Knitting Advice Nr. 23: Measure your needles with a knitting needle gauge.

Picture of a knitting needle gauge.

Because what’s written on your knitting needle might not be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. I own a perfectly fine pair of 3.5 mm circular needles. Conveniently, the size is carved right into them—and it’s a good carving, too, having survived multiple sweaters unscathed. Only problem? The actual size is … Continue reading Knitting Advice Nr. 23: Measure your needles with a knitting needle gauge.

Knitting advice Nr. 21 : Use stitch markers to hold the fabric into place (you need to check the fit before any sewing takes place).

Do you know how a custom-fitted garment is made? By a process of trial and error. Usually, this involves using loads of pins to connect the different parts of the not-yet-entirely-sewed-up piece. But you can't do that with knitted fabric because pins tend to fall off. So, what do you do? You use locking stitch … Continue reading Knitting advice Nr. 21 : Use stitch markers to hold the fabric into place (you need to check the fit before any sewing takes place).

Out of yarn and patience with Hobbii (things aren’t going too well with my red sweater)

Hobbii is out of 34 of their 56 colours for their Friends Wool Medium It's been so for weeks and they don't even have basic neutrals such as white or navy left. I looked up how much wool I would need for a weight 3 wool here. Based upon this, I thought I was being … Continue reading Out of yarn and patience with Hobbii (things aren’t going too well with my red sweater)

Knitting with cheap wool: evaluation of Friends Wool Medium from Hobbii

I followed through with my plan of experimenting knitting with inexpensive non superwash wool. I waited for black Friday to get a deal, but having visited Hobbii's website more often, I realise I needn't have bothered. This wool is almost always on some sort of sale, especially when you are buying pullover quantities. As of … Continue reading Knitting with cheap wool: evaluation of Friends Wool Medium from Hobbii

Knitting advice Nr.14: Don’t undervalue your home-knitted / crocheted Christmas gifts (they’re luxury items)

For far too long, I was feeling self-conscious as I gave away my handknitted Christmas gifts. I would say something around the lines "I'm broke so I could only afford to knit you a little something". These days are gone as I have realised how mistaken I was! I was evaluating the value of my … Continue reading Knitting advice Nr.14: Don’t undervalue your home-knitted / crocheted Christmas gifts (they’re luxury items)

Knitting advice Nr.11: Don’t buy superwash wool (part 1)

That's it. That's the advice. Don't buy superwash. It's bad for the environment, it's bad for people living near the plants that scour and superwash wool. I am aware that these posts about superwash are likely to be the most unwanted and contentious ones I will ever write on this blog. But I have to. … Continue reading Knitting advice Nr.11: Don’t buy superwash wool (part 1)