I think you would get more use and enjoy the beautiful yarn and all of the pinkiness if you went forward with your lap blanket idea instead of finishing the MKAL as written. It's something that would be useful for you in your van life and make a very pretty addition to your van's interior design 😂
I LOVE when you talk about project planning! I have a lot of mental health issues that cause symptoms that can sometimes make it hard for me to knit and crochet as much as I want to or in the way that I want to. Planning my projects helps me push through brain frog and concentration issues and general overwhelm to figure out what I need to do in that exact moment. I almost never put deadlines on things because my mental health is so up and down that I can't predict when and if I'll have the energy or desire to do particular things. But I do plan out specific projects and breakdown what steps I need to take and where I am. This way I can work on whatever I want whenever I want and still make consistent progress on all my projects. I find this to be a pretty good balance between my Type B nature and my general need for some structure.
I hear you. Thanks for the encouragement to pare down the # of projects I have on the needles. I’ve always been a monogamous knitter but I have 6 projects on needles!! I’m hating how this feels. So, 2 projects are going into a closet and when I finish 2 projects 1 can come out. 1 main project, meaning if I have 1 hour of knitting in a day 30 min will be on the main project and 15 min on each of the other two. That’s my plan.
So impressive with your new approach to projects! Loved hearing about the extra time you had with your friends! Pedicures are my regular self care for the reasons you mentioned. Low expense, not too much time but I always leave feeling better!
I really like how you have a focus project. I’m very much a planner and every time I see how you make these plans makes me so happy to feel I’m not the only one to feel I need to clear the clutter. My brain feels so much lighter when I dont have so much there. Another Great episode 😍😍😍
I, too, appreciate your thought process on deciding what WIPs to focus on. Otherwise, nothing gets finished and I tend to feel unaccomplished. Looking forward to what you’ve found to knit/crochet for Advents later in the month.
OMG ty! Ty for saying you have questions about a design and options to change it. I don't like clue 3 at ALL!!! I am eager to hear what you decide to do. I'm so jealous of your baubles. I like that so much better than the yarn overs. I've put mine in time out and look forward to seeing what you come up with. I got very discouraged when clue 1 changed and just never got that enthusiasm back to pick this project up. So looking forward to new ideas and hopefully breathe life into this project. Great episode!
A benefit of Soak or Eucalan is that they don't need to be rinsed. The commercial washes need to be rinsed. Unless you spill something, the is no need to wash wool products more than once a year at most.
A word of caution about Soak from my own personal experience!! I also typically don't rinse my blocked items that thoroughly after I wash them with Soak, but I recently wet blocked a cream yarn with Soak and it stained the finished item a dingy yellow in places. Ultimately it came out, but only after re-washing the item and making sure to thoroughly rinse all of the soap out. So be cautious with your light colored yarns!
I am enjoying finishing up projects with motivation from you and JulieAnn. I have finished one hat and a pair of Christmas socks from last year. Also picked up a sweater that has been in sleeve island hibernation since 2020.
Hi Natalie! Thank you sobmuch for featuring my question! I appreciate it and made this video so fun and special for me!❤ I completely understand what you are saying about Sockmas, and know it can't be fun for you if it's overwhelming. I will still knit socks in the Sockmas spirit, though ❤
Wool soaps often contains lanolin, which is wool's natural water/moist resistant. And dish soap is made to remove the grease what we actually want to keep in the wool. Wool is also "self cleaning" material. The less water wash, the better. Best is to let it air and if you have snow in winter, give your wool garments snow bath and let them air dry. 😊
@@tovalieberman8326 I've used a teensy bit of dish soap when doing a first wash/block of a piece made with greasy wool (i.e. it still has the processing oils in it), that makes it soften up beautifully. Then wool wash (I use Eucalan) any time after that and you're good to go! And air drying is like magic 🤩
#question Love the pod and love seeing all your adventures! Can you add Kent to the little van graphic that you pop into the start of your yarn store tours? I feel like we need to give Kent some love too! Since you said you might not be posting any tours until next year, gives you guys time to set it up 👀
A new podcast, yay! Perfect for my frantic Granny Square-making. I would like to gift my mother a blanket for Christmas and have 7 squares so far, and I need about 140... wish me luck!
Hi Natalie. Love the Halloween yarn for the socks you are knitting. They are turning out lovely. After seeing the progress on your hexie blanket I was inspired to start one of my own with left over sock yarn. I have only made two pairs of socks but have also made four pairs of arm warmers too and onto my third pair of socks. I will use the left over yarn from the arm warmers as well to make the hexies. I have made two hexies so far with a pattern I designed myself that looks very similar to your hexies and they are looking great. I have a few projects on the go like you and want to get some finished so concentrating on them to get them finished as we are beginning to experience warmer weather here in Australia and I would rather be crocheting or knitting smaller things instead of blankets as it becomes to hot having one draped over me while trying to make it. Enjoy your stay with Breanna and being out of the van. Take care when you are back on the road.
MKAL alternative thought (so possible mild spoilers), I wonder if you could purl the slip stitches and get a similar effect/keep the design concept - for whatever overall shape it becomes - would still have yarn traveling back and forth, so maybe also not the ideal process knit either...
Natalie: we're trying to record a podcast here buddy! Toaster: I know! And I have opinions that must be shared! I always love Toaster's interruptions. 😂😂😂
Hi, as to help answer the question about washing hand knits you never want to use Woolite it breaks down the yarn/animal fibers making them not last as long.
Advent knitting: I got the Suburban Stitcher pink advent and my rough plan is to knit a striped Cozy Classic Light by Jessie Mae. The original plan was to open and knit throughout December but then I got pregnant (due in February ❤) so I might just open and enjoy for now then actually knit it in the spring depending on my bump size
Thanks for the inspiration. I had socks that needed darning and disciplined myself to finish them while watching your podcast. Mission accomplished ❤ I also have a complicated Cowl that I devote 30 minutes to each morning....Hopefully by Dec. Enjoyed your podcast, well done!
I'm also approaching clue 3 of the geogradient shawl and am planning to do a different stitch pattern but follow the shape of clue 3, I'm going to do chevrons instead of slip stitches, fingers crossed I can get the math right lol
Oh wow, you're in PA not too far from me. That's cool if you have time you can stop by my girlfriend's yarn shop. It is called thimbleberry yarn and craft shop in White Haven p. A and maybe you can bring Bethany with you and some of her yarn. It would be great to have some of her yarn at the yarn shop.
#question Hi Natalie. I know that Kent is a huge sports fan and you have knit him a Dallas Stars Musselburgh. Do you plan to knit him a Texas Rangers Musselburgh to celebrate to big win? My boyfriend is a huge Texas Rangers fan and I wanted to surprise him with a Rangers hat or mitts for Christmas. The issue I’m having is finding the right yarn and colors. I spoke to an Indy dyer and she said red white and blue is not easy to do for self striping yarn due to the red bleeding. Any yarn dyers or recommendations would be very helpful. Sorry if now I made Kent want a Rangers Musselburgh 😂.
#question.... I have searched everywhere for how to pick up a dropped stitch AFTER you've knit over it and noticed a number of rows later. Everything I see is when you drop the stitch and it immediately drops down and causes a ladder. But when you drop it, knit right over it, then there is no ladder for you to easily carry it back up! I know I can tack it down later with the yarn but was wondering if there is a way to carry it! (PS I sent the picture to you so you can see. I can't attach it here 🙂)
#question Hi Nathalie ! I’ve knitted my first project with hand dyed yarn ( a musselburgh hat ). It is 100% merino wool. The problem is when I tried and block it, after waiting twenty minutes for it to soak on cold water with natural soap, the hat started smelling really bad. I tried washing it a few times but the smell won’t go away. Does that ever happened to you ? What should I do ? I hope you can help me out. I love watching your podcasts. Thank you so much. Amandine
#question You mentioned magic knot balls once - I have started creating one with fingering-weight superwash scraps from a blanket I'm knitting, and it's getting pretty big. What can I do with this? I'm worried that the magic knot isn't secure enough for something that sees a lot of use like a blanket or a hat. I've considered holding it together with another yarn to add more structure, but I'm second-guessing myself. What have you used yours for in the past?
#question hi Nathalie, love your podcast. Was wondering if you have any tips and ideas on how to find discontinued yarn. I was knitting on a sweater, but seem to have run out of yarn. Was going to order more, but it turned out it is discontinued. Would be so sad if all my knitting was for nothing (already finished the body). If anyone has any idea on where to search that would be great. I looked on ravelry, but it seems so rude to ask people who have it in stash without it being available for de stashing. Edit to add: I'm looking for holst garn noble in the color redwood
#question I am fairly new to your channel, only maybe the last few weeks, so I figured I'd go back and watch previous uploads. In the earlier ones, as an Oregonian, I am noticing a lot of Oregon things. Lol this leads to to ask, what's that about? Did you meet your hubs @ U of O, or is his family from Oregon?
You're going to have to get some granny bifocals like us old ladies. LOL! (I'm 57) If you prefer yoga pants, wear yoga pants. I like the way Lee's Rider relaxed fit jeans fit because I'm hip-y too. All the best.
I guess this will be an unpopular opinion, but I sometimes struggle with the fact that many knitters take a project to work with while spending time with family and friends. I get the feeling that it could make people think you belive that being with them is not fun or entertaining enough for you so you have to take something you enjoy doing to "fill up" your time (the same applies to using your cell phone)
I think you would get more use and enjoy the beautiful yarn and all of the pinkiness if you went forward with your lap blanket idea instead of finishing the MKAL as written. It's something that would be useful for you in your van life and make a very pretty addition to your van's interior design 😂
I LOVE when you talk about project planning! I have a lot of mental health issues that cause symptoms that can sometimes make it hard for me to knit and crochet as much as I want to or in the way that I want to. Planning my projects helps me push through brain frog and concentration issues and general overwhelm to figure out what I need to do in that exact moment. I almost never put deadlines on things because my mental health is so up and down that I can't predict when and if I'll have the energy or desire to do particular things. But I do plan out specific projects and breakdown what steps I need to take and where I am. This way I can work on whatever I want whenever I want and still make consistent progress on all my projects. I find this to be a pretty good balance between my Type B nature and my general need for some structure.
This is amazing!!
I hear you. Thanks for the encouragement to pare down the # of projects I have on the needles. I’ve always been a monogamous knitter but I have 6 projects on needles!! I’m hating how this feels. So, 2 projects are going into a closet and when I finish 2 projects 1 can come out. 1 main project, meaning if I have 1 hour of knitting in a day 30 min will be on the main project and 15 min on each of the other two. That’s my plan.
Toaster is the best and i love when the camera focues on him, the true star of the show!
So impressive with your new approach to projects!
Loved hearing about the extra time you had with your friends!
Pedicures are my regular self care for the reasons you mentioned. Low expense, not too much time but I always leave feeling better!
I really like how you have a focus project. I’m very much a planner and every time I see how you make these plans makes me so happy to feel I’m not the only one to feel I need to clear the clutter. My brain feels so much lighter when I dont have so much there. Another Great episode 😍😍😍
You are o doing a fantastic job! I have gotten more ideas from your podcast than all the others put together. Thank you for putting in the work!
Wow! Thank you so much! You made my day ☺️
I, too, appreciate your thought process on deciding what WIPs to focus on. Otherwise, nothing gets finished and I tend to feel unaccomplished. Looking forward to what you’ve found to knit/crochet for Advents later in the month.
OMG ty! Ty for saying you have questions about a design and options to change it. I don't like clue 3 at ALL!!! I am eager to hear what you decide to do. I'm so jealous of your baubles. I like that so much better than the yarn overs. I've put mine in time out and look forward to seeing what you come up with. I got very discouraged when clue 1 changed and just never got that enthusiasm back to pick this project up. So looking forward to new ideas and hopefully breathe life into this project. Great episode!
A benefit of Soak or Eucalan is that they don't need to be rinsed. The commercial washes need to be rinsed. Unless you spill something, the is no need to wash wool products more than once a year at most.
# question What comes with the membership
Thanks so much for adding that tip!
A word of caution about Soak from my own personal experience!! I also typically don't rinse my blocked items that thoroughly after I wash them with Soak, but I recently wet blocked a cream yarn with Soak and it stained the finished item a dingy yellow in places. Ultimately it came out, but only after re-washing the item and making sure to thoroughly rinse all of the soap out. So be cautious with your light colored yarns!
Do you have any alternative product recommendations? I’d be so grateful before randomly choosing something from Amazon 😊
I am enjoying finishing up projects with motivation from you and JulieAnn. I have finished one hat and a pair of Christmas socks from last year. Also picked up a sweater that has been in sleeve island hibernation since 2020.
Hi Natalie! Thank you sobmuch for featuring my question! I appreciate it and made this video so fun and special for me!❤ I completely understand what you are saying about Sockmas, and know it can't be fun for you if it's overwhelming. I will still knit socks in the Sockmas spirit, though ❤
Wow, Bethlehem, PA is near where I live. If you are still there, try to get to The Knitters Edge on Broad Street. Bethlehem. 30:31
Wool soaps often contains lanolin, which is wool's natural water/moist resistant. And dish soap is made to remove the grease what we actually want to keep in the wool. Wool is also "self cleaning" material. The less water wash, the better. Best is to let it air and if you have snow in winter, give your wool garments snow bath and let them air dry. 😊
Oooh, I appreciate the insight! Thank you!
@@tovalieberman8326 I've used a teensy bit of dish soap when doing a first wash/block of a piece made with greasy wool (i.e. it still has the processing oils in it), that makes it soften up beautifully. Then wool wash (I use Eucalan) any time after that and you're good to go! And air drying is like magic 🤩
@@venomwoolknits thank you so much!
Obsessed with the vampire knitting club books! Tore through all of them at the beginning of the year 😂❤
Your project planning videos are always my favorite!
#question Love the pod and love seeing all your adventures! Can you add Kent to the little van graphic that you pop into the start of your yarn store tours? I feel like we need to give Kent some love too! Since you said you might not be posting any tours until next year, gives you guys time to set it up 👀
Thanks so much for answering my question! Loved the answers (from both you and Toaster❤)
Toaster is so cute sitting at the door😊
While in Bethlehem I hope you go to The Knitter’s Edge. That is a wonderful shop.
Oh my goodness, that halloween sock yarn is incredible. Stunning.
A new podcast, yay! Perfect for my frantic Granny Square-making. I would like to gift my mother a blanket for Christmas and have 7 squares so far, and I need about 140... wish me luck!
Good luck😊
@@stephanieq23 Thank you!
Hi Natalie. Love the Halloween yarn for the socks you are knitting. They are turning out lovely. After seeing the progress on your hexie blanket I was inspired to start one of my own with left over sock yarn. I have only made two pairs of socks but have also made four pairs of arm warmers too and onto my third pair of socks. I will use the left over yarn from the arm warmers as well to make the hexies. I have made two hexies so far with a pattern I designed myself that looks very similar to your hexies and they are looking great. I have a few projects on the go like you and want to get some finished so concentrating on them to get them finished as we are beginning to experience warmer weather here in Australia and I would rather be crocheting or knitting smaller things instead of blankets as it becomes to hot having one draped over me while trying to make it. Enjoy your stay with Breanna and being out of the van. Take care when you are back on the road.
MKAL alternative thought (so possible mild spoilers), I wonder if you could purl the slip stitches and get a similar effect/keep the design concept - for whatever overall shape it becomes - would still have yarn traveling back and forth, so maybe also not the ideal process knit either...
I've read the whole Vampire Knitting Club series, and they're so good! So cute!
8:09 You are in Bethlehem, PA!!!? I’m so excited to hear this. I live in Bangor, only 30 minutes away. Awesome! Welcome to PA.😁
Thank you!! We just left this morning, but we’ll be back in PA next year. ☺️
So much great stuff in this episode! Hi to Rocco and Toaster 🐾🐾
Natalie: we're trying to record a podcast here buddy!
Toaster: I know! And I have opinions that must be shared!
I always love Toaster's interruptions. 😂😂😂
Good morning!
Hi, as to help answer the question about washing hand knits you never want to use Woolite it breaks down the yarn/animal fibers making them not last as long.
Hey Natalie, I see Toaster is your cohosting with you ❤. Hello to Kent and Briana
Advent knitting: I got the Suburban Stitcher pink advent and my rough plan is to knit a striped Cozy Classic Light by Jessie Mae. The original plan was to open and knit throughout December but then I got pregnant (due in February ❤) so I might just open and enjoy for now then actually knit it in the spring depending on my bump size
Aww congrats!! That will come out so beautiful ☺️
Thanks for the inspiration. I had socks that needed darning and disciplined myself to finish them while watching your podcast. Mission accomplished ❤
I also have a complicated Cowl that I devote 30 minutes to each morning....Hopefully by Dec.
Enjoyed your podcast, well done!
Woohoo!! Great job! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
I'm also approaching clue 3 of the geogradient shawl and am planning to do a different stitch pattern but follow the shape of clue 3, I'm going to do chevrons instead of slip stitches, fingers crossed I can get the math right lol
You should allways use a soap made for wool. A normal soap or detergent often has enzymes that can destroy the woolfibers.
If it helps, I just alternated 8 rows of stockinette and 8 rows of garter for my clue 3
Oh wow, you're in PA not too far from me. That's cool if you have time you can stop by my girlfriend's yarn shop. It is called thimbleberry yarn and craft shop in White Haven p. A and maybe you can bring Bethany with you and some of her yarn. It would be great to have some of her yarn at the yarn shop.
Love your colors & bobbles. I think it would make a better blanket than shawl. (MKAL) ❤
#question Hi Natalie. I know that Kent is a huge sports fan and you have knit him a Dallas Stars Musselburgh. Do you plan to knit him a Texas Rangers Musselburgh to celebrate to big win? My boyfriend is a huge Texas Rangers fan and I wanted to surprise him with a Rangers hat or mitts for Christmas. The issue I’m having is finding the right yarn and colors. I spoke to an Indy dyer and she said red white and blue is not easy to do for self striping yarn due to the red bleeding. Any yarn dyers or recommendations would be very helpful. Sorry if now I made Kent want a Rangers Musselburgh 😂.
omg please tell me you are going to the Knitter's Edge!!!
Hello, can you make a tutorial on how you knit a shirt? I don't know much about knitting but your work looks amazing
#question.... I have searched everywhere for how to pick up a dropped stitch AFTER you've knit over it and noticed a number of rows later. Everything I see is when you drop the stitch and it immediately drops down and causes a ladder. But when you drop it, knit right over it, then there is no ladder for you to easily carry it back up! I know I can tack it down later with the yarn but was wondering if there is a way to carry it! (PS I sent the picture to you so you can see. I can't attach it here 🙂)
#question Hi Nathalie ! I’ve knitted my first project with hand dyed yarn ( a musselburgh hat ). It is 100% merino wool. The problem is when I tried and block it, after waiting twenty minutes for it to soak on cold water with natural soap, the hat started smelling really bad. I tried washing it a few times but the smell won’t go away. Does that ever happened to you ? What should I do ? I hope you can help me out. I love watching your podcasts. Thank you so much. Amandine
#question You mentioned magic knot balls once - I have started creating one with fingering-weight superwash scraps from a blanket I'm knitting, and it's getting pretty big. What can I do with this? I'm worried that the magic knot isn't secure enough for something that sees a lot of use like a blanket or a hat. I've considered holding it together with another yarn to add more structure, but I'm second-guessing myself. What have you used yours for in the past?
loving those little pumpkin stitch markers...
where can I get them?
#question do you smell your yarns? like wools and other animal fibers?
#question hi Nathalie, love your podcast. Was wondering if you have any tips and ideas on how to find discontinued yarn. I was knitting on a sweater, but seem to have run out of yarn. Was going to order more, but it turned out it is discontinued. Would be so sad if all my knitting was for nothing (already finished the body). If anyone has any idea on where to search that would be great. I looked on ravelry, but it seems so rude to ask people who have it in stash without it being available for de stashing.
Edit to add: I'm looking for holst garn noble in the color redwood
#question
I am fairly new to your channel, only maybe the last few weeks, so I figured I'd go back and watch previous uploads. In the earlier ones, as an Oregonian, I am noticing a lot of Oregon things. Lol this leads to to ask, what's that about? Did you meet your hubs @ U of O, or is his family from Oregon?
If you are in Columbus for the game go to Dye Mad Yarns
Skill share is cool😊
Agreed!
You're going to have to get some granny bifocals like us old ladies. LOL! (I'm 57) If you prefer yoga pants, wear yoga pants. I like the way Lee's Rider relaxed fit jeans fit because I'm hip-y too. All the best.
I guess this will be an unpopular opinion, but I sometimes struggle with the fact that many knitters take a project to work with while spending time with family and friends. I get the feeling that it could make people think you belive that being with them is not fun or entertaining enough for you so you have to take something you enjoy doing to "fill up" your time (the same applies to using your cell phone)