I’ll Knit If I Want To: Episode 94

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!

In this week’s episode we cover:

1. Hi Andrea! Thanks for spending time with us! Please prioritize your health and I hope that you heal fully. My question is about blocking. I have seen on two sweaters I love that blocking has made them stretch out and the sleeves are much wider than I ever want them to be. Before blocking, they were the perfect length and hugged me just the way I like. I wear my sweaters oversized so I will often knit up one size and the blocking just makes them even more oversized. I thought you were supposed to be able to manipulate the shape of your FOs through blocking but I kind of dislike/fear the process now. Am I misunderstanding what blocking should/can do? Thanks so much!

2. Kudos for making your health and family a priority. That said, I’m wondering whether there will be a March to May KAL in 2023? I had a lot of fun last year and have several of your sweater patterns that I’d love to make with the support of a group. Also, I’ve been looking forward to the Shiftigan release. Can you give us any hints about timing or the pattern itself, such as whether it will be steeked?

3. Hi Andrea, As the new year approaches, I'm planning my makers year and wanting to make sure I have time in my knitting calendar for all of the DRK events. I know you've mentioned them in the past, but I wondered if you could just summarize your recurring events that we might plan for in 2023? Thanks! PS - I hope your time off is healing. I'm keeping you in my prayers.

4. Hi Andrea! Sort of off-topic, but I'm curious if you have any recommendations for a lanolin-based hand lotion? My hands get destroyed by all of the cleaning and scrubbing I have to do every day. I've been on the hunt for a delicious lanolin lotion and am not sure where to start. I hope you have a very happy holiday season with your family and that you're able to rest and take care of yourself. Thank you!!

Wandering Flock Body Balm: https://tinyurl.com/mtdvxnu4
Utopia: https://motherknitter.com/shop/hand-c...

5. I'm so happy you're going to be continuing your podcast through your medical leave. It's one of my favorite parts of the week! That said, please take lots of care of yourself, and if the podcast ever gets in the way of your healing, always put yourself first! Onto my question, I was curious about how people make those cute fringed swatches. I know that it's from lazy swatching in the round by carrying the yarn in back. I'm not sure how people cut the carried yarn in back without their swatch falling apart! I'd love some cute little swatch rugs to decorate my apartment with, if I could figure out how they do it!

Bonus Question: I would love to hear about how your weaving is going! Weaving and spinning are 2 things I would love to learn but currently my brain is at capacity as far as hobbies go in my current stage of life so I will live vicariously through you in the mean time!

DRK Spin It to Knit It…Along - Weekender Style - Ravelry Forum:
https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/drear...

Join on Instagram with the hashtags: #DRKspinittoknitKAL and #DRKspinsTHEWEEKENDER

Join the Instafriends KAL on Instagram with the hashtags: #instafriendskal2022 and head to @shoplamercerie for all the info!

Big Cozy Cardi KAL: https://thefarmersdaughterfibers.com/...

I am wearing Zig:
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libr...
https://www.dreareneeknits.com/shop/zig

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