Uploaded January 2025 | 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:
Christine Novotny Weaving: christinenovotny.com
1. I have a question about test knitting. I have done a few tests before, but always struggle with figuring out what is considered a 'mod' and what isn't. Obviously, we can add length to arms and the torso. But I have really strong arms for my size and often need to go up a sleeve size. For a bottom up, drop shoulder knit, I would need to add length after splitting for the sleeves, so that I can pick up more stitches. Is that allowed? What about adding more slope to the shoulders for someone that has fairly sloped shoulders? Most of the time the test signup goes so fast there isn't much time to really consider pattern dimensions against my preferences...
2. I have a question about color. I want to make your Weekender sweater, but I am struggling with what color to make it. It is such a beautiful pattern I want to do it justice with the color but also want a color that I will wear a lot as well since it is a big project. Do you think it is beneficial or worthwhile to have your colors done by a professional? That way it narrows down my choices and I know the color would suit me. I would love to know your thoughts and how you choose colors. Thank you
3. I have come to love your March to May KAL. This will be my fourth year participating. I want to knit a shawl using some of my handspun yarn but I need to get it ready ahead of time. But I'm also wondering if you will be releasing any new patterns we can use in the KAL. I would love to hear anything you can share so I can get even more excited! Thanks
4. Hi Andrea! I have some small-mill-spun alpaca, from a farm that raises alpaca and spins it. I have some lovely gray-green DK weight and some natural in sport weight that I was going to use for my second Metamorphic. But a friend told me that alpaca has no memory (elasticity?) and would stretch out. What would you advise? Should I make a different fiber choice?
5. I would like to knit the Boho Blush Shawl with some fingering weight yarn (80% wool 20% hemp) I have in stash. I’m swatching on both 3.5 and 4 mm needles as I tend to be a tighter knitter. Neither swatches have been washed and blocked but I cannot imagine the 3.5mm needles will be anywhere close as it is measuring 3.5” W by 2.5” in H. So even if this swatch grows in blocking it will still likely be far too small. The real problem that is concerning me is the swatch that’s being worked up with 4mm needles looks bang on for stitch gauge but it looks like the row gauge will still be an inch short. I’m still a relatively new knitter and would love to avoid a lot of complicated math to try and adjust the pattern and I don’t have the budget to buy new yarn at the moment. Obviously I will finish and block both swatches but if the 4mm swatch is too short - what should I do?
DRK Spin It to Knit It KAL
Ravelry KAL Forum: ravelry.com/discuss/dreareneeknits/topics/4300929
Instagram Hashtags: #DRKspinittoknitKAL2024 #DRKspinsTHETRAVELER
Today I am wearing a shawl I wove! The pattern was in a subscription and I don’t think is available for independent sale. The kit was purchased from Gist Yarn :)
Spincycle PAL (Plump-along): spincycleyarns.com/pages/plump-a-long-2024
Instafriends KAL - hosted on Instagram from 9/18/24 to 1/31/25! Just use the hashtag #instafriendsKAL2024 and tag @dreareneeknits and @shoplamercerie
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:
Christine Novotny Weaving: christinenovotny.com
1. I have a question about test knitting. I have done a few tests before, but always struggle with figuring out what is considered a 'mod' and what isn't. Obviously, we can add length to arms and the torso. But I have really strong arms for my size and often need to go up a sleeve size. For a bottom up, drop shoulder knit, I would need to add length after splitting for the sleeves, so that I can pick up more stitches. Is that allowed? What about adding more slope to the shoulders for someone that has fairly sloped shoulders? Most of the time the test signup goes so fast there isn't much time to really consider pattern dimensions against my preferences...
2. I have a question about color. I want to make your Weekender sweater, but I am struggling with what color to make it. It is such a beautiful pattern I want to do it justice with the color but also want a color that I will wear a lot as well since it is a big project. Do you think it is beneficial or worthwhile to have your colors done by a professional? That way it narrows down my choices and I know the color would suit me. I would love to know your thoughts and how you choose colors. Thank you
3. I have come to love your March to May KAL. This will be my fourth year participating. I want to knit a shawl using some of my handspun yarn but I need to get it ready ahead of time. But I'm also wondering if you will be releasing any new patterns we can use in the KAL. I would love to hear anything you can share so I can get even more excited! Thanks
4. Hi Andrea! I have some small-mill-spun alpaca, from a farm that raises alpaca and spins it. I have some lovely gray-green DK weight and some natural in sport weight that I was going to use for my second Metamorphic. But a friend told me that alpaca has no memory (elasticity?) and would stretch out. What would you advise? Should I make a different fiber choice?
5. I would like to knit the Boho Blush Shawl with some fingering weight yarn (80% wool 20% hemp) I have in stash. I’m swatching on both 3.5 and 4 mm needles as I tend to be a tighter knitter. Neither swatches have been washed and blocked but I cannot imagine the 3.5mm needles will be anywhere close as it is measuring 3.5” W by 2.5” in H. So even if this swatch grows in blocking it will still likely be far too small. The real problem that is concerning me is the swatch that’s being worked up with 4mm needles looks bang on for stitch gauge but it looks like the row gauge will still be an inch short. I’m still a relatively new knitter and would love to avoid a lot of complicated math to try and adjust the pattern and I don’t have the budget to buy new yarn at the moment. Obviously I will finish and block both swatches but if the 4mm swatch is too short - what should I do?
DRK Spin It to Knit It KAL
Ravelry KAL Forum: ravelry.com/discuss/dreareneeknits/topics/4300929
Instagram Hashtags: #DRKspinittoknitKAL2024 #DRKspinsTHETRAVELER
Today I am wearing a shawl I wove! The pattern was in a subscription and I don’t think is available for independent sale. The kit was purchased from Gist Yarn :)
Spincycle PAL (Plump-along): spincycleyarns.com/pages/plump-a-long-2024
Instafriends KAL - hosted on Instagram from 9/18/24 to 1/31/25! Just use the hashtag #instafriendsKAL2024 and tag @dreareneeknits and @shoplamercerie
Ask a question for next week’s Q&A: https://forms.gle/pKM9gF9SixkdQwmS7
