Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks 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 I am knitting the DRK everyday Cardi. I have blocked it and ready to pick up stitches for the button band. I am making size 3 but I have added length- 2 inches before I knit the button band. Pattern says to pick up 174 stitches. How do I calculate how many additional stitches to pick up because of the additional 2 inches in length? I could guess but the sweater is so absolutely perfect and the fit is so great - I don’t want to wreck it!
Buttonhole placement tutorial: youtu.be/YQJJFZdvUvk
2. Is it important to knit a gauge swatch in one sitting? Or is it okay to start and stop like you will with the actual project? Thanks in advance! Appreciate your knitting wisdom so much!!
3. I'm knitting a cardigan. I have a base pattern, but I'm incorporating techniques from other patterns primarily because I had trouble meeting gauge with the initial pattern I chose, so just searched on Ravelry for a pattern using my gauge. My question is concerning the button band and subbing out one type for another. Double knit vs. ribbed. What things should I consider in deciding which one to use? Is it solely preference or does the yarn type/weight or textured pattern determine which is the best? I am using a fingering weight yarn of non super wash merino and alpaca tweed. It's very soft and drapey. I love the look of a double knit button band. Would that create too much fabric and be too heavy for this yarn? It's stockinette, slightly oversized, deep V, and drop shoulder-ish. The base pattern calls for ribbed button band, and I would like to sub a double knit band, but not sure if that is a good decision. Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions!!
4.I purchased a Nest Fiber Studio fiber Valentine's advent. How do you, personally, spin up your daily 30 gram fiber samples when you purchase an advent? There are just so many options, so I thought I would ask you since I believe you have mentioned purchasing their advent in the past. Thanks!
5. I am knitting the DRK Everyday Sock - my first pair of socks. I finished the first sock and it is too tight around my calf - that is okay as I consider it a good learning experiment. On my second sock, I want to increase the back by two inches and assume I can follow the increases as per the heel gusset for the ribbing. Is this correct? And would you recommend making the increases at the sides (i.e. beginning / end of bottom row) or at two spots equidistant further around the calf. Hope this makes sense. Thank you.
Today I am wearing Brume:
Ravelry: ravelry.com/patterns/library/brume-10
My Website: dreareneeknits.com/shop/brume
Jaunty SAL with Daedalus: ravelry.com/discuss/dreareneeknits/topics/4386868
Jaunty-along intro video: youtu.be/JU1eu0G4Sl8
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 I am knitting the DRK everyday Cardi. I have blocked it and ready to pick up stitches for the button band. I am making size 3 but I have added length- 2 inches before I knit the button band. Pattern says to pick up 174 stitches. How do I calculate how many additional stitches to pick up because of the additional 2 inches in length? I could guess but the sweater is so absolutely perfect and the fit is so great - I don’t want to wreck it!
Buttonhole placement tutorial: youtu.be/YQJJFZdvUvk
2. Is it important to knit a gauge swatch in one sitting? Or is it okay to start and stop like you will with the actual project? Thanks in advance! Appreciate your knitting wisdom so much!!
3. I'm knitting a cardigan. I have a base pattern, but I'm incorporating techniques from other patterns primarily because I had trouble meeting gauge with the initial pattern I chose, so just searched on Ravelry for a pattern using my gauge. My question is concerning the button band and subbing out one type for another. Double knit vs. ribbed. What things should I consider in deciding which one to use? Is it solely preference or does the yarn type/weight or textured pattern determine which is the best? I am using a fingering weight yarn of non super wash merino and alpaca tweed. It's very soft and drapey. I love the look of a double knit button band. Would that create too much fabric and be too heavy for this yarn? It's stockinette, slightly oversized, deep V, and drop shoulder-ish. The base pattern calls for ribbed button band, and I would like to sub a double knit band, but not sure if that is a good decision. Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions!!
4.I purchased a Nest Fiber Studio fiber Valentine's advent. How do you, personally, spin up your daily 30 gram fiber samples when you purchase an advent? There are just so many options, so I thought I would ask you since I believe you have mentioned purchasing their advent in the past. Thanks!
5. I am knitting the DRK Everyday Sock - my first pair of socks. I finished the first sock and it is too tight around my calf - that is okay as I consider it a good learning experiment. On my second sock, I want to increase the back by two inches and assume I can follow the increases as per the heel gusset for the ribbing. Is this correct? And would you recommend making the increases at the sides (i.e. beginning / end of bottom row) or at two spots equidistant further around the calf. Hope this makes sense. Thank you.
Today I am wearing Brume:
Ravelry: ravelry.com/patterns/library/brume-10
My Website: dreareneeknits.com/shop/brume
Jaunty SAL with Daedalus: ravelry.com/discuss/dreareneeknits/topics/4386868
Jaunty-along intro video: youtu.be/JU1eu0G4Sl8
Ask a question for next week’s Q&A:
https://forms.gle/pKM9gF9SixkdQwmS7
