Years ago when I learned to knit socks I knit several pairs for my son. They were subdued colors but were striped patterns. When he received them he was polite but not really enthused. I tried to convince him that people would be empressed especially women but he just wasnt buying that. He only wore plain black socks. I knew they simply went into a drawer so I never knit anymore for him. Three years ago he suffered a major stroke at age 48 and his ankles and feet would swell. A few months after the stroke I got a call: " hey, Mom. Your socks have saved me! They are the only socks that stay up but dont cut into my legs. And guess what? All the nurses love them!". So now I always have socks for him on my needles; even striped ones. He is definitely knit worthy. I hope this story isnt too long.
Lovely story. I have a son who loves my socks. He says they are the only ones that keep his toes warm when he is working outside. The grandsons wear my socks hunting. The three of them have huge feet so I have to start early for Christmas gift socks. :) :)
Roxanne, I agree 100% with what you said about who is ' knit worth'. I knit a pair of socks for my mum in 2016 which she was delighted with and wore constantly. Sadly she died this summer in a nursing home, but she had taken these socks with her and wore them in bed to keep her cosy. My brother gave them back to me after she passed away and they were in perfect condition (she was always very careful with all her clothes) Totally knit worthy!!! P.S Just to be clear she was not wearing them when she died !!!! :)
Being guilted into anything means we cannot do it with love. For me that is the key ingredient whether knitting, sewing, cooking, socializing...you name it. It took me a long time but I've learned to say no graciously but firmly even to myself! Your finished sweater looks lovely and I can definitely agree to pulling it over your head instead of unbuttoning it. HUgs
I have a really knit worthy son, he is 6 years old. He has already worn out two cardigans with fluffy yarn, and one sweater, I have made longer legs on one of his wool pants and repaired both knees. His favourite pants are the new ones I made for him. He has also complimented a new cardigan I made for him, and he has asked me nicely if I could make him a thick sweater this winter, and a pair of new gloves with trees on them. My shawl is more over his shoulders than mine. It is nice to see that it is appreciated and worn out while keeping him warm and cosy.
In my understanding, the waistline in "vintage" clothing was on the natural waist, so it's not really the sweater who's too short, it's just that modern trousers and skirts sit too low ;)
Rox, you are so wise. Knitworthiness is totally a thing. Sometimes, just being asked really pisses me off, because I can tell that the person doesn't really know what goes into it. I think they think I can knit them something in an evening, and it's no big deal. About the only thing I will knit or crochet for someone without hesitation are dishcloths, b/c they really are quick (especially crocheted ones). I may be misremembering, but I think I had a coworker whom I didn't really like ask me to make her a sweater. I can't remember what I told her, but I have come up with some stock answers to have at the ready. "I only knit for family and close friends." "I charge 20 dollars an hour and a sweater/socks/scarf/etc. takes ____ hours to knit." "I will put you on the list, and at this point, I'll get to you in four years." No one has ever pressed the issue.
I really enjoyed hearing about your learning experiences related to who is/is not knit worthy. After a few experiences with people didn't even bother to acknowledge receipt of the knitted garment I sent and/or improperly cared for same, I have no hesitation about gently refusing requests. One especially tricky situation is handling requests from a well-meaning relative (usually mother or mother-in-law) of a new mother. After investing yarn/time in knitting for recipients who don't even acknowledge the gifts, I no longer accept such requests.
I like the short cardigan look and think it is actually very young looking and it really suits you!! So pleased to hear you have a three weeks tolerance for a knitted project, makes me feel I am not lacking in patience after all!! I love all the wise words you say in this video!! You echo all my thoughts and you have made me so happy and not guilty to know we are singing from the same hymn book!! Personally I find that a lot of people think I am sat there twiddling my thumbs wondering what to knit next!! Not been knitters themselves they just don’t get it! So yes as you say and my husband always does, I have to please myself what I knit and something that makes me happy!! Thank you for yet another fantastic video!!
Roxanne, your sweater turned out gorgeous! I love the color as well. I learned who not to knit for, but what happens is that kids, sisters, etc always love what I make and want something. I love to knit purely for the joy and challenge and I make a lot of scarves and shawls. What I do it make them in different colors and patterns, and place them in a basket. I make nothing I won't wear myself and if someone see's one and flips for it, I just tell them to take it. I refuse to make custom, they take what I got! Seems like my basket needs to be refilled frequently! I have to say though that I do see them wear what they take.
I agree 100% with what you say about some people being knit worthy and others are not. It doesn't matter if they are family or friends. If you appreciate and wear something I make then you will be gifted with another knitted items. Those that act blasé, like you say, are no longer on the list. Knitting is something to love to do not dread. I have found just the right amount of knitting "victims" that always seem thrilled to wear my gifts, and that keeps me happy and busy and I still have plenty of time to knit for myself.
You brought me to tears with the poem. I was not hearing your voice, I was hearing my Dad's voice. Thanks for the memories! I also need variety to keep me interested. Currently I am participating in Purl Together's KAL Norah's Vintage Afghan. I am using yarn my neighbor gave to me from her Mom's stash. She, lovely neighbor, will be getting the afghan. Each block is a different cable pattern. When I do knit something that becomes boring, I do as you suggested ( but without the spread sheet) and break it down into managable parts. Once, I knit afghans for my grand nieces and kntted each girl's name into the fabric. I did use a spread sheet for those! I used the spread sheet as a graph. Now, today, your have added Latvian mittens to my knitting bucket list.
I like the way you think about knit- worthy. I'm very careful with making promises. There are many people (non-knitters who don't realize how much work it is) who think that because you like to knit, you also like to make them something, an than also for free. Something in the way they ask me, makes me alerted. Last year I made for my niece and nephew a mermaid- and shark blanket for their birthdays. They were very happy, and my sister in law showed them to all the guests. It had been a lot of work, so I was happy to see it was very appreciated. A friend of my sister in law (I didn't know her very well), started fishing: "oh, that would be nice for my son too". I didn't react. Then she asked how long it takes to make something like that. And before I could answer, my husband said (a little irritated, but very clear) "very, very long, months! Haha, after the party my husband and I had a lot of fun. But she will never ask me again...
I agree with you about who is knit worthy. I only knit for those who really appreciate what I’ve knit them and I like getting feedback from them. My grandkids often ask me to knit them things and they wear them a lot, so they get the most knitted objects!
I love how you say "the fit is pretty good". To my eye, it's PERFECT! My goal is to one day be able to knit something that fits without random amounts of ease -- my usual modus knitendi.
Roxanne, the cardigan is absolutely glorious on you - the colour you chose, the neckline, the way the yoke hugs your shoulders and not least the length! This length looks so good on you, just perfection all round. I'd love it if you could talk about adapting the pattern for a bigger size in a future episode, do you think it would be very difficult to grade up? This has been one of my very favourite episodes, I've watched it twice today already! Thanks so much for all the work you put into your channel.
Very interesting video. I learned to crochet she my daughter was expecting. Bonnets, booties, then slippers, and then socks. My Grand daughters face lights up when grandma says she needs to measurements. I have returned to knitting an currently on socks for her. A beautiful crochetedjumperwasfinished for Christmas as she love to pull it out to wear. Crocheted a sweater and bonnet set and now working on first knitted sweater. She is only 2 but so far is very knit worthy. All my children love the socks I made them and fingerless mitts. It is nice when the people are knit worthy. Have sold some items to dry appreciative customers also.
Your sweater turn out beautiful. I often get asked why I don't sell my knitted objects. I always say because it's no longer fun. I sometimes feel guilted into making something and it's hard to say no but I agree you have to put your foot down for those who don't appreciate it your effort.
Sweater is lovely. Now I don't feel so bad about my daughter not being knit/crochet worthy, I have made numerous items and they have gotten ripped up, lost or damaged while washing. Thank you for your videos.
Don't feel bad ... by not taking care of what you made she doesn't appreciate your time/effort. Spend the time making something for yourself instead. :)
I am grateful for you sharing your library. I have purchased a couple mentioned in your previous podcast and luv them. I was wondering where you studied knitting.
Your sweater looks beautiful! Thank you for sharing your journey knitting it with us. Your videos came to my mind when I saw it. Experiences do teach us important things like the knitter is number 1.
I think the sweater looks great and suits you as well. Thanks for sharing your challenges with this sweater. It is good to know that master knitters need to rip out and re-knit too!
LOVE, Love, love your sweater. The struggles are tough, no doubt. I believe that one gains strength of character, in so many different ways, in the overcoming-part of knitting. Now, I want to make one similar; no, I won't ask you to knit it.🙂 One forum poster told me her motto: "You're smarter than string!" I try to remember that.😁
Love the 1938 sweater. I can very well imagine this getting a longer and more feminine silhouette by adding a peplum with the stockinette/garter ridge pattern and halving the bottom ribbing section. The short rows in the back yoke were a very good idea - looks very good imho.
I remember the poem and my Granny's counterpane which was huge, white and made of cotton yarn and so heavy. Your vintage cardigan turned out beautifully, well done. Knitworthy = loves wool, takes care of it and appreciates the effort behind every stitch. I only knit socks for my sister, who is a stitcher and an embroiderer.
Oh, loved the "knit-worthy" discussion! I have some people who have showed me more than once that they are NOT knit-worthy, and yet I try again. I can be such a dope. The case of not even getting a text just to say the item has arrived makes my blood boil. I mean, a text takes about 12 seconds, not NEARLY as long as it took me to knit this thing you asked for. Thanks for the reinforcement!
Appreciate you insights into "knit-worthy", something I grapple with. Will keep your thoughts in mind. Your sweater is lovely. Thanks for another great epidsode.
I really love the back panel. And I have been struggling with buttons on the bottom part forever, and also sewed a whole cardigan together and am now wearing it as a sweater. But left the buttons on as decoration.
Thank yoy for the podcast. The sweater is beautiful and you certainly learned a lot doing it, as did I from your sharing. I too read that poem and had the book. Still have the book, a treasure from my childhood.
Another great episode. The sweater looks absolutely lovely on you! Great sweater. Love the idea of spreadsheets, what a cool idea. And loved your explanation on knit-worthiness. The relative story really sounded familiar! Have a great week!
Andean Folk Knitting is available on Amazon UK. £57. + though! Counterpane was originally. From Latin via French ‘contrepunt’ which is where the connection with embroidery comes in, although that now has more of a music connection. Then the ‘punt’ became ‘pane’ again Latin through French...pane being associated with cloth. Sorry, I’m a shocking ‘word nerd’.
One of the saddest knitworthy related things I ever saw was a hand knit sweater on the rack at a thrift store with a tag in it that said “Hand Knit for a Wonderful Friend.”
List of those who are knit worthy: 1 People I give birth to. 2 People who marry me. 3 People who give birth to people who marry me, ie, MIL. 4 Someday I might knit for people who marry people I give birth to. A useful response to the willyouknitthisforme is “no, but I’ll happily teach you to knit.” Also, the boyfriend curse is alive and well, so beware.
just found the mittens ,caps and vamps from the Island of New Foundland. So Northern Canada can also be used. The great part is that they make mittens with an extra finger. Digit finger and thumb mittens.
I can totally relate to everything you said today about having a low tolerance (or a limited one) for boring projects, and about figuring out who is knitworthy. It’s usually pretty obvious to me who is knitworthy, but sometimes I don’t want to admit someone I love is not knitworthy. Have to be careful about that kind! My daughter, who is very dear to me, (obviously) has very different taste from mine and, although I’ve knit for her many times, I’m never sure she’s wearing the things I make. I am knitting her a sweater right now, which I’m enjoying, so whether she wears it a lot or not, at least I’m having fun. My rule now is similar to yours, the project has to be something of interest to me, or I can’t knit it for anyone, knitworthy or not! Miles of stockinette is never interesting to me, so don’t ask me for a plain, monochromatic sweater!! As always, I enjoyed this episode very much!
Hi Roxanne, I am having a problem with my mom wanting me to make everything she sees that I have made for others. I don't knit in front of her anymore. I have made her several items and the last thing I told her to tell me what she wanted and let her pick out the pattern. I've only seen her wear it (shawl) once. I also made fingerless mitts to go with them b/c they were shown with the shawl and she said she'd like to have them at the time. I have trouble saying no to her. I'm not sure how to handle this. Someone from my guild said to send her to buy the yarn for the projects and that would slow her down, but it won't b/c she buys Chloe bags, Prada shoes, etc. I used to do a lot of test knitting and gave away almost all of my knitting so the past year or so I have been knitting more for myself so I relate to what you are saying. Love the sweater - it look great on you and you have a beautiful figure. You look good even in a T so fitted sweaters suit you. Is the pattern in public domain? Keep up the great podcasts!
If she wants these things so badly, for the next holiday give her a knitting lesson at a local yarn shop. If it is given with the understanding you don't have time to make things for yourself it just may provide her with the insight of what is involved to make an item. If she gets good at it, then ask her to make something for you! LOL!
I did not see the link to your video library. Can you tell me tell me how to get there? I am subscribed to your channel and I always go to you first when I need to figure something else by look through there too and I didn't see the things that you mentioned. I often miss things, so I apologize if I did. Thank you.
I'm not sure what you're looking for, exactly? Are you talking about when I say that there are "links down in the description"? If you look below the video, you can see the first few lines of the video description, along with SHOW MORE. Click on that, and you'll see links to various things mentioned in the video.
WOW ON THAT SWEATER! IT LOOKS TOP NOTCH! GREAT JOB! IT LOOKS WELL ON YOU! IS YOUR DAUGHTER GOING TO SWIPE IT FROM YOU? IT TURNED OUT SO WELL! LOVE IT!😊
Love it love it!! BUT I would prefer more dramatic buttons (similar to ones in original sweater photo) What do you think about the buttons? Are you satisfied with them? Great job on sweater copy and design and knitting. Fits good!! bboice/Sacramento, CA
I would have preferred buttons like in the original, but I was having trouble finding any buttons that were appropriate in the quantity needed. I felt lucky, actually, that these buttons matched the color so perfectly. Preferable to something that contrasted badly.
My daughters wear my scarves and my sons wear their hats, my husband loves it when I knit things for him, but doesn’t use them because he doesn’t want to ruin them. But he does use the afghan I made for him. So does my BIL. My BFF’s daughter tried to steal her afghan when we left for college. I will NOT knit for money. I’ve learned not to say I will make this or that for someone, because it never works out. Instead I make stuff for others and surprise them with it. I lost my knitting mojo this summer to everyone is getting homemade soaps for Christmas.
Bauhaus literally means “building school” and was started by an architect named Walter Gropius. Influenced architecture and fine art from 1919-1933. Bohus refers to Bohusian province in Sweden where the governor’s wife wanted to establish a cottage industry that could benefit the area, which was very poor and which wouldn’t require much in terms of equipment. Began in 1939.
@@RoxanneRichardson Thank you. It was the similarities in the words. And Bauhaus definitely was not a social thing. But still a great movement for the arts. And by the way I will start your idea of spread sheets, better than keeping patterns marked for where I left off. And I am really relieved that I am not the only one with that 3 weeks problem.
I am struggling with a pattern that calls for intarsia in the round. I have another that I would like to make and the intarsia is worked with fairisle knitting. Thanks
