I have never seen the cable carried around the collar the way this pattern does it, very nice effect. I have finally admitted defeat and bought an electric wheelchair so i am now making a pretty 'lapghan' to keep me cozy in our cold Scottish weather! I think adapting patterns is part of the fun, I rarely stick to the script, that is what 50 years of needle art will do to you.
I'm delighted with the calm style of your videos just as is. I watch channels like this to learn tips and tricks, and to enjoy a bit of companionship while I knit. Gus provides just the right amount of excitement. One thing I've learned from channels like yours is that being willing to rip back and redo things until you're completely satisfied makes a big improvement in the final product. Some aspects of knitting only improve with experience, but that is something even a beginner like me can do now.
You are one of my favorite kniting podcaster. Each video from you is a delight. I love your authenticity and everything you show us. You are NEVER boring.
Your style is just fine. Calming, pleasant. I don't need adrenalin... And also informative. I have been knitting pretty all my life, but never heard of steeking. I love the idea and definitely will use it. With felting, not sewing. Thank you.
Lovely work. When sewing knits, put some kitchen parchment paper between the knit and the feed dogs of your sewing machine. This will stop any accidents of your knits being chewed up in the feed dogs. The paper tears off easily afterwards.🇦🇺
@@MakerMarkKnits I've been a sewer for 50+years and teach sewing classes. Just a little tip in the toolbox. 😆 You can also use wash n tear away stabiliser, used in machine embroidery underneath the knits and Solvy wash away clear stabiliser on top, (machine embroidery), so that presser foot doesn't get caught too. 😉
Good morning! No need to get wild and crazy, I love waking up to a calm and interesting video with you! You anticipated all my questions - so helpful to watch you do all these finishing steps. You have completely banished my fear of steeking! And Gus… how adorable that he can camouflage with your beautiful cardigan 😊
Hi Mark, if you keep getting issues where the machine "eats" your work, it may be worth investing in a straight stitch needle plate. Most machines have a needle plate with a wide slit to accomodate zigzag stitching, but this width makes it possible for fabric and wool to be pulled inside if you are not careful. A straight stitch plate only has a small round hole, so there is no room for anything to be pulled down.
Very relatable video for me. Finally, a couple of years ago, I felt confident enough to alter some knitting patterns from working flat to in-the-round and adding steeks where needed (especially two colorwork sweaters!). I also have a fear of the sewing machine "eating" my hard work and have been happy to crochet reinforcement for the steeks but I'm getting close to starting on a Fair Isle cardigan and will now be able to consider felting; thank you.
The patience you show with that collar is astounding. Yes, it's already beautiful and will be more so when complete. I'm here for all the chapters. It's a stunning project and that color is really great on you.
I just cant steek!! My brain keeps saying what if I don't like it, I cant reclaim the yarn. I love your hindrance... I mean, helper!! 😹😹😹 He's saying "nooooooo, don't do it!!". 😸 Just using a piece of tissue paper will keep your sewing machine from "catching".... it's super easy to remove too. I'm with you..... I hate seaming.
Prrrr, meow , hey Gus tell Mark he's doing a wonderful job on these video's and to keep them coming ! Ohh yah we all know who's the star of the show "Gus" !🐱lol
I am so so frightened of patterns that require steeking that I avoid them but you give me confidence to try. The jumper has so much work in it that I did hold my breath while you were cutting. Beautiful 🐱
The calmness of your videos is really lovely, as well as the four-legged guest stars :) And a tip that you might know already but as a continental knitter, I use the so-called Norwegian purl and at least for me, it helps to even out my tension when knitting flat. I'm just knitting a summer tee in stockinette stitch with Knitting for Olive's Pure Silk and it's not very forgiving when it comes to tension but I can't see a difference between the parts knitted flat and the body knitted in the round. Blocking the shirt will of course even it out as there are always some slight differences in tension.
Mark, you are soooo much braver than me to be doing what you are doing with this sweater. I love the pattern and your color choice. I have only slightly modified patterns to come up with my own solution but nothing on this scale. I know that you'll be truly happy and proud to wear this masterpiece.
Steeking has always been intriguing to me. The thought of cutting my work was frightening! Thank you for showing both ways to reinforce the fabric before cutting. I'll be investing in a felting needle tool soon!
I just came across your channel today and really enjoy your laid back and entertaining approach. I see so many knitting podcasts that are quite formulaic and yours is just that little bit different. You are also very gifted I can see...steeking...eek! (and you knit so fast!)
Thanks for another great video! You just gave me the confidence to rip back a sweater I finished for my grandson, but when done wouldn’t, Go over his head! So now I’m going to Rip it back and add some stitches to the collar and try another bind off to make it more elastic! Wish me luck….
Nah, there are plenty of wild/chaotic energy RU-vidrs out there. Your pace and energy is just right as it is. Wild steeking would be too stressful! 😂 I'm keen to cast on this pattern now. 😊
Your sweater is gorgeous. In the future if sewing a steel you can place tissue paper between your sweater and the feed dogs to prevent the sweater getting caught. Then the tissue paper easily rips off.
I have been terrified to do a project that would need to be steeked but you made it look so much easier than I have been imagining so now I am going to try it. Great job and I love the sweater.
Please don't go wild and crazy! I love watching your videos the way you do it now. I have only steeked twice, the second time was a diseaster, losing the complet garment! But, I intend to join a KAL in september, and will change the sweater pattern to a cardigan. So I will have to steek. Using Lett Lopi, I should be fine, but seeing you needle felting encourages me even more, this is what I will do. So thank you for that idea!!
Hi, just a psa regarding worries about the sewing machine eating anything. Use baking paper on the underside (between the feed dogs and fabric) and it can prevent anything catching in the machine and is also easy to remove afterwards
Morning Mark ! Beautiful cardigan- have decided this will be my first autumn/fall project, is so lovely, thanks for the inspiration ❤️. In case it helps, if you put tissue paper under the knit and then stitch on the sewing machine it will stop ant chance of the machine eating the sweater. Also, when you start sewing, hold onto the thread tails for the first few stitches and will stop the tangle that can occur. Have a wonderful weekend, and big hugs to you, hubby and the puss cats as always xxxxx Pip
Wery goooood ideer to filt the Cut Line ! I sig zak vith my nashine tre times ore so! It wave, Big waves! 👌🏻 filt neadel is now on my list! 💵🫶🏻✨🇩🇰🇩🇰🇩🇰🇩🇰
I, too, much prefer knitting in the round. But I am afraid to steek so I would have turned that cardigan into a pullover. ;-) Today I was working on a Tunisian triangle shawl as I watched your video. Please give Gus some scritches from me.
Sewing machine tip: If you ever find that the fabric is getting bunched, you can try a couple things on the machine - 1) make the stitch length longer, 2) reduce the pressure foot setting or 3) lessen the stitch tension on the machine. 😊
Very beautiful cardigan you made! I like to knit and crochet “with you” :) I hope I will be able to find your punching felting needle here in Norway. I love that you brought that perspective - knit a cardigan in the round and then just cut it open. I would never thought about that. I think I will try it in the future and I think my steeking method would involve crochet reinforcement and then felt 😂😅 just to be extremely secure.
A thought. I’m assuming you use a zigzag needle plate on your sewing machine. Where the opening in the plate is a slot to allow for the swing of the needle when doing a zigzag or other decorative stitch. That is what most machines come with. You might want to see if there is a straight needle plate available for your machine. Rather than a slot, it has a relatively small single hole the needle goes up and down in. And you must use a straight stitch when sewing with it. On most modern machines the needle plate is swapped in and out easily. This would dramatically reduce the amount of knitted fabric than can be pushed down through the needle plate, reducing the risk of tangling/jamming. The danger to using a straight needle plate is forgetting it is on the machine, switching to a decorative stitch or zigzag, and dramatically breaking the needle and potentially damaging the machine. To prevent this, I use a big yellow sticky I slap on the front of my machine whenever I have the straight needle plate installed. Another option is to place a piece of sew-in interfacing under your fabric when you sew to provide another layer that is more stable under the knitting so it can’t be pushed as easily into the needle plate. Then you can trim the interfacing or leave it to provide a more stable edge even.
This is so cosy to sit and knit, while you are felting and sewing away 😊 Btw what I'm knitting might interest you, since you have made a chicken, and have those lovely cats, the pattern is called 'The Scullery Cat' and is on Ravelry 😊
Thank you! Needle felting is great! I'm a little bit sad that I didn't take the time to needle felt all of the steeks. They look SO good and tidy when they are finished.
I am in the process of knitting this as well. My problem with this is that there is too much pattern instructions, if that makes sense! I has four attempts at the cables at the back and pleased with it now. Also did a 3 needle bind off.
Finishing is always my pain point. I want the best result I am capable of. I am not a kitchener expert but if one side is short a stitch as far as lining up, could you create a stitch? Hope some more experienced knitters can comment. Overall great result!
You sweater looks beautiful. I love all that texture. I would get the pattern - and this is just my issue - I despise drop shoulders. They're just too constricting. Additionally the back shoulder being one piece tends to make a garment that won't stay up, and keeps sliding down my shoulders in back. Ask me how I know. But your mileage may vary, and I hope it's exactly what you want.
Have you yet discovered patterns by Phrancko? He has a unique style of knitting sweaters and has a weekly pod cast here on RU-vid. Just something you may be interested in. Barbara
This was so informative for a newbie knitter. I understand the use of the "sacrifice" row for cutting and the value of felting the pure wool. But I am a little confused by the machine stitching - it looked like you "sacrificed two rows each side. Am I correct?
Yes! My steek channels all have 7 stitches. So three columns on each side, then the column in the middle where I'll cut. I could do fewer, like 5 stitches per panel-- but at that point if anything goes wrong, I'd be in trouble! I'll also lose one of those columns neighboring the work when I pick up stitches for a sleeve or button band. But knitters can choose how many stitches they feel comfortable having in a steek. A mentor of mine said that she always uses 7. So I'm following that advice for now! If I were short on wool, I might skim down to 5.