Welcome to I’ll Knit (& Spin!) If I want To! I asked y’all to send in some of your questions (from everything from fiber arts, to designing and on!) so I could put together a little video for y’all every Friday doing my best to answer your questions!
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In this week’s episode we cover:
1. Hello! Here is a question on gauge for a sweater in stockinette and lace.
One of my long time WIPs is a blouse in a fingering weight (Volia Blouse by Teti Lutsak, if you're curious). I had trouble meeting row gauge, but I decided that loving my final fabric was enough :). The pattern has a 24 sts x 30 rounds gauge on 3 mm needles. I have a 23 sts x 34 rounds on 3.5 mm.
The bottom of the sweater and the cuff have 15 rounds of lace. Since my row gauge is very different from the patterin, should I try to knit the lace with bigger needles? I don't want the lace section to be too small, it will be weird!
Thanks for your videos btw, you're one of my fave podcast out there!
2. Hi Andrea! I'm pregnant with my first baby, due in early September. It still feels surreal! I'm not really a shawl knitter, but I thought a nice big shawl could make for a good breastfeeding cover, especially since our little guy/gal will be coming when the weather starts going cold again. Plus it makes for a great excuse to join the M2MKAL! Which of your shawl patterns would you recommend?
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/everyday-shawl-4
https://www.dreareneeknits.com/shop/yoga-shawl
3. I know you’ve mentioned the DRK Everyday socks are your ride or die. But if you have to choose a shawl and a sweater pattern as the last shawl and sweater pattern you’ll ever knit, which would you choose? Or which could you make over and over again if you had to?
DRK Everyday Sweater
https://www.dreareneeknits.com/shop/drk-everyday-sweater
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/drk-everyday-sweater
Traveler Shawl (or the one I have on my needles - wink)
https://www.dreareneeknits.com/shop/the-traveler-shawl
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-traveler-shawl-3
4. I am knitting my first Harlow hat and love that it is reversible. My question: Do you have a preferred method/approach for weaving in your ends so that both sides look great? I have not had to worry about this before. Thanks also for the wonderfully detailed brioche tutorials - I now finally get it.
5. LAST STITCH ON KITCHENER STITCH OR TUBULAR BIND OFF: First of all, love your spinning content, btw. I know you say that you're not an expert, but I love to see what you're working on, AND it's been so helpful to watch an expert (in knitting) be a beginner in something else, and it's given me confidence to do the same. I've been spinning since 2021 and I just love it.
Now, on to my question: Every time I do Kitchener on one needle OR tubular/Italian BO, I always have a last stitch that is wonky and weird and doesn't ever look nice. Most tutorials show the first 4-5 steps and then say something like "keep doing the same steps until all stitches are bound off" and then don't show that last stitch. What am I missing?! Thanks so much. I really enjoy your Friday chats.
Today I am wearing Gib:
Ravelry: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gib-i
My Website: https://www.dreareneeknits.com/shop/gib-for-her
March 2 May KAL 2025
Shawl Forum: https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/dreareneeknits/4351754
Sweater Forum: https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/dreareneeknits/4351752
Instagram: #DRKmarch2maykal25
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