The 60s sweater is a lovely pattern, and I like the challenge of dealing with the yoke and the front tabs. In those days, tailoring was very important, and I still love the look of that. About the elbow repair on the red sweater: you can do it, Roxy! I have done repairs to sweaters where there were holes: I made a new bar for each row, then used a crochet hook to "knit" back what was missing, but that was in stockinette. I don't know if this is considered "invisible" repair or not. I taught myself the technique a long time ago before the internet. It seemed like the logical way to approach the repair. Will you bring us along as you go through the process?
I'm really pleased for you that you found the swatch for your red sweater. I'm look forward to seeing it once you have fixed the elbow and improved the neck. As a new subscriber, I am beginning to look forward already to your Tidbits and chats. Thank you ~ fae Bonny Scotland x
I love your suggestion about knitting something small when switching your knitting style, and then felting so that it won’t matter that your stitches are not all the same size.
That’s how I was taught how to do tailor’s tacks back in 1976 (in the UK) in Home Ec/Needlework classes ... simple and effective and never done them any different since 😉👍🏼
exchanging works in progress... that was something that came up in Arne and Carlos because he found some beautiful unfinished work in a thrift store and decide to buy in and finish in, but with a twist.
Saw that, loved the part where they were imagining who this women is / was . :D Is she still around, who was she and where is she now, An old piece will not be lost but move on to become a completed item
I see those "can I use this yarn in this situation" questions in the Facebook knitting groups a fair bit, and have become that knitter who can be relied on to say "swatch and find out". Oh, how far I've come in a couple of years. :D
I was really struggling with Continental Purl. I was switching back and forth from Continental Knit to English Purl. And then, Eureka! I saw your video and it changed my knitting life! Thank you so much!
Amazing coincidence about "bothies" this episode! I am a huge fan of British mysteries, with subscriptions to Britbox, Acorn, etc. Just a few days ago, I watched a new one on Acorn, titled "Bloodlands," set in Northern Ireland. In recounting some bit of witness testimony, they kept referring to something that happened "between the bothy and the tree," and I made a note to look up that word, which I had never heard before. There is apparently a whole category of tourism, called bothying, increasingly popular in those areas where they are found.
I absolutely love casual Friday’s you share so much knowledge. How amazing to find a swatch for the red sweater, just another reason for doing and keeping swatches. I would be interested in seeing you fix the sweater 🥰. Thank you Roxanne 🥰
You are in fact “simply the best” of oh so many video sites out there!! Having learned only english flicking style way back when , I have often thought of trying continental. You mention it may be better for circular projects, so I’m curious now to find out why. I used to be hesitant and lacked confidence to do something a different way. No more; your advice on self help is spot on ! Thank- you for affirming it’s is okay to trust one’s own instincts!, Anne
*My* English style was not conducive to knitting in the round, which is why I tried to adapt to another English style. I just couldn't manage it, which is why I decided to try Continental.
Thank you for such an interesting podcast. Really enjoyed all your tidbits and fixes! Will be going back to watch all your other episodes now. We can always learn something, no matter how long we have been knitting.
Another good reason to swatch and save it. I'm happy you found it. I have a sweater pattern that I really like. So I swatched all the different stitch patterns to be used and found I did not enjoy doing those. So that pattern is on hold for possible modifications. The swatch is invaluable, wouldn't start a new project without it.
SO cool that you found that 15 year old swatch! I also really like the idea of knitting up a patch and then attaching it, rather than doing visible mending directly on the garment, which I find challenging. (But then, maybe I just haven't had enough practice yet.) The first time you talked about making a spreadsheet for the pattern and including the total stitches, I thought that was total overkill. Why bother rewriting the pattern? Then I came across my first pattern that wasn't laid out as clearly as I was used to, and re-writing it really helped me clarify what I was supposed to be doing well. I also used a "chart-chart" (from TechKnitting) to keep track of the cables as I went along. Now you mention the benefit of the spreadsheet in case you're playing yarn chicken, and I realize that could saved me some heartache a few projects ago! I will be experimenting with a spreadsheet of my own when I start my next project. :)
Your mention of the Out of Town Dorset Button video with Jack Hargreaves brought back a flood of childhood memories so a big thank you. It was a lovely series and covered many disappearing mostly country based skills which even as a child I found fascinating. Now to disappear down a rabbit hole trying to find more episodes/clips.
Stitches at Home has a popular class on making Dorset buttons. Taught by Catherine Redford. Not sure if the April event still has openings (Sat., April 10), but they will very likely offer it again in May and/or June.
My current raglan sweater gave me pause due to maybe running out of my blue. I weighed my yarn in g, knit the yoke, weighed to see how much yarn I had used, and realized I might run too close. So I added stripes. Knitted to a couple of inches from the bottom BO, put those stitches on hold. Weighed again. Started one sleeve in just the blue, did 32 rows, weighed again. Started 2nd sleeve, and after 32 rows will decide if I want to add a stripe or two on the sleeves. Then back to the bottom, adding more length if I have enough blue. I am learning a lot about how far 10 g of fingering weight yarn goes. I really enjoyed this video and your detailed thoughts, having done this myself. And my spreadsheets are tables in Word. : ) Thanks Roxanne!
Thanks for the great advice on learning different knitting methods as well as assuring that anyone’s particular knitting style is acceptable as long as it works for them. 🧶
Love this casual Friday again, seen on Monday All the tidbits were interesting. Happy you found the yarn to repair and change the neckline. XD Swatching lace is a necessity, you gotta learn that pattern by heart. I've got this translated knitting book. Every chart and translation is wrong, it's horrible. But I love the lace pictures, so I swatch. Made me learn so much, mostly to see and knit it.
Too funny! I am having the same problem with a sweater I am knitting. I weighed my yarn & think I have just enough but I will now do your clever calculation based on stitches just to make sure. I also planned on adjusting sleeve length as needed and have thrown my idea of a folded eyelet hem out the window. Thanks for the tip. 🙂
For the people that find a swatch “useless” there is another way to make it useful: I knit baby or dolls clothes as a swatch, mainly tiny scarfs. I’m a new knitter (not even two years) and for my first cabled hat I was really scared about cables in combination with the shaping of a hat so I first knit a dolls scarf with a small cable and different yarn and then knit a scarf in pattern and with the same yarn as the hat. After that I had enough confidence to knit the hat. Now they are a beautiful match 🥰
I knit continental/combined and after watching Arne and Carlos I thought I'd try the way they purl. I am making a baby blanket so I hope to have it mastered by the time I'm done.
Another idea for the elbow patch would be to pick up stitches on your sweater and knit another layer as you pick up stitches on each side to secure making your elbow patch that way. Not sure I explained that very well.
Like this? Jana from Purl Together shows how to knit a patch for sock hole instead of ‘darning’ - ‘weaving’ the hole. ua-cam.com/play/PL-mQs7zGqRMgw_Rk7t4DITf0hg_C29YtP.html
Great episode, filled with encouragement. Oooo, and my heart was so filled with anticipation (around minute 32:59) as I heard you mention the bin of swatches! 🧶🙌💫😁 Hurray!
I’m privileged to be on several knitting groups on Facebook. I’m surprised at the number of questions that can be answered with a gage swatch. Side note: There is a Nero Wolf story that centers on these hand-made buttons as a clue, Motherhunt.
In a pinch, for a small amount, i have taken a sweater to the store a matched nearly exact color to embroidery floss. I used duplicate stitch on thinning areas. Embroidery floss is 6 strans/ply, separate the plys/strands to the appropriate thickness. I normally use one or two strands to rein6 a thinned area.
Really enjoyed this Friday’s video! You amaze me with all your knitting knowledge. Cant wait to see the red sweater repaired and new collar. I knit continental because I crocheted before I learned to knit and was used to holding the yarn in my left hand. I’ve tried a lot of times to do English style but can never get the yarn held in a way that feels natural. I have tried Portuguese style for when I have to purl a lot of stitches in a row. It is helpful because my hand hurts if I have to do a lot of purl stitches in Continental style in a row. Have a great weekend. Thanks for sharing all the links too.
12:52 100% Knitting is all about innovation. Nothing is ever carved in stone, but for those who cannot get past the idea that it is, I give them a hammer and chisel to re-carve that stone. I have ‘invented’ many new methods along my way, even if I haven’t been the first to discover them ~ my having followed-through with an idea has always showed me the possibilities that exist out there. [Edit] - another good thing about swatches, is if you are using a finicky yarn, using a different yarn that is easy to work with allows you to troubleshoot better. When a mishap happens, go to the incompleted swatch to pick at and help find how the stitches are aligned, grouped, positioned, and how to manipulate your way out. Without a swatch, you most likely will harm the real project by fussing needlessly with it as your only recourse. [Edit Edit] - mending old beloved sweaters: Just like shirts that have extra buttons included for when one goes missing, one method is to include extra yarn in a finished project by looping it down next to the seam lines - so they don’t show but can be removed without damage and then worked into the areas needed way-off into the future. A second method, for brave folks, is to remove one row from the hem.... unravel two rows, then replace one as a finished row, and you will have one row’s worth remaining.... recondition it and then use it to mend. (I think I just felt a cosmic hiccup course through my room at all the non-braves out there who just read and imagined doing the above!). You may all (I’ll let ya) refer to this as ‘the Cannon Method’ Named after Me, of course! HA!!!
Thank you for sharing your story about your search for a purling style that works for you. I've just signed up the for TKGA Taming Tension course after struggling with even St st and am now on the same journey myself.
Paternayan Persian yarn for needlepoint. It is lovely, durable yarn for needlepoint. I believe we sold it in 1oz quantities back in the ‘70s, when I worked in a needlepoint shop.
If you want to see the vintage buttons that Rox mentioned, you can find them here instagram.com/p/CMmu1coJXeW/ I will gladly provide the "buttonologist"'s contact info to those who request it. Thanks again, Rox, for suggesting this route.
I found that my normal continental style wasn’t working very well for the linen shirt I was making and my tension was uneven for purls. I found that Eastern mount solved the problem and it was very comfortable. I now switch between both.
I’m so glad you found your red swatch! It’s great that you can repair an old favorite and make it even better. For your vintage sweater, are you going to knit the sleeves both at once? I’m doing that right now on a sweater because I’m worried about running out of yarn, and I want them to match well. I’m off to check out some of your tidbits - have a wonderful weekend🥰
While you do not need new information for your red sweater, and I do not believe they would look particularly well, Joji Locatelli’s Madewell pattern (can be found on Ravelry) shows knit elbow patches.
My feeling is that ribbing on smaller needles will use more yarn, not less. Could you swatch say 500 stitches worth( or whatever number you think) then unravel and measure, compared to the same number of stitches in stocking stitch on the larger needles. You will then know for sure which sleeve style you can do.
When I knit the same number of sts on the same needles with the same yarn, but using different stitch patterns (e.g. stockinette and ribbing), I use the same amount of yarn. If I use the same yarn, and *the same number of sts,* but change my needle size, I get smaller sts, and use less yarn. That's what's going on with the yoke of this sweater. The shaping of the stockinette is replicated in the ribbing, and I work for the same number of rows. When you are filling the same dimensions at different gauges (say, fingering weight stockinette and worsted weight stockinette), you will use the same yardage for each row, regardless of yarn weight, but you will need more rows of the fingering weight yarn, and therefore more yarn (in yards, not grams), because the sts are smaller). I won't need to knit some ribbing and unravel to know exactly how much yarn is used for ribbing on smaller needles vs stockinette on larger, because I can weigh the yarn before I start the ribbed section, and weigh again afterwards to know how many sts/g I get. I didn't think to do that before I CO for the back of the sweater, which is why I will need to wait until I start the fronts to get that information.
@@RoxanneRichardson thanks for your detailed reply. My thoughts had come from the fact that the yarn has to alternate sides in K1P1 rib, and the further distance travelled contributes to the larger stitch size seen in ribbing, which in turn means we tend to use smaller needles. Perhaps the smaller needles compensate sufficiently. I may try a swatch or two myself, to satisfy my curiosity. The cardigan will be lovely whatever the sleeve length - I find 3/4 sleeves better for being in the kitchen!
I did! I would love to compare what I have with what you have. Any way you could take a nice close-up photo and post it in my Ravelry group? What brand is it? Mine was, I think, Dawn, from American Thread Company -- something like that. Do you have any idea what decade yours is from?
Rox, I should look for your email address, I want to write you a novel! First of all, than you for being a source of non-fiction in a climate that is currently filled with rhetoric and bitterness. Your videos are a point of sanity for a person like me who is single and has been isolated by the shut-down. I am soooo happy for you finding your sweater swatch!!! Have you considered also fixing the cuffs if you have enough yarn to spare? I saw your video last week introducing the vintage sweater. I’ll have to review last week’s video to see if the pattern is available anywhere. It’s lovely! What great tips you have for everything! Regarding the sweater repair, it seems like many pressure points could be repaired with similar techniques. I’ll have to look to see if anyone is making whole sole patches for beloved socks, lol. I’m also going to have to check your video list for knitting styles, and see if anyone does continental purling like me. I use my thumb to position the yarn, and I actually prefer purling to knitting continental. In addition, my purling is tighter and more even than my knitting. My SIL has been knitting for most of her life, and doing every craft imaginable. Thanks for the tip on Dorset buttons. Malay be I can stump her with that one! And thanks for the Fair Isle Holiday tip. That’s a trip that she and my brother should take.
I recall those suede elbow patches on sweaters -- I think there was an era when all professors wore that style of sweater. I like the look - kind of casual, but I agree not on your beautiful red sweater. Cheryl Brunette made a good video on "fixing" a sweater - some may find it helpful - Cut your Knitting: Sweater Rescue: ua-cam.com/video/HTDyTQo7-bM/v-deo.html
I wished more people would be aware of eastern purling. It's so enjoyable and intuitive!
The 60s sweater is a lovely pattern, and I like the challenge of dealing with the yoke and the front tabs. In those days, tailoring was very important, and I still love the look of that. About the elbow repair on the red sweater: you can do it, Roxy! I have done repairs to sweaters where there were holes: I made a new bar for each row, then used a crochet hook to "knit" back what was missing, but that was in stockinette. I don't know if this is considered "invisible" repair or not. I taught myself the technique a long time ago before the internet. It seemed like the logical way to approach the repair. Will you bring us along as you go through the process?
I'm really pleased for you that you found the swatch for your red sweater. I'm look forward to seeing it once you have fixed the elbow and improved the neck. As a new subscriber, I am beginning to look forward already to your Tidbits and chats. Thank you ~ fae Bonny Scotland x
Need to learn continental knitting for a left hander
I love your suggestion about knitting something small when switching your knitting style, and then felting so that it won’t matter that your stitches are not all the same size.
That’s how I was taught how to do tailor’s tacks back in 1976 (in the UK) in Home Ec/Needlework classes ... simple and effective and never done them any different since 😉👍🏼
As usual, totally enjoyed the wide variety of fascinating ideas and info. you share. Thanks, Roxanne! 🧶
exchanging works in progress... that was something that came up in Arne and Carlos because he found some beautiful unfinished work in a thrift store and decide to buy in and finish in, but with a twist.
Saw that, loved the part where they were imagining who this women is / was . :D Is she still around, who was she and where is she now, An old piece will not be lost but move on to become a completed item
I see those "can I use this yarn in this situation" questions in the Facebook knitting groups a fair bit, and have become that knitter who can be relied on to say "swatch and find out". Oh, how far I've come in a couple of years. :D
The more I learn about swatching the more I realize how much heartache is avoided by doing just as you said.
I was really struggling with Continental Purl. I was switching back and forth from Continental Knit to English Purl. And then, Eureka! I saw your video and it changed my knitting life! Thank you so much!
Amazing coincidence about "bothies" this episode! I am a huge fan of British mysteries, with subscriptions to Britbox, Acorn, etc. Just a few days ago, I watched a new one on Acorn, titled "Bloodlands," set in Northern Ireland. In recounting some bit of witness testimony, they kept referring to something that happened "between the bothy and the tree," and I made a note to look up that word, which I had never heard before. There is apparently a whole category of tourism, called bothying, increasingly popular in those areas where they are found.
This is a also a good reason to swatch :) - then you will for sure have some extra yarn when you think you ran out of it
I absolutely love casual Friday’s you share so much knowledge.
How amazing to find a swatch for the red sweater, just another reason for doing and keeping swatches.
I would be interested in seeing you fix the sweater 🥰. Thank you Roxanne 🥰
You are in fact “simply the best” of oh so many video sites out there!! Having learned only english flicking style way back when , I have often thought of trying continental. You mention it may be better for circular projects, so I’m curious now to find out why. I used to be hesitant and lacked confidence to do something a different way. No more; your advice on self help is spot on ! Thank- you for affirming it’s is okay to trust one’s own instincts!, Anne
*My* English style was not conducive to knitting in the round, which is why I tried to adapt to another English style. I just couldn't manage it, which is why I decided to try Continental.
Thank you for such an interesting podcast. Really enjoyed all your tidbits and fixes! Will be going back to watch all your other episodes now. We can always learn something, no matter how long we have been knitting.
Another good reason to swatch and save it. I'm happy you found it. I have a sweater pattern that I really like. So I swatched all the different stitch patterns to be used and found I did not enjoy doing those. So that pattern is on hold for possible modifications. The swatch is invaluable, wouldn't start a new project without it.
SO cool that you found that 15 year old swatch! I also really like the idea of knitting up a patch and then attaching it, rather than doing visible mending directly on the garment, which I find challenging. (But then, maybe I just haven't had enough practice yet.)
The first time you talked about making a spreadsheet for the pattern and including the total stitches, I thought that was total overkill. Why bother rewriting the pattern? Then I came across my first pattern that wasn't laid out as clearly as I was used to, and re-writing it really helped me clarify what I was supposed to be doing well. I also used a "chart-chart" (from TechKnitting) to keep track of the cables as I went along. Now you mention the benefit of the spreadsheet in case you're playing yarn chicken, and I realize that could saved me some heartache a few projects ago! I will be experimenting with a spreadsheet of my own when I start my next project. :)
Your mention of the Out of Town Dorset Button video with Jack Hargreaves brought back a flood of childhood memories so a big thank you. It was a lovely series and covered many disappearing mostly country based skills which even as a child I found fascinating. Now to disappear down a rabbit hole trying to find more episodes/clips.
How 🤚
Stitches at Home has a popular class on making Dorset buttons. Taught by Catherine Redford. Not sure if the April event still has openings (Sat., April 10), but they will very likely offer it again in May and/or June.
Got so excited when you found that swatch!
There’s is a wonderful tutorial from Kate Davies showing how to cover buttons with your yarn so they match your garment. They are beautiful
My current raglan sweater gave me pause due to maybe running out of my blue. I weighed my yarn in g, knit the yoke, weighed to see how much yarn I had used, and realized I might run too close. So I added stripes. Knitted to a couple of inches from the bottom BO, put those stitches on hold. Weighed again. Started one sleeve in just the blue, did 32 rows, weighed again. Started 2nd sleeve, and after 32 rows will decide if I want to add a stripe or two on the sleeves. Then back to the bottom, adding more length if I have enough blue. I am learning a lot about how far 10 g of fingering weight yarn goes. I really enjoyed this video and your detailed thoughts, having done this myself. And my spreadsheets are tables in Word. : ) Thanks Roxanne!
Thanks for the great advice on learning different knitting methods as well as assuring that anyone’s particular knitting style is acceptable as long as it works for them. 🧶
Love this casual Friday again, seen on Monday All the tidbits were interesting. Happy you found the yarn to repair and change the neckline. XD Swatching lace is a necessity, you gotta learn that pattern by heart. I've got this translated knitting book. Every chart and translation is wrong, it's horrible. But I love the lace pictures, so I swatch. Made me learn so much, mostly to see and knit it.
Too funny! I am having the same problem with a sweater I am knitting. I weighed my yarn & think I have just enough but I will now do your clever calculation based on stitches just to make sure. I also planned on adjusting sleeve length as needed and have thrown my idea of a folded eyelet hem out the window. Thanks for the tip. 🙂
Oh thank you, thank you. I was able cast on reversible stiches!!!!!
For the people that find a swatch “useless” there is another way to make it useful: I knit baby or dolls clothes as a swatch, mainly tiny scarfs. I’m a new knitter (not even two years) and for my first cabled hat I was really scared about cables in combination with the shaping of a hat so I first knit a dolls scarf with a small cable and different yarn and then knit a scarf in pattern and with the same yarn as the hat. After that I had enough confidence to knit the hat. Now they are a beautiful match 🥰
If you have enough extra yarn after mending and adjusting the neckline, maybe you can add some rounds to the ends of the cuffs!
I knit continental/combined and after watching Arne and Carlos I thought I'd try the way they purl. I am making a baby blanket so I hope to have it mastered by the time I'm done.
Swatch to the rescue! It was neat to hear the pleasure in your voice. And you can knit some lovely red socks...maybe with the same cables?
Another idea for the elbow patch would be to pick up stitches on your sweater and knit another layer as you pick up stitches on each side to secure making your elbow patch that way. Not sure I explained that very well.
Like this? Jana from Purl Together shows how to knit a patch for sock hole instead of ‘darning’ - ‘weaving’ the hole. ua-cam.com/play/PL-mQs7zGqRMgw_Rk7t4DITf0hg_C29YtP.html
It would be cool to knit an elbow patch that. Mirrored the cabling from the front of the sweater.
Just watched the link about the buttons. Very interesting.
I am so happy you found your red swatch. One more great reason to swatch AND keep the swatch !!!
Great episode, filled with encouragement. Oooo, and my heart was so filled with anticipation (around minute 32:59) as I heard you mention the bin of swatches! 🧶🙌💫😁 Hurray!
I’m privileged to be on several knitting groups on Facebook. I’m surprised at the number of questions that can be answered with a gage swatch.
Side note: There is a Nero Wolf story that centers on these hand-made buttons as a clue, Motherhunt.
Thank you for sharing your contingency plans to make sure you can finish your 60's sweater. It will come in handy on some yarn projects I have.
Hooray for you, keeping your swatch to repair your sweater! I am finally doing a swatch for a hat. Thanks.
In a pinch, for a small amount, i have taken a sweater to the store a matched nearly exact color to embroidery floss. I used duplicate stitch on thinning areas.
Embroidery floss is 6 strans/ply, separate the plys/strands to the appropriate thickness. I normally use one or two strands to rein6 a thinned area.
Really enjoyed this Friday’s video! You amaze me with all your knitting knowledge. Cant wait to see the red sweater repaired and new collar. I knit continental because I crocheted before I learned to knit and was used to holding the yarn in my left hand. I’ve tried a lot of times to do English style but can never get the yarn held in a way that feels natural. I have tried Portuguese style for when I have to purl a lot of stitches in a row. It is helpful because my hand hurts if I have to do a lot of purl stitches in Continental style in a row. Have a great weekend. Thanks for sharing all the links too.
12:52
100%
Knitting is all about innovation. Nothing is ever carved in stone, but for those who cannot get past the idea that it is, I give them a hammer and chisel to re-carve that stone.
I have ‘invented’ many new methods along my way, even if I haven’t been the first to discover them ~ my having followed-through with an idea has always showed me the possibilities that exist out there.
[Edit] - another good thing about swatches, is if you are using a finicky yarn, using a different yarn that is easy to work with allows you to troubleshoot better. When a mishap happens, go to the incompleted swatch to pick at and help find how the stitches are aligned, grouped, positioned, and how to manipulate your way out. Without a swatch, you most likely will harm the real project by fussing needlessly with it as your only recourse.
[Edit Edit] - mending old beloved sweaters:
Just like shirts that have extra buttons included for when one goes missing, one method is to include extra yarn in a finished project by looping it down next to the seam lines - so they don’t show but can be removed without damage and then worked into the areas needed way-off into the future. A second method, for brave folks, is to remove one row from the hem.... unravel two rows, then replace one as a finished row, and you will have one row’s worth remaining.... recondition it and then use it to mend.
(I think I just felt a cosmic hiccup course through my room at all the non-braves out there who just read and imagined doing the above!).
You may all (I’ll let ya) refer to this as
‘the Cannon Method’
Named after Me, of course!
HA!!!
Thank you for sharing your story about your search for a purling style that works for you. I've just signed up the for TKGA Taming Tension course after struggling with even St st and am now on the same journey myself.
Paternayan Persian yarn for needlepoint. It is lovely, durable yarn for needlepoint. I believe we sold it in 1oz quantities back in the ‘70s, when I worked in a needlepoint shop.
If I have an all purl row I use a Portuguese purl. I made Dorcet buttons for a summer cardigan when I couldn't find a button that would go with it.
Paternayan Persian yarn for needlepoint. It is lovely. I believe we sold it in 1oz. quantities back in the 70s, when I worked in a needlepoint shop.
If you want to see the vintage buttons that Rox mentioned, you can find them here instagram.com/p/CMmu1coJXeW/ I will gladly provide the "buttonologist"'s contact info to those who request it. Thanks again, Rox, for suggesting this route.
You speak my language! Thank you, thank you for your words of wisdom 💚
I found that my normal continental style wasn’t working very well for the linen shirt I was making and my tension was uneven for purls. I found that Eastern mount solved the problem and it was very comfortable. I now switch between both.
Great video as usual. I'm looking forward to seeing that sweater yoke, it's so interesting
I’m so glad you found your red swatch! It’s great that you can repair an old favorite and make it even better. For your vintage sweater, are you going to knit the sleeves both at once? I’m doing that right now on a sweater because I’m worried about running out of yarn, and I want them to match well. I’m off to check out some of your tidbits - have a wonderful weekend🥰
Thanks. As usual, educational and entertaining.
What about using the braid stich that is used in embroiderey? It looks kind of like a knitted stich. Well being if you find the same yarn.
Portuguese knitting is a great way to handle long stretches of purl.
While you do not need new information for your red sweater, and I do not believe they would look particularly well, Joji Locatelli’s Madewell pattern (can be found on Ravelry) shows knit elbow patches.
My feeling is that ribbing on smaller needles will use more yarn, not less. Could you swatch say 500 stitches worth( or whatever number you think) then unravel and measure, compared to the same number of stitches in stocking stitch on the larger needles. You will then know for sure which sleeve style you can do.
When I knit the same number of sts on the same needles with the same yarn, but using different stitch patterns (e.g. stockinette and ribbing), I use the same amount of yarn.
If I use the same yarn, and *the same number of sts,* but change my needle size, I get smaller sts, and use less yarn. That's what's going on with the yoke of this sweater. The shaping of the stockinette is replicated in the ribbing, and I work for the same number of rows.
When you are filling the same dimensions at different gauges (say, fingering weight stockinette and worsted weight stockinette), you will use the same yardage for each row, regardless of yarn weight, but you will need more rows of the fingering weight yarn, and therefore more yarn (in yards, not grams), because the sts are smaller).
I won't need to knit some ribbing and unravel to know exactly how much yarn is used for ribbing on smaller needles vs stockinette on larger, because I can weigh the yarn before I start the ribbed section, and weigh again afterwards to know how many sts/g I get. I didn't think to do that before I CO for the back of the sweater, which is why I will need to wait until I start the fronts to get that information.
@@RoxanneRichardson thanks for your detailed reply. My thoughts had come from the fact that the yarn has to alternate sides in K1P1 rib, and the further distance travelled contributes to the larger stitch size seen in ribbing, which in turn means we tend to use smaller needles. Perhaps the smaller needles compensate sufficiently. I may try a swatch or two myself, to satisfy my curiosity. The cardigan will be lovely whatever the sleeve length - I find 3/4 sleeves better for being in the kitchen!
I believe Fruity Knitting podcast had a woman who makes those buttons and showed how she did it. Can’t remember which podcast it was.
Do you have a pattern for a man's crew neck vest? Maybe vintage?
Thanks!
Roxanne, did you ever find any actual balls of Shetland Floss to look at. I’ve just unearthed two in my stash complete with original ball bands!
I did! I would love to compare what I have with what you have. Any way you could take a nice close-up photo and post it in my Ravelry group? What brand is it? Mine was, I think, Dawn, from American Thread Company -- something like that. Do you have any idea what decade yours is from?
@@RoxanneRichardson - I’ve now replied to you on your Ravelry group, having figured out how to do it at long last!
Rox,
I should look for your email address, I want to write you a novel!
First of all, than you for being a source of non-fiction in a climate that is currently filled with rhetoric and bitterness. Your videos are a point of sanity for a person like me who is single and has been isolated by the shut-down.
I am soooo happy for you finding your sweater swatch!!! Have you considered also fixing the cuffs if you have enough yarn to spare?
I saw your video last week introducing the vintage sweater. I’ll have to review last week’s video to see if the pattern is available anywhere. It’s lovely!
What great tips you have for everything! Regarding the sweater repair, it seems like many pressure points could be repaired with similar techniques. I’ll have to look to see if anyone is making whole sole patches for beloved socks, lol.
I’m also going to have to check your video list for knitting styles, and see if anyone does continental purling like me. I use my thumb to position the yarn, and I actually prefer purling to knitting continental. In addition, my purling is tighter and more even than my knitting.
My SIL has been knitting for most of her life, and doing every craft imaginable. Thanks for the tip on Dorset buttons. Malay be I can stump her with that one! And thanks for the Fair Isle Holiday tip. That’s a trip that she and my brother should take.
❤ --KateColors
I recall those suede elbow patches on sweaters -- I think there was an era when all professors wore that style of sweater. I like the look - kind of casual, but I agree not on your beautiful red sweater. Cheryl Brunette made a good video on "fixing" a sweater - some may find it helpful - Cut your Knitting: Sweater Rescue: ua-cam.com/video/HTDyTQo7-bM/v-deo.html
Not ‘fit,’ but F.I.T. (initials)