I’ll Knit If I Want To: Episode 174

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. Hi, Andrea! The last few top-down sweaters I have finished fit great in the bust/yoke but are too large in the body. Could you describe how I might go about knitting one size in the yoke and a smaller size after I split for the sleeves? Thank you!

Amy Herzog - https://www.knitpicks.com/ultimate-sw...

2. Hi there. First off I just want to say I am a huge fan. I have been making your patterns ever since you came out with The Shift (I make at last 1 Shift a year to add to my collection 😅 ) and I love them all. I also just finished my Nebula and am totally in love. For my questions. The first is hopefully quick, but I love all of your glasses and was wondering where you get them from. My second question is in regards to spinning. I was just wondering what technique you use to ply? Do you do any special techniques like chain plying etc?

North Optical: https://www.northoptical.me
Anne & Valentin: https://anneetvalentin.com/en
Ahlem: https://www.ahlemeyewear.com

3. Hi Andrea! I have made one Birch Pullover and could not figure out why mine looked so different from yours. I recently discovered that I have always purled my stitches wrong (wrapping under instead of over, so my stitches are twisted). Now, I either do a Norwegian purl or knit through the back loop on the following row. I’m definitely NOT frogging my Birch sweater (mom of 2 littles who does not have time for that!), but I think I’d like to make another one. I think I would also probably go up a size. I have always loved your Stria cardigan, but don’t find myself wearing a lot of cardigans! Is the Stria the cardigan version of the Birch? If so, could I use the yarn/colors you used on the Stria to make a new Birch pullover, now that I have my purls figured out?

Birch Pullover:
https://www.dreareneeknits.com/shop/b...
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libr...

4. I'm struggling with the best way to catch long floats in colorwork knitting. I tried different methods, but I'm not satisfied with the front side. I guess my float tension is not even. What is your preferred method for catching long floats. Any advice is appreciated.

Catching floats: How To Knit: Trapping Floats | Brookl...

5. I have just knit my first ever brioche project (a shawl, using 2 colour brioche) and I love the effect of it, but I have heard that all over brioche is a bit tricky to use for garments due to how stretchy the fabric is. I have not tried fisherman's rib before but I know if has a similar look to brioche. Does the fabric produced by fisherman's rib have a bit more structure to it, and if so, is it possible to make a two colour version. Do you have any pattern suggestions for a sweater using a two coloured ribbing technique?
Ronan: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libr...
Junction: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libr...
Vintage ‘83: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libr...
Lesley of Knitgraffiti: https://knitgraffiti.com/?s=sweater

Today I am wearing Tessellated Vest
Ravelry: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libr...
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