Uploaded October 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:
1. I am really enjoying knitting my first Jaunty shawl. I thought I hated half fisherman's rib, but watched your tutorial and have really found the pleasurable rhythm of it. Thank you! My question - with so many options for this shawl, I'm curious why you didn't name it the DRK Everyday Shawl. What makes something a DRK staple?
2. I bought the Jaunty shawl pattern when it came out because I love the squishy-ness of half fisherman's rib. I have Aran weight leftovers from a sweater project in two colors and wondering if there are any special considerations to knit the Jaunty in chunky stripes. I've carried the non-working color inside the i-cord edge on another project and assuming that will work here, too? I also want to make sure half fisherman's rib doesn't have a weird effect when changing to a new color, like in 1x1 ribbing. Thank you!
3. Do you have any suggestions on how to adapt one of your hat patterns to accommodate a ponytail? I have very thick hair that I usually wear in a long braid or ponytail, and most hats without a hole just pop up onto the top of my head. I am knitting the Harlow for my husband and so jealous that it won't work for me. I've made other patterns with a button band, or a slit and am trying to figure out the best way to adapt one of your patterns without ruining the look/intent. Or maybe you have a hat pattern with a hole that I don't know about? Thanks for any thoughts or suggestions! (PS Thanks for your weekly episodes - it's become a valuable half hour of personal time to knit, drink tea, and get immersed in creativity!)
4. I am knitting the Jaunty shawl in Wandering Flocks Prism Pink. Oh, my good gracious-It is so beautiful and soft!!!! So, I was wondering, would there be any design plans in the works for a worsted sweater using this yarn? Or could you recommend one of your patterns that you feel would work? I've knit many of your patterns and love each one. Thank you for sharing your creative mind.
The Daily Sweater: ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-daily
dreareneeknits.com/shop/the-daily
The Weekender: ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-weekender-5
dreareneeknits.com/shop/the-weekender
5. I’m knitting a superwash and suri alpaca sweater and I don’t want the sleeves to be too long. I want to block the sleeves before I knit the sleeve ribbing to see how long they will grow. Should I wet block or steam block them? What blocking technique would you recommend? When do you steam block vs wet block?
Today I am wearing Gib:
Ravelry: ravelry.com/patterns/library/gib-i
My Website: dreareneeknits.com/shop/gib-for-him
Ooey Gooey Cowl KAL:
Ravelry Forum: ravelry.com/discuss/dreareneeknits/4374174
Instagram Hashtag: #ooeygooeycowlkal
2025 Rhinebeck Ooey Gooey KAL
Ravelry Forum: ravelry.com/discuss/dreareneeknits/topics/4368040
Facebook Forum: facebook.com/groups/1076153613959074
Instagram Hashtag: #RhinebeckOoeyGooeyKAL
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. I am really enjoying knitting my first Jaunty shawl. I thought I hated half fisherman's rib, but watched your tutorial and have really found the pleasurable rhythm of it. Thank you! My question - with so many options for this shawl, I'm curious why you didn't name it the DRK Everyday Shawl. What makes something a DRK staple?
2. I bought the Jaunty shawl pattern when it came out because I love the squishy-ness of half fisherman's rib. I have Aran weight leftovers from a sweater project in two colors and wondering if there are any special considerations to knit the Jaunty in chunky stripes. I've carried the non-working color inside the i-cord edge on another project and assuming that will work here, too? I also want to make sure half fisherman's rib doesn't have a weird effect when changing to a new color, like in 1x1 ribbing. Thank you!
3. Do you have any suggestions on how to adapt one of your hat patterns to accommodate a ponytail? I have very thick hair that I usually wear in a long braid or ponytail, and most hats without a hole just pop up onto the top of my head. I am knitting the Harlow for my husband and so jealous that it won't work for me. I've made other patterns with a button band, or a slit and am trying to figure out the best way to adapt one of your patterns without ruining the look/intent. Or maybe you have a hat pattern with a hole that I don't know about? Thanks for any thoughts or suggestions! (PS Thanks for your weekly episodes - it's become a valuable half hour of personal time to knit, drink tea, and get immersed in creativity!)
4. I am knitting the Jaunty shawl in Wandering Flocks Prism Pink. Oh, my good gracious-It is so beautiful and soft!!!! So, I was wondering, would there be any design plans in the works for a worsted sweater using this yarn? Or could you recommend one of your patterns that you feel would work? I've knit many of your patterns and love each one. Thank you for sharing your creative mind.
The Daily Sweater: ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-daily
dreareneeknits.com/shop/the-daily
The Weekender: ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-weekender-5
dreareneeknits.com/shop/the-weekender
5. I’m knitting a superwash and suri alpaca sweater and I don’t want the sleeves to be too long. I want to block the sleeves before I knit the sleeve ribbing to see how long they will grow. Should I wet block or steam block them? What blocking technique would you recommend? When do you steam block vs wet block?
Today I am wearing Gib:
Ravelry: ravelry.com/patterns/library/gib-i
My Website: dreareneeknits.com/shop/gib-for-him
Ooey Gooey Cowl KAL:
Ravelry Forum: ravelry.com/discuss/dreareneeknits/4374174
Instagram Hashtag: #ooeygooeycowlkal
2025 Rhinebeck Ooey Gooey KAL
Ravelry Forum: ravelry.com/discuss/dreareneeknits/topics/4368040
Facebook Forum: facebook.com/groups/1076153613959074
Instagram Hashtag: #RhinebeckOoeyGooeyKAL
Ask a question for next week’s Q&A:
https://forms.gle/pKM9gF9SixkdQwmS7
