My name is Michelle, and I love knitting. I am an advanced beginner knitter, particularly when it comes to garments - I only started knitting garments at the end of 2022.
I started this channel to document my thoughts, but also to share ideas and inspiration with other knitters online. I also want to share my lessons learned, to (hopefully) help other beginner knitters as they move along their crafting journey.
So if that sounds like your cup of tea, hit that subscribe button and let’s talk!
I've been curious about Ozetta. Her children's sizes go large enough for me to wear and I've had my eye on one... and then I can also make stuff for the little ones in my life. Glad to hear you talk highly about it.
Your right. When I first started making garments I made stuff I was proud of but at the same time some of them not my style at all. What was I thinking? 🤔 😂 So I gave away quite a bit or donated some. Now I’m so much pickier. I don’t mind frogging projects when I realize it’s not working out the way I thought.
Lovely podcast, thank you! I was also checking out your books on the shelves on the background, I see my treasure Vogue Knitting, the enciclopedia of knitting. 🥰 What is the other book’s title, can’t figure it out.
I would be very careful putting something with mohair in it into the washing machine, even on a wool setting. Mohair will shrink at the slightest bit of agitation, so steam block for now and hand wash your cardigan when it gets dirty! It's too beautiful to risk ruining it!
The Stag Head Pullover is up high on my list, too. But for me it's more of a winter pattern since I associate deer with that season. =) I found the perfect yarn for this project, a warm white with speckles in reds and pinks in the right yarn weight, from a small manufacture in the UK (and it's even named after a wintery episode of the Gilmore Girls - how perfect is that?).
My husband asked my why I was laughing… he really wanted to know 😂 About the cables… I am facing the same dilemma. One cable looks good, but the other side looks wonky. I thought it was because maybe I was giving the no-cable needles a try, but if you are experiencing it with a cable needle, then I’ll also be hopeful it will block out.
Love this video! Thank you so much..I love looking at japanese designers’ work…maybe my favorite, as the aesthetic is so beautiful, & rendered with such skill. Creative, refined, and with a subtle twist of humor…is what draws me in every time. ❤️
The relief that comes with frogging something is unmatched. I knit the other version of that Anne Ventzel cardigan and it took half a year with all the breaks I took 😂
Life is too short for a meh garments. That is beautiful yarn and I can't wait to see what you decide to do with it. Maybe a drapey hood/cowl to wear with your Bruno vest?
Interesting to hear about your evolution with garment making. I’m new to making garments so I’m just trying to work the patterns and understand the techniques.
That’s great! That was me a year ago and I had so much fun. It’s really exciting to figure out what styles and constructions and yarns you like the best
You are wise to frog the garment that is a "meh". Life is too short to fall victim to the sunk cost fallacy. The only little word of caution I might offer is to be careful about pairing the beautiful tweed yarn with a solid or tonal. I did this once and the tweediness was completely diluted by the solid. You could barely see any flecks. Just saying. 🙂
On your Moby sweater, you seem to have fixed whatever was happening with that cable. The last one you did looks fine, as does the very top. (It looks like it only happened in two places.) I'm currently working on the Moby sweater and my cables look like the last one you did.
Hello, so happy I found your lovely podcast, thank you for the time you give to us with your thoughtful feedback. You’ve said at the beginning that you will not be covering a very famous Japanese designer for several reasons, but for the life of me I cannot understand the name. Is it because this is a Japanese name that I did not get it? On a positive note, sometimes you speak very fast and aspirate words, making it difficult to get what you’re saying. I looked at the transcript but this did not resolve some of my questions. Maybe you should pause and slowdown a bit so that your message is more effective. I love your presentation, your photographs, etc., but getting your verbal message is also supremely important. Thank you!
Hold on.. Did you say "I'm Dutch"? Ik sta even versteld... Dat had ik nooit geraden (I knew you were half Japanese). Im Dutch, my name is Wineke and I live in Amsterdam (like natasja hornby😅) 🐏🌞💕
Hello, I thought about what you said about your ribbing being not so tidy (from here it looks fine!). Have you tried out combination knitting? It's wrapping the yarn around the needle the other way on purl stitches and it makes them tighter. Maybe it's worth trying. Thank you for the video🐏💕
Hello from Poland. Indeed Japanese knitting designs are way diffrent from what we have here. I abslutely love them for the subtle details in patterns or garment structure. Thanks for great inspirations
Hi Michelle, really enjoyed the variety of knits you showcased. The Stag's Head sweater is already on my list as Norah Gaughan is one of my absolute favorite designers. She brings such a fresh slant to cable knitting and her '40 Timless Knits' book is a fabulous gift for a knitter. There's enough in there to keep them going for years! The other design I love, and a new designer to me, is November Oak by Jennifer Brou. I made the Helia by Joanna Ang last year for a friend and it was pretty straightforward but you really do need to keep track of the rows. I did it in a soft pink mohair-mix yarn and it turned out soft and snuggly and oh-so-feminine.
Thank you for today . I am on last round of the 2x2 placket with the EVA. Question… if you can. What BO did you choose? I am not a tubular BO Gal as the length of yarn is extremely difficult for me to manage. I am so concerned about “rolling “ of the BO that I have anxiety over this. So if you have a suggestion I would love your input. The color of your Eva is my favorite to use with my things. I find it goes with all my stuff. Oh… I never pick buttons until I am finished so I can place them upon FO and actually see it. ( just me)…. Thanks again!
Yes! 1000 times yes!! A ziplock bag holds a lot of projects just fine- and is reusable- or a canvas shopping bag will do the trick. Designer notions are a luxury gift but not required. For those single skeins- too easy to fall into that trap! If you love it- buy “enough” to make a real thing, instead of an expensive novelty that will finally use it up (one RU-vidr did a video about the $300 baby blanket..). If you do have these lovely orphan skeins, check out westknits shawls- often they feature wild color inspirations and one skein of a few colors will do.
Yes! 1000 times yes!! A ziplock bag holds a lot of projects just fine- and is reusable- or a canvas shopping bag will do the trick. Designer notions are a luxury gift but not required. For those single skeins- too easy to fall into that trap! If you love it- buy “enough” to make a real thing, instead of an expensive novelty that will finally use it up (one RU-vidr did a video about the $300 baby blanket..). If you do have these lovely orphan skeins, check out westknits shawls- often they feature wild color inspirations and one skein of a few colors will do.
I'm a new subscriber to your channel. I love how you talk about your projects and your whole demeanour. I couldn't think of the right way to put that, so I hope that makes sense. Very enjoyable and full of good tips and information!
Not me binge watching all your podcast episodes over the last days while knitting and adding waaaay to many patterns to my ravelry favorites 🥲💖 I think my favorite was the light green one you made! Pitty the swatches of the ridges shirt didn‘t turn out. Looking forward to your next episode 💖
So I just made the Claire Vest in a size L and I totally agree with your comments about the wideness/deepness of it, but I still really like the end project! I made mine in a single strand of KFO pure silk on 3.25mm needles and it’s a little see through but i do think the pattern works well with the drapier yarn. The Icord and armhole trim really do help a lot to pull the fabric in and keep it reasonable, and even adding the buttons really changed my mind on this. I was very nervous trying it on, but I have worn it over just a bra and while it is very low cut, I didn’t find it too unwearably scandalous and I don’t usually like to show a ton of skin. I also have worn it over a tshirt to make it work appropriate and I think it’s still cute styled like that! I am planning to make it again but in a slightly thicker yarn and sizing down to a M. You could try ripping back and doing the M increases if you think that would help make it more wearable for you without completely giving up on the project! It’s probably my favorite thing I’ve made this year so I just wanted to share my experiences with the pattern.
I am still debating what to do 😅😭 for now I’ve put it out of my sight so I’m not constantly stressing about the decision whether to frog, amend or continue…
The Stag Head Pullover picture is what made me click on the preview! It's awesome. 😍I also loooove the Promenade Blouse, Helia, and Bella Cardigan. November Oak is new to me too but I'm definitely going to check out that designer. Solid lineup, I love your taste! You've got yourself a new subscriber 🥰
I love the stoneknits socks. I have her first book of charming colourwork socks. And I've knitted a few. Colourwork can be kind of difficult while you're trying to manage tension, but for me, the 9 inch circular needles was the solution. I'll send you a pic of them
About Cardi cocoon, may be you can write to the designer to get more information ? I dont know if this is possible… I am knitting patterns from Marie Christine Lévesque and i wrote to her about a special technique , she gave me the information…
