Join me for a peek into the new Knitting for Olive book! ❤ Grab a copy of Knitting for Olive on Amazon: amzn.to/3FZ6No4 Most designs in this publication have chest sizes ranging from 30" to 57". The Felix Pullover (what I’m wearing): www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/felix-pullover
would you happen to know if the patterns in this book include bigger sizes (for plus size knitwear)? I love the puffed tee, but hesitate to purchase a book that doesn't include size inclusive patterns
Mohair is very strong, with no appreciable stretch. With the recent trend towards top-down sweater design, and raglan shaping, we lose the structural support that is provided by seams in our garments. Adding a strand of mohair lends strength to prevent our knits sagging and drooping.
Yes, totally. The durability of silk and mohair is unmatched by almost every other natural fiber and even rivals Nylon in this respect. Using it to reinforce a garment is an excellent idea. In terms of the trend, I have to assume that most of what we’re seeing is an aesthetic decision. The LOOK of slightly fuzzy knits seems to be the thing. But yeah, these are quite durable knits. My sweaters where I’ve used mohair have zero droop. ☺️ Edited to add: another viewer made a great point that I didn’t consider and that’s the considerable warmth without sacrificing the lighter silhouettes.
I usually say "how do you recognise a homeknit sweater/cardigan? It is knitted on 4mm needles." Typically bigger items are not knitted on too fine needles, it is not _fun_ when it takes forever. But. When you put two thinner threads, with different structures, together, simsalabim, it looks like a finer knit despite being knit on 4 mm (or 3.5 mm) needles, looks less homemade and more like a luxurious storebought something. Karl Johan btw is the fancy boulevard in Oslo, named after a Swedish king and conqueror, somebody probably has answered that below somewhere...
This reminds me of something: have you considered making an episode to talk about seamless sweaters vs. seamed? It’s hard to find contemporary patterns which are requiring seams. There are pros and cons. Seamed sweaters to me have a look like they are more structured. Like it could have been something you bought.
PSA BEFORE YOU BUY I purchased the book and picked the Charles Grey Cardigan to knit. The pattern is missing many key pieces. I assume something happened in translation, but it is missing necessary parts. My experience allowed me to make do but it was extremely confusing and frustrating at first. After emailing the designer they were able to send me a rewritten pattern. I have not looked through the other patterns yet, I am not sure if I will use the book again. If the mistakes had been in a pattern with a more complicated stitch, it would have been even worse.
Yeah thank you for this info! I was wondering that. I probably could alter the pattern if I find one that I love. It’s really not super complicated to the math myself and I like math. But it is a chore to start with for sure!!
Coincidentally, I am on vacation in Copenhagen and had just returned from the KFO store when I watched this video. They had samples of all the sweaters in the new book knit up, they were lovely! The Puff Tee was the lightest knit garment I've ever held, it was like a cloud and was knit in a beautiful autumn gold color.
Fruity Knitting has a new podcast with an interview with the Knitting for Olive mother/daughter team. It’s a great interview, not only highlighting their patterns, but a history of the company and their philosophy.
Great book review. I hope many others send you books to review. I dont have a book store where I can find knitting books and always want to know what is inside before I purchase them.
I think mohair also adds warmth without weight. The climate in Scandinavia is much colder for longer and I wonder if it’s a way to create warmer garments that can be comfortably worn inside.
I think this makes the most sense to me in terms of practical reasons for this trend. It allows for classic knitwear with low profile silhouettes that are still quite warm. Great point.
Years ago I took a class from Clara Parkes about the properties of different animal fibers. She recommended pairing silk mohair with a strand of 100% merino for two reasons: added strength and minimizing pilling. You can make socks that last a long time out of the softest wool fiber if you pair it with silk mohair. She had a swatch of MadTosh Merino Light and a swatch of Merino Light paired with silk mohair that she passed around the class. With all the handling over the years, the plain merino swatch had pilled a lot and the fabric looked worn. The swatch with silk mohair looked fresh and had not pilled. The other thing with silk mohair is that its fluffiness gives you flexibility: you can add a strand to fingering weight yarn and get a pretty (and long lasting) fabric at any gauge from 7.5 to 5 stitches per inch.
That's such an intriguing idea, to knit socks with mohair! I wear my handknit socks all the time so I find they wear out quite quickly. I'll have to try knitting a pair with some leftover mohair (which would not really get used otherwise, anyway) and see how those hold up.
Good review! I love Danish knit wear design as well, but I’m rather into Marianne Isager, Lone Kjeldsen, Hanne Thorsen, Vivien Hoxbrø, Christel Seyfahrt and others, designers with a spark and creativity… „classic“ for me is a euphemism for boring. Why would I hand knit something I could easily get in a shop, department store or high end (I live next to Johnston‘s of Elgin, top market cashmere knitwear)or knit on a machine? Handknitting for me is all about standing out, not fitting in ….even in classics I love a twist (Midori Hirose‘s White Mountain, Julie Hoover‘s Hayward, Japanese design, some Brooklyn Tweed designs). Additionally for me knitting is all about variety in technique, colour, look, about learning and evolving as a knitter with every garment, miles and miles of stockinette just don’t cut it for me. I’ve been frequently to Copenhagen over the years, it’s a beautiful city, but the uniformity in fashion style doesn’t really appeal to me, I’ve never seen so much straight black coats in my life… That said, if this style is your thing, Knitting for Olive does fabulous constructions!
Agreed! I checked out the designers you listed and can’t wait to explore their patterns more! Thank you for your comment. I love learning from this community!
Just another reminder that I could live 5 lifetimes and never knit all the things I want to knit! I am forlorn. I suppose I am a half glass empty type of person.
i have a lot of experience with KfO yarn and do just want to clarify something which is the compatible cashmere! in that picture, it is the cashmere BESIDE their mohair. the mohair is the big fuzzy ball, the cashmere is the tiny smooth one. their compatible cashmere does not have that fluffy texture, it's actually very smooth. as such it won't give you the _exact_ same gauge when held double with another yarn. however, it _will_ add a lot of softness and luxury to another project, and with the right needle combo, you could probably still get gauge. another difference is that it's much more expensive. they're both sold in 25g balls, but the mohair is over 200 meters for €7 and the cashmere is 150 meters for a whopping €12 (and again, with its lack of halo, it actually won't match the gauge of a mohair yarn unless you play around with your needle sizes). it is a nice yarn, but personally I wouldn't actually recommend it unless you have money to burn. it really isn't shockingly soft, and even if you hate the texture of mohair but need it to get gauge for a certain project, there are options that will work much better for a lower cost.
"no bells and whistles" "simple silhouettes" The reason I picked up this book is the allover lace barbroe blouse and I just finished it haha it's my level of extra. I think the reason people are knitting with mohair is that held with fingering, it gives a comfortable, lightweight fabric that isn't too open or sheer feeling, but can still be worked on much bigger needles and thus faster. No one wants to knit a sweater with small yarn and tiny needles these days, even though it produces the most beautiful fabric. So mohair is a nice 'cheat'! And I love both small yarn and knitting with mohair.
I learn something new in every video. This time it's the mohair addition which helps stabilize the overall look of your knitting pattern. Thanks Taylor.
Interesting review but I wish you had taken close up pictures of the pattern and inserted the picture into the video or focused more on the picture to show the pattern more rather than trying to hold up the book. This way we could continue to view the pattern and drool over the gorgeousness while you spoke. Also, have you knit any of these yet? I would think a review of a knitting book would include how well written the instructions were, charts, etc. I'm new to this but guess I was a tad confused by it. Overall, I enjoy your videos. Thanks for creating interesting content! 😊
Mohair is not only strong, but also warmer than wool itself. We often forget that the Scandinavian countries are located far to the North and it is simply cold there.
Fun part: we usually have a higher indoor temperature making those sweaters to warm to wear. Outdoors our coats and jackets are heavy when it is cold, but easy to take off when we get into warm houses, cars, buses and trains. This may change now that everybody is to save energy though. During the WW2 winters, that were quite cold, and coal and oil supplies were problematic big cardigans and sweaters became _very_ fashionable.
What's the deal with mohair ? Mohair is called the Diamond fiber. It is called this because apparently it is stronger than steel so it adds strength and this makes it great for socks or reinforcing heels and toes. Adding mohair to fine wool makes them better for wearbility, but for sweaters makes adding it to fine wool have less to no pilling. But the most grand experience of mohair is its warmth . It is 4x warmer than wool . So keep this in mind if you are knitting a sweater. It is wonderful for cold climates but may be too warm unless it is made as a cardigan or for outerwear for more moderate climates. The bloom on the mohair adds to the insulating properties. Fine or kid mohair or high quality mohair especially if it has silk and not polyester or nylon added ,is not itchy. Adult mohair can be, unless it has a low micron count. So if it concerns you test it under the chin or inside the wrist to see if you have any reaction to it. But like all natural fibers quality makes a difference. There is a book out about mohair's 'healing' properties by a doctor who used mohair goat skins for healing . "The Goat Doctor of the Sierras - a Healer of the People" (by Gloria Hockensmith) - published 2001. But I can tell you that most natural protein fibers can provide great help for circulation. Fine wool is good, mohair is better with its 4x extra warmth, but also alpaca is 6x warmer than wool and the grandest of all angora, is 8x warmer than wool . Angora is the warmest fiber on the planet because it also has thermal properties in addition to the insulating charactertics (thermal means that the fiber has a hollow core so adds warmth). These properties mean that by increasing circulation they reduce inflammation and thereby alleviate pain. It makes these natural protein fibers great for northern climates like Denmark or Canada becuse they have all the benefits of wool like breathability and capacity to wick moisture but incredible warmth as well . .
Personally I'd prefer a review after trying their yarn and patterns. :) As I'm from Europe the yarn might be more available to me. Though not cheap at all it's of a really good quality, wide range of nice natural colors and ethically sourced. So far I worked with their silk mostly and mohair. Must say I'm totally in love with their silk. Also purchased merino and compatible cashmere (it's so thin!). I've also bought several patterns and only recently knitted the first one It's not a sweatshirt. I must say I don't like the result. Maybe it's the choice of yarn (brushed alpaca) or the pattern itself, I don't know. But the sweater is too wide/large, I'm quite disappointed with it. It also has increases directly on a short row double stich (you can read about the issue in the comment section of the pattern on Ravelry). That's why I'm a bit afraid about trying to knit the other pattern.
Thanks for another great video - have been thinking about buying this book and your review has helped me decide to get it. A classic staple is always a good idea I think. The yarns are shipping free on first order here from the Knitting for Olive website for us in the UK so might be across the pond too if anyone is wanting to try the yarns. Thanks again B
I think part of the use of silk-mohair in a design gives the piece tightness when working with merino. If you only use merino, the piece will get saggy. The silk-mohair will make the piece firm PLUS, as you said, it's pretty bc of the beautiful halo!
REally enjoyed this podcast. Like you, I enjoy the timeless knits. They are the staple goto's of a good, well put together wardrobe. And this book seems to nail the basics. Definitely going to look for one for myself.
Knitting for Olive yarn is one of my favorite yarn companies. I’m particularly in love with the merino yarn and their colors. I have had so much fun knitting the spot sweater.
Have you seen the latest episode of Fruitty Knitting, featuring the mother-daughter team of Knitting for Olive? That and your episode here are very inspiring.
I'm a fairly new knitter and I just got my copy of this book. The first thing I plan to make from it is the "It's not a sweatshirt" hahaha Glad it caught your eye too.
I do like knitting with an added mohair yarn. I think it makes the finished fabric very soft and pliable/drapey. It probably also adds warmth. I'm not sure how I feel about the trend of making full, straight sleeves that "gather" into deep cuffs. I wear my sweaters to do everyday things like clean house, wash dishes, etc., and I need to roll up my sleeves. That fullness doesn't look like it would work well for that. But I do like the look of them. I'm definitely a "classic sweater" person. This book just might have to be on my knitting book shelf.
I have enjoyed knitting with mohair, but it is persnickety to frog if your using it held single. I would definitely recommend using it in an accessory Pattern held with another yarn before committing to knitting a sweater with it. ❤
There is only one pattern that is size inclusive in that book 😢. Please try to mention this when reviewing. It’s a great disappointment to purchase it and not be able to make the patterns.
You're my first knitting youtuber!! Yay!! I'm new to knitting and it'll be great to have knitting company while I finish up this hugeee blanket for my sister. Lol. Loved the 80's cable knit sweater.
just because it's from a country who have real winter weather... Mohair help to get warmer garments. Come to Canada in february and you Will understand;)
Wow! There are some gorgeous patterns here! I think the waffle sweater is going on my list, though I do think I’d knit it in a smooth fingering weight rather than the mohair. Thank so much for your review!
My LYS Carrie’s tons of knitting for olive, and I just used their merino + mohair to knit my very first sweater ever - it was amazing. The most wonderful yarn, and comparably affordable compared to other LYS yarns like Spincycle. I’m a life-long fan after that!😊
@@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS I have a friend here in the UK who knits with it a lot and loves it. We're outside the EU now sadly but shipping is still fast and not expensive. No idea about getting across an entire ocean though! Their colours are gorgeous.
Just my .02 as someone who hates plain basic pieces - unique, fancy knitwear can be just as high-quality as the basics when handmade. I know this is different in ready-to-wear, which is where the stereotype probably comes from. And life is too short to wear boring clothes! My Ravelry favorites has 400+ Lord of the Rings and fantasy themed knitting patterns that are waaaay more fun to knit and wear than a basic sweater, and I do not have enough time on this earth to make them all! I cannot wait to get the new LotR knitting book for Christmas so I can wear the Elven Armor sweater grocery shopping 😂
In terms of quality, you’re absolutely right. The quality of a piece and how fancy or unique it happens to be are not mutually exclusive. When I talk about quality here, I’m referring to the quality that can be achieved from knitting an item by hand with quality materials. It doesn’t matter what that piece looks like. However, my preference towards classic knits has more to do with the fact that those are the things I enjoy and feel good wearing. I personally am not into (I don’t hate, mind you) fantasy genre-inspired clothing and share the similar (yet contrary) sentiment that life is too short to spend it knitting elven armor sweaters that I know I’ll never wear. Different strokes for different folks. Now, all that said, keep coming back. You never know what’ll inspire me down the road. “Boring” raglan sweaters today may evolve into Mithril coats and hobbit capes in the future.
@@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS Thanks for clarifying the quality bit! I probably misunderstood the short quote from the book Definitely different strokes for different folks! I enjoy watching knitting podcasts from people with different preferences to see other beautiful hand knit items. Thought it might be helpful to explain the POV of someone at the opposite end of the “classic vs artistic knitting” spectrum, as it was referenced a few times😄
Not LotR for me but definitely bored by “classic basics”, too. Good quality yarn is simply to expensive to knit something I could find in a shop! Each to their own though…
My MIL gave me two lux mohair throws from B Altman over 50 years ago and that long fiber mohair is STILL totally rich and gorgeous! Thank you Ruth! Best MIL ever. We remained friends long after her son and I parted ways.
I have to say, I can find at least 20 book reviews about this pattern book by people who have never knitted a pattern by these creators or used their yarn. As someone who has done both, I can say they have some of the best written patterns I've used. Their yarn is amazing! And yes, after purchasing some single patterns and loving their style of writing, I ordered their book.
I don't have any experience with mohair yet, but Inge at Knitting Traditions uses it a lot and says that it helps keep the fabric from pilling, along with the other attributes that have already been mentioned. I'd love to know if any other knitters could confirm that
I can confirm that adding a strand of mohair prevents pilling. Whether or not this is why we’re seeing such a trend, I’m not so sure. Honestly, who’s to say?But I do agree with the folks who mention that Mohair adds a significant level of durability and integrity to the garment/item.
Is there a pattern " fern sweater" in the book? I would like to knit this sweater, and I dont know, if I should buy a single pattern or a book. Tkank you ❤ i love colour of sweater you're wearing
Got to say im not a fan of mohair. Im trying to complete a sweater with mohair, and i just can't seem to finish. Trying the cashmere is a great idea! Thanks for the review!
I just bought this book and love it. I was trying to decide which pattern to knit first and I came across your video! It was funny because none of your top 6 were any on my top favorites! But after hearing your commentary you opened my mind more to knitting those patterns. But I don’t think anyone can go wrong in buying this book, all of the patterns are lovely.
I will second the comment below on Fruity Knitting's interview with Knitting for Olive. It was a deep dive into their origin, lots of baby knits, their yarn lines, and their adult patterns. It was excellent. I also had to bonus of being a patron, so I got a couple of the patterns you highlighted at a discount!
You know, listening to this and being originally from the European continent, I really feel that the authors of this book with 'something never seen before' mean 'a new sweater that nobody has seen before because you just knit it!' nothing to do with a new pattern or new stitches, just new because it was newly knitted by you!
Love the last sweater so much! Could you knit it in undyed yarn, and then dye it once finished in the black color?? I also LOVE black for sweaters but hate the eye strain that comes with working with darker yarn 😅
I usually say "how do you recognise a homeknit sweater/cardigan? It is knitted on 4mm needles." Typically bigger items are not knitted on too fine needles, it is not _fun_ when it takes forever. But. When you put two thinner threads, with different structures, together, simsalabim, it looks like a finer knit despite being knit on 4 mm (or 3.5 mm) needles, looks less homemade and more like a luxurious storebought something. Karl Johan btw is the fancy boulevard in Oslo, named after a Swedish king and "conqueror", aka Jean Baptiste Bernadotte, somebody probably has answered that below somewhere...
Thanks for the review! Having just purchased Sari Norlund‘s book AND being a slow knitter / person with not much time to knit….. I‘m finding it hard to justify another design book…. On the other hand, I have at least 5 of the patterns in my Ravelry queue, at 7 euros each I might as well just get myself the book, right ?😅 ugh. Lovely designs and I can emphasize, since I often use their yarn, lovely, durable yarn with a very good palette.
Right!? I realized that each pattern was available for purchase individually at around that much, and for those who really only have interest in one or two, purchasing the book is a lot.
Nice review. I haven't used their yarn, but I have knit It's Not a Sweatshirt, which was a great pattern. It is too bad that not all their patterns are size inclusive.
This was a very helpful review and tbh I don't think this book is one for me. If I'm honest, the patterns didn't really appeal. I'm also very much not on the mohair train. Mohair itself is out, it makes me itch. But even with the alternatives, I don't enjoy knitting with more than one strand of yarn and I LIKE stitch definition! I still enjoyed this sneak peek, so thank you very much!
If you have had itchy mohair you haven't had very good quality mohair or adult that can be . . You should look for a finer micron count or kid mohair and you will besurprised that is does not itch .
Hi Missus Earl! I personally believe the mohair adds durability, so that the fabric won't stretch as much, as well as warmth. I wonder what alternatives keep that durability, but don't have as much added warmth. I too live in a milder climate, and have no need of mohair for that particular reason. Perhaps some silk or rayon thread? What do you think?
Depends where you are in a warmer climate but if you make a cardigan or light shawl for evening instead of a heavy sweater and make it light and lacy it is perfect for a cool night . And fine wool socks with a bit of mohair on heels and toes can be worn in summer with the great properties it has to breath and wick misture.
Thanks for the review. I didn't hear about knitting for olive until a couple of months ago and now I hear about them every other day. Would love to visit their shop in Denmark, too.
Thank you Tayler for the book review! This is really helpful to know whether or not to invest in it for my knitting library :) (Yarn or books or project bags or notions?? SO many choices LOL) Your Felix is amazing - I need to get on that wagon and make one too!
The Puff Tee--from the look of it that may be a compound raglan, where the increases at the start widen out quickly, then as you approach the round of the shoulder start increasing every 4th (or more) row to make a steep descent. I've also seen patterns like this that are more of a traditional saddle shoulder construction where you knit the 1.5-2" strip, then pick up stitches....
@woolneedleshands what if you knit the waffle sweater in undied yarn and then dyed it black? Could that work? I know nothing about dying, but I feel you're the expert... (I also don't knit, but I love your videos!) Xxx
Great video! Loved the revieW! Thinking about the mohair it is minus four in western Norway now ! I think it also makes a warmer beautiful fabric to keep Them warm! Great book!
I’ve googled Knitting for Olive and I love their attitude toward yarn, environmentally sensitive and does not use yarn where museling Sp? Is practiced on sheep.
Well thanks Taylor…I didn’t think I needed this book, but now I think I do…😂. Seriously, lovely. I’ll also mention an additional benefit to knitting with a strand of mohair is that it allows you to knit at a larger gauge without adding a lot of weight to the garment. A fingering+mohair sweater is much lighter than a DK sweater. But I love what you said about the blending effect too!
Credit goes to my mixed media fiber artist wife, Lisa. She’s always thinking in terms of when and where to dye or overdye for what effect. Now I’m wondering if anyone has knit white and then tie-dyed for a very trippy effect. Not the regular tie-dye, but in the spirit the crazy fancy jobs, understanding you can’t pleat a handknit like you can a tee.
I love they’re patterns but I’m a beginner to top down only knitted a flax so far. But I so keep looking at the book thinking I want to try. They’re colour choices of yarn is amazing lots and lots to choose from and most have the coordinating mohair I am always I will knit this pattern but what colour to pick? I will get there, I was looking at they’re patterns only yesterday, guess I’m away to look some more x
Although Flax is a good beginner pattern(that was the first pattern I knit a couple years ago), it's not very flattering on many bodies. Handmade by Florence here on YT has an excellent free pattern and a tutorial to go with it. I would recommend her video.
@@Enig_Mata I agree it’s not really flattering but it was recommended to me by local yarn shop to try first. And I enjoyed the learning curve. I think my next one will be the simple sweater by knitting for olive they’re choice of wool is amazing I’ve been wanting to do one for a while, I also have the wool for the tessellated by Andrea mowry. But I will certainly look at the one you recommend too and may do it first. Thank you x
@@barbaracrichton5954 The Flax is a very popular pattern and so many people have knit that as their first so I understand why it was recommended to you. I just like that Florence's free pattern has the a few details like German Short rows which totally improves the fit. I think that pattern also has a folded neckline for a more polished finish. Andrea Mowry has lovely patterns and I think it definitely helps to try patterns of different constructions and style - all around a great learning experience. Knitting for olive does have beautiful yarn and the popular merino/mohair combo results in a lightweight garment that is also warm. All the best 🙂
I can see that though. It doesn't scream my name either, but I was able to find these six patterns (6/20 isn't a great average to be honest). I feel like this pattern book is very...on point for what it is. And for that reason, it may be somewhat polarizing for folks. And that's ok. ❤️
I would not say that is the reason . They are called luxury yarns for a reason . They are simply beautiful yarns and wonderful to wear, and cannot compare to the plastic junk called synthetic. It takes a whole year for a cashmere goat to grow the amount needed for a sweater and then needs to also be dehaired . Mohair especially kid is just as luxurious and not nearly as expensive as cashmere. Look for fine wools or blends and get them on sale or better yet learn to spin and you can get the raw product from local farmers or at festivals and markets for a fraction of the price for the same amount . A hand spindle is not expensive and you can spin it up quickly for small projects. These are the best natural fibers to experience and there are lots of ways to acquire them without being expensive. But even if you pay a little more it is well worth it because they last nd have such incredible benefits for wearing .
I'd been waiting for this to be printed in English! I'm so excited about it, Pernille is so talented. Thank you for sharing, I love seeing a sneak peak of books.
I agree with you on ribbed sweaters… not a fan of form fit, but i tried on that rust colored sweater on at the KFO store in Copenhagen and i loved it. It wasn’t clingy at all.
Thank you for this review. I have been debating the purchase of this book for a little while now. I like your favorites list and now have a better idea of what the book has to offer.
Coming back to this video to add that based on this review my friend and I each ordered this book which we’ve now received and love it. The first part of the book was stunning and I enjoyed reading. The patterns! Have two sweaters and two hats on my 2024 knit list! Thank you for sharing your review it is an amazing book to add to my library.
all the ones you didnt like were my FAVORITES and actually since everyone had only really shown the super basic patterns, I wasn't interested. however, that beautiful form fitted lace and stunning slight balloon sleeve blouse made this book worth it alone!!
My personal opinion, adding mohair is a fad. I wish the designer gave an option in the pattern, to not add a strand of mohair. It creates a limitation of what season the garment can be worn, only winter - especially in Australia.
I tend to agree that there should be a note in the pattern that gives a bit of insight into the yarn weight in general should someone want to knit with a single strand.
I've eliminated the floofy/hairy and just used a weight yarn to get gauge, and it has worked just fine, with approximate yardage the same as for the heavier of the yarns in the patterns I've tried. I agree.... in part because it is too danged expensive to buy double the amount of yarn, especially the mohair at $15 a ball. Prices the pattern/sweater out of viability. @@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS
@@SmithQuilts Yes! Yarn is expensive enough without knitting two strands together. I like experimentation but it's become it certainly is a bit of a fad. I prefer mohair on its own.
As a person with not only a large yarn stash but a pattern stash as well, I wouldn’t be interested in adding any more simple raglan style patterns to a collection that probably numbers over 20-30 (who has time to count?). That does not include a booklet from the 60s that had instructions for sizes 2-50 in 4 yarn weights for pullovers and cardigans, v and round neck, all top-down raglans. Same with ribbed sweaters, cabled sweaters and light weight lacy designs. That’s the problem with patterns with simple designs. You can always use a similar pattern that you already have and tweak it to get the special effects you are looking for. On the other hand, if you don’t have many patterns, this might be a good purchase.
I think I heard about this book from Kika (Kutovakika)... and this makes me want it more. I'm currently making a Kristen TenDyke design and added a strand of mohair. Loving the look of the teensy halo
The ribbed orange sweater is actually the only one that I like. The rest of the patterns looks meh. My "special" sweaters/cardigans (I wear these with great care because they are so classy) are ribbed, with a good structure (seamed and shaped). Oh, and I love carrot orange wool!
I've made a couple of their jumpers for my granddaughter. I did have to google for some techniques, which I haven't heard of, even though I have been knitting for 50+ years. They turned out nicely and my daughter was pleased with them. The yarn is expensive to buy, especially for a child's jumper as they both took 2 types of yarn knitted together. However, I would be prepared to pay this for myself. The wool is lovely and soft.
I too appreciative quality but I have an extremely difficult time paying much more then $50 or so on yarn to knit a quality comfy sweater. I realize that at that price point I likely won’t get the quality I’m looking for. It seems to me though that some knitting is becoming out of reach for many. I’d be interested to know substitutions for mohair. I have some Biches & Buches Petite Lambswool that I’d like to hold double stranded with something.
Drops alpaca silk is something I just started using as a (less expensive) substitute for mohair... Colour range is not huge, but it's very soft and fluffy... I think it's a bit thicker than mohair so gauge might be a bit off, but a different needle size might fix that
I have a series of videos that I call ‘budget to bougie’ where I share options for yarn in a variety of price points (ru-vid.com/group/PL7s-oRtOf635m7dP841v1ApnzALJXdclx&si=m8FAin5Uy2-ILiR4 ). You may be interested in that. I definitely understand and appreciate that not everyone wants to spend an arm and a leg on yarn for a hand-knit sweater, and I don’t think you have to either. This video lays out six alternatives to Mohair at a variety of price points: 6 Mohair Alternatives! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-MmiioGiUSNw.html
As someone who is plus size this is a HUGE consideration for me. I am looking at doing Purl SoHo’s Sweatshirt Sweater, its worsted weight and to get the amount of yarn from someone like Sandes Garn Double Sunday or even KfO or another brand it would cost me about $125-250 depending on the shop I get it from. I’ve found a few places that carry woolfolk *not the festival!* that brings the price down to about 125 but that is the cheapest I’ve found for “quality” non-superwash yarns. That is a pretty big investment for a grad student on a limited budget but even before I went back to school I couldn’t afford to be dropping that much on a single sweater either in yarn or pre-made. But I weigh it with the balance of what I get out of it which helps.
@@Stitchers_WhimsyI am in New Zealand and it was getting up to $380 to $500 to purchase yarn for any lovely sweaters. It doesn’t help that a lot of our wool goes offshore. I’m looking forward to a trip to Norway next year to halve the price ❤ I have had luck buying yarn from Norway when different stockists have sales. They don’t seem to gauge on shipping. I even got all my yarn in a reusable bag from the Hip store.
I think your favorites are my favorites - classic, clean lines. Someone else commented about this too, but I'm also curious what you think of knitting the waffle sweater in a different color and then dyeing it black. Is that crazy? haha
The ribbed orange sweater is actually the only one that I like. The rest of the patterns looks meh. My "special" sweaters/cardigans (I wear these with great care because they are so classy) are ribbed, with a good structure (seamed and shaped). Oh, and I love carrot orange wool!
Ok, I LOVE a good carrot-y (slightly more on the red side) orange. Such a pretty color. And honestly, the ribbed sweaters are pretty on certain shapes (IMO), I just don't love the way that sort of thing looks on my shape. But I understand the preference. Different strokes! ❤️
@@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS, I should have said before that I have a curvaceous body shape (38'' bust, 25''waist, 39''hip).A boxy sweater makes me look like a Yeti that gained 40 pounds of weight and the third chin 😆 Hence everything I wear has to be structured.
