When I am having a bad couple of days, immune system-wise, I will often only get as far as gathering my supplies. Then, I will just stare at it for hours, convinced I will never knit again. I'm sorry to say this, but it really helps me to know this happens others. Now, I have to get up and do my balance exercises.
I always think it’s important when creators model the practice of giving up on a project that no longer brings you joy. It’s easy to get lost in feelings of guilt or sunk cost and forget that joy was the whole point in the first place. Thank you for the reminder.
I very much appreciate you being real with your crafting reality. I'm in a very different situation, but I do often learn helpful things from you about dealing with my own craft reality. I always feel a little more encouraged to just have fun with it, and do what I can. It is always good to see what you are up to. I just picked up a very nerdy cross-stitch project after a year. Take care till next time. 🦆🧶
Omg Doggie reveal! What a pretty boi! (also hi Claude's bf). Also big hugs re: pattern frustration and stash numbers. We don't watch you cause youre perfect, we just like hanging out with you. I really appreciate the raw honesty of this vlog
Exactly, I watch because I need a ‘friend’ to chat to me and share in the issues I have too without having to actually socialise ( as I’m often unable to) It’s so relieving to find more and more people on socials not making everything perfect and making me feel like I am not enough. I honestly feel like you would such a nice person to hang out with.
Watching you strategise about you knitting in your PJs while I'm also knitting in my PJs is weirdly fun, like we're having a craft-y slumber party (in a completely parasocial way haha). Sending you hugs and good vibes so that all your projects will go smoothly!
Ooh Claude. That FUCK at 16:00 really came from your toes didnt it. I 100% feel you. As a plussize gal patterns and sizing are a nightmare sometimes. Thank you for the wonderful video❤❤
Nice to meet the boyfriend, even if he is in witness protection! - Ha-ha! But cute doggy! I'm sorry for your struggles but proud of your spirit to forge ahead! That was some lovely yarn you ordered!
Don’t feel stupid! I think most of us get turned around…especially when something are not how we think they are. I’ve been knitting close to 50 years and still have repeated false starts on some projects…often very simple ones. Having a good cry…walking away…deep breaths are all valid…so is deciding a project is not worth the frustration. 🌈🌈🦋🦋
I think it's completely reasonable to have a good cry when you're feeling frustrated but please be kind to yourself because you're not stupid you just have a brain that works different to how the pattern is written. So really the pattern is the problem, not you.
I'm so glad you included that clip of the screen reader! As a part of my job I make documents accessible for screen readers sometimes, but I've never experienced the user side. I've thought occasionally that if I ever created patterns I would like to make sure they're accessible for those who use screen readers, so it would be interesting to hear more about how patterns can be written and edited to be accessible for those who use screen readers!
Try playing them back to yourself and focus on where you need to add in headings and subheadings. It’s surprising how many times we forget that paragraph spacing etc which create a mental punctuation for a primarily visual user, simply won’t translate. But if you take time to write out, ‘end of button band’ as a subheading, the visual user won’t care and the screen reader will read it out so anyone relying on that can orient themselves. Or if you can’t have headings, investigate the possibility of numbering every single paragraph. Make all paragraphs short. And then provide a paragraph index. So at least people can jump to the instruction they need. There are an endless combination of reasons people might need a screen reader. Don’t try and assume one use case. Unless you are really pressed for space, phrases such as, ‘this will be folded to create the point of the hood and is worked inside out’, or, ‘this is the end of the pocket flap, 40 rows total ’. It might seem overly obvious, but you don’t know what the user is battling and that might be the context they need. If the text is referring to a diagram, also consider a set of descriptions for that in a separate box too, with reference figures in the pattern text so someone who references both can understand which bit is being discussed. For example, there is often a diagram for making up a garment or explaining exactly where to measure. This would need its own set of text. Often by making the pattern clear enough that the screen reader can use it, it also becomes easier for the human to read too.
It looks like there are three different yarn recommendations for the Mohn sweater: a fingering weight, a sport, and a DK, but the gauge is a worsted weight gauge, using needles that would typically be used for DK weight yarn, and would result in 22 sts over 4'', not the 20 called for in the pattern (I realize that the stitch pattern could very well result in something looser than you'd typically get with the same yarn and needles, and that different knitters get different gauges with the same yarn and needles. So it would be a bit frustrating to work out what the right needle/gauge combination is!
Thank you! I've also just discovered that I've been doing tuck stitches wrong, which has massively thrown my gauge calculations out! 🤦🏻♀️ As I never usually work with DK weight it all feels so unfamiliar.
"Never too serious and yet keeping it real." Wow, you perfectly put into words what I love and find the most helpful about this channel! I always struggle with this, oftentimes I get either paralysed by confronting a bad situation or I laugh it all away. Neither is helpful. Acknowledging a bad situation while still keeping a sense of humor is quite a balancing act, isn't it?
I'm right there with you! I put stitch markers to mark the right side like nobody's business. For those who have trouble differentiating the words in the pattern, putting a stitch marker on either side of the project with a little bead or piece of paper with 'R' and 'W' on it might be helpful - then they don't need to stand for right or wrong, just the corresponding row.
first, I love seeing how much your face lights up when your boyfriend walks in. second, I always end up converting patterns to a document so I can use a dyslexic friendly font on it. I use opendyslexic bc it's free. Third, thanks for always being so open about your health struggles. it's one of the reasons I'm finally pursuing a proper diagnosis for my (unfortunately worsening) health issues. stay amazing
28:00 I don't think you are. I think recently a lot of designers have gotten lazy and ommited tech editing and clarity from their patterns. It's an ongoing frustration that patterns from the 90s and early 2000s are superior in every single way from more recent patterns, simply because designers aren't held to a high standard. Nowadays anyone can be a designer and anyone can put a pattern on ravelry, sadly that's led to a lot of poor quality patterns gaining in popularity.
I recently bought a pattern (crochet) on Etsy. It’s beautiful and the designer is clearly very talented. It’s also very clear. But again, there’s no oversight to maintain standard terms. So when the author wasn’t quite sure how to write something, she just made it up,….things there are perfectly well known terms for all ready. It’s not that it’s not possible to understand, it’s just reinventing the wheel unnecessarily and making it more confusing than it needs to be. An editor would have fixed that. On the other hand, having to use an editor would probably prevent a lot of these things getting published in the first place. We win and lose. I do look at reviews on ravelry to see if it’s worth bothering with a pattern. If others attempts look like a dog’s dinner then I won’t waste my energy.
While this is frequently true, Lily‘s patterns are usually extremely well written and minutely edited and tested - she‘s also very good at maths and has been putting out good patterns since she was 12, so I was really surprised it was such a struggle with this one with a lack of clarity 😮 She‘s really nice and helpful, so I‘m sure she will have provided pattern support if asked, she‘s normally very concerned about getting detail right. Her patterns are actually no.1 on my designer list because of this attention to detail. No doubt she‘ll be glad you pointed out any inconsistencies, she‘s only human!
What a lovely surprise to see a new Retro Claude video this morning. I'm currently working on a 1940s eyelet vest top and have just picked up the neckline stitches (1st time doing this) with #13 needles. They're only just long enough! 😂 Then had to ask for more help as the next instruction made no sense to me! I was admiring your ability to drop those stitches back 2 at a time - I just take a deep breath and rip back. And I think that need to add the lavender colour will result in a beautiful sweater. Glad to see Roxanne's comment about gauge on that as it's on my potential knitting list too.
haha, my dyslexic brain is the exact opposite 😂 I can’t stand blocks of texts with abbreviations everywhere, charts are much clearer to me 😆 But that’s why we need patterns made for neurodivergent brains, even though it means at least 2 or 3 different ways to explain the same thing, and in a readable font and layout
I can so relate to feeling stupid sometimes. I'm currently knitting a loose top on 3mm needles. Yesterday I had to rip back almost 15cm of work because I had misread the pattern and done increases wrong, then again because I had miscalculated the sizing, and then twice more because each time I picked the ripped-out stitches back up I messed something up and couldn't figure out how to fix it. It's not even a complicated pattern... the brain fog is real. Sometimes everything beyond plain stockinette on something you've already cast on previously is just too much. I think I managed to keep going only because I tell myself that I enjoy knitting, so ripping back = more knitting...
its not just you! modern knitting patterns can be super vague (i even have a published BOOK w a lace pattern w wrong stitch counts) and it takes me multiple read throughs to get info into my head without the added difficulty of dyslexia if youre able, I find highlighting the numbers associated w my size makes it easier to read, especially if ive forgotten what size i was making. As for the right side wrong side, I place a stitch markers on the actual fabric of the right side so i can keep it straight especially when the pattern isn’t established yet, which provides a visible difference between the sides. (you can do it a few rows in so its not on the edge causing more confusion) Not sure if you’ve already thought of these ideas, but this is what i find useful :)
Yay for a new Retro Claude video! Thank you for explaining your pacing methods in such detail. It’s really helpful to me as someone with chronic depression. And I love the idea of “helping out future (me)”. Sorry to hear about all the frustrating times but hope it helps to let it all out! I do feel there is a LOT of variation in yarn weight categories. I’ve seen some Arans that are as light as some DKs so I agree that US yarns might tend to the thicker side? The heathery yarn is gorgeous and the waistcoat is looking fab so far. Can’t wait to see your Mohn cardigan eventually - it will be lovely with all the beautiful colours you’ve picked.
Your decision about the slip over pattern has encouraged me to unravel a new sock pattern I was working on. I wasn't enjoying the pattern and the long pattern repeats . I have brain fog which could be due to multiple chronic health conditions and I was getting upset trying to remember the pattern. I knit for my mental health, so I'm going to try another sock pattern after resting my hands for a bit .
When you put on your blue fuzzy sweater thing with your pjs 😂 I got so excited because I have a pink fuzzy sweater thing that my chronic illness self also wears 😂 ❤
If you have any of the navy left over maybe make that the center of the hexipuff flowers because if you have a dark varigated yarn it will also go with it
Hi Claude, I'm a crochet designer but definitely not up for the crocheted duck. I don't know if you saw it but there is a crochet version of the emotional support chicken that is made flat and seamed - I bet you could could make some minor changes to that to make it into a duck! You inspired me to make the emotional support chicken and I spoke about you and that in my last podcast episode. Thanks for another fabulous stashbusting video!
I am so glad I'm not the only one who struggles with the W for wrong side and the R for right side - not only do they both sound like 'R', but I know lots of people with the surname 'Wright', and you 'write' a sentence - so I'm perpetually confused. Oh, for the unambiguous F (front) and B (back) of sewing instructions. (FYI I'm also mildly dyslexic, which means I massively sympathize with anyone who struggles with decoding written instructions. Written pattern instructions are the bane of my existence, thank goodness for UA-cam).
I'm the same on crash days, I plan future projects in my head or on paper. It reinforces to Present Me that this is temporary and Future Me will have energy to create again
I'm so sorry you had to go through that, but I also find your pattern reading frustration so relatable. When I'm in a bad flare I typically have to either follow video tutorials or make something that I can freehand, otherwise I end up as frustrated as you were
I snort-laughed at what shall henceforth be known as “Slipgate”! 😂😂😂 Love your content as ever, Claude. Oh and love the incidental Retro Boyfriend reveal! Welcome, good Sir, to Claude’s Fandom! Obviously you are privileged & know the Real Claude’s name, persona and life, but welcome anyway to her online fandom. Thank you so much Claude for continuing your UA-cam career. We all benefit so much from it- even though I’m a crocheter, not a knitter, I absolutely love your unique style & take on disability & the online craft or historical dress communities. ❤❤❤
hey im really glad you put these videos out. I love how genuine you are, and show your struggles- I suspect i might have ME, though its not recognised in my country and i cannot get it diagnosed- Instead im being thought of as histerical, especially given im female as far as offical documents are concerned, and have anxiety- Showing you working, sometimes struggling through your situation, it makes me feel okay. That its ok that i struggle, and that i need to care for myself and my needs. Even though i cant work thats ok. Thank you so much for these videos.
Claude, I just want to say I love the way you're real in your videos. As another crafter with ME/CFS I love hearing you talk about how you're pacing yourself and preparing things for the future you who is having a less symptomatic time. I have been in exactly the same mental state where your brain just will not put all the pieces together while figuring out a pattern and just when you think you've corrected it you look again and realise (and swear aloud) that its still wrong. Thank you for sharing your reality because it reminds me I'm not the only one.
loved the new video! 31:40 yeah, totally, if you have bad feelings and emotions while making something, it'll be hard to not think of those feelings while wearing it
Thank you for always keeping it real. It feels so much better knowing we're not alone out there. Also, hey, boyfriend reveal! I'm happy you've found someone around whom you can be yourself and who cherishes you for it; you deserve it!
Totally agree! Having a little cry lets all that negative energy move through and out of my system so I can reset! And then I can usually take a deep breath and figure out what's productive next step (put it down to wait for another time, rip it out or refocus and keep going). The most helpful advice I've ever heard as a knitter was a lighthearted comment on a podcast - that we're all in this cause we enjoy knitting, and it's ALL knitting!!! Even tinking is a form of knitting! So there's something to enjoy in every phase of knitting! (Head exploding!) It has made me way more likely to randomly swatch and play with a new yarn in creative ways, and not worry about making something! And also to enjoy frogging, and knit again! I knit because I enjoy playing with sticks and string. I enjoy the tactile experience, I enjoy what I learn about the yarn and the stitches and the resulting fabric from randomly swatching interesting yarns in my stash - and I often get ideas for projects or the yarn will tell me what I wants to be (hat, mitts, tea cozy, sweater). I love my finished projects too! But the journey is where I find the most joy 😊
I am also working on my Mohn cardigan. I’m a slow knitter and I also do lots of sewing and other things. My hands are bugging me a little. I’ve started wearing these lightweight bamboo gloves when I sleep. They provide a very light compression (honestly, I saw them on Facebook and thought “that will never do anything!” And then I got a pair and they are not too tight-I have a pair that are quite firm with the little sticky dots on them that are helpful for sewing with a machine, these are much softer-but my trigger finger has gone away, my hands don’t fall asleep when I I’m sleeping and they seem to help a great deal. Far more than expected from a Facebook ad item!). Would it help if you had a buddy who would read out patterns for you? Yes, I am volunteering. I am a former English teacher with good reading skills and I’m told have a pleasant voice. It would have an American accent, a Midwest American accent, but I’d be happy to record patterns for you if you’d like.
I think it's totally valid to have a visual target rather than a numerical one - though I do realise that each is really unto their own. My stash is a precarious pile of stuff inside and piled on top of the plastic boxes wedged into the corner of our living room. There's a cardboard box with the rest of an order and other 'overflow' immediately in front of it. My summer goal is by hook or crook - or knitting and re-shovelling, however you want to view it - get rid of that box. The Hug-Me-Tight shawl/vest that you showed reminded me that there was a Hug-Me-Tighter shrug on the free vintage knitting pattern website that you suggested ages back. The yarn that I considered using for that is somewhere in the stash tower...
Knit patterns can be so confusing! Because of this, my limited short term memory, and the fact that I often have to put projects down for days to weeks, I always read through the pattern, make copious notes, especially where things are clarified later in the pattern, and very often use colored pencils and highlighters. I don't blame you for not wanting to continue with a pattern that was so difficult. You're not stupid. Here's a virtual hug for solidarity 🫂💜
Chronic illness/disability really feels like a comedy of errors sometimes, gosh. All the "but I can't do [x] because of [y]" and the "but *this* caused *that* to happen" etc etc. I totally feel you about feeling "stupid". It can be really scary for me actually to realise that I'm not able to comprehend the situation, especially when it involves talking to other people for some reason. I find it very frustrating when I'm struggling with something in the moment that I used to be able to do or I know I usually can do (since my cognitive stuff varies). As always, thanks for sharing these moments with us. Helps us know we're not alone
Love your videos, but I felt for you a lot with this one. You are clearly clever and very talented, keep the sass going whether it's with a slip over or anything else! Ps. I'm making a gorgeous cardigan, totally missed a buttonhole, laddered down to fix, couldn't, messed it up and spent 3 days thinking about how to fix it all and trying to stop the stitches beside it looking loose, before deciding to f* it and carry on in the hope washing/blocking sorts it out. The struggle is real!
Have you talked with Stephanie Canada about the discrepancies between vintage and modern pattern? I think you both have a lot of the same thoughts. I enjoy listening to you both. You both keep me thinking and wondering. Thank you for your efforts to make your videos when you are feeling so ill.❤
About expectations of paid-for knitting patterns: you absolutely should expect the pattern to be correct and readable! It's so frustrating that what seems bare-minimum often isn't even provided. But still, you made this vlog very entertaining to watch! (And the bf/dog cameo was very cute!)
About the DK weight, I've found that my WYS Croft DK is far lighter than some King Cole DK I'm using for a baby blanket even though the button bands recommend the same needles and have the same tension. They are the only DK I have on hand, so I don't know if WYS is lighter than standard or King Cole is heavier. Please give Sadie pets from me
totally charmed by your realistic language skills , refreshing contrast to the USA video makers and while watching am at long last ie 20+ years since I bought cotton dk yarn at a charity shop for 20p a ball started on making everyone crochet net bags as Yule pressies. Can't bring myself to start knitting knee high socks using the wool bought at Oxfam this spring but one day soon before winter I hope . Don't want my poor executors to have a pile of yarn and textiles to disburse post mortem so I'd better crack on with my stash which is enough for another 20+ years taking me thru to my 90s
Hi Claudia, hope you’re well! The new version of the Over It Slipover pattern with typos amended will be updated on Ravelry this week. I apologise for misinterpreting your second email - I hadn’t realised there was anything to reply to as I’d already mentioned changing the pattern. Have refunded your copy. Have a great week 😊
Your realness and flexibility about your stash and your "rules" is legit inspirational. Don't want to buy yarn, but also it's okay to buy some. You're the knitting emotional support Claude we all need! :D
I am going through cancer treatments for the next year, and being exhausted and very achy is part of that. I'm a crocheter, and I can emphasize with the struggle of not being able to do what I consider to be my therapy. Right now I am making small amigurumi projects to sell for extra money, so I feel so bad when I can't accomplish what I need to when I have the time. On another note, I absolutely love the color palette you chose for the sweater, the lavender is a gorgeous addition, great choice! As for your duck, I would just look up a tutorial for a big amigurumi duck. You might even find a no sew, or low sew version of one. A lot of it is magic circle, worked in the round and if you use a bigger yarn, it will work up quickly. I hope you are feeling better as of this video posting, I am sending you many hugs and lots of love! ❤
Your videos are so validating for me! I know they can be very draining to make, and I know you sometimes have doubts, but please know that I find so much value in them, as do many others!
As usual delighted to watch your videos! Especially when they are so relatable! I just had a chat with a friend about our struggles with ME/long covid stuff and we were lamenting how annoying pacing can be! I'm motivated NOW! Give me energy body! I've just picked up two knitting machines (for free!) which is something I've been very excited to try but I'm very worried about troubleshooting from scratch! It's both reassuring and distressing that even very experienced crafters struggle too! Wonderful to get to almost meet the boyfriend and most importantly the vizla!
Thank you for sharing your fiber arts and how you practice pacing. I found your channel several years ago, feeling inspired to destash my yarn slowly. Earlier this year I was finally diagnosed with ME and my crochet projects have been on pause. Watching you work your projects in ways that work best for your energy is encouraging for me. May you be free from suffering. 😊
I found you through the last video you posted and have spent the last week or so binging every single knitting video on your channel. I care for my partner who lives with severe ME and I've found this series so comforting. These videos have really helped me as a new knitter and I've had them on in the background while I've been making my first ever project from a pattern. Being in a very low-income household I was starting to get the impression from the rest of the internet that knitting would not be an accessible hobby but your videos have completely reframed my thinking and taught me the importance of planning and resourcefulness.
I'm also disabled (both mentally and physically) and I have a strategy for knitting patterns. Mind you that I'm not very good at knitting yet because I'm doing since last October, but I just either print pages of pattern I would need and use colourful highlighters to mark what information I need to be conscious of or I just read whole pattern once when I have good day, then read it in chunks and write down shortened version, like I did with one sock pattern, I basically shortened 2 pages to half of a page, because I included only instructions I needed to make this exact size. And I do big spaces between new things, so there's cast on sts, empty line, every knitting row is new line, instructions are spaced out in new line, I also mark in colours amounts of stitches to cast on or places where there's something new happening in a row, so I won't do stockinette for whole row when I needed it for only half. It might be annoying for some people but I enjoy it and it helps me so much. And I know it seems wasteful, but I write my short versions by hand and my handwriting is tiny, so it never takes more than 1 page. But of course you could do it digitally and highlight in software, I just try to train my hands as much as I can. I prefer to spend my energy once at the start of the projects than frog every 10 minutes, what happened before I started doing all of this.
Happy to see you again! I empathize with patterns and quitting them when it dampens all enjoyment. No energy to waste on things that don't bring joy. I sometimes test patterns and I always make comments to increase ease of use. Even if a pattern is technically correct, if there is a simpler way to write something down why not do that? Really, making things accessible helps EVERYONE not 'just a small group'
Always so excited for new videos from you. Really appreciate your honesty about the less than ideal things, even though you could edit all of it out, because that's the reality of life and crafting. You're a great inspiration, and I applaud that you can handle knitting, especially in vintage. I've only been crocheting for 1 year and I can't even imagine how you do it.
I don't have dyslexia but my ADHD makes me get lost in patterns really easily too. I have to read then ahead of time 3 to 4x before I start. Sometimes I'd print them & break out highlighters to get just my bits out. Then I started knitting my own designs. Objectively it's harder but to me it's easier 😂😂
I completely understand your frustration with right side and wrong side. My brain always tries to spell right with a W so I wanted to share a tip that I use. I use a pink stitch marker a couple stitches in on the right side of the work. This helps me keep track of right side and wrong side. I hope this tip helps.
I felt this video in my disabled soul. Currently don't have use of my hands and I start crying whenever I try to knit and it hurts too much. It's so frustrating when you're sick and just want to feel a bit better... But then your body has other ideas 😔❤️
Is it worth getting shade cards from wool wearhouse. I live in aus and have brought from there and brought shade cards to get a better idea of yarn and colour. I cannot wait to see the green purple when the yarn comes in because they are some of my favourite colours. And I really want to make the engineering knits pattern too.
I so appreciate your realness when it comes to wanting to do a specific project and having to buy more supplies because you have to - not because you necessarily want to. As well as not being able to find certain things when you need them. I totally go through the same crap! Lol
It w🎉as so good to see a new Retro Claude video. To me, you looked & sounded a little better in most of this video. (I do realize that that may not transfer to actual reality but I wanted you to know). ❤
i was crocheting and listening to you, and momentarily forgot pounds was currency, panicked for a second trying to figure out how many grams 80 pounds of yarn could be and what that would do to your stash lol the pattern struggles are definitely relatable, some modern patterns can be pretty vague unfortunately. it really depends on who writes it and what testers they have
Re: the WS and RS confusion, whenever I run into something on a pattern that I know my brain will confuse, I color code them and either use a highlighter or my ipad to color code things.
As a fellow dyslexic knitter - the only thing that has ever helped me is adding an obscene amount of different colored highlighting to my printed patters XD
I've been saving this video for a day of sorting my clothes! The clip to meet your boyfriend and his dog was so sweet, the dog was so happy to see you (as was the boyfriend) and I was happy you respected his privacy!
I love Squid School of Vintage Knit patterns. :) I might just have too many projects on the go from them. They are so worth the cost, but I don't already have a stash of Vintage patterns so I completely understand not wanting to spend money on it. :)
I know it sucks when you're in a flare and everything gets so frustrating and you feel like you can't do *anything*, but it's so reassuring to see that I'm not alone. We're not alone. I recently got a very shallow wooden box (meant for kinetic sand and other sensory play for kids), just so I could have a place for my embroidery project that I can just set down, put the lid on it and not have to worry about my cat eating part of the project. Even having to put my project in the kitchen when I'm not working on it (because of said cat), had proven to be too much. It's frustrating, but we can only work with what we have physically and mentally. ❤
4:23 I track my needle gauge on my swatches by doing a yarn over for each mm and a purl for each 0.25mm. (So a swatch on 3.75mm needles would have 3 yarn overs and 3 purl stitches in the bottom corner. I alternate them with a single knit stitch for better readability.) It doesn't interfere with the overall gauge and the needles don't have to sit in the project bag!
I feel your frustration. I have ADHD, which mean my brain glosses over loads of details when reading patterns and I usually need to knit a third of the garment before frogging and knitting again and frogging. I gave up and decided to consider that part of the process 😤
You need to be kind to yourself Claude! You shine and are entertaining even when your physical and/or mental health is putting you through your paces. I think I can speak for everyone here that I could sit and listen/watch you ramble about whatever you like and still be thoroughly entertained :D
Your boyfriend seems nice. The dog is a very handsome Vizla ! I'm 23 minutes in and love this chatty format. I'm a newbie with knitting, so I am learning a lot ! Hope you are feeling well. Back to the video.
Happy to hear that I’m not the only one that can’t wrap their head around wrong and right side because of how it sounds! I always have to think at least twice, and double check I’m doing the right thing. Love your videos!!
Thank you for sharing when you struggle and the challenges of disability and crafting and wanting to learn new things while also recognising the damage to your mental health that can happen if trying to do something that messes with your head. I can relate to the challenges and i needed the be gentle and kind to myself reminder.
I used to love Fabel Knitwear too because I was SO thrilled to find a designer who makes size-inclusive vintage-inspired patterns. I tested the Capulet Blouse when I was a little smaller, but grew out of it after lockdown lol. And since then, I have been burned by two of her patterns not fitting my body at all. It was so disappointing, but I totally understand being tempted by her patterns because they look lovely. I've also been having a lot of issues with my knitting for the past six months. I recently had a really big issue with a tank top I'm making and ended up having to come up with my own modifications to make it fit properly because the underarms were comically HUGE! I'm hoping my knitting will get better for the rest of the year 😅 So happy for you and your new boyfriend too! And what a cute dog he has! 🐶 Oh my gosh, I'm really excited to hear you're interested in designing your own patterns! And I SO appreciate that you want to make them fully size-inclusive, thank you so much! ❤
Yesterday I found out that a content creator on UA-cam doesn't get any money when we watch videos unless we also allow the ads to play for at least 30 seconds. So this is now what I'll do (and will use the time to fetch a cup of tea and a WIP,, ahem). I wish I'd known sooner and am sorry for all the times I've used "Skip". But many thanks to Retro Claude for all her content!
I don't know that they are your style patterns but the moorit crochet magazine makes a accessible screen reader friendly PDF for each of their issues! I've never personally used it but seeing how frustrating reading that knitting pattern was now I understand why they specifically addressed it.
I am watching while I take apart a jacket I am sewing because I tried for slash pockets with a double welt and yep one side is unusable. Gotta recut the jacket front panels and redo the whole right side. A bummer but such is the reality of creating.
The active LC campaigning and work has knocked me sideways and I’ve also had either a cold or a lot of MCAS issues (I know it wasn’t Covid, phew), so I’ve not been able to do anything, knit, sew, cross stitch or whatever, but I’ve bought more fabric and patterns for things I need to make and I’m super excited about the 1960/70s retro vintage playsuit/jumpsuit pattern that is really disabled friendly in terms of wear. I now need to list all the things I need to get done (including LC and other disabled activism) so I can start to slowly break down the tasks. And sew up my knickerbockers, which I MacGyvered from two patterns and cut out. Last year 😂 Thank you so much for this Claude; it really helps to know I’m not along rusticating on my projects while lying flat on my back with my PoTSy legs raised up high!
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
When I am having a bad couple of days, immune system-wise, I will often only get as far as gathering my supplies. Then, I will just stare at it for hours, convinced I will never knit again. I'm sorry to say this, but it really helps me to know this happens others. Now, I have to get up and do my balance exercises.
Good luck with your exercises! And you're not alone ☺️
Happens to me all the time. Lots of love ❤️
Definately not alone 😀 As a person with idiopathic autoimmune illness (aren't all of them idiopatic?) I relate so hard.
American here - very jealous of the Royal Mail's ability to divert a package to a different address at the last minute.
I can't get the USPS to deliver to MY house lol. I have to drive to the PO to pick up packages lol.
I always think it’s important when creators model the practice of giving up on a project that no longer brings you joy. It’s easy to get lost in feelings of guilt or sunk cost and forget that joy was the whole point in the first place. Thank you for the reminder.
I very much appreciate you being real with your crafting reality. I'm in a very different situation, but I do often learn helpful things from you about dealing with my own craft reality. I always feel a little more encouraged to just have fun with it, and do what I can. It is always good to see what you are up to. I just picked up a very nerdy cross-stitch project after a year. Take care till next time. 🦆🧶
Thanks for your comment! Happy crafting!
Omg Doggie reveal! What a pretty boi! (also hi Claude's bf).
Also big hugs re: pattern frustration and stash numbers. We don't watch you cause youre perfect, we just like hanging out with you. I really appreciate the raw honesty of this vlog
Thank you! 😊
Exactly, I watch because I need a ‘friend’ to chat to me and share in the issues I have too without having to actually socialise ( as I’m often unable to)
It’s so relieving to find more and more people on socials not making everything perfect and making me feel like I am not enough.
I honestly feel like you would such a nice person to hang out with.
Watching you strategise about you knitting in your PJs while I'm also knitting in my PJs is weirdly fun, like we're having a craft-y slumber party (in a completely parasocial way haha). Sending you hugs and good vibes so that all your projects will go smoothly!
Ooh Claude. That FUCK at 16:00 really came from your toes didnt it. I 100% feel you. As a plussize gal patterns and sizing are a nightmare sometimes. Thank you for the wonderful video❤❤
Nice to meet the boyfriend, even if he is in witness protection! - Ha-ha! But cute doggy! I'm sorry for your struggles but proud of your spirit to forge ahead! That was some lovely yarn you ordered!
Those purples are STUNNING!! 💜💜💜
Don’t feel stupid! I think most of us get turned around…especially when something are not how we think they are. I’ve been knitting close to 50 years and still have repeated false starts on some projects…often very simple ones. Having a good cry…walking away…deep breaths are all valid…so is deciding a project is not worth the frustration. 🌈🌈🦋🦋
I think it's completely reasonable to have a good cry when you're feeling frustrated but please be kind to yourself because you're not stupid you just have a brain that works different to how the pattern is written. So really the pattern is the problem, not you.
I'm so glad you included that clip of the screen reader! As a part of my job I make documents accessible for screen readers sometimes, but I've never experienced the user side. I've thought occasionally that if I ever created patterns I would like to make sure they're accessible for those who use screen readers, so it would be interesting to hear more about how patterns can be written and edited to be accessible for those who use screen readers!
Try playing them back to yourself and focus on where you need to add in headings and subheadings. It’s surprising how many times we forget that paragraph spacing etc which create a mental punctuation for a primarily visual user, simply won’t translate. But if you take time to write out, ‘end of button band’ as a subheading, the visual user won’t care and the screen reader will read it out so anyone relying on that can orient themselves.
Or if you can’t have headings, investigate the possibility of numbering every single paragraph. Make all paragraphs short. And then provide a paragraph index. So at least people can jump to the instruction they need.
There are an endless combination of reasons people might need a screen reader. Don’t try and assume one use case. Unless you are really pressed for space, phrases such as, ‘this will be folded to create the point of the hood and is worked inside out’, or, ‘this is the end of the pocket flap, 40 rows total ’. It might seem overly obvious, but you don’t know what the user is battling and that might be the context they need.
If the text is referring to a diagram, also consider a set of descriptions for that in a separate box too, with reference figures in the pattern text so someone who references both can understand which bit is being discussed. For example, there is often a diagram for making up a garment or explaining exactly where to measure. This would need its own set of text.
Often by making the pattern clear enough that the screen reader can use it, it also becomes easier for the human to read too.
On days i just can't pick up my project, i like watching my "friends" on UA-cam make their crafts.
It looks like there are three different yarn recommendations for the Mohn sweater: a fingering weight, a sport, and a DK, but the gauge is a worsted weight gauge, using needles that would typically be used for DK weight yarn, and would result in 22 sts over 4'', not the 20 called for in the pattern (I realize that the stitch pattern could very well result in something looser than you'd typically get with the same yarn and needles, and that different knitters get different gauges with the same yarn and needles. So it would be a bit frustrating to work out what the right needle/gauge combination is!
Thank you! I've also just discovered that I've been doing tuck stitches wrong, which has massively thrown my gauge calculations out! 🤦🏻♀️ As I never usually work with DK weight it all feels so unfamiliar.
I just love how she can laugh about herself. Never too serious and yet keeping it real.
"In other news: my knittings gone wrong!"
"Never too serious and yet keeping it real."
Wow, you perfectly put into words what I love and find the most helpful about this channel!
I always struggle with this, oftentimes I get either paralysed by confronting a bad situation or I laugh it all away. Neither is helpful. Acknowledging a bad situation while still keeping a sense of humor is quite a balancing act, isn't it?
Sympathising with you about feeling stupid. And the crying it out. Figuratively handing the tissues and cup of tea to you. And a hug.
Boyfriends/fiances/husbands getting involved is one of my favorite things ever, HI SIR.
I swear by putting a right side marker on my projects. Especially the ones with garter stitch or some intricate lace.
I'm right there with you! I put stitch markers to mark the right side like nobody's business. For those who have trouble differentiating the words in the pattern, putting a stitch marker on either side of the project with a little bead or piece of paper with 'R' and 'W' on it might be helpful - then they don't need to stand for right or wrong, just the corresponding row.
first, I love seeing how much your face lights up when your boyfriend walks in. second, I always end up converting patterns to a document so I can use a dyslexic friendly font on it. I use opendyslexic bc it's free. Third, thanks for always being so open about your health struggles. it's one of the reasons I'm finally pursuing a proper diagnosis for my (unfortunately worsening) health issues. stay amazing
"This is what it sounds like when you try to use a screen reader with a knitting pattern." *gymshark ad* 🤣
28:00 I don't think you are. I think recently a lot of designers have gotten lazy and ommited tech editing and clarity from their patterns. It's an ongoing frustration that patterns from the 90s and early 2000s are superior in every single way from more recent patterns, simply because designers aren't held to a high standard. Nowadays anyone can be a designer and anyone can put a pattern on ravelry, sadly that's led to a lot of poor quality patterns gaining in popularity.
Thanks for your kind words. I'm relieved to hear it's not just me 💜
I recently bought a pattern (crochet) on Etsy. It’s beautiful and the designer is clearly very talented. It’s also very clear. But again, there’s no oversight to maintain standard terms. So when the author wasn’t quite sure how to write something, she just made it up,….things there are perfectly well known terms for all ready. It’s not that it’s not possible to understand, it’s just reinventing the wheel unnecessarily and making it more confusing than it needs to be. An editor would have fixed that.
On the other hand, having to use an editor would probably prevent a lot of these things getting published in the first place. We win and lose.
I do look at reviews on ravelry to see if it’s worth bothering with a pattern. If others attempts look like a dog’s dinner then I won’t waste my energy.
While this is frequently true, Lily‘s patterns are usually extremely well written and minutely edited and tested - she‘s also very good at maths and has been putting out good patterns since she was 12, so I was really surprised it was such a struggle with this one with a lack of clarity 😮 She‘s really nice and helpful, so I‘m sure she will have provided pattern support if asked, she‘s normally very concerned about getting detail right. Her patterns are actually no.1 on my designer list because of this attention to detail. No doubt she‘ll be glad you pointed out any inconsistencies, she‘s only human!
What a lovely surprise to see a new Retro Claude video this morning. I'm currently working on a 1940s eyelet vest top and have just picked up the neckline stitches (1st time doing this) with #13 needles. They're only just long enough! 😂 Then had to ask for more help as the next instruction made no sense to me! I was admiring your ability to drop those stitches back 2 at a time - I just take a deep breath and rip back. And I think that need to add the lavender colour will result in a beautiful sweater. Glad to see Roxanne's comment about gauge on that as it's on my potential knitting list too.
Patterns written for Dyslexics, what a great idea! Would make so much easier.
Yes!!! Let’s make that happen!
I think it would be a great accommodation service to re-write a pattern in a way that's accessible for people with dyslexia or similar disabilities.
This - my pet hate is any blooming pattern using symbols in charts. Or cables. My dyslexic brain hates them.
haha, my dyslexic brain is the exact opposite 😂 I can’t stand blocks of texts with abbreviations everywhere, charts are much clearer to me 😆
But that’s why we need patterns made for neurodivergent brains, even though it means at least 2 or 3 different ways to explain the same thing, and in a readable font and layout
Gratz on the BF, be good to one another!
I can so relate to feeling stupid sometimes. I'm currently knitting a loose top on 3mm needles. Yesterday I had to rip back almost 15cm of work because I had misread the pattern and done increases wrong, then again because I had miscalculated the sizing, and then twice more because each time I picked the ripped-out stitches back up I messed something up and couldn't figure out how to fix it. It's not even a complicated pattern... the brain fog is real. Sometimes everything beyond plain stockinette on something you've already cast on previously is just too much.
I think I managed to keep going only because I tell myself that I enjoy knitting, so ripping back = more knitting...
its not just you! modern knitting patterns can be super vague (i even have a published BOOK w a lace pattern w wrong stitch counts) and it takes me multiple read throughs to get info into my head without the added difficulty of dyslexia
if youre able, I find highlighting the numbers associated w my size makes it easier to read, especially if ive forgotten what size i was making. As for the right side wrong side, I place a stitch markers on the actual fabric of the right side so i can keep it straight especially when the pattern isn’t established yet, which provides a visible difference between the sides. (you can do it a few rows in so its not on the edge causing more confusion)
Not sure if you’ve already thought of these ideas, but this is what i find useful :)
I hadn't thought of them! Thank you! The highlighting is such a simple idea!!
Yay for a new Retro Claude video! Thank you for explaining your pacing methods in such detail. It’s really helpful to me as someone with chronic depression. And I love the idea of “helping out future (me)”.
Sorry to hear about all the frustrating times but hope it helps to let it all out!
I do feel there is a LOT of variation in yarn weight categories. I’ve seen some Arans that are as light as some DKs so I agree that US yarns might tend to the thicker side?
The heathery yarn is gorgeous and the waistcoat is looking fab so far.
Can’t wait to see your Mohn cardigan eventually - it will be lovely with all the beautiful colours you’ve picked.
Your decision about the slip over pattern has encouraged me to unravel a new sock pattern I was working on. I wasn't enjoying the pattern and the long pattern repeats . I have brain fog which could be due to multiple chronic health conditions and I was getting upset trying to remember the pattern. I knit for my mental health, so I'm going to try another sock pattern after resting my hands for a bit .
When you put on your blue fuzzy sweater thing with your pjs 😂 I got so excited because I have a pink fuzzy sweater thing that my chronic illness self also wears 😂 ❤
If you have any of the navy left over maybe make that the center of the hexipuff flowers because if you have a dark varigated yarn it will also go with it
Oooh that's a great idea thanks!
Hi Claude, I'm a crochet designer but definitely not up for the crocheted duck. I don't know if you saw it but there is a crochet version of the emotional support chicken that is made flat and seamed - I bet you could could make some minor changes to that to make it into a duck! You inspired me to make the emotional support chicken and I spoke about you and that in my last podcast episode. Thanks for another fabulous stashbusting video!
I am so glad I'm not the only one who struggles with the W for wrong side and the R for right side - not only do they both sound like 'R', but I know lots of people with the surname 'Wright', and you 'write' a sentence - so I'm perpetually confused. Oh, for the unambiguous F (front) and B (back) of sewing instructions. (FYI I'm also mildly dyslexic, which means I massively sympathize with anyone who struggles with decoding written instructions. Written pattern instructions are the bane of my existence, thank goodness for UA-cam).
I'm the same on crash days, I plan future projects in my head or on paper. It reinforces to Present Me that this is temporary and Future Me will have energy to create again
I'm so sorry you had to go through that, but I also find your pattern reading frustration so relatable. When I'm in a bad flare I typically have to either follow video tutorials or make something that I can freehand, otherwise I end up as frustrated as you were
I snort-laughed at what shall henceforth be known as “Slipgate”! 😂😂😂
Love your content as ever, Claude. Oh and love the incidental Retro Boyfriend reveal! Welcome, good Sir, to Claude’s Fandom! Obviously you are privileged & know the Real Claude’s name, persona and life, but welcome anyway to her online fandom.
Thank you so much Claude for continuing your UA-cam career. We all benefit so much from it- even though I’m a crocheter, not a knitter, I absolutely love your unique style & take on disability & the online craft or historical dress communities. ❤❤❤
Your process and frustration is so relatable. Makes me feel like I have an Internet craft friend!
The lilac matches the greens so good! It's a nice pop of colour. Thanks for uploading your knitting videos - they are my favourite to watch.
hey im really glad you put these videos out. I love how genuine you are, and show your struggles- I suspect i might have ME, though its not recognised in my country and i cannot get it diagnosed- Instead im being thought of as histerical, especially given im female as far as offical documents are concerned, and have anxiety-
Showing you working, sometimes struggling through your situation, it makes me feel okay. That its ok that i struggle, and that i need to care for myself and my needs. Even though i cant work thats ok.
Thank you so much for these videos.
Look after yourself and I hope you find some rest 💜
@@RetroClaude thank you so much, and the same to you
Claude, I just want to say I love the way you're real in your videos. As another crafter with ME/CFS I love hearing you talk about how you're pacing yourself and preparing things for the future you who is having a less symptomatic time. I have been in exactly the same mental state where your brain just will not put all the pieces together while figuring out a pattern and just when you think you've corrected it you look again and realise (and swear aloud) that its still wrong. Thank you for sharing your reality because it reminds me I'm not the only one.
Oh Claude, dilemmas that only knitters understand! Been there and done it. I feel your pain! These yarns can be used elsewhere in other projects 😅
loved the new video!
31:40 yeah, totally, if you have bad feelings and emotions while making something, it'll be hard to not think of those feelings while wearing it
Thank you for always keeping it real. It feels so much better knowing we're not alone out there. Also, hey, boyfriend reveal! I'm happy you've found someone around whom you can be yourself and who cherishes you for it; you deserve it!
Totally agree! Having a little cry lets all that negative energy move through and out of my system so I can reset! And then I can usually take a deep breath and figure out what's productive next step (put it down to wait for another time, rip it out or refocus and keep going).
The most helpful advice I've ever heard as a knitter was a lighthearted comment on a podcast - that we're all in this cause we enjoy knitting, and it's ALL knitting!!! Even tinking is a form of knitting! So there's something to enjoy in every phase of knitting! (Head exploding!)
It has made me way more likely to randomly swatch and play with a new yarn in creative ways, and not worry about making something! And also to enjoy frogging, and knit again!
I knit because I enjoy playing with sticks and string. I enjoy the tactile experience, I enjoy what I learn about the yarn and the stitches and the resulting fabric from randomly swatching interesting yarns in my stash - and I often get ideas for projects or the yarn will tell me what I wants to be (hat, mitts, tea cozy, sweater). I love my finished projects too! But the journey is where I find the most joy 😊
I am also working on my Mohn cardigan. I’m a slow knitter and I also do lots of sewing and other things. My hands are bugging me a little. I’ve started wearing these lightweight bamboo gloves when I sleep. They provide a very light compression (honestly, I saw them on Facebook and thought “that will never do anything!” And then I got a pair and they are not too tight-I have a pair that are quite firm with the little sticky dots on them that are helpful for sewing with a machine, these are much softer-but my trigger finger has gone away, my hands don’t fall asleep when I I’m sleeping and they seem to help a great deal. Far more than expected from a Facebook ad item!). Would it help if you had a buddy who would read out patterns for you? Yes, I am volunteering. I am a former English teacher with good reading skills and I’m told have a pleasant voice. It would have an American accent, a Midwest American accent, but I’d be happy to record patterns for you if you’d like.
I think it's totally valid to have a visual target rather than a numerical one - though I do realise that each is really unto their own.
My stash is a precarious pile of stuff inside and piled on top of the plastic boxes wedged into the corner of our living room. There's a cardboard box with the rest of an order and other 'overflow' immediately in front of it. My summer goal is by hook or crook - or knitting and re-shovelling, however you want to view it - get rid of that box.
The Hug-Me-Tight shawl/vest that you showed reminded me that there was a Hug-Me-Tighter shrug on the free vintage knitting pattern website that you suggested ages back. The yarn that I considered using for that is somewhere in the stash tower...
Knit patterns can be so confusing! Because of this, my limited short term memory, and the fact that I often have to put projects down for days to weeks, I always read through the pattern, make copious notes, especially where things are clarified later in the pattern, and very often use colored pencils and highlighters. I don't blame you for not wanting to continue with a pattern that was so difficult. You're not stupid. Here's a virtual hug for solidarity 🫂💜
Chronic illness/disability really feels like a comedy of errors sometimes, gosh. All the "but I can't do [x] because of [y]" and the "but *this* caused *that* to happen" etc etc.
I totally feel you about feeling "stupid". It can be really scary for me actually to realise that I'm not able to comprehend the situation, especially when it involves talking to other people for some reason. I find it very frustrating when I'm struggling with something in the moment that I used to be able to do or I know I usually can do (since my cognitive stuff varies). As always, thanks for sharing these moments with us. Helps us know we're not alone
Love the doggy! Wonderful colour coat he has.
Love your videos, but I felt for you a lot with this one. You are clearly clever and very talented, keep the sass going whether it's with a slip over or anything else!
Ps. I'm making a gorgeous cardigan, totally missed a buttonhole, laddered down to fix, couldn't, messed it up and spent 3 days thinking about how to fix it all and trying to stop the stitches beside it looking loose, before deciding to f* it and carry on in the hope washing/blocking sorts it out. The struggle is real!
Have you talked with Stephanie Canada about the discrepancies between vintage and modern pattern? I think you both have a lot of the same thoughts. I enjoy listening to you both. You both keep me thinking and wondering. Thank you for your efforts to make your videos when you are feeling so ill.❤
About expectations of paid-for knitting patterns: you absolutely should expect the pattern to be correct and readable! It's so frustrating that what seems bare-minimum often isn't even provided. But still, you made this vlog very entertaining to watch! (And the bf/dog cameo was very cute!)
About the DK weight, I've found that my WYS Croft DK is far lighter than some King Cole DK I'm using for a baby blanket even though the button bands recommend the same needles and have the same tension. They are the only DK I have on hand, so I don't know if WYS is lighter than standard or King Cole is heavier.
Please give Sadie pets from me
You're right! I've just checked mine against some Sirdar I have in my stash and it's definitely finer. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 It all works out in the end!
totally charmed by your realistic language skills , refreshing contrast to the USA video makers and while watching am at long last ie 20+ years since I bought cotton dk yarn at a charity shop for 20p a ball started on making everyone crochet net bags as Yule pressies. Can't bring myself to start knitting knee high socks using the wool bought at Oxfam this spring but one day soon before winter I hope . Don't want my poor executors to have a pile of yarn and textiles to disburse post mortem so I'd better crack on with my stash which is enough for another 20+ years taking me thru to my 90s
Hi Claudia, hope you’re well!
The new version of the Over It Slipover pattern with typos amended will be updated on Ravelry this week. I apologise for misinterpreting your second email - I hadn’t realised there was anything to reply to as I’d already mentioned changing the pattern. Have refunded your copy. Have a great week 😊
Thanks very much that's very kind of you and totally unexpected. Thanks for clearing up my confusion even if I didn't end up making the pattern 😊
I have an autoimmune illness and get frustrated with exhaustion. I so understand that pacing thing. Praying for you. Nana Cherry
I have been low energy the last few weeks and this is making me feel so much less alone😅 hope you feel better soon and sending any spare energy i have
Your realness and flexibility about your stash and your "rules" is legit inspirational. Don't want to buy yarn, but also it's okay to buy some. You're the knitting emotional support Claude we all need! :D
Missed you so I was watching your entire backlog of videos. Thank you for this one!
I am going through cancer treatments for the next year, and being exhausted and very achy is part of that. I'm a crocheter, and I can emphasize with the struggle of not being able to do what I consider to be my therapy. Right now I am making small amigurumi projects to sell for extra money, so I feel so bad when I can't accomplish what I need to when I have the time. On another note, I absolutely love the color palette you chose for the sweater, the lavender is a gorgeous addition, great choice! As for your duck, I would just look up a tutorial for a big amigurumi duck. You might even find a no sew, or low sew version of one. A lot of it is magic circle, worked in the round and if you use a bigger yarn, it will work up quickly. I hope you are feeling better as of this video posting, I am sending you many hugs and lots of love! ❤
Random stranger sending you "lots of love", too. May your health improve daily, & may your crafts always exceed your expectations!
Another random stranger sending you loads and loads of love.
I love the idea of lavender with those colours. And no 4" of negative ease would be too much for that pattern
Your videos are so validating for me! I know they can be very draining to make, and I know you sometimes have doubts, but please know that I find so much value in them, as do many others!
As usual delighted to watch your videos! Especially when they are so relatable! I just had a chat with a friend about our struggles with ME/long covid stuff and we were lamenting how annoying pacing can be! I'm motivated NOW! Give me energy body!
I've just picked up two knitting machines (for free!) which is something I've been very excited to try but I'm very worried about troubleshooting from scratch! It's both reassuring and distressing that even very experienced crafters struggle too!
Wonderful to get to almost meet the boyfriend and most importantly the vizla!
It's great to see a video by you after quite some time! It goes into the chronological playlist of course
Thank you for sharing your fiber arts and how you practice pacing. I found your channel several years ago, feeling inspired to destash my yarn slowly. Earlier this year I was finally diagnosed with ME and my crochet projects have been on pause. Watching you work your projects in ways that work best for your energy is encouraging for me. May you be free from suffering. 😊
I found you through the last video you posted and have spent the last week or so binging every single knitting video on your channel. I care for my partner who lives with severe ME and I've found this series so comforting. These videos have really helped me as a new knitter and I've had them on in the background while I've been making my first ever project from a pattern. Being in a very low-income household I was starting to get the impression from the rest of the internet that knitting would not be an accessible hobby but your videos have completely reframed my thinking and taught me the importance of planning and resourcefulness.
I'm also disabled (both mentally and physically) and I have a strategy for knitting patterns. Mind you that I'm not very good at knitting yet because I'm doing since last October, but I just either print pages of pattern I would need and use colourful highlighters to mark what information I need to be conscious of or I just read whole pattern once when I have good day, then read it in chunks and write down shortened version, like I did with one sock pattern, I basically shortened 2 pages to half of a page, because I included only instructions I needed to make this exact size. And I do big spaces between new things, so there's cast on sts, empty line, every knitting row is new line, instructions are spaced out in new line, I also mark in colours amounts of stitches to cast on or places where there's something new happening in a row, so I won't do stockinette for whole row when I needed it for only half. It might be annoying for some people but I enjoy it and it helps me so much. And I know it seems wasteful, but I write my short versions by hand and my handwriting is tiny, so it never takes more than 1 page. But of course you could do it digitally and highlight in software, I just try to train my hands as much as I can. I prefer to spend my energy once at the start of the projects than frog every 10 minutes, what happened before I started doing all of this.
Happy to see you again! I empathize with patterns and quitting them when it dampens all enjoyment. No energy to waste on things that don't bring joy. I sometimes test patterns and I always make comments to increase ease of use. Even if a pattern is technically correct, if there is a simpler way to write something down why not do that? Really, making things accessible helps EVERYONE not 'just a small group'
Always so excited for new videos from you. Really appreciate your honesty about the less than ideal things, even though you could edit all of it out, because that's the reality of life and crafting. You're a great inspiration, and I applaud that you can handle knitting, especially in vintage. I've only been crocheting for 1 year and I can't even imagine how you do it.
I don't have dyslexia but my ADHD makes me get lost in patterns really easily too. I have to read then ahead of time 3 to 4x before I start. Sometimes I'd print them & break out highlighters to get just my bits out. Then I started knitting my own designs. Objectively it's harder but to me it's easier 😂😂
This is why I struggle so much with knitting patterns.
I completely understand your frustration with right side and wrong side. My brain always tries to spell right with a W so I wanted to share a tip that I use. I use a pink stitch marker a couple stitches in on the right side of the work. This helps me keep track of right side and wrong side. I hope this tip helps.
I felt this video in my disabled soul. Currently don't have use of my hands and I start crying whenever I try to knit and it hurts too much. It's so frustrating when you're sick and just want to feel a bit better... But then your body has other ideas 😔❤️
Is it worth getting shade cards from wool wearhouse. I live in aus and have brought from there and brought shade cards to get a better idea of yarn and colour.
I cannot wait to see the green purple when the yarn comes in because they are some of my favourite colours. And I really want to make the engineering knits pattern too.
I so appreciate your realness when it comes to wanting to do a specific project and having to buy more supplies because you have to - not because you necessarily want to. As well as not being able to find certain things when you need them. I totally go through the same crap! Lol
Thank you for sharing your knitting challenges. Your videos are always very helpful for me. 🦆
It w🎉as so good to see a new Retro Claude video. To me, you looked & sounded a little better in most of this video. (I do realize that that may not transfer to actual reality but I wanted you to know). ❤
i was crocheting and listening to you, and momentarily forgot pounds was currency, panicked for a second trying to figure out how many grams 80 pounds of yarn could be and what that would do to your stash lol
the pattern struggles are definitely relatable, some modern patterns can be pretty vague unfortunately. it really depends on who writes it and what testers they have
Re: the WS and RS confusion, whenever I run into something on a pattern that I know my brain will confuse, I color code them and either use a highlighter or my ipad to color code things.
Do you already have a grabber to help reach things high up? a grabber is a gamechanger
Just doing what you can is awesome. And the crossover vest thing looks amazing. I will love seeing it finished whenever that happens.
Also I wonder if the pattern designer did put S1 and the editor thought they meant Sl and changed it and the designer just never noticed.
15:45 my god this spoke to my soul. Never stop making these videos! (but rest plenty, obviously!)
As a fellow dyslexic knitter - the only thing that has ever helped me is adding an obscene amount of different colored highlighting to my printed patters XD
I don’t think it’s irrational to stop making a pattern that has caused multiple frustrations! I applaud you making the choice to move on!
I've been saving this video for a day of sorting my clothes! The clip to meet your boyfriend and his dog was so sweet, the dog was so happy to see you (as was the boyfriend) and I was happy you respected his privacy!
I love Squid School of Vintage Knit patterns. :) I might just have too many projects on the go from them. They are so worth the cost, but I don't already have a stash of Vintage patterns so I completely understand not wanting to spend money on it. :)
I know it sucks when you're in a flare and everything gets so frustrating and you feel like you can't do *anything*, but it's so reassuring to see that I'm not alone. We're not alone.
I recently got a very shallow wooden box (meant for kinetic sand and other sensory play for kids), just so I could have a place for my embroidery project that I can just set down, put the lid on it and not have to worry about my cat eating part of the project. Even having to put my project in the kitchen when I'm not working on it (because of said cat), had proven to be too much. It's frustrating, but we can only work with what we have physically and mentally. ❤
4:23 I track my needle gauge on my swatches by doing a yarn over for each mm and a purl for each 0.25mm. (So a swatch on 3.75mm needles would have 3 yarn overs and 3 purl stitches in the bottom corner. I alternate them with a single knit stitch for better readability.) It doesn't interfere with the overall gauge and the needles don't have to sit in the project bag!
I feel your frustration. I have ADHD, which mean my brain glosses over loads of details when reading patterns and I usually need to knit a third of the garment before frogging and knitting again and frogging. I gave up and decided to consider that part of the process 😤
I like thinking of them as drafts rather than failures 😄
You need to be kind to yourself Claude! You shine and are entertaining even when your physical and/or mental health is putting you through your paces. I think I can speak for everyone here that I could sit and listen/watch you ramble about whatever you like and still be thoroughly entertained :D
As someone else with similar symptoms due to health problems, Your crafting videos are so incredibly inspiring!
One day in the throes of a flare up I attempted to cast on a pattern five whole times before I gave up-your method of prep work is much better!!
I, too, appreciate your honesty and forthcomingness. Thank you for sharing your journey with us😀💚🌻👍❤
Your boyfriend seems nice. The dog is a very handsome Vizla !
I'm 23 minutes in and love this chatty format. I'm a newbie with knitting, so I am learning a lot !
Hope you are feeling well.
Back to the video.
I really liked this video. Thank you for showing the brutal reality of what crafting days are like for you.
take care
♥
Happy to hear that I’m not the only one that can’t wrap their head around wrong and right side because of how it sounds! I always have to think at least twice, and double check I’m doing the right thing.
Love your videos!!
Thank you for sharing when you struggle and the challenges of disability and crafting and wanting to learn new things while also recognising the damage to your mental health that can happen if trying to do something that messes with your head. I can relate to the challenges and i needed the be gentle and kind to myself reminder.
I used to love Fabel Knitwear too because I was SO thrilled to find a designer who makes size-inclusive vintage-inspired patterns. I tested the Capulet Blouse when I was a little smaller, but grew out of it after lockdown lol. And since then, I have been burned by two of her patterns not fitting my body at all. It was so disappointing, but I totally understand being tempted by her patterns because they look lovely.
I've also been having a lot of issues with my knitting for the past six months. I recently had a really big issue with a tank top I'm making and ended up having to come up with my own modifications to make it fit properly because the underarms were comically HUGE! I'm hoping my knitting will get better for the rest of the year 😅
So happy for you and your new boyfriend too! And what a cute dog he has! 🐶
Oh my gosh, I'm really excited to hear you're interested in designing your own patterns! And I SO appreciate that you want to make them fully size-inclusive, thank you so much! ❤
Yesterday I found out that a content creator on UA-cam doesn't get any money when we watch videos unless we also allow the ads to play for at least 30 seconds. So this is now what I'll do (and will use the time to fetch a cup of tea and a WIP,, ahem). I wish I'd known sooner and am sorry for all the times I've used "Skip". But many thanks to Retro Claude for all her content!
I don't know that they are your style patterns but the moorit crochet magazine makes a accessible screen reader friendly PDF for each of their issues! I've never personally used it but seeing how frustrating reading that knitting pattern was now I understand why they specifically addressed it.
I am watching while I take apart a jacket I am sewing because I tried for slash pockets with a double welt and yep one side is unusable. Gotta recut the jacket front panels and redo the whole right side. A bummer but such is the reality of creating.
The active LC campaigning and work has knocked me sideways and I’ve also had either a cold or a lot of MCAS issues (I know it wasn’t Covid, phew), so I’ve not been able to do anything, knit, sew, cross stitch or whatever, but I’ve bought more fabric and patterns for things I need to make and I’m super excited about the 1960/70s retro vintage playsuit/jumpsuit pattern that is really disabled friendly in terms of wear. I now need to list all the things I need to get done (including LC and other disabled activism) so I can start to slowly break down the tasks. And sew up my knickerbockers, which I MacGyvered from two patterns and cut out. Last year 😂
Thank you so much for this Claude; it really helps to know I’m not along rusticating on my projects while lying flat on my back with my PoTSy legs raised up high!