knittingthestash Episode 147: Cha- Cha- Changes . . .
Вставка
- Опубліковано 7 лип 2024
- It's been a few weeks and I'm so glad to be back in the yarn room with you! This episode is all about the Byron sweater (for Spencer)--which did not come out exactly as I intended . . . tune in for the full story! Plus, I made a promise about a rainbow sweater that you'll love. Oh, and the summertime changes around here: website updates, wood splitting, and an RV trip (whaaaaat?). I hope you'll hang a while.
If you love the content, consider a donation via Kofi or Patreon:
KOFI: ko-fi.com/knittingthestash
PATREON: / knittingthestash
SHOW NOTES:
**To join the knittingthestash.com mailing list, visit knittingthestash.com
Take a class with Melissa: www.knittingthestash.com/onli...
Visit me and the Flock Farm Yarn Shop at: knittingthestash.com
Ravelry group: www.ravelry.com/groups/knitti...
Personal Destash
www.knittingthestash.com/destash
Byron by Nataja Hornsby
www.ravelry.com/patterns/libr...
Byron by thedragonknitter
www.ravelry.com/projects/thed...
Skeins Southlander Sport
www.skeinz.com/shop/View+by+R...
Building Our Woodshed
• Building Melissa's Woo...
Our Wood Boiler
• Outdoor Wood Boiler 1s...
Gartrell Pullover
www.ravelry.com/patterns/libr...
Rainbow Yarn Kit
amzn.to/3O54cOh
You can find me:
on Ravelry as knittingthestash
and via email at knittingthestash@gmail.com
Redwood Trail by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: audionautix.com/
Special Thanks to the Podcast Producers: Jennifer, Erika, Nargis, Rose, and Kendra
Chapters
00:00 Welcome
02:26 A New Way to Take Online Classes with Me!
05:49 Life/Trip Update
09:55 Byron by Natasja Hornby
18:13 Skeins Yarn Review "Southlander Sport"
21:43 Secret Test Knit
22:56 The Rainbow Sweater Promise
As an Amazon Associate, some links on my videos allow me to receive a small commission on books and other products that I recommend. There is no cost to you when you use these links, but it provides a small stipend to me that helps support my work in the crafting community. - Навчання та стиль
Welcome back Melissa. It sounded like you had a wonderful trip despite the challenges. The sweater looks great even if it doesn’t fit exactly as you had hoped. No one will know except you and Spencer!
Thanks, Lisa!
Hi Melissa. It’s nice to have you back in the podcasting world. But it sounds like your vacation was really great, especially hanging out with the grandkids.
Thanks, Michelle! Yes, they were wonderful :)
I can’t wait to see the rainbow sweater, if she has a favorite doll or stuffed animal maybe make one for them too with the acrylic yarn
Great ideas! I'm thinking of making a ladybug, because it's one of her favorites!
Good to see you Melissa. Welcome back.
Thank you, Debra!!
So nice to see you back. That need to knit it again, I call that my miss perfect. She and I talk about reality a lot...... I have frogged entire garments in the past to "get it the way I wanted", but not now days. I love the learning I get from everything and apply it to the next one. If it is for me and I know I won't wear it due to size issues, I will modify it so I will wear it, or gift it so a worthy person, thats the not waste money part of me.
Oh that's so spot on "miss perfect" has eyes only for what's wrong sometimes . . . I appreciate the alternatives you suggest for things that really don't fit!
I love hearing about your trip. I live in Spokane Valley, Wa and you are right it gets cold here.
Oh wonderful--then the sweater will be perfect :) Spokane was beautiful!
Wow, what an adventure you had! Ironic that the RV somehow resulted in an "uncomfortable " experience. I would have expected the opposite lol.
And you must have the coziest grandkids in the entire universe 🤩
hahah, yes, totally ironic! Thanks, Kendra!
How about making a doll that is wearing matching rainbow clothes?? I had 2 girls and one was super girly and also loved to draw rainbows everywhere. I think having a doll that is wearing the same rainbow outfit as herself would be SO fun. Anyways, that's my idea 😊
Nice idea, Sharon!
I was just thinking about you yesterday. Thanks for summer school 😊
Aww, thanks! Hope you enjoy!
Hi Melissa, good to see you!
Thanks, Cary!
It is so good to see you, Melissa! We have missed you on Saturdays on Zoom-we've met every week. I'm going to miss the next couple weeks due to family obligations but look forward to seeing you soon. Can't wait to see the rainbow sweater for your little granddaughter. I don't knit with acrylic or super wash wool much anymore but it definitely has its place for baby and kid knits. Spencer's sweater is beautiful even if the gauge swatch lied.
Thanks, Rose! Was great to see you this past weekend!
I’ve been on vacation and just catching up on my UA-cam subscriptions, but I’m knitting a sweater right now that I just knit too big. I’d used the yarn before, but the pattern went sleeve to sleeve and it didn’t grow the same way. I didn’t do a gauge swatch, but I did measure the gauge-without blocking-as I went along. It fit my bust, but my bust is a DDD, and the rest of me is not. It was huge! I mailed it to a friend of mine who is taller than I am (I was with her as I was realizing how big it was, and she was cool with it being oversized) and I’ve started again.
Changes-making smallest size; went down 2 needles sizes; I plan to lose a few stitches in the midsection, and then add them back at the bust. I’m also thinking about splitting for the sleeves and putting more stitches on the front panel.
Guessing this makes me a process knitter.
🧶🧶❤️
Totally process oriented and that's quite a story about the sweater--why can't gauge just be simpler and more *truthful* with us???!? Glad your sweater found a new home.
I tend to knit two at the same time. I made a sweater for a friend without knowing her size and I used the same yarn to practice the pattern as well as determine my gauge.
Oh such a good idea!
Good to see you, I missed you! And lovely sweater for Spencer, I definitely need to learn to do this two-colour broken seed stitch, it looks so pretty. They seem to be using Holst Supersoft in the original one, so once I'm done with my Alvi colourwork sweater, I might have enough yarn left over to do another one in the same colours (turquoise and teal) and it would look great I think. But I have loads of (more or less active) WIPs so who knows 🤣
Thanks so much 🥰 And yes, if you try it with the Holst lemme know how it goes!
Hate it when a swatch lies🤦🏻♀️with as many years and hours as we’ve spent knitting there is always another (somewhat) disappointment. Spencer’s sweater is perfectly executed, just not up to your expectations. He deserves that nice form fitted look!
Thanks so much! Yes, those swatches lie sometimes . . . sigh
I begin this all too lengthy missive with a mighty HRUMPH! It certainly seems to me that Spokane to San Francisco would not have been too arduous of a rerouting, considering the spectacular natural beauty of the Bay Area and the Kitten Area. HRUMPH, i repeat! HRUMPH indeed!!!
I've just recently experimented with adulterous knitting, having 5 projects going at once. I liked it. I've got two sweaters going now, and getting kinda itchy to add a hat or cowl and a shawl to the mix, and even considering a blanket. It's really helped to keep the mojo flowing, because, so far, they've been nice enough to not all stymie me at the same time.
That is certainly an interesting question. is knitting like a video game, where you just have to replay that level to get a higher score and all the stars? Since I knit without patterns most of the time, I seldom have a full concept with which to set any expectations. I tend to figure things out when I get there, so whatever I come up with at that time seems fine-ish, and I'm off to the next conundrum.
Not specific patterns, but a couple rainbow ideas I've considered are to do a rainbow with very highly tonal yarns, so each color of the spectrum has it's own movement and flow. I think this would soften the usually sharp lines of striping. Another idea is to mix rainbows in a color block garment. Have a pastel rainbow, a neutral rainbow, a jewel tone rainbow and perhaps even a Gothic rainbow, all on the same garment.
hahaha I can't believe we didn't take that ever-so-slight detour to San Fran . . . next time! And adulterous knitting is perfect--how? why? have I never heard this term before??? I do believe my rainbow is a bit al lib but maybe it will satisfy those who are not tooooooo into the ROYGBIV standards ;)
Trying to wrap my mind around you two having grandkids. Seems very young to me. But grandkids knitting is definitely fun. I'm on great grkids stage now. Fitting top down sweaters just doesn't work on my shoulders and armpit placement. Tried them in the 1970s and more recent designs since they are so popular but I experience that not what I expected let down.
Aren't they fun to knit for?? Loving the grandkid knits . . . I think it means more small sweaters are in my future!
Amazing sweater for Spencer 💙
Thank you!
Hi Melissa! I bet you are the exact person who can answer my question: I think superwash is probably better environmentally than acrylic- for one, the micro fibres being shed by acrylics even when the yarn is from a recycled acrylic ( I would reckon..) I’m just thinking for those times like knitting for other folk’s kids- is it correct to think that superwash tends to have less of a environmental impact over time? Thanks a mil! 😊
But what about the chemicals used to make the wool "super wash"...?
@@manicspinner1959 this is what I’m curious to know- both things involve chemicals in differing amounts; what are they, how much in general, what is the footprint of the chemicals, footprint of the processes of creating the yarns, and the yarn’slifespan footprint, and so on. I haven’t been able to find good factual information that can be used in an informed comparison. So many people use these products and it could be helpful information. Hoping Melissa’s research into superwash might help answer a bit 🤞
Well, Susan, this is the million dollar question and it depends on who you ask and how widely you're casting an environmental-impact net. The industry would like you to believe that the microplastics from SW are not a problem (I'm not sure on that one--more research needed, but you can guess my suspicions). As for the chemicals used, it's the creation of SW yarn that's the real problem because it releases AOX. There are some more eco-friendly options, but they are not really widely available (yet) and many haven't been around long enough for us to know their enviro impacts yet. We only have one remaining SW plant in the US (most is outsourced to other countries with fewer regulations) and the water treatment is pretty intense for the one left in the US. So, it's a mixed bag. Acrylics are largely petroleum based, so the enviro impact of those is also an issue . . .
Thanks for this, Melissa! A very interesting and important conversation! I’m also thinking about chatting more on this at some point on my channel. Curious about how folks feel about it- is the big draw with superwash it’s ability to go into the machine?- because most newer washing machines I encounter have good wool washes & I certainly put my nonsuperwash in there with no problem. Maybe that draw is actually (mostly?) outdated then? But people don’t realise? And also, superwash is what is mostly out there in regards to indie dyed wool yarn, so there is the aspect of not actually having much choice currently. Lots of layers to this whole thing! I appreciate your reply!!
We missed you on Zoom, but I'm envious about your trip. All but the RV part. I'm a sort of minimalist camper and not mechanical, so an RV trip sounds more like work than relaxation. I've been searching for a cardigan pattern to recreate one from my past- so far nothing and I've been through Ravelry twice. I wonder if the course would work from memory, since I last had the cardigan in 7th grade/1974 (sweaters last a long time but not as long as memories I guess). What do you think? I'm working on a slip stitch cardigan test, first steek and first buttonholes lie ahead.
Yes! I'm with you totally, Gene! So nice to see you this weekend. I'll be thinking of you and your mom this week!
Hey Melissa. I know your book is going to be super interesting because you have a scientist’s mind. I look forward to it. Have you read anything interesting lately? By the way, I think I’d rather chew off my own arm than frog and reknit the same sweater…..
hahahah this made me lol in a horror movie kind of way. Been reading Wool Shrinkage and its Prevention (1954)--a classic! But not a lot of fiction. Oh and Not on the Label, which is a fab non-fiction book about food infrastructures!!
I need help. I have burning peripheral neuropathy and I’m not sure I can knit anymore