Outspoken and evidence-based. For a better knitting experience. A 2023 knitting blog.
In this category, I put my content linked to knitwear design. I share my own designing ideas and experience. But above all, my aim here is to provide advice to knitwear design buyers. The goal is to enable buyers to spot patterns that are badly written, poorly designed or patterns that will quickly become unwearable after being worn and washed a few times.
Use AI to improve your knitting : it's surprisingly efficient. This post provides you with a basic introduction to AI and a few ideas on how to use it on your knitting journey.
Maybe it's just me and old age setting in, but I've got a number of swatches that I have kept...without labeling them. If I look up on my notes on Ravelry or my bullet journal, I've got a fair chance of recalling what yarn it was and even its colourway. But not the size needle … Continue reading Knitting Advice Nr. 17: Label your swatch (no, you won’t remember what it was all about)
We put a lot of work and love into our knittings. We wish that the recipients of our creations will take good care of them and wear them often. But with wear comes tear and sometimes (heartbreakingly) moths! All is not lost. A little darning can go a long way. Provided....you have the right wool … Continue reading Knitting advice Nr. 15: Provide some extra wool for repairs and darning alongside your FOs
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)
I really like the Russian bind off as it makes it so easy to control your tension compared to traditional bind off. When you use the traditional bind off, it's very easy to end up with a bind off edge that is less wide than the rest of your fabric. This can be a problem, … Continue reading Knitting advice Nr. 13: Don’t use a Russian bind off for half-mittens (it’s too loose)
Superwash wool is meant to be more "convenient": easily washable, and even, some claim, easily driable ! We all know this only partly true. We've seen what happens to our knits that we mistakenly put on an ordinary washing cycle. They don't turn out good. It never occurred to me to put the poor wrench … Continue reading Knitting advice Nr. 12: Knit your superwash wool at a tighter gauge (your garment will be more durable)
Drawbacks of using synthetic petro-fibers such as acrylic for winter outerwear knits ; where to find cheap 100% wool yarn as a superior choice with insulation and moisture-wicking benefits
Understand what knitting patterns mean by positive and negative ease and how to choose patterns you will feel comfortable wearing.
Many knitters like seams to be invisible and single crochet, for sure, doesn't produce an invisible seam. But here's the thing : invisible seams are not as sturdy as a single crochet seam and a sturdy will help your garment to keeps its shape. We're talking cardigan, sweaters, T-shirts, vests and tank tops here.( I'm … Continue reading Knitting Advice Nr. 4 : Seam your knits with single crochet (especially the cotton ones).
Garter stitch is the name of the stitch pattern you create when you are knitting flat and only using knit stitches on each and every row. Garter stitch isn't a good choice of stitch for knitting an entire garment with as it creates a fabric that sags due to how knit stitches behave when they're … Continue reading Knitting Advice Nr. 3 : Don’t knit an entire garment in garter stitch (it will sag)
Unsolicited Knitting Advice 