Why you shouldn't knit that chunky roving blanket you saw on Pinterest

We explain why it's not the best idea to knit that cute chunky roving blanket you saw on Pinterest. If you're a knitter you probably know what we're talking about, every few months people will share images of super squishy bulky blankets knitted out of wool roving.
Emily knitted up some swatches with merino roving and US50 needles and leaves them on her couch for a month to demonstrate how these roving blankets will really wear with time. We have images of the swatches at 1 week, 2 weeks, and 1 month. In addition we put one of the swatches through the washer and dryer (laundry accidents can happen even in a knitters home!). We even let a puppy have a go at one of the swatches.
This is our PSA to try and save the wool. If you want a super chunky blanket, try buying super bulky yarn, holding multiple yarns together, or spinning a super chunky yarn of your own!
If you're curious this is the fiber we used: woolery.com/su...
You can read more about this experiment on our blog!
woolery.com/bl...

[@Luv2dance902]

she really just- spun perfect yarn with no effort

[@elaniarkady7351]

I saw that too! I need more practice 😂😂😂

[@kathlenesmith830]

This technique isn't too terribly hard. I recommend learning it if you have any interest. This is a lot less expensive than a spinning wheel.

[@Lillith8810]

She's probably been doing it so long, muscle memory.

[@omaeve]

Kathlene Smith All it takes is 30 years of practice

[@janinedear-barlow]

It's very easy to do

[@kitchensinkchronicles3272]

i don't know why i'm here i don't even knit but the video intrigued me i was like "oooo, things are heating up in the knitting fandom"

[@ezraleite7260]

SAME lol

[@Pennasaurus]

Hahahq same!!!

[@HaaveileeJi]

Same 😂

[@Tzara86]

🤣 y'all

[@jsophiamm]

Right. I didn’t know knitters had tea but I’m not complaining and I’m definitely staying 😂.

[@bengriffin9830]

-It has strength, it has cohesion, it has a tremendous amount of integrity. -That wool sounds better suited for getting a PhD than me...

[@Lola1912]

🤣🤣😭😭😭

[@nicoleancell6860]

Spun wool for Prez!

[@redpotter27]

I'm thinking of sneaking this phrase onto my undergrad application lol

[@archanashreedhar5089]

Same.

[@ea7109]

🤣🤣🤣

[@taylorrooks1261]

me, who’s never touched a knitting needle a day in my life: oh well i gotta see this

[@allisterthebirb4142]

I’d recommend learning a stitch or two, it’s relaxing to do in your spare time and you can make a bunch of neat things for your friends and family! Your time is your own though.

[@DIGI0TAL]

Me rn

[@c3r6s9]

same

[@spacecait8593]

deadass

[@hallielentz1291]

Omg same, girl 😆

[@elizabethtoedt4479]

I bought one of those at a thrift store for $2 not knowing it was actually a "blanket" and just pulled it apart to spin up as yarn. I got a ton of yarn out of it. It was a super deal.

[@TheWoolery]

That's so great! You resurrected that roving!

[@maureentalley2462]

Great deal!!!

[@thatonegirlelaine]

That is an EXCELLENT deal!

[@nathancrommwell7645]

Lucky!!!

[@downtime86stars17]

I keep hoping to come across one of those for exactly that reason--I want the wool.

[@lforsey1899]

“It went through the washing machine on hot, and the dryer.” “...Lord have mercy.”

[@9melissal]

Why would you ever wash wool on hot and put it in the dryer?

[@LadyNikitaShark]

@@9melissal to test it.

[@carabiner7999]

@@9melissal Isn't that how you felt?! EDIT: 5:28 I guessed right! Yay, me!

[@user-ee9tu1kh5i]

Oh god

[@Laetu]

“You could beat someone to death with it.”

[@dasty3314]

in short: -the material is hella weak, it’ll break apart super easily -washing it can break your washer -it gets MAD dirty -even gentle animals can tear it up -it gets ruined in the washer/dryer anyways

[@ami9486]

Ugh thank you for this!

[@motherofpea4rll]

Omg thank you they took like 5 hours to explain this

[@QuinnHarleyQuinn]

Thank you, just Thank you!

[@funnytime1111]

These are things I’ve always wondered about when I see this blanket, even though it looks so cozy and I want it...

[@jacquelineroland3788]

And it’s expensive

[@ryleeburnand9776]

“You could use this as a weapon” “You could beat someone to death with it” Jesus this knitting video escalated quickly...

[@suemacfarlane389]

Mate, we knit so we don’t kill people. But we have numerous sharp implements and potential garrottes available at all times, so it’s best not to push it. 😜

[@misterkaos.357]

Ever heard the story about the little old lady who killed an intruder with a #8 needle? Those things are deadly!

[@skyskynomnom4674]

The knitting community has always need a dark cut throat place. Touch my cable holders and see what happens. I have felting needles and I’m not afraid to use them.

[@christykaderman6484]

Well we need with sharp objects on the regular.

[@jarsofpaperstars]

These replies Jesus Christ y’all are terrifying, and here I thought I should pick up knitting to relax

[@eladiocofresi5202]

Those knitting needles aren't broom handles. They are vampire stakes. On second thought, either would be perfect if vampires return in my neighborhood.

[@Agrarius24]

Return?

[@eladiocofresi5202]

@@Agrarius24 I was making a referential joke to Vampires versus The Bronx.

[@nairocamilo]

@@eladiocofresi5202 I'm sorry I didn't catch the reference, I still found it cleverly funny!

[@ashley-tb4yw]

the vampire diaries

[@margaret_adelle]

Someone write the story of the cozy knitter that moonlights as a vampire hunter.

[@Ollebolle112]

KZbin: Hey, you wanna know why you shouldn't make a chonky pinterest blanket? Me: Never In My Life Have I Been So Intrigued

[@melonie_peppers]

Intrigued

[@Ollebolle112]

Thanks

[@monique7885]

Saaaame

[@rosetigerlion]

Same, but I was actually thinking about making one lol

[@caroled3943]

Rofl

[@klara0kor]

"Any thing that has no structure will fall apart pretty readily" *Oh my, she's talking about me!!!* :D

[@paolafrias]

Same

[@Bongosaurus_0]

Same

[@camomille2940]

Same

[@gingerteacher5429]

I literally used it as motivation to get my planner and put together my life lmaoo

[@shieldmaiden1318]

“Any thing that has no structure will fall apart pretty readily” Me, post divorce and blaming my kids bad grades on myself if I don’t have a sit down dinner every night. 😔

[@elchupacabra683]

I found this video about a year too late, LOL. My wife was adamant about making one of those blankets and I warned her I thought it was a bad idea. When we went to the local knitting/weaving shop even the lady there tried to dissuade my wife, but she insisted. So, $300 worth of roving later she has this big blanket that IMMEDIATELY just picks up tons of cat and dog fur and all kinds of gross stuff. After a week the thing was disgusting. To top this bad idea off, my wife decides to throw it in the washing machine to clean it! Yeah... I bet you can see where this is going... It completely destroyed our washing machine. So not only did this stupid blanket cost $300 in materials, but it also cost us a $1,000 washing machine.

[@TrappedinSLC]

El Chupacabra did it turn into a giant wad of felt?

[@alisonjane5364]

Sorry but this is both 😂 and 😥. Hope this didn't break your relationship!

[@ayeshaw2486]

@@alisonjane5364 I’m sure by the sounds of this comment that this is something they’ll laugh over in years to come😂😂 Strong couples make mistakes together!

[@annalinneajohansson]

Hahaha... That's one expensive blanket. 😂 I'm sorry, can't help but laugh. At least you got a good story out of it! 😏

[@sandraford4235]

Oh wow l didn’t like them in the first place so glad

[@britneycheng4900]

“It’s stiff and yielding and unattractive...” why does this feel like a callout

[@TheMistOfThePast]

Unyielding

[@mysmirandam.6618]

@@TheMistOfThePast you beat me to it

[@NootalieWalf]

It’s coarse and rough and gets everywhere

[@dr.rodabthicc]

My plushies I make in my spare time after a while in a nutshell.

[@publicserviceannouncement4777]

Right?!

[@storey662]

As a knitter & crocheter who has been asked 6000 times to knit one of these for friends and relatives, I appreciate you ladies. When I quote the yarn price to them they always back down, but I always tell them how it would fall apart after two weeks anyways, just to make sure they get the message. Saving this to send to the next person who asks. The holidays are coming up and I can see it coming. 🤪😜

[@ideoformsun5806]

"Structure is a necessary part of life." Wise words.

[@annekaltschmidt135]

'anything that doesn't have structure, will fall apart in the face of distress' I felt that statement, too

[@blizzard_the_seal9863]

and found in a video about the less than satisfactory qualities of roving......

[@kaitlinstringfellow8859]

If y'all want to make a blanket like this that'll actually last, try looking up "tube yarn"! It's actually like a fabric tube stuffed with polyester filling like a pillow! So it's durable, thick, and super squishy! I also think it's less pricy, or at least around the same price! Plus it's machine washable!

[@ItsAsparageese]

Thanks, I was just looking for a comment like this! I was wondering what sort of effect I might get if I cut fleece into a single long strip and hand-knotted it that way, but something that's actually tubular makes a bit more sense. I'm eager to contrive a way to hand-weave blankets quickly and enjoyably with the cheapest material possible lol. Hmmmm, I could tubeify and stuff old denim ...

[@MyFictionalChaos]

Shocked people dont know about this. I know nothing about woving blankets but those blankets have been all over the internet for years. But I guess the kinds of people who actually want chunky blankets arent exactly the same kinds of people who peruse the internet

[@xyzsame4081]

Or T-shirt yarn.

[@epicparakeet]

And if you want it even thicker, you can easily make your own by sewing and stuffing tubes of fabric. You can choose the fabric and if you wanted to, add weighted beads to make this comfy wonder even better!!

[@maryanneslater9675]

A friend just made a lovely Celtic knot pillow by knitting a long tube, stuffing it, and sewing it into the shape she wanted.

[@clarav1938]

I don’t know what I expected knitters to say about the quality of certain knitted items but it definitely wasn’t “you could beat someone to death with that!”

[@drjones6567]

I just stopped in to say I love your pic! Alice is my favorite

[@oreokitty333]

I have been knitting for 5.5 years, since I was 19. This is exactly what parts of the knitting community are like

[@clarav1938]

@@oreokitty333 that’s awesome, i need to get into it

[@ShintogaDeathAngel]

“Laundry accidents do happen” - I remember a few years ago that my mum washed my dad’s jumper - it was around XXL when it went in, but it came out literally child sized. The irony is, she’s a knitter/crocheter lol.

[@nanparker8373]

Dad's jumper, er, no. Problem solved. Lol!

[@resourcedragon]

Hell, I've done that with things I've knitted myself, too. :-(

[@zoki4291]

Something similar happened with my brother's sweater that my mother made (she spent months making it, it was a difficult material to work with + dark colors + poor eyesight), then he just put it in the washing machine and it came out shrunk lol.

[@zemyla]

How much bigger than normal should something be for it to shrink to the right size after washing?

[@planningandtravelling]

Accidentally shrunk my mum’s jumper that then only fit me, but no-one believed me when I said it was an accident because I used to borrow it so often

[@Diefenbaker57]

Great respect for the honesty in exposing the weaknesses of this "fad" -- as sellers you could have made a lot of cash riding that wave of "as seen on Pinterest" -- but know that would have lead to unhappy customers when they fell apart after a week. Woolery needs to do more videos - you do them well. My wife would love to know hints on using a circular loom

[@TheWoolery]

Thanks so much! We'll add the circular knitting loom to our list of video ideas!

[@anixson3678]

Omg! Yes please do circular knitting! I usually crochet but I've started learning looming and would love to know more about it as well as perhaps converting normal knitting patterns to the loom.

[@lemonamongus4681]

@@anixson3678 same. I decided to learn to use the loom first because it’s fairly simple with only two stitches. I recommend it.

[@trenae77]

Yes! I love your ‘real life wear’ documentation rather than just saying ‘Don’t do this!”

[@dorkvania7212]

I love you Signed, A wet felter with a huge roving collection who has been going nuts for the past two years seeing people try to knit roving

[@midwifelife]

As a spinner I've also been watching with concern and a certain amount of amusement as this became a 'thing'. I'm mostly annoyed that people have been wasting our precious roving 😂

[@inunokanojo]

One of the yarn stores I came across has this that you can buy to make the chonky blankets but theirs is felted merino wool. Does that make a difference? If I bought & used that to make one of these blankets would it do the same as the roving?

[@beckel3593]

@@inunokanojo probably idk

[@MySubarashii]

@@inunokanojo it would probably make a difference, but i don't know how much...you should look around for reviews on that yarn, or ask around on social media in knitting groups before buying! :)

[@professorroundbottom438]

@@inunokanojo Try what they did here: knit a small bit of a something and put it through a bit of wear and a wash, just to see how it holds up.

[@NicollesDreamsShop]

This is exactly what happened to mine. I spent $700 on my extra large chunky blanket that I let sit on my sofa and I was so disappointed at how quickly it deteriorated :( It did not stay in my home past the 3rd month.

[@astrod6977]

Im sorry but $700???? Was it made of gold??

[@SilverScaleMA]

@@astrod6977 Probably mid/high quality wool depending on the size and thickness of the blanket. Raw fiber like that is surprisingly expensive but would make quite a bit of yarn if spun. Probably could have made 3-4 blankets out of the yarn of the fiber was spun well.

[@watson483]

Huh, good to see you :) Sorry you had so many problems. As a knitter I was always leery of it, especially since I used to know quite a lot of wool farmers when I was a kid. I was living out country as a kid.

[@SL-lz9jr]

Yikes! Expensive lesson. A guy I’m dating right now recently purchased a throw pillow that looks like it was made from roving. Probably acrylic too, so not even real wool. But I’m going to let him learn his lesson. It’s too early for me to start saying “I told you so”. Lol.

[@charlieapples9373]

WHO SPENDS $700 IN A COUCH BLANKET THAT’S MORE THAN I PAY IN _RENT_ what the actual fuck

[@christinecameron1612]

If one desires a "chunky blanket" why not use stuffed fabric tubes instead, still just as soft and holds together.

[@arriannaniv]

I have a braided bumper for my toddler like that. Just extra chunky. It’s absolutely lovely

[@katie4391]

Zsa Zsa Umbra I’m not completely educated but isn’t wool vegan in a way because it NEEDS to be taken off the animals or else it will harm them? Or does it still not count since it is an animal product?

[@youandwhatband]

@@ZsaZsaUmbra I really hope you mean rayon by synthetic fibres, because any kind of polyester etc. releases hundreds of thousands of microfibers when you wash it... Very bad for our ecosystem. So ethically sourced wool would be much better, since it's completely biodegradable.

[@samgould9930]

@@ZsaZsaUmbra wool is removed to benefit the animal for health reasons. You are doing more damage by using synthetic fiber as they are all made of some kind of pietro-chemicals

[@jeannetteloretta9427]

Don’t forget the tiny little hairs that get stuck on everything & float through the air and forget about it if ur man ever has a 5 o’clock shadow. It gets stuck on there whiskers lol

[@rachelciel3330]

Me, who never actually knit in my 20 years of life: Yes! Tell them about it ma'am. The nerve of these heretics!

[@as.7080]

🤣🤣🤣

[@Superficial-Intellectual]

I was ready for the knitting group tea and was not disappointed!

[@sfr2107]

@@Superficial-Intellectual 😂😂

[@PeaceLoveAndRico]

ye shall knit, ya ken? DO IT, you' ll not soon regret it, even if only for a moment of true peace!

[@werelemur1138]

In her prime, my dog could destroy allegedly indestructible dog toys within an hour. She could probably kill one of those blankets just by looking at it.

[@veemercer1698]

werelemur1138 This comment is so funny 😂 😂I love it❤️

[@louiealbrecht1088]

I was owned by a dog like that. Every week on payday I would buy about ten assorted "tough" toys, including hooves, and after a month, the owner finally asked me "how many dogs DO you have?" and was floored when I said "one, and she's a puppy!"

[@margaritas9769]

dog breaths in the other room, blanket destroyed.

[@StellaMariaGiulia]

My Dalmatian chewed off my moped's mudguard up to the license plate... She probably would have used that blanket to floss afterwards.

[@Emerald.She-Ra]

I just have this image of an anime dog facing off against evil invading blanket. The ultimate showdown!🤣

Lady on the right: *spins yarn from fluffy cloud* Me: she must be a witch :O

[@valencia878]

they hearted it it must be true

[@felianya]

@Beansprout you have no idea how hard I laughed

[@BeckyA59]

So impressed!

[@Lola1912]

@Beansprout 😭😭😂😂😂😂

[@JhadeSagrav]

But does she float?

[@bagandbroad]

“You could beat someone to death with that.” I had no idea the knitting world was so wild!

[@constancematthews3834]

Our tools are pointy sticks.

[@Kayenne54]

Why do you think those knitting needles are pointy? Lol.

[@brokenandcraked]

Crap, you've discovered the underground grandma assassins league.

[@babynoodle42]

@@brokenandcraked and there’s point protectors to keep them EXTRA sharp.

[@kayleelarsen5066]

Me: Doesn’t knit, never even seen or heard of a roving blanket before. This video: Exists My recommended: *it’s free real estate* -still watched the whole thing tho so maybe the algorithm’s on to something

[@lisahenry20]

Same. My grandma knits and she taught me at least 10 years ago but I haven't done it since so I've forgotten everything. I prefer sewing although I've barely had the chance to do it.

[@ncika447]

Same

[@mydevilshalo]

Lmao same

[@TheHardnutz]

Same. Saw it started scrolling by.. but had to click. And now I’m about to see what else they got LOL

[@eonofthestars]

same

[@DanceswithDustBunnies]

Emily and Nancy: don't do this KZbin: Here are a kajillion videos how to do this.

[@EsperLydia]

Right? Literally in my "Up Next" is a tutorial for the blanket. I

[@gabrielaarosemena5208]

LOL LITERALLY

[@ameliatheweirdo7022]

Fr man 😐💅

[@shalmali-379]

The video right under this was how to make a chunky blanket lmfao

[@safala]

At least I got this in my recommended.

[@junglejarnies1695]

Magic watching Nancy spin a perfect yarn just like that... it takes real expertise to make it look so easy.

[@helianthe3457]

I was wondering about it! I don't know anything about spinning and she did it in such a fluid way that I thought "this looks really easy". I'm glad to learn the easy way that it's her skill level making it look like this.

[@annahelander2881]

"Don't do it because you'll cry on the other end of the phone and we'll don't want to hear it." Nothing could describe my reasoning on things better than that.

[@katelijnhovestad8382]

Why did I read this exactly while I heard it in the video

[@danishareyes1883]

I got up to that part in the video when I read this comment. Then I went to reply, saw the previous reply and Katelijin experienced the exact same thing. 🤯

[@midsummerznight]

Uhm same

[@audreygerold580]

Me too!

[@namebrandmason]

It's like our forebears invented spinning for a reason.

[@escaramujo]

As other thousand of things we 'traditionalists' are trying to protect and bring to the mainstream knowledge bucket... but people think our forebears were stupid like pebbles... Being so arrogant will destroy us.

[@Sintanity]

but it's so disingenuous, because those chunky blankets _aren't made of roving._ People who say they are don't know knitting terms they're made of bulky yarn which is pre-felted. It holds up just fine, I have several bulky knit items around my house as well as a cat and a 90lbs dog

[@escaramujo]

@@Sintanity Indeed.

[@jenniferschmitzer299]

@@Sintanity but did you make them? all my things end up getting loved to death and i dont currently have any puppydogs or pussy cats.

[@crewmatewillthrowthesehand7600]

@@escaramujo yes, ancient Greece and Rome were supportive of homosexuality. As a traditionalist, I petition that we uphold the past :)

[@frostpersonal3758]

me: *doesn't even know the difference between knitting, crocheting, and roving* KZbin: have this video in your recommended!

[@facelessdrone]

Well, if you'd like to know the difference: knitting is with two needles, and is typically used to make sweaters, blankets, and more "geometric" patterns, as it creates the fabric in straight rows, typically you will see a lot of straight edges or pixel-art like designs in kitting. Whereas crocheting uses one hook, the stitches are rounder, and is typically used to create more rounder, spherical, or cylindrical patterns as is it much easier to create a smooth connection, crocheting tends to use more buttons and can create a cartoony effects very easily, which is why you will see so many crocheted stuffed animals. Either form can be used to make just about anything, but these are just the uses that are most practical/common for them both. And last but not least, roving. Roving is the raw material used to create yarn that has been washed and combed to create a beautiful, smooth fiber. It is very easy to spin into yarn and typically is made from wool, it is also used in needle felting. I hope that helped you if you wanted to know.

[@GoldieDoggy]

I know the difference between knitting and crocheting but had no idea roving was even a thing 😂

[@ina7084]

@@GoldieDoggy Exactly! What even is that 😅

[@tinychild7371]

@@ina7084 person above explained

[@ina7084]

@@tinychild7371 I am such an idi*t. Thanks 🤗!

[@giantschick21]

Me: Never once considered making or buying this kind of blanket. Can barely knit at all. KZbin: *recommends this video* M: Fascinating!

[@crazygastrostories5380]

So me, lol

[@rae7158]

“You could use that as a weapon” “beat someone to death” woah woah woah that escalated quickly

[@Runner656]

Right?

[@button2077]

Right?

[@heckno3986]

I feel like it started to escalate when she said her couch died

[@thewonderlander1372]

Ikr like damn knitting is metal as fuck lmao

[@raerohan4241]

@@thewonderlander1372 Well, did you look at those "needles" she used to knit that roving with? Those look like they could be used to stake a vampire 👁👄👁

[@julesssg]

“When somebody says do this thing, don’t do the thing” - knitter knowledge

[@lauramartinez-um4gm]

you guys should make a video on how to PROPERLY knit chunky blankets! the pinterest community needs this😭

[@andreathomas7069]

Yes I totally agree, help us by teaching us what we shouldn’t use and then teach us what to use and a tutorial of how to make that blanket

[@ariesmry]

I do not knit, crochet, or sew. I’ve never even heard of this material. But this video is so wholesome and educational

[@fabiob7261]

"dogs, kittens, children, accidents.. " that's a vibe

[@Nata-rb4vc]

Fun fact from a crocheter/knitter: roving wool is for felting and yarn spinning, and makes great yarn balls for the dryer. If you think about it trying to wash one of those, think massive yarnball that acts like a sponge

[@cormorantcolors]

Me, a crocheter on the knitting tea side of KZbin: 👁👄👁

[@erikapotgieter2221]

Hey, yo, same! It's cool tho. A lot of the principles are still helpful

[@Shasha-jo5iv]

Welcome! Hope you got some good crocheting in today!

[@rochelle7353]

Same! But this also is helpful to crocheters because its more about the yarn/materials than techniques

[@jabrayjay6679]

Same 😅

[@werisekk3]

Same :D it's like listening to a language that is very familiar to yours, yet different. I am confused yet excited.

[@halu959986]

The ease with which she spun the roving without a leader was amazing! I cant wait to get that skilled! Truly an artist

[@joypopoola6115]

I was freaking out! I didn't hear anything she said afterwards!!

[@annaapple7452]

Erm, I find it really easy. Only spinning for two years. I do use a leader for my spinning wheel, but never for a spindle. Just hook the hook softly into the fiber, perpendicular to the staple, maybe help a bit by pinching the fiber, and start twisting the spindle. Abby Franquemont shows it in one of her videos.

[@WitchOracle]

I actually find this technique easier than using a leader. It definitely helps to have a hook on your spindle, but you don't even need a hook honestly

[@jennilah]

Funny this is in my recommended.. a year ago I got hit by the fad too. I never knitted/crocheted in my life, but I wanted to make one of these blankets. I saw two types, ones made from this yarn, and ones made from chunky chenille. I had reservations about this yarn for all the reasons you listed, so it's interesting to see that I was right all along! I used the chunky chenille yarn, and a year later my blanket is still wonderful and warm and soft, and most importantly- still intact! :)

[@susanwright6168]

Literally had just made two of these blankets out of chunky chenille yarn when this video popped up. Is chenille yarn safer then, would you say?

[@levanera]

@@susanwright6168 chenille yarn is made of yarn that is twisted then cut, creating the fuzzy texture. Then that yarn is knit or woven to make a blanket. It has LOTS of structure. Roving is not yarn but pure wool from a sheep (cleaned of course) before anything else is done to it, so it has NO structure at all. Chenille makes much better blankets while mimicking the look of the roving blankets.

[@kaelagetz5604]

I’ve made several blankets out of chenille of various thicknesses and they’re lovely and last. I gave a baby sized one to each of my two godsisters, they’re five and two, and they sleep with them every night, their parents wash them and they’re still in great conditions. Additionally, they’re a lot cheaper!

[@ErykaSoleil]

Clearly you have a natural gift for knitting/crocheting. 😉😁

[@NeLasharron]

Thanks!! I’m glad I didn’t waste my money on the structure-less wool

[@coolkidextreme9430]

me: trying to do an 3 page essay due tonight my youtube recommended: me: interesting 👁👄👁

[@emilylohan5336]

haha I just worked on a paper for 5 minutes then came straight to youtube with this gem waiting for me to click! lol

[@magicijan]

Samee!

[@leviichuu711]

pls i never knitted anything in my life yet here i am.

[@kaceykace]

Me with my 6 page essay 👁👅👁

[@ashe5854]

Woah same here

[@panajotov]

I could never understand people going crazy over this trend. Some established yarn designers were posting on social media their opinion about the waste these blankets are. In general, fiber artists and enthusiasts need to be more aware about the waste we produce and encourage. There should be more recycling and reusing of yarn and other supplies overall. Great video, thank you for doing this!

[@nancymabry]

You two ladies, who didn’t even have to make this video, just saved me hundreds of dollars!!! THANK YOU!!!

[@TheBreechie]

I’m so glad they acknowledged the hot water and dryer was an “accident” because I can’t think of anyone who’d do that to wool

[@csodapaci]

People who don't know much about wool or don't usually do laundry can throw it into the washing machine thinking it will be alright. That's how I destroyed my sweater once :(

[@julietardos5044]

I once deliberately machine washed and dried a too-big wool sweater. It came out perfectly sized. Never did it again, though, to keep it that way.

[@siobhanphoenix9789]

Superwash wool is supposed to be ok. It is but I'm still just too paranoid to just throw it in a washing machine and dryer!

[@rosehook5761]

"Laundry accidents do happen." Oh how my heart needed to hear that after losing every wool piece I'd made thanks to an ex who didn't listen. 😭😭

[@horseenthusiast9903]

Aaand reason number 100-whatever that any date of mine needs to either be a textile nerd or listen to me about textiles, lol. No WAY am I letting them near my stuff otherwise!!

[@callysto_ii]

My brother put a single thread woven cashemire shawl I had in the washing machine on accident.... I actually cried for a good 20 minutes.

[@naysneedle5707]

My husband is banned from doing any laundry except his own.

[@ItsJustLisa]

My grandmother knit me a beautiful fair isle sweater when I was in high school. I think she used #4 needles. It was gorgeous, spruce with a pattern of cranberry, ivory, the spruce and maybe black. It was so firm a knit (not sure the term I’m looking for) that she’d put a short zipper in at the neck. I wore it twice. Then my younger sister decided to help Mom by doing laundry. She washed AND dried it. It came out probably fit for an American Girl doll. I cried for hours! We never, ever told my grandmother. She died 35 years later (having just turned 107) never knowing what Patty had done to my beautiful sweater.

[@michaw.2168]

I wanted to help my mum with washing her pullovers... it was Kashmir to this day 28 years later I still hear it and I'm not allowed to wash anything in my mum's house 🤣🤣

[@Snowbird5779]

Watching her hand-spin that wool that fast was amazing.

[@ElwingofRivendell]

As someone who spins I was really confused about how those roving blankets actually worked. Glad to know they actually don't!

[@ss-kw1kk]

too funny

[@moyetlicious]

Back when the trend first appeared I remember seeing someone selling a felted version of the roving designed to be used for those giant blankets, I'm sure I don't need to tell you how expensive that was and why it never caught on!

[@singe0diabolique]

I love Nancy's cardigan!

[@TheWoolery]

Isn't it gorgeous?!

[@JillLalande]

I was going to say the same thing! It’s stunning.

[@stormyw2000]

@@TheWoolery yes! Is there a pattern for it? I’ve been looking for a pattern like it for a long time.

[@Dobviews]

If you really want one of these blankets that last, use a chunky yarn. I pulled 24 yarn skeins of chunky chenille and put them together into 6 large skeins and used that as my chunky crochet yarn. It was time consuming but my sister loved the blanket for her sitting room and uses it often. We did notice though that it takes FOREVER to dry through all the layers of yarn so washing it and drying it is labor intensive! She and her daughter hand wash it and let it sit out all day in the sun on the line and then in the evening run it through the dryer after most of the water has evaporated in the sun. I used 6 different colors and got a cool rainbow swirl effect.

[@moonfestal]

Not sure why this is in my recommended considering I have never touched a knitting needle in my life, but I'm glad I'm seeing it because it's very nice and informative

[@abitofwhimsie]

I’m so happy for this trend because... I have found two huge heaping mounds of roving at the thrift store and now will dye and spin ... so I hope every one decides to do this and then give to the thrift store for me giggle like a mad woman when I find 5 pounds of roving for 12$...ok so that’s not actually nice... because I don’t want them to waste their money and be sad. I guess I will say thank you for warning them 😋🥰

[@crazy4beatles]

Nice! Now I know what I'll be looking for at the thrift shop hehe This Saturday is the monthly half off the whole store.

[@kathlenesmith830]

🤣🤣🤣

[@TheGreyscaleRainbow]

I have been finding the roving from these blankets at the thrift store as well and as someone who needle felts I am just like "Don't mind if I do~"

[@bunnyrabbitshavehats]

Us thrifty crafters are a special breed. LOL. Good luck on finding more roving. I feel you!!

[@thesparrow3902]

The older woman in this video would make a Great teacher! She is so knowledgeable and well-spoken!!

[@thekeevinatorhk]

I don't even knit but i am FUMING at the AUDACITY of such a thing

[@heatherrowles2580]

Im not a fan of knitting.....but I love wool felting.....with Marino rovings, it has never struck me as a good idea to make blankets out of the rovings, simply because they felt so very well with minimal effort.

[@Tina06019]

Hahaha

[@lisaharmon5619]

I got 3 "skeins" of wool blend roving in clearance bags for $5 each. I was thinking about knitting one of those chunky blankets....but... I didn't think about spinning it into yarn. Thank you!

[@josiereyes1012]

You can still do it! Just not with this yarn us chunky bernat yarn!(edit:i was conserned i wasnt clear i am talking about that fluffy plush like yarn you could also use velvet yarn!)

[@DebiSunset]

Spinning it into yarn is all i could think of 😊😊😊

[@carenwilson4902]

I was able to get a 5 large bundles of roving for less than $2 each (originally $34.99 each). They are a blend, not 100%. What about felting it first? I don't know how to spin it into yarn! :(

[@DebiSunset]

@@carenwilson4902 there are you tube videos on spinning. I have not done felting. If you are on the Florida space coast we could get together

[@annaapple7452]

@@carenwilson4902 Get or make yourself a simple drop spindle, watch some beginners videos on youtube and go for it! Spinning is seriously so much easier than I thought. First yarn will probably be a bit wonky, but that is the charm of it.

[@etherseas]

"Structure is a necessary part of life." Words to live by.

[@daniellemhall1358]

Today I learned that the yarn community can spill their own kind of tea.

[@HeatherColourandfelt]

Thank you ladies! I have been telling people this for months. Its rubbish for knitting with, but great for needle felting with.

[@TheWoolery]

Very true!

[@fairygrove3928]

Amen to the needle felting!!!

[@christacarey3125]

My envy on watching the effortless use of a drop spindle. I'm still in the "I only make art yarn" stage.

[@finnmcool2]

I would think plying covers a host of sins. It's not like you are trying to spin embroidery thread.

[@TattooedAussieChick]

I know right! I was like, how on earth did she do that in a split second?!?!?!?

[@impunitythebagpuss]

Me too! Lol! She's amazing...that spindle is like Harry Potter's wand!

[@longyarn4288]

While I didn't consciously think about the "will fall apart in a week" aspect of the so called blanket. My mind refused to even entertain the idea of it just from the sheer COST of making something out of roving big enough to cover a bed, and the Pure Waste of spinning FUN! 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

[@ragnkja]

I’ve seen arm-knitting that was done with strips of fabric before, and that sounds a lot more sensible than trying the same with roving.

[@maitlandjennifer1]

Where did you see arm knitting with other fabrics? I would love to see it!

[@eithnespain2347]

That seems like a great way to recycle old clothes. Might give it a go.

[@sprinklesandwrinkles]

I know people do it with fleece strips. It looks ok.

[@TheMerlMobile]

This reminds me of the knitting podcasts my mom would listen to while I played with legos when I was like eight and it’s a comforting feeling

[@sinlobo84]

Lovelly memory

[@MsGrockle]

I made a blanket for a friend using this stuff and wondered why I never saw it at their place. It probably fell apart within a month!!

[@erina6319]

WOW, how much did that cost to make???

[@anon2131]

Bit they might have been too polite to tell you, in case it hurt your feelings. I had that happen to me once as a teen. I made a country style gingham smocked dress for a little girl visiting our family from Europe. They were very affluent people. My gift was graciously accepted with smiles, thanks etc and I felt so proud. Until next time I visited them and wondered why the little girl never wore the pretty country gingham smocked dress I had put so many sleepless nights into making. "Oh, we don't wear gingham in the city but it is a lovely dress...." was their reply when I asked if she liked wearing it. I then offered to help with some household chores at their house, like dusting. "Oh, there's a dusting rag in the laundry" the child's mum, a relative of ours said. "Use that to dust..." I looked and nearly died of shock when I saw that the "old dusting rag" was actually the pretty little gingham dress I had lovingly and painstakingly made and given as a gift for the little girl. I said nothing. I was so miserable I cut my stay short, pleading "homesickness for the country" (where my gingham smocked, embroidered etc crafts were admire and treasured, not turned into old household cleaning rags....) . I never visited these people again.

[@MsGrockle]

@@erina6319 Well I got the roving at a fabric warehouse, so at £12 a bag it was considerably cheaper than buying from a regular shop. But I needed about five bags to get a decent sized throw blanket, so it cost £60. Never again!!!

[@MsGrockle]

@@anon2131 Oh no! That must have been heartbreaking. I understand them wanting to be polite, after all no-one would want to hear that a gift that they spent so long making was not well received. But to find it as a dusting rag ... I hope it didn't put you off dressmaking and crafting.

[@vickisnemeth7474]

@@anon2131 Wow! I'm glad you set that boundary. They could have at least donated it to a charity.

[@glittery_cucumber]

Watching this at 8 am before getting out of bed, no intention of ever knitting anything. I don't know what KZbin was thinking suggesting this now, but I appreciate it.

[@rosieroo538]

I feel like this video constantly popping up in my recommended feed for months despite not being a knitter is what slowly wore me down and led me to become a little obsessed with knitting.

[@scoutsalem9926]

i just about had a heart attack when she said 250 grams i thought she was going to say 250 grand 😭

[@IceSorceress]

S A M E glad I wasn't the only one xD

[@filthyapostate4217]

"you could beat someone to death with it" Yeah, and then use it to mop up the blood 😂

[@TheWoolery]

😂

[@vanessachaveznavarro4619]

Oh, we love multipurpose 😂

[@UKPurplePanther]

I actually suspected this might happen if I made a blanket / throw, so haven't made one... So many people are promoting arm knitting with this wool, just imagine how much wool ended up in the bin. Thanks for taking the time / spending the money to get this video out for everyone. I definitely will not be wasting my money on one of these 👍🏼 💐

[@lauren6161]

Anyone else get this in their recommended when they never watch knitting stuff? Lol

[@neyo231]

KZbin wants us to warn our family's and pinterest friends

[@Xaforn]

I did, guess that’s what I get for watching off grid and mythological creatures and tbbt 😆

[@r.coburn3344]

Wholesome grandma side of KZbin, I’m so glad I found you.

[@mylink.orb17]

Mua ha ha 😼

[@beckel3593]

"you can beat someone to death with it" ~wholesome grandma side of KZbin

[@lauren8627]

Excellent video! So much real knowledge that is missing from the "aesthetic-core" Pinterest.

[@Blabberflups]

"Structur's a necessary part of life" - Nancy on knitting chunky blankets Never heard someone make an analogy so smoothly.... Respect!

[@alycats94]

I don’t knit, and I know nothing about knitting, but this was super interesting. The more you know!

[@Twisterfoot]

i’ve been eyeballing these blankets forever actually, so this video is deeply relevant to me lol. thanks for the informative video!!

[@AASilverOrigami]

Yep, they do look gorgeous, but way too expensive to make. Nice for a photoshoot, but that's about it.

[@samsterling2457]

Me, as someone with no intention to start doing any yarn-based crafts watching this video: 👁 👄 👁

[@catn7253]

I can't even comprehend someone just... doing that to such lovely roving. I could feed my spinning wheel for *months* with five pounds of merino.

[@Shaishairo]

love these two ladies ! they have such a warm, fun, friendly energy about them

[@TheWoolery]

Awww thanks!

[@eagledove9]

If you absolutely have to make something that is large and puffy, and made of wool, and warm, it would be a better idea to put all the fluffy wool inside of a blanket, where it was enclosed in an outer shell of some fabric, and quilted to hold it in place. I'm working on doing something like that myself. Or you could just admit that you want to sleep in a pile of loose wool, and put it all into a box with raised edges large enough that the wool wouldn't fall out the sides, and then just use that as your bed, without even bothering to arm-knit it into a blanket. It would be like sleeping in the pit of foam blocks that gymnasts jump into.

[@fioregiallo]

I'm picturing a human making a giant rabbit nesting box out of this stuff 💀🤣

[@eagledove9]

@@fioregiallo yes, exactly!

[@Neodymium144]

I do want to sleep in a pile of loose wool! But my back disagrees :/

[@kat8559]

Truly inspired comment. Just like a lil rat in a tissue box.

[@ItsAsparageese]

Not gonna lie, a nesting bed like that full of loose wool sounds glorious lol

[@loriscook5231]

Years ago I bought my boyfriend a hand spun, hand knitted sweater. It went into holes as the wool hadn’t been spun evenly. The sweater looked beautiful when new, natural sheep colours with a patterned circular yoke (1975 hippy/rustic look) A waste of my money and the knitters time and skill. To last and wear well wool must be spun well, whether hand spun or factory spun yarn. You ladies know what you are talking about.

[@dinkledorfette]

I crochet and was asked awhile back to make one of those arm knitted blankets. I did some research and realized that it wasn't a good idea to do (like you've both mentioned in your video). I learned that you can face issues when washing (felting or unraveling). So, I've made sure to switch to acrylic/wool blend yarn that is woven. It's just a better bet. I made one for our family (with Bernat Blanket BIG Yarn). It held up nice, but we found out real fast that it's not a good blanket to have with animals. Hair, snagging, pulling...etc. Yeah. We ended up washing it, dehairing it to the best of my ability and regifting it to a family that doesn't have animals and would enjoy it the way that it should be enjoyed. This is a great video. Thank you for making it! I can share it with others. :)

[@MugWitch]

I've always wanted one of those chunky knit blankets and am still planning to make one, but never would I EVER use roving merino wool yarn and I'm glad there's a youtube video popping up explaining and confirming my instinct to not use it haha And will just repeat what others may have already commented but use Tube Yarn or T-shirt Yarn instead!! they're already fabric and will maintain their structural integrity WHILE ALSO being machine washable!

[@saigec8793]

Can you attach a link to this other yarn :D

[@MugWitch]

@@saigec8793 I haven’t done much for price comparing yet but here’s a link to the type I mean from Amazon! www.amazon.com/dp/B07GN72RKJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabt1_ru0VFb70G8PWG

[@finnmcool2]

When I knit something bulky I like to double strand with 2 colors of yarn, when they spin during knitting you get a need variegated effect. One of my crafting experiments that came out well.

[@rungyu]

when that lady said "Lord have mercy." I felt that though I don't knit.

[@cupcakezrul2434]

Me who already spent $100 worth of yarn and knit the blanket that’s not even half-done: 👁👄👁

[@phyrewillow6463]

You could learn to spin yarn! You could make soooo much yarn! It’s super relaxing once you get the hang of it. Or sell it on fbook to ppl who do spin

[@MsAngrybutterfly]

@Nancy Lanno It's funny you should say that, because I tried to make one of these, with a 9 month old puppy, and the needles really made it too hard to knit the whole blanket in one go, and mine became a scarf, lol.

[@elizacarrie7433]

Learn how to make your own yarn!! You’ll have so much, it’ll be really soft and it’s super easy! Especially with the technique she showed briefly in the video, you buy one piece of equipment and you can make yarn! (Also omg that thick stuff is MERINO?!?!)

[@pandacapuccino]

You could try needle felting, I fell in love with it!

[@zooh8017]

You can always take up needle felting haha

[@hydraxisfrimon9785]

I kept looking at these demos and thought these people were MAD, and now you have confirmed this for me - many thanks. I spun my own yarn for a while and learned a lot about twist and structure and just the thought of handling roving in this way and knowing it had no structural integrity made me laugh up my sleeve. I guess it must have generated a lot of sales for roving, so that could have been a good thing, but on the other hand the thought of all that fluff everywhere in no time at all must have created lot of very frustrated newbie crafters, and disappointment for anyone gifted one - not so good! People are saying they are still doing this during lockdown, hope your video will be more widely watched to save them the let down of it all. Power to the spinners who are getting hold of the remains of these sad projects and doing something more durable with them!

[@elizabethmeredith591]

Why is this on my recommended? I have no idea. Am I enjoying this wholesome wool content? My god yes.

[@oliviascott2995]

5:33 Nancy- "WAP" She was truly ahead of her time

[@monicabranch7011]

🤣🤣🤣😩😩😩😩😩

[@sandrahollett2299]

THANK YOU I WAS SEARCHING FOR THIS COMMENT

[@thecoppergypsy]

OMG! ROTFLMAO!! Thank you Olivia Scott for making my day!!

[@aylex2892]

Bulky wool roving yarn is no joke, I learned that the hard way when thinking I could dye it a cool color. Being a semi-new knitter, I had no knowledge of what the outcome would have been, but it was so badly felted after it dried. Thank you for this video! Hopefully more knitters are able to come across this video before tackling a project.

[@Call-me-Al]

As someone who loves felting and weighted blankets, now I hope I will come across knitted roving projects in the second hand shops, now :D

[@refinnej5302]

Back in middle school we went on a field trip to an place that had a lot of "olden day" activities like wool spinning, candle making, and bread making. It was an interesting place. We got to participate in the activities hands on and the spinning activity helped me understand the difference in the structure once spun.

[@Hello_Gorgeous]

I was in love with the design of blankets like this for years and really considered the investment. Thanks for your advice!

[@l.c.8475]

Ive seen acrylic yarn in this style that might work, since those fibres are way longer so the stiches have a chance of stabilising it, but it would probably still not be a very durable blanket. 3-5 strands of chunky yarn can make a very chunky blanket that holds up and is quick and easy to make

[@laurabuckles7961]

Thanks SO much for telling people about this, it's one of the silliest ideas I've seen on Pinterest and that's saying something. Yet it keeps turning up. Fun video though, keep up the good work!

[@TheWoolery]

Thank you! We're glad you enjoyed it. As you can tell, this Pinterest trend drives us a little bananas :P

[@Jesse.with.no.i]

I was fully having a breakdown, crying and was having a hard time calming down. I opened KZbin for looking for something to focus on, and this randomly came on my recommended and really calmed me down, so thank you

[@sarahcatherine43]

It helped my anxiety too!

[@ermagerdmuffins]

Who on Earth gives a thumbs-down to this video? Members of the Chunky Roving Blanket International Fan Club? 🤔🤷🏻‍♀️

[@sarahs7751]

Maybe someone selling them?

[@deo3367]

😂😂

[@thalassamusings4375]

Not I...though, I admit the chunky roving knitting club has made roving a bit cheaper (competition!) when you use it for other stuff...

[@catherinecrawford2289]

It was unintentionally pretty funny, so that would be a thumbs up. Highpoint is the couch photo.

[@catherinecrawford2289]

The C.R.B.I.F.C.?

[@beelzemobabbity]

I- have zero association with knitting and crochet in my life, yet had this video recommended and I’m not even mad because now I know.

[@clairebearlife]

KZbin reccomended is A+ right now. I have no idea what a roving blanket is, but I'm totally game to find out. You ladies are so sweet! Love the content.

[@rebeccajones9757]

I wasn't going to make one anyway, but I appreciate the dose of reality.

[@karenbochinski]

Sad way to use expensive merino. All makes sense.

[@TheWoolery]

So sad! Don't kill the merino :(

[@katedevlin6058]

You ladies are fun to watch!

[@Eagl3king]

I learned this after i made a handmade queen size merino wool blanket it was very pretty and all. But like you said in the video it has no structure and the wool got stuck everywhere. I mean absolutely everywhere my clothes,carpet, etc. super hard to get off. and after I washed it a lot of the wool was clogged in my washing machine. It was a disaster. I just wish I found this video before I learned the hard way hahaha 🌹

[@xyzsame4081]

Did you order the wool online. No honest retailer would have sold you MERINO wool for such a blanket.

[@Eagl3king]

Yes I did buy it online D: I put the blanket in a quilt cover and I’m using it that way right now. It’s very heavy and warm lol

[@anaroy3524]

“...and as we know, structure is a necessary part of life :) :) :)” The sass is most delicious when served with such warmth and kindness haha