Great episode Vanissia. I’ve been knitting for 50 years and it is only been in the last few years that I am successfully making garments that work for my wardrobe. I think it takes a long time to know what shapes look good on your body and to acknowledge that at different times of your life you like different shapes. I have found with some sweaters that I did not like them initially after I made them but a year or two later, I did start wearing them and enjoyed them. I should also say that none of these were a waste of money. You have to remember how much enjoyment you got out of the knitting most of them. That has a value attached to it itself.
I see you and I play my 54 years' card ;0) my mum taught me to knit when I was 4. I have a very vivid memory of playing in front of the house. My dad called to me and said if I came in early for my bath I could do some knitting. I ran in so fast! I also remember knitting clothes for my Sindy( UK equivalent of Barbie).
New Viewer Interesting to look back and see what did not work, and then to fix it in the future. My recommendations as a 60 year knitter. 1: always use a smaller needle for the ribbing. this is the traditional go-to solution for loose ribbing, so common a problem that all vintage patterns include it. 2: Don't use mohair!!!!! You don't like it (neither do I and am amazed how popular it is) but use a substitute or go 'plain'. 3: If you are not enjoying a knit project, STOP and do something else. Even a Test Knit - it is valid feedback. As you have paid for the yarn you are not doing the designer any harm. 4: work out what colours you do like and use them again and again - different mixes but basically the same and you will be pleased. 5: Like with Like - don't mix yarn types. There is a reason that cotton/wool mix feels so different - cotton is a completely different type of yarn - plant based, not animal. Does not stretch the same, does not take colour the same etc. Having said all that, experience comes with time and I am sure this year you will have greater success. Mind you, 8 out of 33 is not bad. Now a subscriber
Thank you very much for all this advice !! Definitely a learning curve. At first i thought knitting was just about making stitches, but it's so much more, and there is so much to get better at, like fit and colouring !
I would just add "like with like" is not as important when it comes to shawls. That's the place I like to mix it up! Also wondering, what do you think about her using the twisted rib, in addition to downsizing needle size?
@@KarenStrickholm Twisted rib is not something I usually bother with. I don't enjoy ribbing so make it a simple (and short) as possible. So downsizing needles is usually enough for me. When it comes to 'like with like' not only do I find it works better, but it certainly washes better. One time my husband knitted a jumper for our first grandson. He striped acrylic with wool. (separated by this time). When the parent washed it - it shrank in stripes....
One option for garments in colors you don’t like is over-dyeing it! A bottle of dye is usually quite affordable, and can dye multiple projects! I started buying dye a few months back and I want to dye so many things I don’t love anymore. I’ll get around to it eventually haha
I would definitely recommend over dying the items you like the design of but not the color of you don't not have someone wanting them as is. The neutral shade should take color well, either warm or cool, depending on preferences, best wishes!
i really appreciate your honesty about your knits! it's so comforting knowing that everyone has a "fail" knit piece and it's not something that just happens to me😅
Great episode- thank you. One suggestion I would make is to consider broadening your colour palette. I had my ‘colours done’ many years ago and that helped me with choosing colours for my knits. With your fair skin and blue eyes, I would guess you are a ‘spring’ which includes some beautiful brighter colours. Season’s greetings from Australia. Alex
thank you and yes, very good observation, way too many beiges there that don't suit me, and i know i love my blues and nowadays even pink! I have some brighter yarns in stash that i think will work much better!
I think a greyish beige would also suit you really well and blues and greenes and certain white. Or a rosy blush like the dark blush from drops alpaca. Try to stay away from yellowish beige. You seem pretty direct so I hope my comment makes you curious not upset. Greetings from Germany :)
@@thewoollyworkerExactly what I was thinking when watching - I'm a light summer and warm beiges wash me out just like you. Check out the light summer and light spring palettes.
Thank you for making this video. Over the last months and weeks I gifted quite a lot of my knitted garments and shawls to people that are dear to me: friends, family, hairdresser, etc. It gives me so much joy to give something I have made with my hands and good quality materials to someone who will hopefully love and use it more than I do. I enjoyed making it with the intention of loving and wearing it myself, but I don't enjoy having it in my closet if I find it itchy or not fitting well or in a color that doesn't make me happy. My recommendation is: let go of the items that are not your favorites, and enjoy your favorites to the max. There will always be more yarn, more patterns, more learning and more joy. There is plenty.
thanks for sharing, definitely something good about giving those things a nicer home where they will get used, as opposed to just staring at them all year and feeling guilty ! Will definitely be making more next year, so why keep these !
Really enjoyed your episode. Here’s two thoughts. 1. Spend some time evaluating what colors you love and that you feel you glow when wearing. Or look at paintings or even printed fabrics to see what you’re really drawn too. And let yourself explore brighter, more clear toned colors. You can always look at prints you adore, paintings to lead you toward a color combination for new knit wear. If you see a color combination you love, you can retreat it with your yarn selection. No need to stress or reinvent the wheel if you don’t need too. 2. For the sweaters you feel proud of and do like, is it possible to line them with a fabric that does feel good? Or just line the neck and wrists? A nice soft stretchy knit fabric could “float” inside the sweater and keep you protected from being bothered by the itch. You knit beautifully. Itd be nice to see how you feel if you left the dulled neutrals behind and focused more on clear, brighter colors. Really enjoyed your assessment and it’s helped me think a lot about my future choices.
thank you, that was very insightful! I'm looking forward to using brighter colours this year and also trying out new colours I maybe haven't given a chance to in the past. Great ideas to look at fabrics or paintings !
Even your "fails" are gorgeous and you should be proud of these accomplishments. Personally, I think giving the garments to your mom, if she will wear them, means you'll still be able to see them (and get them back later if you'd like) and know that they will be loved and used. Sometimes mohair tempers over time, so if your mom wears them for a bit, they may become a bit less itchy over time.
Very good point !! I will await her response to this offer aha, she did inherit my very first mohair jumper with drops kid silk for that exact reason !
If these were my projects I’d choose to Let them all go on to new owners. I’d let family pick first then the rest to the charity shop. I’d count them all as valuable lessons hard earned. Starting the New Year with no worries about past projects.
A tip for underlayers, I really like uniqlo heattech, they are super thin so won't look bulky under any sweaters and have a scooped neck option that I find is not visible under almost any neckline! Really enjoyed this video as a beginner knitter, and learnt that I should probably avoid mohair!
thanks, yeah i have one and i love it !! And yeah maybe try your hand with one small item but it's definitely not for everyone, despite what instagram makes it look like lol
I second this! I basically live in Uniqlo heattech which I wear under everything. I’m surprised people can wear woollen sweaters on their skin, even cashmere would be too itchy for me without an underlayer. It also helps keeping your woollen sweaters cleaner!
Oh my, I’m crushed for you. But I truly TRULY love your willingness to share your flops with us. It is extremely helpful to see, no matter how long we’ve been knitting. My suggestion (old enough by far to be your mom, and from years of crafting made my fair share of flops) will sound harsh but it’s really for the best. No matter why you don’t like the FOs, get them out of your house. period. If you love both color and content of the yarn, and I mean LOVE, go ahead and frog it and find a pattern you know fits your body. Everything else, find someone who adores the item, gift them with well wishes and move on. Saved items that we gaze on with guilt but never ACTUALLY utilize bring absolutely no value to our lives. Needlessly inflicting ourselves to all that went wrong just makes it worse. So, how to prevent future flops? Another viewer suggested having your colors done, great idea! Take that info and the list of fibers you can’t tolerate to heart and vow not to go down that path again. I look forward to the livestream for charity. You’re a treasure! 💜Blessings to you from Hilton Head SC USA.
thank you!! I do agree that id feel happier with them out of the house aha ! Big fan of that way of approaching life. This year will be all about colours and less neutrals! Or at least greys, which i prefer over beige !
I was cleaning house and listening to this podcast for the first time and was stopped dead in my tracks when you said this...."I don't want this garment or the yarn in my house anymore". I had to laugh at your level of revulsion towards this vest project. I can totally relate to those "ugh" projects! Subscribed.
Thank you Vanissia, very interesting to see what you didn’t like among your projects. I think that they are all very beautiful and I hope that some of your second chances will work out and that the rest will find another happy owner. Just want you to know that I’m very thankful to you for the episode on how to use Ravelry, it really inspired me and showed me how useful it can be, so now I have my whole stash catalogued and am adding my projects bit by bit, you are a very good teacher and I see you as a fantastic influence in the knitting community.
Thank you so much for the honesty of this video Vanissia! It was so so refreshing. I find when I'm watching knitting podcasts and looking at beautiful FOs it's so easy to assume every project is perfect and I'm the only one who has projects that don't really work out..! Good to know that it happens to all of us knitters and it's just a part of the learning process in discovering what works and what doesn't! It seems like a lot of your flops could be fixed with some nice undergarments - have you tried Uniqlo? Not expensive and great for layers. Really looking forward to the stream! X
Thank you for the recommendation and kind words, I really wanted to shed a light on the not-so-good aspects of knitting as it can be easy to get caught up in the "perfect image" of social media ! And all the comments are reassuring me I'm not alone in that, so it works both way!
Hi! Your sweaters are all beautiful! What you need is a buy a couple of nice pima cotton t-shirts, either round neck or henleys and that will protect your skin from mohair and having a white backdrop with your skin colour will make any colored knit look nice
This episode popped up and I listened for a bit and immediately subscribed. Your honesty is appreciated but your ability to convey your thoughts so quickly on the fly is especially impressive. I have tried to make videos before and I'm full of Umms and ahs. I can also appreciate the fails as I've been knitting for 48 years. i can also relate to wanting to love a garment. @Lisafall is absolutely right about the enjoyment of knitting but don't forget about the life lessons you learn too.. they are hidden within the fabric, guaranteed. Happy knitting! from Canada.🍁
One way to soften rough/rustic wools is to give them a long soak (like an hour or more) with a good amount of hair conditioner (any cheap conditioner will work). It doesn't make them merino soft, but it can improve their texture quite a bit. I've also read about people softening mohair by freezing it. It might be worth some research.
I feel you on this so much!! I made so many beige garments and then I realized it didn’t suit me at all. Now, I knit colorful things or charcoal and black. I have to keep myself from looking at beige-fluencers 😂 I also don’t do test knits anymore. I will pay the money for a finished pattern that I can finish on my own time and see the projects of others for. Not having to apply and make a decision under pressure makes me make better garment decisions.
honestly a really easy fix for the balloon sweater is to wear a white turtleneck under it and use the balloon sweater essentially as an outerwear piece. it's already warm as you said, and you don't really want to be wearing a jacket OVER it, so why not use it AS the jacket? plus having a soft garment under it, with long sleeves and a high neck, will protect your skin from the mohair and reduce itching.
Not that many videos where people share their experience with the garment after they presented it in the master class 😏 Thank you! It made me feel I’m not alone 😂 I have a few items knitted last year that I wore once and never touched again. I learned how to knit at age 7, I’m 58 now. I put attention that I simple patterns are usually more wearable. It’s boring to knit them, and usually with small needles, and thus longer process, but they fit better, easy to match with different bottoms, they look more expensive, and they are timeless. When I choose some complicated pattern, it may be fun to knit, but… I do not wear it 🫤 2 most worn sweaters are from bouclé yarn, 100% wool, I bought it for really cheap in eBay 😊 it’s old stock, French yarn, probably from 70s-80s based on the label. So my advice - look at such market places, I do not know what you have in the UK except eBay, I live in the US. Regarding mohair… polyamide mohair is itchy, makes you sweaty, like all synthetic fibers do. Mohair on silk is soft and creates pleasant feel on skin. It’s more expensive but usually 100g enough for small size sweater oversized fit. Cheaper mohair is great to mix with plain yarn like merino wool or bamboo, cotton, etc. One thread in the mix doesn’t make the whole garment itchy but creates more soft look for the sweater. For the seethrough pullovers I use camisoles. I do not allow myself to show bra, not because of age, I never liked it, even when it was kind of trendy 🙄 . Uniqlo has good camisoles, with builtin bra and without, with wide straps to cover bra straps. It’s very useful item for warm and cold weather, good as an undergarment and as a top with cardigan, shirt
thank you! That was all super insightful and useful to read. I appreciate your experience and knoweldge about these things! Will definitely stock up on the uniqlo :p
I really enjoyed this episode, your honesty is so refreshing. And you made me laugh many times, ”I do not want this garment or the wool in my house anymore” 😂. I totally relate to that feeling. I once binned a completed project because I had that feeling.
Thank you for sharing your experience with your knits. It's actually very good that the vast majority were hits, not fails. Looking forward to your live ❤
Yes! It is so annoying to look at the photos and see how good a garment looks, but knowing how uncomfortable/or something it is to wear. All these garments look so good on you that from an outsider's view there is no reason why not to use them, but as a knitter I know what you mean. Gladly there are often people who love them! I just gifted a long cardigan for my mum today and she was so happy with it, and I don't feel like wasting money and time on something I don't wear anymore. 😊
You are a breath of fresh air as I sometimes think it’s only me that finds I’m not happy with my finished garments for some reason or other but I do enjoy the process. I have sensitive skin also and need to wear undergarments. I have long sleeve round neck tees also I bought very fine long sleeved tops with a higher neck from Primark to wear under my rustic wool Arans. They work well for me. They were £8 so not dear. I do knit with acrylic/wool mixes and even they itch me. Years ago I knitted with mohair cost a fortune and found I couldn’t wear it so wouldn’t even try again I do love the look mind you. Great podcast as always have a happy 2024 x
It is not a crime to knit and not like the result, it is an awful feeling when something you have put so much time in is worthless. I love your videos, just dont be hard on yourself. You are a very fine knitter.
I enjoyed watching this video, and seeing your projects from last year. Listening to you, it sounds like you may want to only create projects out of your favorite yarns that your skin doesn't have a sensitivity to. You may enjoy the finished project so much more. But honestly, the projects you showed in this video all look really great on you. You do lovely work, and I look forward to watching more of your videos ( I just joined your channel).
thank you so much! And yes, definitely learned a lot from this past year and want to focus on yarns ive tried and tested and love, instead of trying new things all the time aha!
Hi Vanissia, thanks for this very honest video. All of your garments look so gorgeous and so I was surprised at some of them that you don’t wear, but your reasons are very understandable. I agree that one of the biggest obstacles to making wearable knitwear is not always the garments themselves, but finding the right undergarments to wear with them (particularly when you have a very rustic wool) . So please let us know if you have any success with this! At one point in time everyone was wearing thin cotton turtlenecks under their winter wool sweaters, and I kind of wish they would make a comeback because those solved all of the itch problems. Anyway, your video helped me to feel like less of a failure for when I have a garment flop, so thank you!!
thank you so much!! Like you say, if i want to keep knitting in rustic yarns, im going to have to find undergarments that are tried and tested, or else ill have to stick to very soft merino ! And yea, thin cotton seems to be a good start ! Let's make it come back lol
You are a talented knitter! I really enjoyed the way you disseminated your handmade garments and came to some conclusions as far as fit, material, color and style that works for you. I purchased silk camisoles, silk tank tops, and a silk tee shirt undergarments this year. I don't like my sweaters to cling to me and I wanted a smooth, flowy feel under sweaters. I purchased them through 'QUINCE', an online retailer as a gift to myself this year. Good luck in finding the right undergarments.
Great insights! Such a good idea to reflect on what didn't work as that will help with project & yarn choices in future to give you the knitted wardrobe of your dreams.
Beautiful makes, Vanissia. A suggestion for under garment-silk base layer such as those sold by Terramar Silks might work to eliminate the irritation from the mohair. And, I agree with others to try over dyeing, which also would make good video content. Another thought-if you have a local yarn store that carries the yarn you used might be interested in purchasing pieces for sample knits. All my best for a joyful 2024!
thank you, i never thought of silk undergarments but it makes so much sense! And yeah if i overdye this year ill definitely record the process ! And what a fantastic creative idea for the sample knits ! Will look into that ! To you too :D
This is so relatable! I have had so many knitting flops and I really appreciate you sharing yours. As far as color goes, a few years ago I figured out what my “season” was for my skin tone and hair and it really helped! I’m sure someone already mentioned that in the comments. But I try to stay within my seasonal palette now which still gives quite a large range of options it just helps me pick the right ones for me. As far as shapes go, I still have issues with picking the right silhouettes for me too so I really appreciate you sharing all of these! Just subscribed :)
thanks! Funnily enough, this video really inspired me to focus on colour seasonality, as you can see in my latest 2024 knitting goals video, if you check that out, you'll see i definitely relate to this advice !!
I'm not normally a watcher of knitting videos but this popped up in my feed and I was interested. The main theme of this vid for me (apart from mohair hehe) was colour. You have beautiful bright cool-toned skin; cream, brown, beige and warm greens are not your friends. Cool, light, clear colours like pastel pink, blue, aqua, and icy grays and whites would look amazing on you.
thank you! I agree that beige is really not my neutral, but blues and greys are great! Would love to try more pastel pinks this year and maybe aqua/etc !
Great episode Vanissia, thank you! The subjects you pick for your extra episodes are great, they’ve really think about my knitting choices, past present and future, in a different way.
Great video! I have some long sleeve bamboo underlayers. I originally bought them for hiking as an underlayers but they are just perfect for wearing under my knitwear! So far I have only bought from BAM and I'm veryhappy with them
What a great idea for an episode! It's rare people talk about what didn't turn out as planned. My personal fail is my Leith cardigan : I think the fit is awful on me, absolutely hated knitting the double knit button band and it doesn't look so neat (probably my bad here but still). I am really sad because I thought Rebecca was looking so cute in her version. Thankfully I like the yarn so I am thinking of unraveling the whole thing and knit another striped sweater. I would wear your Jessie Made sweater knitted with you Zakamy yarn with either a beige bra or camisole. Just love this sweater. 😊 And Merry Christmas! 🎉
Thank you! And that's a shame, especially when you're extra excited about the project and have a vision for it! But yeah i thought it was helpful to also consider the money, time, and enjoyment spent on it, to see if there was any redeeming factors, and some of those projects i still very much enjoyed making ! Will try and find those camisoles ! Merry christmas :D
Really enjoyed this! It’s great to hear you’re a loose knitter. I’m a self-taught clumsy knitter which I’m working on with UA-cam & ravelry. I started off a very tight knitter and worked hard to loosen my gauge, worried I’d gone too far - after listening to you I’ve a better idea how to adapt it and feel more confident.
thanks and yeah i feel i hear a lot about tight knitters and sometimes felt a bit alone and like most of the advice didnt apply to me, so it's nice to hear other people having looser tension out there !
Very thoughtful and valuable review of knitting projects that missed the mark for you. I have a possible source for under-layering garments that you may not have thought of: uniform shops. I don't know where you live, but often medical techs and nurses wear V-neck scrubs that are too chilly in the winter to wear alone, so there is an entire line of base-layer wear that is non-bulky and next-to-skin comfortable (flexible, breathable, etc.) for all day wear, designed to be worn under scrubs. Maybe you could find something there instead of in regular clothing shops. I agree with what others have said here also: Stop knitting with mohair. haha. I'm the same as you, can't stand the prickle, I find it extremely itchy, even within minutes of putting it on.
that is a fantastic idea and exactly what i was looking for !! thanks a million ! And yes, im glad i put it out there that im gonna stop using mohair because you will all help me stay accountable and i cant keep flip flopping aha !
Thanks for this view of the "other side" of knitting. I've got a big pile of fails, while over the years I've been learning what suits me and fits me. I too am in the no-moh camp - so itchy. A good substitute is CaMaRose Midnatssol (or other suri blends, I suppose, but this is the one I've used). Happy New Year!
Gabo Wool Baby silk yak is softer and slightly thicker than midnatssol if you're open to some new adventures. It is the only fuzzy yarn I can wear without discomfort.
the tetis test knit color work pullover looks absolutely gorgeous on you. if i’m not too terribly late, i hope you keep it. it’s classic but very different and new at the same time. maybe your idea of making it into a cardi would work, too? the (i think it was a jessie maed) v-neck would look great with a white pima cotton round neck shirt. you’re a very talented knitter - keep up the good work!
I'm. always knitting sweaters for myself that I never wear. Too small, too big, sleeve issues, itchy, wrong color. Your video has inspired me to take the time to figure out what is wrong and make more garments that I will wear in 2024. Thank you.
It was good to see your honest appraisal of knits that didn't work for you. Re the v-neck stripey sweater that you need an under-layer for, perhaps an old-fashioned English "vest", a cotton but stretchy undergarment that you'd easily find in Marks & Spencers. I do like your colour choices - they are unusual and fun.
I made one garment with mohair and after sweating and realizing it's just too warm/itchy, I pass on most mohair combos... Sad because I like the halo effect mohair gives. If you re-do the slipover neckline, I think it would look good to omit the mohair since it can match the hem. I enjoyed the vid! Sometimes people wax poetic about their makes, so kinda refreshing to hear you speak on how some patterns/yarn combos don't get worn beyond a completion photo.
I definitely will undo the neckline and redo it without the mohair !! Will be a nice objective. And I'm glad you enjoyed the topic, I feel like there's a bit too much "perfection" out there aha !
Great episode Vanissia. How about putting a fleece lining on the neck of the sweaters that have mohair so it won’t bother you anymore ? I know it might be a little hotter but you might be able to wear it on the coldest days ? Love your channel. 💖
Oh wow! I learned so much about finding the right yarn. While watching this podcast, I noticed your knitting skills are superb! Can you recommend videos of how you pick up stitches. Necklines appear to be the biggest issues for all of us. Thank you!
Great episode again thanks Vanissia. Good idea to run through the garments not worn and focussing on why. SO important for all of us to learn so we can refine our knitting selections! Lighting personally of no concern to me....too interested in what you are saying to even notice 🥰Your Holly sweater looks gorgeous - well done for finishing 👍
New here. I love the new trend of bringing up the ones not used and why. I really think you look better in colors, where you get a bit of contrast to your skintone. The burgundy in the video is lovely on you!
Really good episode Vanissia! I’ve spent a lot of time over the years knitting things that don’t work for me and giving then away to charity so have often pondered why too. For me I’ve found I need to not follow instagram trends for colours and styles because they rarely work for me. I’m also attracted to the beige aesthetic but it really doesn’t work for my pale skin tone, it’s been a costly lesson 😂 However I adore your balloon sweater, that’s a lovely soft colour and if you do decide to part with it let me know 😊
thank you! and absolutely agree regarding instagram trends, it's SO hard but i need to pull back and stop for a second and wonder if this is for me! Definitely a costly lesson!! They know how to pull us in. Message me on insta regarding the balloon sweater if you want!
I love the Teti’s garden on you! It sounds like yarn sensitivity is something for you to consider in the future. But I love these on you! I wish I were your mom! 😄😄
Thank you for this video, we all can learn so much from discussing what doesn’t work for us. Your knitting is beautiful and I am always interested to see what you are working on.
I am surprised you're not cold enough in Scotland to wear mohair. I spent this past summer in Edinburgh and I was definitely not warm enough most of the time 😂 so back in London now 😂 And I am also surprised you're not wearing any of these, I love them all!
I think if I spent more time outside I would, but even if I'm walking, i warm up, and then in places, they have the heating on, so I just never feel like it's what I need !
This video is not for knitters who are looking for info on the do’s and dont’s of knitting certain types of patterns. Thought this was about actual fails but you made all your items beautifully and perfectly and also seemed very impressed with your work. I totally misunderstood what this video was about.
aw no, sorry for the misunderstanding ! definitely was more of a "it's not badly done, but i don't like it" failure ! i don't think i would ever finish something if i knew it wasn't looking wearable
The green isager with the colourful yoke is really nice and now that you've altered the funnel neckline I hope you give it a whirl. It looks really good. I feel the same way about mohair as you...I understand the temptation because it looks good.
These are all very beautiful! I think this is exactly the reason why I am scared to knit with mohair, I don’t want to spend the time on it if I won’t like it, though I know it would be nice to donate it to someone who may love it who is needy.
This is a great episode. I love the analysis of how things can flop for yourself. And I'm taking a lot out of it here. Looking forward to more of these kinds of videos to learn more about it ✨🐑
Very much looking forward to watching this video, I appreciate the honesty! I often wonder with knitting podcasts whether these FOs actually get worn... I realized a couple of days ago that I'd have to frog my Douglas Cardigan by Andrea Mowry, which was already 90% done (only cuffs and buttonband missing). It's too tight on my shoulders and arms, and since it is a bottom-up design, I only realized when I was almost done. (also I was hoping that the fabric would relax a lot more with blocking). It really annoys me, I dedicated a lot of time to knitting this cardigan. But I think this will be the perfect video to watch while I start the frogging and reminding myself that I'm not the only one with kitting fails. ;)
C'était très courageux de ta part de faire un épisodes sur tes "flops", même si certains sont vraiment très beaux. Je pense que tu as besoin d'avoir plus de caracos et de débardeurs dans ta vie, de jolis sous-vêtements en coton/élastane peuvent t'aider à porter tes pulls plus facilement. As-tu pensé à t'offrir un test de colorimétrie, ou à le faire toi-même ? C'est bien utile pour déterminer les couleurs qui nous vont. Bises Vanissia.
merci beaucoup! Et oui, tu as bien raison! J'ai fait un mini-test en ligne et je suis "printemps" mais ce serait chouette d'avoir un test encore plus professionel, je trouve ca super interessant et ca pourrait payer au long terme ! Peut etre en 2024 ...
I think you got sucked into some online trends that don't work for you - beige, mohair, rustic yarn. It happens to all of us now and then. For as popular as beige is on Instagram, it really doesn't look good on a lot of us. I love the way the mohair garments look, but I just can't wear them. Even knitting with the mohair gets my eyes watering.
Great video Vanissia! I love your honesty and thoughts on what you would change. In terms of base layers, I don't know if you have a uniqlo near you but I really like their underlayers for my knits. I run cold so in the winter i like their thin thermals, but they also have the AIRism brand which are really thin and come in a range of colours for a range of skin types. They are seamless and have low necklines so would hide under the lower knits. Hope that helps!
Hi Vanissia, I have similar colouring to you and any neutrals even grey wash me out! Try and get your self assessed. I discovered I'm a spring and when I wear spring colours I get so many compliments. I think this would be a massive help to you.
@thewoollyworker thank you for your podcast! I love watching them and you are always so positive and make beautiful pieces. Would love to see you knit a few spring colours!!
Very good episode. Very interesting. I think the Balloon sweater is beautiful and it will be a shame if you can't make that work for you. I agree with you about the Pictus pullover. I think it might work as a cardigan but perhaps it would look good on a friend that likes to wear a lot of dresses. I like the Cosy Classic light so I would try and find something to go under it. Thanks for a great episode.
thank you for sharing your thoughts! I think im just gonna have to remake the balloon sweater with a different yarn, either suri alpaca, or just lace alpaca !
Hey Vanissia, thanks for the podcast! It is a lovely refreshing view from the other side of handcraft, and I do wish we see more candid and thoughtful reviews like yours in the community. Speaking of yarn choices, have you tried knitting with pure cashmere? I have very low tolerance of scratchy yarn too, and it really frastrates me when I spend a few month on making something that I can't even wear. Cashmere is so expensive but now I save up for it and make every skin layer with it. It's like £100 and 3-4 months of work for a jumper that I will wear till it disintegrates, which I think is pretty good.
@@thewoollyworker Exciting! Tell us how it goes! Cashmere is so much more forgiving than mohair and rustic wool, even if you have to frog (as I have a few times) the yarn will be nice and reuseable. It's great.
There‘s a vieeo by Norman from Nimble Needles about tendion in ribbing where he goes in depth explaining the issue. It helped me a ton! Another option might be to knit twosted rib instead which for me comes out very neat. It‘s mire work though.
Thanks for passing on the wisdom that cost you time and money to learn. You've summed up perfectly how I feel about holding silk mohair with another yarn. I see many v-neck cardigans in my future, using up my stash mohair. 🎉
Loved this video! Helpful to share that we all have some flops. I think the mist sketch looks great on you so hopefully that one can find a new life. Shape and colour are really nice.
As for underlayers I usually use uniqlo heattech (the very thin ones) they come in skin and neutral colors, and in different types of neck cuts (i like boat and big scoop necks but they also have some more options) Plus they help regulate heat !
I was going to say that too! But if you struggle with being overheated then I'd suggest their summer line, Airism. Those are very sleek under layers, although they might not have as much neck coverage as the heattech turtlenecks. But as long as you don't get the extra warm version of heat tech you should be fine because they're pretty thin, which is nice, but I think the mohair would still poke through though 😢
Hi Vanissia - thank you so much for sharing your experiences, what a great video! I am also at a place, where I am "auditing" my hand-knit garments. One more thing to consider, when you have knit something and don't like the colour, is overdyeing the piece. I don't have a big dyeing setup, so what I do is simply using the fabric dyes from the drug store. I know Dylon has dye for hand-washing (rather than using the machine-dye). It is always a risk, but has paid off for me so far :) - also for colour, I generally go for navy, as it is a dark enough colour, has more dimension than black, looks fine in different shades and goes well with everything in my wardrobe. Regarding under layers - I almost always wear a long sleeve top under my hand-knits. My favourites are the heattech turtlenecks (or boat-neck, when the sweater has a lower neck) from UNIQLO , and they have lasted me for years. They do add a lot of extra warmth though, so if it is already to warm for you, maybe look into some of their other options :)
thanks for the recommendations!! i sense some clothes shopping soon ... and i would like to try overdying one day for that very reason! I got some rit dye
You are such an extraordinary knitter! I love the end of the year videos and it is nice to see how others handle f.o.s that are unsuccessful. I definitely have some of those and am toying with the idea of frogging certain ones. I will definitely try tune in for the stream.
Would it be possible to wear or line the mohair jumpers with a silk type scarf to protect your neck. I usually wear a light tshirt under jumpers so it would only be the neckline that would bother me. There could be options to style it to avoid the irritation. The second one especially is a beautiful garment, pity to not be able to use it.
thank you and yes that's a good idea, lining even just the upper portion !! I really need to look into the specifics of how to actually do that because it could really pay off !
Thank you for this video, the honesty was refreshing to see! I feel you with the mohair, I just donated the only mohair + fingering weight yarn sweater I ever made because it was too itchy for me to wear (also Petiteknit haha). Afterwards I switched to brushed alpaca, which I find much more tolerable! Although I do think it’s as hot as mohair, so I’m not sure how it would work for you on that front. (I’m always cold so I love it lol) And it does tend to pile and stick to stuff, but it’s much softer than mohair!
Thanks for sharing! I feel it's SO common now and i feel silly for falling prey to instagram etc but nothing wrong with admitting defeat ! And i much prefer brushed alpaca too !
Thank you Vanissia for your honesty about your makes. I agree that we sometimes make the wrong decisions about yarn to design pairings. I too agree that the right yarn makes all the difference. I sometimes wonder ... Should I stick with acrylic? Ugh. I hate to say it, but it keeps its shape and holds up to wear. That being said, I have drawers full of sweaters I don't wear in beautiful expensive yarns. We also fall prey to our favorite podcasters and their excitement over all the luscious yarns available out there. I can't wait to watch your charity marathon! Thanks again for sharing your insights. ❤
thank you for the lovely comment! I do sometimes wonder if i should go back to superwash merino but i really dont love the experience of knitting with it. Definitely hard to not be too influenced by what others are doing !!
Looks like you have discovered what types of yarn, especially mohair and colors to avoid for future projects. I only wore my first sweater twice because it was much too itchy unless I wore a turtleneck under it which I can’t tolerate either. I now know to knit only with merino or other very soft yarns
Thanks for this episode, I think it helps us to know that we are not the only person who is not always happy with our projects. I have found there’s always a little voice in my head telling me when something is not going to work, but it took me a while to start listening to it 😂. I used to think, but what if I do this or use this other yarn instead, etc., and really tried to make things work. But they usually didn’t. So now when, when I hear that voice telling me “this yarn is not right”, or “I’m not sure I like this color”, I have learned to stop and put it aside for a week or so. Then when I come back to it, it’s easier to see what’s not right, some times it’s as simple as changing needle size to get a loser/tighter fabric, and sometimes it’s realizing wrong yarn for this project, but either way it’s better pushing on and finishing something you won’t wear. Your sweaters are all beautiful, so sorry they didn’t work for you. For the ones where it is the mohair that is bothering you, have you tried washing/blocking them a few times to see if they will soften up? This worked for me with a wool sweater that I found itchy. I’ve heard some people even use hair conditioner to soften their wool, but I don’t know if it works on mohair.
So true! And ive not found washing/conditioner to help much with mohair sadly! It's more about how high the neckline is and what i am wearing underneath that can help!
Hi, Vanissia. I like Numi undershirts. They are expensive, but Numi fairly regularly puts them on sale. For me, the projects I end up not wearing tend to be either because I selected what turned out to be a bad color for me or I knit the sweater too long (which could be fixed, of course, but....)
I really enjoyed this video thank you. It's natural I guess to just post FOs immediately but that doesn't tell the whole picture. I also liked your honesty about test knits. I take test knit/sewing posts with a pinch of salt to be honest. I hope you find some good tops to wear under as sounds like that will solve many of the issues.
thank you and yes definitely intersting to know what happens beyond the photoshoots aha! And totally agree with test knits, after having done many this year, i have changed my opinion of them a bit ! Will report back during the year on finding good tops!
Great episode Vanissia. I’ve been knitting for 50 years and it is only been in the last few years that I am successfully making garments that work for my wardrobe. I think it takes a long time to know what shapes look good on your body and to acknowledge that at different times of your life you like different shapes. I have found with some sweaters that I did not like them initially after I made them but a year or two later, I did start wearing them and enjoyed them. I should also say that none of these were a waste of money. You have to remember how much enjoyment you got out of the knitting most of them. That has a value attached to it itself.
thank you so much for this comment Lisa, it really helps put things in perspective!
I agree
I see you and I play my 54 years' card ;0) my mum taught me to knit when I was 4. I have a very vivid memory of playing in front of the house. My dad called to me and said if I came in early for my bath I could do some knitting. I ran in so fast! I also remember knitting clothes for my Sindy( UK equivalent of Barbie).
@@india1422 😂
What a beautiful comment, thank you for sharing your wisdom about appreciating crafted projects!
New Viewer
Interesting to look back and see what did not work, and then to fix it in the future.
My recommendations as a 60 year knitter.
1: always use a smaller needle for the ribbing. this is the traditional go-to solution for loose ribbing, so common a problem that all vintage patterns include it.
2: Don't use mohair!!!!! You don't like it (neither do I and am amazed how popular it is) but use a substitute or go 'plain'.
3: If you are not enjoying a knit project, STOP and do something else. Even a Test Knit - it is valid feedback. As you have paid for the yarn you are not doing the designer any harm.
4: work out what colours you do like and use them again and again - different mixes but basically the same and you will be pleased.
5: Like with Like - don't mix yarn types. There is a reason that cotton/wool mix feels so different - cotton is a completely different type of yarn - plant based, not animal. Does not stretch the same, does not take colour the same etc.
Having said all that, experience comes with time and I am sure this year you will have greater success. Mind you, 8 out of 33 is not bad.
Now a subscriber
Thank you very much for all this advice !! Definitely a learning curve. At first i thought knitting was just about making stitches, but it's so much more, and there is so much to get better at, like fit and colouring !
I would just add "like with like" is not as important when it comes to shawls. That's the place I like to mix it up! Also wondering, what do you think about her using the twisted rib, in addition to downsizing needle size?
@@KarenStrickholm Twisted rib is not something I usually bother with. I don't enjoy ribbing so make it a simple (and short) as possible. So downsizing needles is usually enough for me.
When it comes to 'like with like' not only do I find it works better, but it certainly washes better. One time my husband knitted a jumper for our first grandson. He striped acrylic with wool. (separated by this time). When the parent washed it - it shrank in stripes....
One option for garments in colors you don’t like is over-dyeing it! A bottle of dye is usually quite affordable, and can dye multiple projects! I started buying dye a few months back and I want to dye so many things I don’t love anymore. I’ll get around to it eventually haha
thank ill definitely try this next year!
I would definitely recommend over dying the items you like the design of but not the color of you don't not have someone wanting them as is. The neutral shade should take color well, either warm or cool, depending on preferences, best wishes!
i really appreciate your honesty about your knits! it's so comforting knowing that everyone has a "fail" knit piece and it's not something that just happens to me😅
thanks very much and yeah that was the goal!
Great episode- thank you. One suggestion I would make is to consider broadening your colour palette. I had my ‘colours done’ many years ago and that helped me with choosing colours for my knits. With your fair skin and blue eyes, I would guess you are a ‘spring’ which includes some beautiful brighter colours. Season’s greetings from Australia. Alex
thank you and yes, very good observation, way too many beiges there that don't suit me, and i know i love my blues and nowadays even pink! I have some brighter yarns in stash that i think will work much better!
I think a greyish beige would also suit you really well and blues and greenes and certain white. Or a rosy blush like the dark blush from drops alpaca. Try to stay away from yellowish beige. You seem pretty direct so I hope my comment makes you curious not upset. Greetings from Germany :)
thank you and no no problem at all, this is all super helpul!
@@thewoollyworkerExactly what I was thinking when watching - I'm a light summer and warm beiges wash me out just like you. Check out the light summer and light spring palettes.
Thank you for making this video. Over the last months and weeks I gifted quite a lot of my knitted garments and shawls to people that are dear to me: friends, family, hairdresser, etc. It gives me so much joy to give something I have made with my hands and good quality materials to someone who will hopefully love and use it more than I do. I enjoyed making it with the intention of loving and wearing it myself, but I don't enjoy having it in my closet if I find it itchy or not fitting well or in a color that doesn't make me happy. My recommendation is: let go of the items that are not your favorites, and enjoy your favorites to the max. There will always be more yarn, more patterns, more learning and more joy. There is plenty.
thanks for sharing, definitely something good about giving those things a nicer home where they will get used, as opposed to just staring at them all year and feeling guilty ! Will definitely be making more next year, so why keep these !
Really enjoyed your episode. Here’s two thoughts. 1. Spend some time evaluating what colors you love and that you feel you glow when wearing. Or look at paintings or even printed fabrics to see what you’re really drawn too. And let yourself explore brighter, more clear toned colors. You can always look at prints you adore, paintings to lead you toward a color combination for new knit wear. If you see a color combination you love, you can retreat it with your yarn selection. No need to stress or reinvent the wheel if you don’t need too. 2. For the sweaters you feel proud of and do like, is it possible to line them with a fabric that does feel good? Or just line the neck and wrists? A nice soft stretchy knit fabric could “float” inside the sweater and keep you protected from being bothered by the itch. You knit beautifully. Itd be nice to see how you feel if you left the dulled neutrals behind and focused more on clear, brighter colors. Really enjoyed your assessment and it’s helped me think a lot about my future choices.
I was going to say get a wool shaver and take those mohair bit right down to the soft wool.
Really agree about the colors. Sometimes neutrals are not your friend!
thank you, that was very insightful! I'm looking forward to using brighter colours this year and also trying out new colours I maybe haven't given a chance to in the past. Great ideas to look at fabrics or paintings !
Even your "fails" are gorgeous and you should be proud of these accomplishments. Personally, I think giving the garments to your mom, if she will wear them, means you'll still be able to see them (and get them back later if you'd like) and know that they will be loved and used. Sometimes mohair tempers over time, so if your mom wears them for a bit, they may become a bit less itchy over time.
Very good point !! I will await her response to this offer aha, she did inherit my very first mohair jumper with drops kid silk for that exact reason !
I really appreciate your honesty! It's so rare among knitting podcasters
Oh thank you! I try, aha!
If these were my projects I’d choose to Let them all go on to new owners. I’d let family pick first then the rest to the charity shop. I’d count them all as valuable lessons hard earned. Starting the New Year with no worries about past projects.
Very true and would probably be a weight off my shoulders to be honest!
Good idea. Other people who can wear them would love to have these beautiful knits.
Great idea! Start the year with a fresh project palette.
A tip for underlayers, I really like uniqlo heattech, they are super thin so won't look bulky under any sweaters and have a scooped neck option that I find is not visible under almost any neckline! Really enjoyed this video as a beginner knitter, and learnt that I should probably avoid mohair!
thanks, yeah i have one and i love it !! And yeah maybe try your hand with one small item but it's definitely not for everyone, despite what instagram makes it look like lol
I second this! I basically live in Uniqlo heattech which I wear under everything. I’m surprised people can wear woollen sweaters on their skin, even cashmere would be too itchy for me without an underlayer. It also helps keeping your woollen sweaters cleaner!
Oh my, I’m crushed for you. But I truly TRULY love your willingness to share your flops with us. It is extremely helpful to see, no matter how long we’ve been knitting. My suggestion (old enough by far to be your mom, and from years of crafting made my fair share of flops) will sound harsh but it’s really for the best. No matter why you don’t like the FOs, get them out of your house. period. If you love both color and content of the yarn, and I mean LOVE, go ahead and frog it and find a pattern you know fits your body. Everything else, find someone who adores the item, gift them with well wishes and move on. Saved items that we gaze on with guilt but never ACTUALLY utilize bring absolutely no value to our lives. Needlessly inflicting ourselves to all that went wrong just makes it worse. So, how to prevent future flops? Another viewer suggested having your colors done, great idea! Take that info and the list of fibers you can’t tolerate to heart and vow not to go down that path again. I look forward to the livestream for charity. You’re a treasure! 💜Blessings to you from Hilton Head SC USA.
thank you!! I do agree that id feel happier with them out of the house aha ! Big fan of that way of approaching life. This year will be all about colours and less neutrals! Or at least greys, which i prefer over beige !
I was cleaning house and listening to this podcast for the first time and was stopped dead in my tracks when you said this...."I don't want this garment or the yarn in my house anymore".
I had to laugh at your level of revulsion towards this vest project. I can totally relate to those "ugh" projects! Subscribed.
hahahaha aw im glad it made you laugh ! Hope you enjoy the podcast :D
Thank you Vanissia, very interesting to see what you didn’t like among your projects. I think that they are all very beautiful and I hope that some of your second chances will work out and that the rest will find another happy owner.
Just want you to know that I’m very thankful to you for the episode on how to use Ravelry, it really inspired me and showed me how useful it can be, so now I have my whole stash catalogued and am adding my projects bit by bit, you are a very good teacher and I see you as a fantastic influence in the knitting community.
awww i'm so glad to hear you say that !! Thank you for taking the time i really appreciate it and it's all worth it!
Thank you so much for the honesty of this video Vanissia! It was so so refreshing. I find when I'm watching knitting podcasts and looking at beautiful FOs it's so easy to assume every project is perfect and I'm the only one who has projects that don't really work out..! Good to know that it happens to all of us knitters and it's just a part of the learning process in discovering what works and what doesn't! It seems like a lot of your flops could be fixed with some nice undergarments - have you tried Uniqlo? Not expensive and great for layers.
Really looking forward to the stream! X
Thank you for the recommendation and kind words, I really wanted to shed a light on the not-so-good aspects of knitting as it can be easy to get caught up in the "perfect image" of social media ! And all the comments are reassuring me I'm not alone in that, so it works both way!
Hi! Your sweaters are all beautiful! What you need is a buy a couple of nice pima cotton t-shirts, either round neck or henleys and that will protect your skin from mohair and having a white backdrop with your skin colour will make any colored knit look nice
Thanks for the tips!
Dziękujemy.
thank you!
I love this episode. I am a long time knitter and you really made me think....I love how honest you are, thank you
thank you very much!
This episode popped up and I listened for a bit and immediately subscribed. Your honesty is appreciated but your ability to convey your thoughts so quickly on the fly is especially impressive. I have tried to make videos before and I'm full of Umms and ahs. I can also appreciate the fails as I've been knitting for 48 years. i can also relate to wanting to love a garment. @Lisafall is absolutely right about the enjoyment of knitting but don't forget about the life lessons you learn too.. they are hidden within the fabric, guaranteed. Happy knitting! from Canada.🍁
aww thank you, that made my day !! I have definitely gotten better at podcasting with practice, i was full of ummmms before ! Happy knitting :D
One way to soften rough/rustic wools is to give them a long soak (like an hour or more) with a good amount of hair conditioner (any cheap conditioner will work). It doesn't make them merino soft, but it can improve their texture quite a bit. I've also read about people softening mohair by freezing it. It might be worth some research.
thanks! maybe ill try soaking them in conditioner !
I feel you on this so much!! I made so many beige garments and then I realized it didn’t suit me at all. Now, I knit colorful things or charcoal and black. I have to keep myself from looking at beige-fluencers 😂 I also don’t do test knits anymore. I will pay the money for a finished pattern that I can finish on my own time and see the projects of others for. Not having to apply and make a decision under pressure makes me make better garment decisions.
I agree with this a lot !!
OMG this is so refreshing, thanks so much for sharing. Got me thinking about some of my own languishing knits...
glad you liked it!
@@thewoollyworker always do ☺️ looking forward to catching some of the live stream!
honestly a really easy fix for the balloon sweater is to wear a white turtleneck under it and use the balloon sweater essentially as an outerwear piece. it's already warm as you said, and you don't really want to be wearing a jacket OVER it, so why not use it AS the jacket? plus having a soft garment under it, with long sleeves and a high neck, will protect your skin from the mohair and reduce itching.
thanks ! I think that could be good to try !
Not that many videos where people share their experience with the garment after they presented it in the master class 😏 Thank you! It made me feel I’m not alone 😂 I have a few items knitted last year that I wore once and never touched again.
I learned how to knit at age 7, I’m 58 now. I put attention that I simple patterns are usually more wearable. It’s boring to knit them, and usually with small needles, and thus longer process, but they fit better, easy to match with different bottoms, they look more expensive, and they are timeless. When I choose some complicated pattern, it may be fun to knit, but… I do not wear it 🫤 2 most worn sweaters are from bouclé yarn, 100% wool, I bought it for really cheap in eBay 😊 it’s old stock, French yarn, probably from 70s-80s based on the label. So my advice - look at such market places, I do not know what you have in the UK except eBay, I live in the US.
Regarding mohair… polyamide mohair is itchy, makes you sweaty, like all synthetic fibers do. Mohair on silk is soft and creates pleasant feel on skin. It’s more expensive but usually 100g enough for small size sweater oversized fit. Cheaper mohair is great to mix with plain yarn like merino wool or bamboo, cotton, etc. One thread in the mix doesn’t make the whole garment itchy but creates more soft look for the sweater.
For the seethrough pullovers I use camisoles. I do not allow myself to show bra, not because of age, I never liked it, even when it was kind of trendy 🙄 . Uniqlo has good camisoles, with builtin bra and without, with wide straps to cover bra straps. It’s very useful item for warm and cold weather, good as an undergarment and as a top with cardigan, shirt
thank you! That was all super insightful and useful to read. I appreciate your experience and knoweldge about these things! Will definitely stock up on the uniqlo :p
This was a really interesting, thoughtful and helpful episode. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I really enjoyed this episode, your honesty is so refreshing. And you made me laugh many times, ”I do not want this garment or the wool in my house anymore” 😂. I totally relate to that feeling. I once binned a completed project because I had that feeling.
Thank you so much! I really like watching other content where people talk about the not-so-great aspects so I want to make sure I don't avoid it aha !
Thanks for taking the time to put this together, love listening to all your comments and seeing your makes. Happy New Year.
thank you so much and happy holidays!
Great thanks I love your finished objects
Thank you! 😊
Thank you for being so open about what worked well in terms of garment knitting. Enjoyed the episode will tune in and support on 2nd Jan!
Thank you so much! It means a lot :)
Thank you for sharing your experience with your knits. It's actually very good that the vast majority were hits, not fails.
Looking forward to your live ❤
thank you very much !
Yes! It is so annoying to look at the photos and see how good a garment looks, but knowing how uncomfortable/or something it is to wear. All these garments look so good on you that from an outsider's view there is no reason why not to use them, but as a knitter I know what you mean. Gladly there are often people who love them! I just gifted a long cardigan for my mum today and she was so happy with it, and I don't feel like wasting money and time on something I don't wear anymore. 😊
thank you! interesting that it looks good from the outside perspective aha. And yeah i will learn from this for sure!
You are a breath of fresh air as I sometimes think it’s only me that finds I’m not happy with my finished garments for some reason or other but I do enjoy the process. I have sensitive skin also and need to wear undergarments. I have long sleeve round neck tees also I bought very fine long sleeved tops with a higher neck from Primark to wear under my rustic wool Arans. They work well for me. They were £8 so not dear. I do knit with acrylic/wool mixes and even they itch me. Years ago I knitted with mohair cost a fortune and found I couldn’t wear it so wouldn’t even try again I do love the look mind you. Great podcast as always have a happy 2024 x
awww thank you so much !! I love the look of mohair too, but then it would be a nice saving if i stopped using it lol! Happy new year :D x
Happy Holidays! See you on the 2nd for sure 😊
Same to you!
It is not a crime to knit and not like the result, it is an awful feeling when something you have put so much time in is worthless. I love your videos, just dont be hard on yourself. You are a very fine knitter.
thank you so much ! x
I enjoyed watching this video, and seeing your projects from last year. Listening to you, it sounds like you may want to only
create projects out of your favorite yarns that your skin doesn't have a sensitivity to. You may enjoy the finished project so
much more. But honestly, the projects you showed in this video all look really great on you. You do lovely work, and I look
forward to watching more of your videos ( I just joined your channel).
thank you so much! And yes, definitely learned a lot from this past year and want to focus on yarns ive tried and tested and love, instead of trying new things all the time aha!
Hi Vanissia, thanks for this very honest video. All of your garments look so gorgeous and so I was surprised at some of them that you don’t wear, but your reasons are very understandable. I agree that one of the biggest obstacles to making wearable knitwear is not always the garments themselves, but finding the right undergarments to wear with them (particularly when you have a very rustic wool) . So please let us know if you have any success with this! At one point in time everyone was wearing thin cotton turtlenecks under their winter wool sweaters, and I kind of wish they would make a comeback because those solved all of the itch problems. Anyway, your video helped me to feel like less of a failure for when I have a garment flop, so thank you!!
thank you so much!! Like you say, if i want to keep knitting in rustic yarns, im going to have to find undergarments that are tried and tested, or else ill have to stick to very soft merino ! And yea, thin cotton seems to be a good start ! Let's make it come back lol
Thank you for another great one. You have such a detailed and thoughtful way of thinking about your knitting. 😊 can’t wait for 2 January 😊
Thank you so much!
You are a talented knitter! I really enjoyed the way you disseminated your handmade garments and came to some conclusions as far as fit, material, color and style that works for you. I purchased silk camisoles, silk tank tops, and a silk tee shirt undergarments this year. I don't like my sweaters to cling to me and I wanted a smooth, flowy feel under sweaters. I purchased them through 'QUINCE', an online retailer as a gift to myself this year. Good luck in finding the right undergarments.
thank you very much! And that's a great recommendation, you sold me !
Great insights! Such a good idea to reflect on what didn't work as that will help with project & yarn choices in future to give you the knitted wardrobe of your dreams.
So true!
Beautiful makes, Vanissia. A suggestion for under garment-silk base layer such as those sold by Terramar Silks might work to eliminate the irritation from the mohair. And, I agree with others to try over dyeing, which also would make good video content. Another thought-if you have a local yarn store that carries the yarn you used might be interested in purchasing pieces for sample knits. All my best for a joyful 2024!
thank you, i never thought of silk undergarments but it makes so much sense! And yeah if i overdye this year ill definitely record the process ! And what a fantastic creative idea for the sample knits ! Will look into that ! To you too :D
This is so relatable! I have had so many knitting flops and I really appreciate you sharing yours. As far as color goes, a few years ago I figured out what my “season” was for my skin tone and hair and it really helped! I’m sure someone already mentioned that in the comments. But I try to stay within my seasonal palette now which still gives quite a large range of options it just helps me pick the right ones for me. As far as shapes go, I still have issues with picking the right silhouettes for me too so I really appreciate you sharing all of these! Just subscribed :)
thanks! Funnily enough, this video really inspired me to focus on colour seasonality, as you can see in my latest 2024 knitting goals video, if you check that out, you'll see i definitely relate to this advice !!
@@thewoollyworkerohh how fun! I am off to watch that video now 😊
I'm not normally a watcher of knitting videos but this popped up in my feed and I was interested. The main theme of this vid for me (apart from mohair hehe) was colour. You have beautiful bright cool-toned skin; cream, brown, beige and warm greens are not your friends. Cool, light, clear colours like pastel pink, blue, aqua, and icy grays and whites would look amazing on you.
thank you! I agree that beige is really not my neutral, but blues and greys are great! Would love to try more pastel pinks this year and maybe aqua/etc !
Great episode Vanissia, thank you! The subjects you pick for your extra episodes are great, they’ve really think about my knitting choices, past present and future, in a different way.
thank you so much for saying! I do have a lot of fun making these extra episodes so hope to do many more next year!
Great video! I have some long sleeve bamboo underlayers. I originally bought them for hiking as an underlayers but they are just perfect for wearing under my knitwear! So far I have only bought from BAM and I'm veryhappy with them
thank you! I've never tried bamboo underlayers ! Will try and have a look :)
What a great idea for an episode! It's rare people talk about what didn't turn out as planned. My personal fail is my Leith cardigan : I think the fit is awful on me, absolutely hated knitting the double knit button band and it doesn't look so neat (probably my bad here but still). I am really sad because I thought Rebecca was looking so cute in her version. Thankfully I like the yarn so I am thinking of unraveling the whole thing and knit another striped sweater. I would wear your Jessie Made sweater knitted with you Zakamy yarn with either a beige bra or camisole. Just love this sweater. 😊 And Merry Christmas! 🎉
Thank you! And that's a shame, especially when you're extra excited about the project and have a vision for it! But yeah i thought it was helpful to also consider the money, time, and enjoyment spent on it, to see if there was any redeeming factors, and some of those projects i still very much enjoyed making ! Will try and find those camisoles ! Merry christmas :D
@@thewoollyworkerdid you think of changing it to zipper instead of button?
@@louisebb4183 Good idea: will try that before unravelling!
Really enjoyed this! It’s great to hear you’re a loose knitter. I’m a self-taught clumsy knitter which I’m working on with UA-cam & ravelry. I started off a very tight knitter and worked hard to loosen my gauge, worried I’d gone too far - after listening to you I’ve a better idea how to adapt it and feel more confident.
thanks and yeah i feel i hear a lot about tight knitters and sometimes felt a bit alone and like most of the advice didnt apply to me, so it's nice to hear other people having looser tension out there !
Very thoughtful and valuable review of knitting projects that missed the mark for you. I have a possible source for under-layering garments that you may not have thought of: uniform shops. I don't know where you live, but often medical techs and nurses wear V-neck scrubs that are too chilly in the winter to wear alone, so there is an entire line of base-layer wear that is non-bulky and next-to-skin comfortable (flexible, breathable, etc.) for all day wear, designed to be worn under scrubs. Maybe you could find something there instead of in regular clothing shops. I agree with what others have said here also: Stop knitting with mohair. haha. I'm the same as you, can't stand the prickle, I find it extremely itchy, even within minutes of putting it on.
that is a fantastic idea and exactly what i was looking for !! thanks a million ! And yes, im glad i put it out there that im gonna stop using mohair because you will all help me stay accountable and i cant keep flip flopping aha !
Thanks for this view of the "other side" of knitting. I've got a big pile of fails, while over the years I've been learning what suits me and fits me. I too am in the no-moh camp - so itchy. A good substitute is CaMaRose Midnatssol (or other suri blends, I suppose, but this is the one I've used). Happy New Year!
Gabo Wool Baby silk yak is softer and slightly thicker than midnatssol if you're open to some new adventures. It is the only fuzzy yarn I can wear without discomfort.
Really interesting comments about each project...I'm glad you found a way to improve a few of them 🤞
thanks and yeah, i think the Primrose slipover is an easy fix !
the tetis test knit color work pullover looks absolutely gorgeous on you. if i’m not too terribly late, i hope you keep it. it’s classic but very different and new at the same time. maybe your idea of making it into a cardi would work, too? the (i think it was a jessie maed) v-neck would look great with a white pima cotton round neck shirt. you’re a very talented knitter - keep up the good work!
thank you ! I gave both of these to my mum in the end !
@@thewoollyworker what a nice daughter!
I'm. always knitting sweaters for myself that I never wear. Too small, too big, sleeve issues, itchy, wrong color. Your video has inspired me to take the time to figure out what is wrong and make more garments that I will wear in 2024. Thank you.
oh you're welcome ! sorry to hear you've also struggled with lots of different things not being quite right ! good luck in the future :D
It was good to see your honest appraisal of knits that didn't work for you. Re the v-neck stripey sweater that you need an under-layer for, perhaps an old-fashioned English "vest", a cotton but stretchy undergarment that you'd easily find in Marks & Spencers. I do like your colour choices - they are unusual and fun.
Thanks for the tip! Will have a browse
Really interesting listening to this episode. We learn so much from our mistakes!
thank you, and yes for sure!
I made one garment with mohair and after sweating and realizing it's just too warm/itchy, I pass on most mohair combos... Sad because I like the halo effect mohair gives. If you re-do the slipover neckline, I think it would look good to omit the mohair since it can match the hem.
I enjoyed the vid! Sometimes people wax poetic about their makes, so kinda refreshing to hear you speak on how some patterns/yarn combos don't get worn beyond a completion photo.
I definitely will undo the neckline and redo it without the mohair !! Will be a nice objective. And I'm glad you enjoyed the topic, I feel like there's a bit too much "perfection" out there aha !
Thank you for this! It is so comforting to know, that knitters on youtube don't always have only successful projects. 😊
thanks for saying, i think it's important!
Great episode Vanissia. How about putting a fleece lining on the neck of the sweaters that have mohair so it won’t bother you anymore ? I know it might be a little hotter but you might be able to wear it on the coldest days ?
Love your channel. 💖
seems like above my skill level but that's a really good idea !!
I honestly think the £55.28 cropped one looks stunning on you! It's my favourite
aw thank you!
Many of your "fails" looked so good on you but it's really about what YOU feel best in, isn't it?! Thanks for sharing your journey!
thank you, and yeah it can be very personal !
Rosamunde has thin tops that work both during the summer and winter. They're made of bourette silk and merino. I love them for layering.
Good to know!
Oh wow! I learned so much about finding the right yarn. While watching this podcast, I noticed your knitting skills are superb! Can you recommend videos of how you pick up stitches. Necklines appear to be the biggest issues for all of us. Thank you!
Great episode again thanks Vanissia. Good idea to run through the garments not worn and focussing on why. SO important for all of us to learn so we can refine our knitting selections! Lighting personally of no concern to me....too interested in what you are saying to even notice 🥰Your Holly sweater looks gorgeous - well done for finishing 👍
thank you for all this! And yeah definitely wanted to take a moment to pause and think about WHY !
New here. I love the new trend of bringing up the ones not used and why. I really think you look better in colors, where you get a bit of contrast to your skintone. The burgundy in the video is lovely on you!
thanks ! I love to hear the truth too, even if it's not as rosey. And yes, i think I want a bit more colour now!
I'm with you on the feel of mohair and the overly warm nature of these items.
glad to hear im not alone!
I was told that if you freeze mohair ( in a bag I assume)
it can stop it itching. Might work. Nothing to lose.
yes that's always an option!
Really good episode Vanissia! I’ve spent a lot of time over the years knitting things that don’t work for me and giving then away to charity so have often pondered why too. For me I’ve found I need to not follow instagram trends for colours and styles because they rarely work for me. I’m also attracted to the beige aesthetic but it really doesn’t work for my pale skin tone, it’s been a costly lesson 😂 However I adore your balloon sweater, that’s a lovely soft colour and if you do decide to part with it let me know 😊
thank you! and absolutely agree regarding instagram trends, it's SO hard but i need to pull back and stop for a second and wonder if this is for me! Definitely a costly lesson!! They know how to pull us in. Message me on insta regarding the balloon sweater if you want!
hi, I love this podcast.
There is another option: over-dying a finished garment in a dark color.
ohh thanks, good idea!
I like Uniqlo’s Heattech shirts under sweaters. They’re pretty warm and thin with many neckline and color options to choose from.
Totally agree! They're just great!😍
Thank you! I have a couple but definitely would like more !
I love the Teti’s garden on you! It sounds like yarn sensitivity is something for you to consider in the future. But I love these on you! I wish I were your mom! 😄😄
aw thank you! and yes ive definitely learned my lesson now and will really consider before buying those yarns, even if i am attracted to them !
Great episode!! Loved hearing your insights 😊
Thanks so much!
Thank you for this video, we all can learn so much from discussing what doesn’t work for us. Your knitting is beautiful and I am always interested to see what you are working on.
Thank you so much!
Can you follow Retroclaude's example and try soaking the objects in a conditioner of some kind?
i will try that!
I am surprised you're not cold enough in Scotland to wear mohair. I spent this past summer in Edinburgh and I was definitely not warm enough most of the time 😂 so back in London now 😂
And I am also surprised you're not wearing any of these, I love them all!
I think if I spent more time outside I would, but even if I'm walking, i warm up, and then in places, they have the heating on, so I just never feel like it's what I need !
This video is not for knitters who are looking for info on the do’s and dont’s of knitting certain types of patterns.
Thought this was about actual fails but you made all your items beautifully and perfectly and also seemed very impressed with your work. I totally misunderstood what this video was about.
aw no, sorry for the misunderstanding ! definitely was more of a "it's not badly done, but i don't like it" failure ! i don't think i would ever finish something if i knew it wasn't looking wearable
The green isager with the colourful yoke is really nice and now that you've altered the funnel neckline I hope you give it a whirl. It looks really good.
I feel the same way about mohair as you...I understand the temptation because it looks good.
glad to know im not alone !!
These are all very beautiful! I think this is exactly the reason why I am scared to knit with mohair, I don’t want to spend the time on it if I won’t like it, though I know it would be nice to donate it to someone who may love it who is needy.
yes, it was a hard lesson but now i know! And definitely will try and find nice homes for them
This is a great episode. I love the analysis of how things can flop for yourself. And I'm taking a lot out of it here. Looking forward to more of these kinds of videos to learn more about it ✨🐑
so glad you enjoyed it! And yeah i really like to analyse my knitting so more to follow!
Very much looking forward to watching this video, I appreciate the honesty! I often wonder with knitting podcasts whether these FOs actually get worn... I realized a couple of days ago that I'd have to frog my Douglas Cardigan by Andrea Mowry, which was already 90% done (only cuffs and buttonband missing). It's too tight on my shoulders and arms, and since it is a bottom-up design, I only realized when I was almost done. (also I was hoping that the fabric would relax a lot more with blocking). It really annoys me, I dedicated a lot of time to knitting this cardigan. But I think this will be the perfect video to watch while I start the frogging and reminding myself that I'm not the only one with kitting fails. ;)
aw no that's a shame !! I hope you managed to frog it, and that you find a new cardigan to do !
C'était très courageux de ta part de faire un épisodes sur tes "flops", même si certains sont vraiment très beaux. Je pense que tu as besoin d'avoir plus de caracos et de débardeurs dans ta vie, de jolis sous-vêtements en coton/élastane peuvent t'aider à porter tes pulls plus facilement. As-tu pensé à t'offrir un test de colorimétrie, ou à le faire toi-même ? C'est bien utile pour déterminer les couleurs qui nous vont. Bises Vanissia.
merci beaucoup! Et oui, tu as bien raison! J'ai fait un mini-test en ligne et je suis "printemps" mais ce serait chouette d'avoir un test encore plus professionel, je trouve ca super interessant et ca pourrait payer au long terme ! Peut etre en 2024 ...
I think you got sucked into some online trends that don't work for you - beige, mohair, rustic yarn. It happens to all of us now and then. For as popular as beige is on Instagram, it really doesn't look good on a lot of us. I love the way the mohair garments look, but I just can't wear them. Even knitting with the mohair gets my eyes watering.
I very much agree! Good to know now and be more aware of it. Also good to know I'm not the only one getting sucked in!
Great video Vanissia! I love your honesty and thoughts on what you would change. In terms of base layers, I don't know if you have a uniqlo near you but I really like their underlayers for my knits. I run cold so in the winter i like their thin thermals, but they also have the AIRism brand which are really thin and come in a range of colours for a range of skin types. They are seamless and have low necklines so would hide under the lower knits. Hope that helps!
yes i will definitely try more of their stuff !! They are very seamless. Thanks!
Hi Vanissia, I have similar colouring to you and any neutrals even grey wash me out! Try and get your self assessed. I discovered I'm a spring and when I wear spring colours I get so many compliments. I think this would be a massive help to you.
yes i think im a spring too, and will try and buy more yarns that reflect that !!
@thewoollyworker thank you for your podcast! I love watching them and you are always so positive and make beautiful pieces. Would love to see you knit a few spring colours!!
Very good episode. Very interesting. I think the Balloon sweater is beautiful and it will be a shame if you can't make that work for you. I agree with you about the Pictus pullover. I think it might work as a cardigan but perhaps it would look good on a friend that likes to wear a lot of dresses. I like the Cosy Classic light so I would try and find something to go under it. Thanks for a great episode.
thank you for sharing your thoughts! I think im just gonna have to remake the balloon sweater with a different yarn, either suri alpaca, or just lace alpaca !
Hey Vanissia, thanks for the podcast! It is a lovely refreshing view from the other side of handcraft, and I do wish we see more candid and thoughtful reviews like yours in the community. Speaking of yarn choices, have you tried knitting with pure cashmere? I have very low tolerance of scratchy yarn too, and it really frastrates me when I spend a few month on making something that I can't even wear. Cashmere is so expensive but now I save up for it and make every skin layer with it. It's like £100 and 3-4 months of work for a jumper that I will wear till it disintegrates, which I think is pretty good.
Thanks! I have a sweater quantity but have been too afraid to knit with it in case i am disappointed aha but i think this would be the way to go !!
@@thewoollyworker Exciting! Tell us how it goes! Cashmere is so much more forgiving than mohair and rustic wool, even if you have to frog (as I have a few times) the yarn will be nice and reuseable. It's great.
There‘s a vieeo by Norman from Nimble Needles about tendion in ribbing where he goes in depth explaining the issue. It helped me a ton!
Another option might be to knit twosted rib instead which for me comes out very neat. It‘s mire work though.
thanks will look into that video!
Thanks for passing on the wisdom that cost you time and money to learn. You've summed up perfectly how I feel about holding silk mohair with another yarn. I see many v-neck cardigans in my future, using up my stash mohair. 🎉
thank you and yes, definitely using the stash but being mindful of what to avoid, and then not buying anymore!
Loved this video! Helpful to share that we all have some flops. I think the mist sketch looks great on you so hopefully that one can find a new life. Shape and colour are really nice.
thank you! And yes it's my favourite colour of all of these !!
As for underlayers I usually use uniqlo heattech (the very thin ones) they come in skin and neutral colors, and in different types of neck cuts (i like boat and big scoop necks but they also have some more options) Plus they help regulate heat !
yes!! i have a couple that i love, i really need to get more!!
I was going to say that too! But if you struggle with being overheated then I'd suggest their summer line, Airism. Those are very sleek under layers, although they might not have as much neck coverage as the heattech turtlenecks. But as long as you don't get the extra warm version of heat tech you should be fine because they're pretty thin, which is nice, but I think the mohair would still poke through though 😢
Hi Vanissia - thank you so much for sharing your experiences, what a great video!
I am also at a place, where I am "auditing" my hand-knit garments. One more thing to consider, when you have knit something and don't like the colour, is overdyeing the piece. I don't have a big dyeing setup, so what I do is simply using the fabric dyes from the drug store. I know Dylon has dye for hand-washing (rather than using the machine-dye). It is always a risk, but has paid off for me so far :) - also for colour, I generally go for navy, as it is a dark enough colour, has more dimension than black, looks fine in different shades and goes well with everything in my wardrobe.
Regarding under layers - I almost always wear a long sleeve top under my hand-knits. My favourites are the heattech turtlenecks (or boat-neck, when the sweater has a lower neck) from UNIQLO , and they have lasted me for years. They do add a lot of extra warmth though, so if it is already to warm for you, maybe look into some of their other options :)
thanks for the recommendations!! i sense some clothes shopping soon ... and i would like to try overdying one day for that very reason! I got some rit dye
Just found your channel while scrolling ! And of course subscribed😊
Aw I am glad !!
You are such an extraordinary knitter! I love the end of the year videos and it is nice to see how others handle f.o.s that are unsuccessful. I definitely have some of those and am toying with the idea of frogging certain ones. I will definitely try tune in for the stream.
Thank you so much! Makes me really happy to hear, and wow, ive never frogged an entire one, so yeah also getting ready for this idea aha!
I love this video, I learned so much from it. Thank you. Happy New Year!
Thanks a lot! Happy new year!
Would it be possible to wear or line the mohair jumpers with a silk type scarf to protect your neck. I usually wear a light tshirt under jumpers so it would only be the neckline that would bother me. There could be options to style it to avoid the irritation. The second one especially is a beautiful garment, pity to not be able to use it.
thank you and yes that's a good idea, lining even just the upper portion !! I really need to look into the specifics of how to actually do that because it could really pay off !
Thank you for this video, the honesty was refreshing to see! I feel you with the mohair, I just donated the only mohair + fingering weight yarn sweater I ever made because it was too itchy for me to wear (also Petiteknit haha). Afterwards I switched to brushed alpaca, which I find much more tolerable! Although I do think it’s as hot as mohair, so I’m not sure how it would work for you on that front. (I’m always cold so I love it lol) And it does tend to pile and stick to stuff, but it’s much softer than mohair!
Thanks for sharing! I feel it's SO common now and i feel silly for falling prey to instagram etc but nothing wrong with admitting defeat ! And i much prefer brushed alpaca too !
Thank you Vanissia for your honesty about your makes. I agree that we sometimes make the wrong decisions about yarn to design pairings. I too agree that the right yarn makes all the difference. I sometimes wonder ... Should I stick with acrylic? Ugh. I hate to say it, but it keeps its shape and holds up to wear. That being said, I have drawers full of sweaters I don't wear in beautiful expensive yarns. We also fall prey to our favorite podcasters and their excitement over all the luscious yarns available out there. I can't wait to watch your charity marathon! Thanks again for sharing your insights. ❤
thank you for the lovely comment! I do sometimes wonder if i should go back to superwash merino but i really dont love the experience of knitting with it. Definitely hard to not be too influenced by what others are doing !!
Looks like you have discovered what types of yarn, especially mohair and colors to avoid for future projects. I only wore my first sweater twice because it was much too itchy unless I wore a turtleneck under it which I can’t tolerate either. I now know to knit only with merino or other very soft yarns
yes definitely trial and error !
It is very interesting to look at flops cuz I GEt that
yeah it is interesting!
Have you ever used Frangipani yarn?
no, never heard of it!
Thanks for this episode, I think it helps us to know that we are not the only person who is not always happy with our projects. I have found there’s always a little voice in my head telling me when something is not going to work, but it took me a while to start listening to it 😂. I used to think, but what if I do this or use this other yarn instead, etc., and really tried to make things work. But they usually didn’t. So now when, when I hear that voice telling me “this yarn is not right”, or “I’m not sure I like this color”, I have learned to stop and put it aside for a week or so. Then when I come back to it, it’s easier to see what’s not right, some times it’s as simple as changing needle size to get a loser/tighter fabric, and sometimes it’s realizing wrong yarn for this project, but either way it’s better pushing on and finishing something you won’t wear.
Your sweaters are all beautiful, so sorry they didn’t work for you. For the ones where it is the mohair that is bothering you, have you tried washing/blocking them a few times to see if they will soften up? This worked for me with a wool sweater that I found itchy. I’ve heard some people even use hair conditioner to soften their wool, but I don’t know if it works on mohair.
So true! And ive not found washing/conditioner to help much with mohair sadly! It's more about how high the neckline is and what i am wearing underneath that can help!
Hi, Vanissia. I like Numi undershirts. They are expensive, but Numi fairly regularly puts them on sale. For me, the projects I end up not wearing tend to be either because I selected what turned out to be a bad color for me or I knit the sweater too long (which could be fixed, of course, but....)
ohhh okay, I will have a look! And yeah it takes a while to understand our colour preferences doesnt it!!
That 1st vest needs to be worn over a black top, and with black high-waisted wide legged trousers. Could finish up looking very chanel
I really enjoyed this video thank you. It's natural I guess to just post FOs immediately but that doesn't tell the whole picture. I also liked your honesty about test knits. I take test knit/sewing posts with a pinch of salt to be honest. I hope you find some good tops to wear under as sounds like that will solve many of the issues.
thank you and yes definitely intersting to know what happens beyond the photoshoots aha! And totally agree with test knits, after having done many this year, i have changed my opinion of them a bit ! Will report back during the year on finding good tops!