MEL MAKES STUFF Episode 019: How I Choose Yarn for Cabled Projects; Enamorado and Scout Shawl 

Oh my goodness, I really appreciate the deep dives into your thought processes combined with your knowledge / skill. This combo, along with your clear communication makes for such a great video. I find myself always leaning in as you talk. Thank you for such thoughtful and thought provoking videos!

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I LOVE listening to you talk about the nuances of yarn!

I think I learn more from your thoughtful commentary about your knitting than just about any other knitting video. Thank you for sharing what you have learned! It’s great!

Thank you for your thoughtful commentary on this subject and for sharing your expertise with us. I much prefer “softer” looking cables rather than high relief three dimensional cables. Both have their place though. We’ve all heard it countless times: swatch for the fabric you like and do your due diligence when substituting yarns for those called for in the pattern, and you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful knitted item that you’ll wear and treasure for years to come.

Wow that sawyer just blew my mind! I had no idea a slightly darker mohair (compared to the base yarn) had that kind of effect 🤯

I am 71 and just learning how to knit. Now I am saying this to you because it is two-fold. This pertains to your statement to a comment by a viewer that made a blanket statement about your choice of yarn for cables. All I have to say to you is TEACH Babygirl, TEACH!!!! The older you become and continue to absorb knowledge, the more you become aware that all rules are made to be broken as long as you are not hurting anyone. You may not have said it in the way I would have responded I must commend you in not hurting the viewer's feelings in the educated way in which you put her highs handed blanket all knowing it all statement to utter shame. Knowledge is powerful and you used it in such a way that allowed her to keep her dignity. What a magnificent magnificent educator you are and what a wonderfully smart individual you are. I simply loved your response and the manner in which you educated. I have binged watch your podcasts and although a senior citizen, I know where to seek out a great teacher. As I have said before, TEACH Babygirl TEACH! Ms. Hurt.

You are dangerous for me to watch. I want to sit and knit all day with the patterns and choice of yarns you use!❤

Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and experiences with all of this. I'm just getting into the fun of breaking "rules" with yarn choice and textures. One thing that's been helping me is that I've started adding a bit of lace and cable to all of my swatches, regardless of whether the project I'm swatching for has lace or cables in it. I just run a simple 2x2 cable up one side and I use a yarn over and 2tog motif to mark the needle size I used for the swatch. It's a quick way to see what different yarns and combinations do without committing to a full project. Also your Enamorado is gorgeous!

Mel, you really are such an inspiration. Your attitude of “i’m doing this” is amazing. Thanks for your in-depth perspective. Truly enjoyed and appreciated.

I really appreciated your perspective on the different yarn choices, and that sometimes breaking a *rule* can bring the most interesting results.

Your color choices and yarn types for the Scout Shawl are terrific! I really love what you have put together for that shawl. Also, thank you for your excellent videos.

Your comments are refreshing (and probably dangerous... for me anyway). I tend to read and listen to lots of experienced, advanced knitters and what they have to say about how things go in knitting... and then do something quite different. Sometimes with fabulous results, sometimes with major fails! But I appreciate your take on things. And I think your work is gorgeous.

thank you so much for sharing this. Such a wealth of experience behind your thoughts. It's not just the knitting world that is full of people with "Rules that must not be broken". The art world, craft, spinning. Everywhere there are people who think they are the only ones who know the ""correct"" way to do anything. I ignore them now. I love that Scout shawl pattern and I have seen one knitted all in Shetland wool. It was gorgeous and so is yours. It's just different. If I make it it will be with all sorts of yarns I have in my stash. like you I don't mind a bit of texture and I am proud to wear hand knitted garments. This video has thrown a lot of light on choosing yarn for projects. I like that you delve into the depths. I don't watch people who just show their projects and yarn and pattern. I usually can't get the yarns anyway as I am in Australia and they are usually too expensive so I mostly used Australian yarns. Thank you.

When I made the Renaissance Shawl by Kieran Foley, I put all the colours into little plastic bags and closed them. The plastic bags slipped over one another cos of the nature of plastic - and I found this method for intarsia easier than using bobbins. Thank you for your wonderfully informative videos.

Hi Mel! Thanks for once again sharing your wealth of knowledge with us! I remember at some point over the last few years jotting down that 2-ply yarns were beter for lace and 3 & 4-ply yarns were better for cables but seeing the comparisons you showed were truly astonishing to me! I'm now currently awaiting the arrival of my new Yarnitecture book in the mail 😊 I wholeheartedly agree that there are no "rules" in knitting and we should be playful and experiment to find the look we want. Understanding how the structure and composition of a yarn influences the outcome is very helpful and nothing beats a little trial and error 🤗. Thanks so much for another fantastic episode--LOVE all your projects 😍

I love your approach to “rules”.

Love your makes. About 6 or 7 years ago I was at a yarn shop looking for 3 skeins for a shawl. I picked 2 skeins that were plied. When I picked up a third single ply skein for a few rows as the “pop” color one of the ladies working there told me I couldn’t use it because it was not the same as the others. She couldn’t give me a reason beyond that. I wanted it because of the color and I bought it and used it in the shawl. The shawl turned out awesome!

This was a great deep dive! I appreciated all your examples, and I am especially intrigued by using darker mohair to accent cables. Thanks for the effort you put into this. 😊

Thanks so much for this thoughtful episode! I love these in-depth "nerdy" (in the best way!!) discussions about yarn, knitting, fibre etc as even as a reasonably experienced knitter you always learn something new! I also couldn't love your project selection any more (even as I am currently knitting simpler things thanks to toddler-parenting-brainfog) these intricate pieces are the ones that truly steal my heart. In mhy perception there are many podcasts geared more towards beginner knitters and full of stockinette mohair raglans etc and it's just refreshing to see something different - so thanks!!

This is one of the most informative and interesting videos I have seen here on RU-vid. Thanks 🙏 a lot ❤ it saves me much swatching 😊 I will go back to it again before choosing yarn for my next sweater, which will probably be a cabled cardigan

Thank you so much for this episode, Mel. It really resonated with me, and perhaps with many others. Knitting should be a place for experimenting, working with colours and fibers that speak to you, and of course, aiming for an end goal of your own personal preference. Your episodes teach me a lot, and I thoroughly enjoy seeing the projects you make. Your choices are superb, very well thought through, and greatly executed. This episode is a reminder that no matter what some people may say about our work, ultimately what matters most is continuing to do what gives us joy, and create magic the way we see fit. Thank you for your content!

I feel like it’s all just an experiment and you just proved it!! Of course there are traditions that may claim to dictate a good way of doing something but not the only way!! Thanks for the deep dive!

I really appreciate that you share your knitting and fabric knowledge in these episodes! ❤

Mel, I am happy I found your channel. I love your explanation of yarn choices for cables and lace. I watch many RU-vid knitting channels and everyone I watch will always modify a pattern to suit their taste and style including when they test knit. They also mention that they are not using the recommended yard for a pattern. So why can't you knit different yarns for cables and lace? Knitting to me is about personal choice. If you love a yarn or a pattern then tweek it to fit you and enjoy it. 🧶

Firstly, I love your version of the Enamorado sweater. It’s beautifully knitted. I also like your explanation of yarns and which projects they are best suited to. Innovation comes from not blindly following rules but using the rules to your best advantage. I’m so impressed with the quality and quantity of your work. Lastly, your speech style is easy to listen to. I am grateful you have a love of the craft and are willing to share your thoughts and understanding with us. Many thanks.

This was wonderful, I found it very informative, being new to knitting, this will help me wade through all the yarn information out there.

I agreed The Enamorado , it’s gorgeous, the light bounces off of of it, even when you leaned in, again really gorgeous. Everyone of the Sweaters are absolutely beautiful. With all your knowledge and the beautiful items you’ve made, I’d say you’re a Master Knitter. Thank you for showing them. 🧶

Absolutely fantastic!!! Youre an amazing knitter.

Thank you Mel, always so informative. Love the Enamorado Sweater, can't wait to see the finished garment. I enjoy working with different yarns. The Scout shawl is gorgeous. I need to checkout Webs for those bobbins. I have a Florence Spurling pattern and yarn in my stash. Thanks for sharing!!!

I really like listening to you analyze your knitting, a lot of food for thought. I also have short arms. I learned a measurement from a Suzanne Bryan video and it works for me. Take the measurement from the centre back of your neck down your slightly bent arm to where you want your sleeve to end. You probably already know this but thought I would mention it.

This was really good, Mel, Thank you.

You are an enabler. Love it. I have made the enamorado sweater for my mother for her birthday in April. I made it with green dk weight held with mohair. I’m Sure she will love it thank you. I love all your sweater choices. You but a lot of thought in your picking of details to yarn choices. Thanks for the share.

Thank you so much for another fantastic and informative episode. I love your deep dives on this stuff!

As usual, very informative, and your voice is so calming.

It's kind of like what Capt. Barbossa tells Miss Turner about the Pirate's code not really being rules, but merely guidelines.

Beautiful craftsmanship and your detail descriptions are much appreciated.

Thank you for the insight you gave on combining darker mohair with a lighter base yarn. The effect on cables is so cool! I love your podcasts. It's so generous of you to share your knowledge.

Loved this episode. Your work is very beautiful.

Wow you are a crazy sweater lady...I just love them all. I'm totally in awe. Well done..!!!

Such a good exposé. Thank you!

Such an informative and refreshing approach! Thank you for such quality content.

Brilliantly informative video! Thank you so much!

Thank you Mel. That was so interesting! And your projects re beautiful

Another excellent and very helpful podcast. I really appreciate your style and expertise. Thank you!

Excellent presentation as usual!

That sweater you are working on is stunning! I really enjoyed this episode.

Thank you for this. I really appreciate you sharing this information on yarn choices in such a manner. 👍

You are helping me immensely understanding why some of my yarn choices work or don’t. Thank you for sharing and teaching.

Thank you for another interesting episode. I absolutely love exploring different qualities of yarns and how beautifully you've demonstrated this - both in the context of the cabled pieces and in your Scout shawl - those differing amounts of contrast really add to the whole pathchwork feel of the piece to my eye - it promises to be truly stunning

Thank you for such an interesting and informative video. I've also just added a bunch of these lovely patterns to my queue, thanks for the inspiration

Greetings! I love your Scout shawl. The contrast between the watery colors to the bold print allows the eye to travel through the Garment. Just lovely. I cannot wait to see the finished product! Thank you for another fabulous episode. Take care and be safe. Kind regards, Stephanie from California

I really like your Scout Shawl in the more diffuse, muted contrasts. It reminds me of a vintage Persian rug. Just lovely!

Thanks Mel! What a great discussion 😁thanks for sharing your knowledge. Your knitting is exquisite

Love this video! I learned so much!

Thanks so much for another really informative and interesting episode. I love hearing your thoughtful consideration of the different factors and conscious decision-making. Always a treat to 'participate' in these discussions with you. Best wishes from the UK!

I’m just in the planning stages of a cable jumper that I chose because it looks like armour. This was brilliant inspiration on how to ramp up that effect. Thanks so much for the quality content!

Every time I see you have a new episode posted I immediately smile! I love your presentations, thoughts, and demeanor while you share your working knowledge with us. Thank you so much for all the time and thought you put into your episode. Your knitting is very inspiring to me.

Just excellent! Appreciate very much your intelligent, articulate, and experienced offerings - but this episode particularly stood out. Thank you.

Mel, I love your Enamorado sweater! The slightly softened cable pattern reminds me a bit of carved granite or limestone. I feel very grateful that I learned to knit when I was very young and got a make a lot of mistakes (bulky orange chenille tank top, yikes lol) and experiment without anyone telling me that I was doing something wrong. I think it made me a much better knitter today,

I really enjoy this episode! I love your colors, the moody “not-quite” shades of grays and purples, and pinkish browns. I really like the look of a slightly darker mohair or suri yarn as well. Brava!

I’m going to make a cardigan with a variegated in very pastel beige kind of colors in a roving merino silk blend with a complicated cable covering the entire back. I think it is going to look fantastic. But then i have been wrong before! 🧐🤔🤗

Thanks so much. That was really thought-provoking and informative. I love your take on knowing the rules so you can break them intentionally. Plus all your lovely knitting! I agree about the ethereal quality of your less-defined cable projects, so it's great to have some guidance about how you achieved that. Plus the tip about holding a slightly darker mohair with your main yarn -- really cool how it highlights the pattern rather than detracting from it.

Great podcast as always. I learn so much each time. I am working on the scout mini and it is also my first intarsia project, and I agree the yarn management is a royal pain but the effect is so worth it.

Great discussion, beautiful knitted sweaters

As a viewer, I totally support this kind of content! It's nice to see everyone's projects, but so much more enjoyable to be learning. My perspective on yarn choice with cables...I agree that it is individual preference. But also, when substituting yarns, be mindful of what the effect will be and expect that the outcome may differ from the designer's version. This is why it is so important when substituting to swatch to be sure that you like the effect you are getting. Also consider is the design all over cables or a mix of texture and cables. I think your designs look so good with your yarn choices because they are a mix of textured stitches and cables. If you really want cables to pop, there is nothing like a smooth yarn as in your Irish sample. Finally, about your heavy sweater, heavy cabling like that eats up a lot of yarn, so that adds to the weight along with the heaviness of the yarn. OK, I will stop talking now! Fun topics!

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge, I admire your work, you have been a great inspiration in my knitting journey! 💐

Really interesting and educational, thank you, also for the book recommendation ❤

Wow this is so interesting! I am just starting to try cables a little bit. I've never thought about how these yarn characteristics can affect things. Also, all of your example projects are just stunning.

Thx Mel, I learnt a lot from your video 😁

Always, always incredibly informative. As with your earlier podcast on plant fibers, taking the time to look at a topics in depth and in the round is very helpful, and thought provoking. I often think as I watch you work on a project, no way could I do that, but then I think... maybe I can give something I want to try a go!! Slow and steady.

Informative as always! Your knitting is always really defined, and that's how I got hooked. I think it was a linen project that was similar in color to the blue cabled sweater you showed today. I really like the orangeish color you pucked for the flowers. I like the coral and blue. It's definitely my favorite section of your shawl. I haven't done any colorwork outside of stripes, just yet. Im eyeing the drawing sweater, but I need to finish my shash first. I dont keep a stash except for sock stash. Fingering mostly. I'm not liking the feeling of nylon. I got some mulbury silk to use on heels and toes. Then I'll see how it wears over time. It's current wip and the next planned one. I don't have space for a stash. I order when I'm ready to use it

Such an interesting video!! Thank you!

You are applying your intellectualism to knitting challenges, very thoughtful and informative. Aran jumpers were originally knitted in 4 ply and that 'aran weight' is not necessarily related to the origins of the jumper. I learnt this yesterday from another podcast from Ireland Froach Knits. She shows some beautiful examples from the Museum of Country Life if that is of interest J

Yes to these plays with yarn! I've enjoyed witnessing and learning from your yarn choices throughout your videos. The choices that "the common wisdom" might deem "unexpected" are often the most interesting, yielding truly satisfying results. Discussions and dives into what did not work are equally intriguing and instructive. One of my first yarn-combo experiments was a few years ago with two yarns that came to me in a grab-bag type situation...I did not enjoy either on their own: a too bubble gum pink alpaca and a peach-orange-rust (and itchy) mohair. The resulting fabric had such depth and was so superior to either yarn on their own - really interesting.

I love your videos I always learn so much each time. I’m the type of person that always learns the rules, usually in great depth 😬 and once I understand, I find my own way, usually breaking 90% of them! In this case swatching is your best friend, to see exactly what things are going to look like. I just cast on my Linya wrap 🥰💪🏻 thanks for sharing you naughty rule breaker 🤣🤣

Drooling… less than a minute in and I’m beside myself: so good! J

While I personally don’t love mohair (it feels like fire to me when I touch it, which is sad because I think it’s so pretty) I LOVE how it looks in the sweater you’re wearing. It’s basically acting as a shadow to highlight the main yarn and the cables. So awesome!!!

That was thoroughly interesting! I am interested in using mohair and other 'fuzzy' yarns. Firstly calculating the amount to use with various projects and secondly best items/examples to really show that 'haze' look.

This is such an amazing episode. I've never considered the yarn choice, other than the fact that i always use whatever the recommended weight is. From now on,, I am going to be more mindful about the voice of yarn Thank you so mch.

When I heard your “plans” last video, I actually thought, “well, if anyone can make that work, Mel can.” I’ve seen you do magic too often w too many fibers explaining all the things in an in depth interesting way to think otherwise. I actually thought u changed ur mind about the mohair because the sweater was so striking when you held it up. Didn’t even notice the halo through the beautiful fabric! ❤

I believe you talked about the combination of round and light with a darker mohair before and I've used such a combination because of you in my seasons sweater by ozetta. It turned out great and the texture was really defined! Thank you for sharing your wisdom.

Great content, thankyou. I’m always interested to learn more about yarn choices. I’m about to knit my first cable garment and chose a purple colour, lots of people have said you won’t see the cables but I live a messy life and a light colour wouldn’t stay nice for more than 5 minutes so we will see what happens 💜

Impressive, as always! I love the look of mohair, but just the thought of it makes me itch, so have used suri as an alternative. I'm in the colorwork section of Vair (inspired by you) - so enjoyable. Using J&S in the called-for colors of the black version. They're more muted than the pictures, which I like. Ended up doing the stripes in the lace. Even my husband thinks this is a cool pattern!

Hello Mel, c'était très instructif, j'adorais. Je prends beaucoup du temps pour choisir qualité de laine pour tel ou tel projet que finalement, je fini par des classiques : fine laine ou alpaca😥. Je serai ravie voir prochainement.!🖐️😀

So interesting. I love your perspective. Would like to see an episode that looks at mohair and possible substitutions for those of us who live in a warm climate or can't wear mohair?

I really, really enjoy your videos and always find them inspirational. I almost never use the recommended yarn and sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't but my attitude is: so what. It's a hobby.

I agree with you. Knitting for me is about my own personal journey and not about what other people think. It’s so satisfying to break the rules and see what happens. So what if it’s not conventional.

Thank you so much for this! I love watching your view on knitting and I always come away with so much! Your knowledge makes me grow as a knitter, so thank you for that! I especially love it when you talk in depth on topics like this one. I'm beginning to understand more about yarn choice and that's also due to your video's. I would love to hear you talk about how fibre content (merino, alpaca, BFL etc) will effect the look and feel of a garment, and if you make adjustments when you choose size. Like do you knit a smaller size when knitting with 100% alpaca for instance? Also I know what woollen spun and worsted spun means, but I do not quite understand how choosing one or the other effects a garment.

This was really helpful! I noticed that some packaged yarn does not have the number of plys but I will continue to check!

I am fairly new to the garment part of knitting and I absolutely love your videos. You are so helpful! I was wondering if you've ever substitute weight yarn, like fingering to dk or worsted to dk for exemple, and if so if you would be willing to talk about it? Thank you for sharing your knowledge, it's invaluable!

Once again, I love your podcasts. Yours are my favourites! Are you making the small or large size of the Scout Shawl? I am intending to make it so I loved how you went over the methods. Thanks so much!

This was so useful to me! The information on lace vs. cables and the number of plies is something I've heard referred to, I've never heard it explained so succinctly. I've been knitting all my life and I've done yarn substitution almost completely based on whether I can get gauge or not. I usually end up with something I like, even if it's nothing like the designer intended, because I swatch first, but it's so useful to have this information about what *might* happen with various substitutions, before you bother to swatch...or buy yarn. Thanks for this thorough explanation! I'm curious what you think the effect of holding yarns together is. For instance, if you hold a 2-ply with a mohair, or with some single-ply yarn, will the fabric have the characteristics of the base 2-ply or do the additional yarns act like extra plies?

Валентина, приветствую вас. Очень красивые, аккуратные ваши вязанные джемпера! Удачи вам!

Very interesting information to store in the brain. I am not at your level of accomplishment yet.

Thank you for educating me about different yarn choices for different projects! May I kindly inquire your opinion on combining a strand of lace weight silk mohair yarn with another heavier weighted yarn to make a garment? I see this type of combination everywhere now and I also have heard the mohair diminishes the durability of the knits. Is this option true? Also, how do you take care of the garments that have mohair in it? How do you de-bubble the garments have mohair in them? Thank you in advance!

I really appreciate ur info about this issue. I've looked on RAVELRY pattern projects to see what colors, yarns etc r used. Cable yarn is def a personal pref. In ur FOs I love the colors and looking at the designs. The "heirloom" was priceless. Do u think yarns r made diff from over 30 years ago? I'm a beg knitter and am overwhelmed at all the yarns and shops. It's too much overload. Ur info will help me. Thanks

Have you tried bringing your chart into an app that lets you mark it up? I use Notability for mine and use a fat white marker setting to ‘erase’ each row when I have finished it so that I can really clearly see the row I am working on without having to scan up and down the chart. You still get the screen glow of course so not for everyone.

I’ve had a long cable history but not knit them recently. Love your adventure into intarsia-and the calico like resemblance! Kudos for enjoying your different yarns. Do you think the garter edging will take care of any potential to curl! Can’t wait to see your progress! #yarnmanagementforthewin😅

Veronika Lindberg (Kutovakika) designs a lot of sweaters that mix wool, mohair, etc. and are cabled. If people always followed the old rules, there would be no new creations.

Thank you for the video, it is as always full of interesting information. Question: How did you achieve with a darker color mohair not to have a marl effect ? Happy knitting.