Uploaded July 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
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!
Sign up for my newsletter here: Sign up for the DRK Newsletter: eepurl.com/diPxsr
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 - knitpicks.com/ultimate-sweater-book/p/33617
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: northoptical.me
Anne & Valentin: anneetvalentin.com/en
Ahlem: 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:
dreareneeknits.com/shop/birch-pullover
ravelry.com/patterns/library/birch-pullover-2
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: youtube.com/watch?v=b9JWn5Rk_vE
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: ravelry.com/patterns/library/ronan
Junction: ravelry.com/patterns/library/junction-3
Vintage ‘83: ravelry.com/patterns/library/vintage-83
Lesley of Knitgraffiti: knitgraffiti.com/?s=sweater
Today I am wearing Tessellated Vest
Ravelry: ravelry.com/patterns/library/tessellated-vest
My Website: dreareneeknits.com/shop/tessellated-vest
Instagram: @mellyknits for Tour de Fleece Stash Dashers!
Instagram: #100daysoflongdraw
Ravelry: ravelry.com/discuss/dreareneeknits/topics/4306907
Instagram: #100daysofknitting2024
Ravelry: ravelry.com/discuss/dreareneeknits/topics/4306908
DRK Spin It to Knit It KAL
Ravelry KAL Forum: ravelry.com/discuss/dreareneeknits/topics/4300929
Instagram Hashtags: #DRKspinittoknitKAL2024 #DRKspinsTHETRAVELER
Ask a question for next week’s Q&A: https://forms.gle/pKM9gF9SixkdQwmS7
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!
Sign up for my newsletter here: Sign up for the DRK Newsletter: eepurl.com/diPxsr
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 - knitpicks.com/ultimate-sweater-book/p/33617
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: northoptical.me
Anne & Valentin: anneetvalentin.com/en
Ahlem: 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:
dreareneeknits.com/shop/birch-pullover
ravelry.com/patterns/library/birch-pullover-2
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: youtube.com/watch?v=b9JWn5Rk_vE
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: ravelry.com/patterns/library/ronan
Junction: ravelry.com/patterns/library/junction-3
Vintage ‘83: ravelry.com/patterns/library/vintage-83
Lesley of Knitgraffiti: knitgraffiti.com/?s=sweater
Today I am wearing Tessellated Vest
Ravelry: ravelry.com/patterns/library/tessellated-vest
My Website: dreareneeknits.com/shop/tessellated-vest
Instagram: @mellyknits for Tour de Fleece Stash Dashers!
Instagram: #100daysoflongdraw
Ravelry: ravelry.com/discuss/dreareneeknits/topics/4306907
Instagram: #100daysofknitting2024
Ravelry: ravelry.com/discuss/dreareneeknits/topics/4306908
DRK Spin It to Knit It KAL
Ravelry KAL Forum: ravelry.com/discuss/dreareneeknits/topics/4300929
Instagram Hashtags: #DRKspinittoknitKAL2024 #DRKspinsTHETRAVELER
Ask a question for next week’s Q&A: https://forms.gle/pKM9gF9SixkdQwmS7
