Welcome to I’ll Knit (& Spin!) If I want To! I asked y’all to send in some of your questions (from everything from fiber arts, to designing and on!) so I could put together a little video for y’all every Friday doing my best to answer your questions!
1. Hello, Andrea. I look forward to your weekly podcast. I’m getting ready to knit your short sleeve Nebula sweater in Oh Dang DK. I love how contemporary and fresh your patterns are but I’m a bit senior to be comfortable in a cropped sweater. I would like to make it longer in the front and would like it just a bit longer in the back. How would I calculate decreasing the short rows? Also, since the hem is about 6 inches smaller than the bust, would lengthening the sweater change the overall look and make it tighter around my hips? Any suggestions of how to make it longer or things I should consider before trying to increase the length? Thanks!
2. Hi, Andrea! I am a big fan of your designs and how your patterns are so easy to follow and execute! I have lately become more confident in modifying sweater patterns to MY gauge and preferred fabric density. Is this something that I can also do with shawls? I prefer shawls that are made with lighter weight yarns, however I sometimes find designs that I would love to make but they are created out of worsted weight yarns, like your Nightshift or Hoarfrost shawls, which I love, but the weight of the shawl overwhelms my small frame. Is it possible to easily modify a worsted weight shawl in a lighter weight yarn?
3. Hi Andrea! My friend is having a milestone birthday coming up, and I'd like to surprise her with a hand-knit sweater. I know she likes my Traveler Hoodie so am considering making that but am not sure how best to choose a size (not sure I can sneak measurements from her wardrobe). Do you have recommendations on which of your sweater/top patterns might be the most forgiving in terms of fit? And before you ask, she's not a shawl or hat wearer ;). Thanks so much for any advice you can offer!
4. Hi Andrea! I’m kind of starting to hate picking up stitches for sleeves and collars. Despite trying to pick up every 3 out of 4 ladders in stockinette, I feel like I’m always picking up too many or too few and having to pull everything out to do it again. And then the edges are never quite as neat as I’d like them to be. I’ve watched videos, and I *think* I’m doing it right but it’s just so not fun! Do you have any tips or tricks for picking up stitches to help me enjoy this step of sweater construction a little more? Thanks so much!
5. My mom tried on my Brume and fell in love! So, of course, I have to make her one, but she's teeny tiny. She loves the height of the collar, but requested that it be narrower in diameter. I noticed even the smallest size has the same number of stitches as my collar. My plan is to reduce the number of stitches and then add them back in as soon as the collar is folded. Is that what you would suggest?
