so I wanted to try out knitting socks for them. They turned out amazing and was surprised how well they came out, especially after blocking them. I also decided to crochet a little ruffled dress for one of my teddy bears to use up some yarn and that was really fun. I got to chat with someone I don't know that well and we talked about knitting & crocheting. Now my spring break is over sadly but learned and accomplished a bunch of FOs and have a couple of WIPs now.

[@ccpperrett7522]

Taylor, your color-coded charting is BRILLIANT! How many of us have you saved from completely giving up because of a misunderstanding in a knitting chart. Thank you.

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

Thank you! And it’s my pleasure. I love knowing that sharing my mishaps help to remind others that it happens and it is ok to rethink our process. ❤️❤️

[@debradarman-mcclung8133]

I find that the yarn will “tell” you what it is meant to be. I can’t tell you how many projects wouldn’t cooperate with what I had in mind. I also think your husband will really appreciate that you are making a sweater especially planned for him. It’s a real labor of love.

[@bgummeson]

It’s a Frankenchart and I love it! Highlighting to match the stitch markers is brilliant!

[@dorcas6135]

I just love how you face problems head on. Thank you for laughing at your mistakes and sharing them with us. Knitting from a printed pattern works best for me too. And, I'm with you on the colour coding. Let's make it easy to keep track of the chart and enjoy the process even more. I look forward to your next episode.

[@siggylev4268]

OMG, I laughed when I saw your cut-and-paste charts and color coded stitch markers. That is so me. It's refreshing to see someone else who gets so flustered and nervous about certain patterns, as I do. I just can't work from a digital pattern, I have to have the printed copy in front of me. Thanks for sharing.

[@Ynnsie]

Colour-coded cut-and-paste thingy - you are such a knit knerd, Tayler. You rule.

[@knittingghost]

"Sorry digital age!" I felt that in my soul. I'm such a pen and paper person. I'm working on my first project with cables, too (albeit super simple ones), and I have a sticky note to write down what my next stitch is. And I've written the pattern in my knitting notebook to help make it easy and straightforward to follow. Thanks for another great episode! And thank you to Sheryl for sharing how to knit charts flat. I had no idea! That'll be great to know for any future flat projects I might knit up.

[@karinanderson7319]

Tayler! Your reworking of the Cable pattern is awesome!!! The teacher in me applauds your perseverance and creativity!! And the tactile person in me loves the non-digital tool you created!🤗

[@celineocallaghan6915]

Gosh I love you Tayler, such a natural. That crochet is stunning and you are not a bonehead 😂😂🥰

[@donnakarwoski6074]

I loved this episode. And the tool you designed to work that chart and those cables is brilliant! Use those teacher skills! Whatever you need to do to make it make sense in your mind when learning a new technique, like cables, do it! And the switch you made for your hubby's sweater is great. Those colors, divine. Such a fun episode!

[@lgm204]

I’m am so enjoying the ride that is your husband’s sweater. I feel like we now have The Husband of FrankenSweater.

[@ildonoa3928]

Your DIY chart makes me feel better about my grouped, color-coded, fully written out Google sheets I create with stitch counts.

[@giulianava7756]

When you showed the hand written color coded pattern my heart just begun to scream “sorella!!!!” I color coded the cables mittens I am knitting TAAT to distinguish left from write and front from back.. glad to know i’m not alone!! Hugs from Italy, thank you very much for your videos!!!

[@mwolfe7883]

21:24 great idea on color coding the charts and your stitch markers!

[@viktoriaszupiany5331]

I knit a chunky baby blanket with Lion's Mandala (held 3 strands together). The blanket has held up great through many washes and many adventures. The baby and family I gifted it to LOVE it.

[@ladyofendor]

Oh my god I am so very glad someone else breaks down and self charts cables and lace like that! My grandmother, she taught me to knit, looks at me like I’m crazy but I kind of enjoy it? And when I’m done I never forget how the cables are “built.” My mom is a quilter and is a retired teacher and she teases me that it’s clearly the genetics I got from her coming through. I’m going to send this video to her. Hurray for teachers!

[@kristytaylor9320]

Hey, your "knitting aid" is a great idea. I've been making such aids for decade. I usually print on cardstock so that it's sturdy through the project. Enjoy!

[@wendym9021]

Tayler I do something very similar with my charts. Sometimes I’ll write little k’s and p’s in the squares or I’ll use colored pencils to color code specific stitches so eventually I associate certain colors with those stitches (it works with lace charts too). That sweater will be beautiful when it’s finished!

[@valeriefelicetti9144]

I love the knitphabet!! Note cards would be so fun if they were feasible. I love finding knitting note cards to send with gifts or to just write a note to my knit friends

[@AGL01772]

I love the poster! Will buy one to hang in my office. Your blog is among my favorites. You are an excellent presenter.

[@jenniferjohnson9335]

Oooh, Tayler! What a great podcast! Love the Knitphabet, the projects and the changeup on the Break The Curse Sweater! I've not used Mandala yarn, but it is fascinating and that throw is to die for! This was fun and welcome back. Looking forward to Wednesday's podcast. Thanks for sharing!

[@diannecarter1754]

You’re promoting of that crochet blanket ❤ I have cast it in and love it! I have not crocheted for years. A nice switch up after a winter of knitting. Thank you for sharing ❤

[@carriewilliams1670]

Thank you so much for showing yarns that are available, and affordable for those of us who can't always get the more expensive yarn.

[@pattihuke2992]

Your comments about having to work everything on paper makes me smile. Me too. Thx for a great video

[@lieslnew8247]

O Tayler - you are such a hoot. I feel like you knew in your heart that wool wasn’t right for your hubby right from the get go. Can’t wait to see your progress (and I have girded my loins in preparation for Frankensweater 2.0). PS: love the pattern for the Mandala wool. I saw that in my wool shop and thought it was so interesting but had no idea what I would use it for. Well, now I know. 😊❤

[@elizabethwickes8672]

I would have busted that PDF open in inkscape and spent far too long redoing the charts when I should have just printed it. My dyslexia hits hard on cabling charts, so I'll often just write in "f" or "b" in the symbols to help read them, or color code them. I'm working on an origami knit scarf now and he had a charted and a written version. The written version makes complete sense but honestly I keep looking back at the charted and can't make any sense of it! for your raglan, Tin Can Knits Flax sweater is a top down raglan and I've seen people do beautiful stripes in it. Also a free pattern. I recently just did the best spin of my life on some local hand dyed alpaca fiber, but it came out too thin for the project I had in mind. So now I need to play with it and see where that fabric wants to go. So frustrating when you try to go into stuff with a project in mind!

[@corrieandjassie]

🙋🏻‍♀️ I have a callus. I told my friend my sharps had never hurt me, she said yes and pointed out the callus I didn’t realize was there. Lol

[@lichenandmossfibre]

When I am using my chiagoo needles I make a cover for my finger from self sticking compression wrap. Works a treat.

[@christenagervais7303]

I use a leather glove fingertip from a pair of gloves that were way to small to wear, but the different fingertips work great for thimbles!

[@krautkopf65]

I have done this in crochet too. And now this last year I write down and make chart’s and I use paper and color code. It helps me so much to keep my place.

[@maritakinnula5300]

I color code them too, especially if there's something difficult coming up... also it was a good idea to frog the pullover for your husband, there's nothing more uncomfortable to wear than knitwear that is stiff...maybe latex beats that though🙂 Your socks are soo pretty😍 and i love the t you're wearing and the poster is just great👍👍👍👍Go Taylor😁

[@joanneknox5091]

Oh my gosh,Taylor! Much respect for chart thingy! It is truly the most marvelous creation. It is the best way. You are an inspiration. 🤗

[@peggydrawspictures]

having to stop and flip papers around and translate symbols was making it impossible for me to make any progress on my projects. for years I thought I just couldn't read charts. it took me a really long time to find a system for keeping track of charts that works for me, but now I just work with pdfs on my laptop or iPad. I cut and paste the key to the charts on every page and then I color code my charts to correspond with my stitch markers, use text boxes to note any changes I've made, and I keep track of where I am in the chart with a big highlighted box that I can move after every row. finding a method that works for you is such a game changer.

[@Katepwe]

I’m sure your husbands sweater will be gorgeous. I’ve heard/read you only knit those you really, really love a black sweater!

[@sarahiwasaki2754]

Love the system you came up with to keep track of the different cable charts. In the past, I have even created spreadsheets to keep track of what row I should be on in each chart. Highlighter tape is a must for me when working from any chart - used to use sticky notes but they can curl up and seem to fall off more often. Learning to read your knitting is also a great skill when working cables so that you can see a mistake sooner than later. Good luck with your cabled sweater - it will be gorgeous!

[@rebeccafreeman6623]

I LOVE the Knitphabet!! How adorable, and you are so creative in so many ways and mediums!

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

Thank you Rebecca! ❤️

[@lisajoslin8848]

Hi Taylor, I am currently working on the Same honeycomb Aran sweater. I had to laugh because I too have totally cut, pasted and even rewrote the pattern out to make it easier. Its nice to know I'm not alone in my knitting insanity. Just remember, wrong side, knit the knits and purl the purls. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@leiterfam]

Note about reading charts right to left - I'm a lefty, so I read charts Row 1- left to right, Row 2- right to left. Charts help also with leaning increases and decreases - I also use a KEY - lefty (mirror-knitting) decreases and increases lean opposite too. I'm working on a shawl that I put into excel. I am using color coded markers too!!! Love it!

[@oldmidwife]

I LOVE this podcast, your energy and what I alway learn from you. YOU ROCK!!!

[@marinacosgrove4245]

I LOVE your neuroses, Tayler! I do the exact same thing....thanks for sharing it all with us. Great, great podcast.....I never miss an episode ❤❤❤❤

[@maggiehensley1110]

I've made my daughter 2 sweaters with this type of yarn and am currently using it to make hats for my St. Jude knitting challenge.

[@lilacrosesandthemoon]

Thank you so much for showing the detailed steps that are often needed to work cable's. Since I lose my place so a lot that I am often unable to get very far and usually quit. My second son is also named Angus and I have never met another child with that same name.

[@marie-francepoulaert8939]

Hi Tayler, loved your episode and it was nice to see that I am not the only one struggling to find ‘the’ pattern. There is often something that doesn’t work and I need to tweak it. Thank you and happy knitting!

[@knotanitter]

That ‘sucker’ is the best - I do the same as most of my knitting takes place in the evening when I’m not at my best!

[@cynthiawick216]

I’m so glad to see you so happy! I love the energy that you bring to video. I had a thought for about the raglan increase part of your sweater for your DH: check out Roxanne Richardson’s Technique Tuesday video about raglan sweaters. If my memory serves, it covers how to calculate the raglan increase, & I love her clear diagrams that make it easy to follow. Good luck!

[@aragood7301]

Oh wow, you are a brave lady- that all sounds very complicated. Can't wait to see how the hubby's sweater turns out, love that new yarn!

[@PrairieArctic]

Good for you that you listened to your intuition and decided to change the yarn and pattern for your man’s sweater. Love the yarn and colours you have for him.

[@brendawilliams8161]

OK. Colour coding the cable charts with stitch markers is pure GENIUS! 🙌

[@mdyph27]

I am so happy you found a method that works for you reading a chart. I do a lot of work for charts as well. I color code things. I use wire bound index cards and I use color tabs to make flipping between sections. And I use a 📎 to keep track of which row I'm on. The last project I had to take it to the next level and I used a a dot grid sketch journal. Thank you for sharing.

[@michelleharrison5679]

*love “color therapy” *love handwritten notes and such. Please consider graph paper or dotted graph inside your notebook offerings? And some half sized and smaller (knit-baggable) *kudos for feeling okay about putting a project in time-out and showing us it’s okay to have some projects that go progress-less until they don’t. And changing the yarn to suit your pattern choice for your man sweater *”Behold my neuroses”- laughed out loud! Thank you for so much entertaining content.

[@SylvieGValade]

I used Mandala for making shawl and they turn out so beautiful .... i love the touch of it for an acrylic yarn ♥

[@MelindaStewart-cr7wo]

It is just so refreshing and freeing to watch a knitter let go of a project that just doesn't seem right. Even though you have invested (sometimes heavily) in the yarn, pattern, and effort it's ok to rethink it now rather than regret it later. Excellent decision and I am sure your husband will get much more enjoyment out of whatever you end up with! I live in a similar climate in the high desert of California and know I cannot buy or ever wear some of those beautiful yarns. Oh well, there are plenty of choices out there!

[@janiceclark1039]

A lot of cable patterns will have no cable crossings and you just knit the knits and purl the purls on the wrong side, so you don’t need to worry about reading the chart on the wrong side rows. Definitely worth looking for if you want an easy life!

[@plummyplummy]

girl i hope you know i DID laugh out loud when you whipped out that macgyver'd chart 😂 mad respect though. also... i've been a victim of the curse before so i don't mess with that anymore but it sounds like a fun KAL!

[@sherriepaulsonmiles8461]

Infographics & color coding!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@mandyfinkiewicz]

I hope your break was great; glad to have you back refreshed.

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

It was indeed Mandy. Thank you!❤

[@Helensbusyhands]

That chart + stitch marker combo is GENIUS Totally yoinking that idea when I venture back to doing lace

[@jody1622]

Hey Tayler just finished the Franken sweater. It was so much fun to knit and I love it! Instructions were great. Good job!!!

[@cherylclem3662]

Those colors in the Mandala yarn are totally greater than the sum of their parts!! I would NEVER choose those colors on their own, but together -- gorgeous!!

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

I feel like this is a perfect way to describe these yarns/colors. My sentiments exactly. ❤️

[@cathycarbone1598]

It's okay to rethink a project. Great insight for your husband's sweater. Have fun and enjoy 💓

[@dorisenderle5857]

I have had the same concern about the slipped stitches. I thought it was just my lack of knowledge. Thank you. 😊

[@candeeharris7509]

Hi Tayler, I thoroughly enjoy your watching you enjoy your knitting. I'm a paper pattern person all the way, full of notes and tic marks and cross outs....Thank you for sharing....

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

My pleasure Candee! Thank you so much for watching!

[@natashaklein3612]

I have printed up cable charts out and taped them together ending up being 4’ long just so it was easier to do. So it was left front, underarm, back, underarm, right side

[@VeretenoVids]

I feel your cable pain. I just did a pair of socks where the cables went down into the heel flap. It hurt my brain so much and I've been knitting for years.

[@christenagervais7303]

I use a leather glove fingertip from a pair of too small gloves when knitting with sharp needles. The other fingertips make great thimbles!

[@gordonclay4498]

For some really simple, masculine upper body striping on an raglan construction, take a look at the Montrealer pattern. I made one and really like the look of it.

[@blueheronhill]

Here’s a suggestion: Get a metal “sheet” and a magnetic bar to help you keep your place on your cable chart row. You can even draw an arrow for the direction you are knitting and switch it after each row. This has kept me sane during manny cabled sweaters.

[@mardirazzberry]

So Fast Fresh Tech Savy, I scanned code with phone while watching on big screen tv. 😎 ❤

[@daniellejohnson3364]

Newer follower here-love the striped blanket! Drooling over the project bags and that is for sure some beautiful yarn for the new sweater…Very partial to Rambouillet yarn 😊can’t wait to see the “improvgress”!

[@heatherhayes8758]

TAYLER!!! I love this episode! Your knitphabet is sooooo adorable! I have a feeling that is going to blow up and that stuff will be FLYING out of our merch shop! I love the stripped socks and as always, your sweaters are going to be amazing.

[@annfuller7082]

Love the Sundance throw!!!!!

[@markiecooks7635]

That chart and color coding is everything!! Brilliant

[@CazSantiago]

Awesome video as always Tayler! To avoid the pricked finger phenomenon, I picked up some rubber/silicone thimbles from $Tree. Haven't used them yet as I've been on a crocheting doll kick but they fit great. Also the last time I was at IKEA, I bought a couple of the RENSARE waterproof bags thinking they'd make great on the go project bags. During a recent trip, I took it along with me and it was perfect...clipped it to my personal item and crocheted away while waiting at the gate for boarding. It kept my project ultra secure, snag free, and soooo accessible even on the plane.

[@fayelourenso4839]

Love your reconstruction of the charts. I have done similar along with making a spreadsheet with each section.

[@rachelmitchell2144]

Woohoo! It was only a week, but it seemed like an age! Was so excited to see the new video drop! I’m glad to know other knitters push needles with their fingertips. I thought i was doing something wrong, but it worked, so I’ve kept doing it. 🤣 And oh man! The infographic! The color coding! I’m a pen and paper gal for some tasks, so ‘sorry, digital age!’ had me cracking up! Can’t wait to peruse the poster and decide on a coffee mug (if you release each letter separately). That’s just so creative! And it’s just so refreshing the way you have no qualms about budget yarn and happily taking criticism/feedback and starting over when you need/want to. Thanks for being such an encouraging corner of the knitting world. 💚🧶

[@mardirazzberry]

I'm also using Lion Brand Mandala @4 2 small and 2 large cakes for Standed knitting. Excited to see final project. I'm finding it splitty too and sticky, keeping cakes aprt while knitting as they knot easily.

[@roserenik6375]

I have only been watching for a short period of time and most often don't comment. I just realized today that you are located 2 hours away from me. I live near Laughlin Nevada, close to Bullhead city. I also apparently missed the yarn episode, ad I had no idea that there was a wool from Nevada. I think your next sweater will be easier to make, you have a reasonable game plan and yarn you love, it will definitely go together easier and you will enjoy it. Have a great week , will be looking forward to the next installment of the sweater and you next show.

[@MichaelaDrechselova]

i love your chart! it makes me feel like i'm not alone.😄 what i tend to do is: i draw a chart of how the pattern looks from the right side. next to it, i draw a chart with every odd line looking the same and every even line reversed. this way, i have precisely the pattern i need for knitting but i also know what it will look like in the end. i use strong double-sided tape and stick some velum paper over my charts. then use a washi tape to mark the line i'm currently knitting for my mix chart. i find washi tape much better than any sticky note. they last longer and i can mark the whole row (which i consider necessary with astigmatism).

[@zoelynn4835]

I've got a small collection of the mandala yarn, wish lion brand still made the wool ease mandala cakes, I like to crochet mosaic rugs with them with a contrasting black. So pretty. Love the new Sundance throw and I love, love that project bag. Got to get me one of those. Back to knitting I go.

[@sarajeanhazeltinenesbitt5108]

YOU JUST SOLVED A 13 YEAR OLD CONUNDRUM! I was trying to knit myself a shrug literally 13 years ago and I could NOT get the pattern right! I was checking the errata regularly - literally I checked it again within the last year. I'd done all my previous pattern knitting in the round - thank you!

[@wendyfaustin8269]

Have you thought about the STRANGE BREW sweater by Tin Can Knits for your husband’s sweater?

[@hazeluzzell]

The Q code is a great idea. I got it on my phone from my iPad.

[@alicemerray]

I'm glad someone helped you out with the cabled jumper. I think your solution is excellent but I'm impressed that you're knitting the cables from a chart in the first place. I just....can't. I have even tried to colour in the different cable crosses on a chart with different highlighters but it's like I just can't *see* the difference in the symbols to be sure I'm doing it correctly. So I only knit cables when there's a written text to tell me what to do. It doesn't have to be a row by row for every single row version; even a short text to say what each row of a repeat is *once* will do, but if the pattern only has a legend which says this symbol=this cable, I just move on.

[@sprightlysyndicate]

i am working on my first sweater, all thanks to your inspiration!

[@akshathakini157]

That poster is genius Tayler!! I’m amazed at how superbly creative you are! Will definitely purchase it 😊

[@charlenecrochetcorner789]

Love that Nomadic yarn socks

[@irishbelle34]

I love following along on your sweater sagas! And I'm so glad you had a keen-eyed viewer to help with your cables. There's definitely a learning curve when it comes to reading the charts and I love that you created a sheet to help you with right side/ wrong side symbols, etc. And I'm so excited about your new sweater for your husband. I think it's a great plan and I'm sure he'll love it. ❤️

[@JulieShock]

I love Hiya Hiya sharps. For any project. Especially lace and socks.

[@desireeshafer1524]

I IMMEDIATELY went and bought yarn for that blanket, however I did more of a pink color pallette because ya girl loves some pink action

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

Yes!! It’s going to be soo pretty! Enjoy. 💗💗

[@jenniferrich5292]

I’m so glad that you feel like it’s a long time since you recorded~ that’s what breaks are for! Your chart making skills are amazing🥳 Also, I improvise sweaters all the time using several patterns at once. It’s incredibly satisfying to end up with just the right fit and characteristics and something that fits your wardrobe and style.

[@cass1769]

Every time I've tried to knit a sweater for an SO we break up. This time I only had just gotten the yarn and pattern 😒 maybe I should knit my dog a sweater 🤣

[@emilymiller40]

I have my first ever cabled sweater knit flat on my needles so I definitely feel you with the chart brain issues 😅 and your #notavegan made me laugh

[@joisekolesnik4023]

I highlight my cable symbols so it’s easier to see and memorize so my chart are truly colourful….try it and see if it works for you!

[@bgummeson]

I hear you on choosing a fabric for your husband that suits your climate. Recently I’ve been thinking that my first sweater should be a cardigan, for flexibility in our San Francisco Bay Area climate.

[@carolerath1129]

You can definitely tell you were a teacher. I love the tips and tricks you did to make your knitting easier for you. I really enjoy your podcast and can’t wait for the next one.

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

Thank you so much Carol! ❤️

[@karenbetz2328]

I thought I was the only one who color codes charts & stick markers and writes up all kinds of notes so I can't mess up. I am the post it note queen (have stock in the company) and love the ones with lines so I can make notes as I go as well.