I’ll Knit If I Want To: Episode 184

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!

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In this week’s episode we cover:

1. Sometimes the recommended meterage for a project is very close to a round number of skeins. Does the recommended meterage usually include the required yarn to make a 10x10 cm swatch or do I need to consider extra yarn for this?

2. I am knitting a garter stitch moebius cowl with worsted weight yarn a la Elizabeth Zimmermann. I want to do a contrasting i-cord border but the hand-painted yarn that looks best color-wise is fingering weight. Is this possible by using more than one strand of the fingering or something heavier with it? But what needle size if the body of the cowl is knit on size 10 needle (garter stitch)? I don't want to inhibit the stretch of the cowl by knitting the i-cord too tight. I have learned so much from your podcasts-were you ever in the theater? Love your spontaneity!

3. Hi Andrea! I just saw a sneak peek of your new sweater design today on instagram. I can tell it is going to be beautiful, and can’t wait to see the full reveal. Like many other crafters, I have hobbies outside of knitting… like quilting, for example. Sometimes my favorite fabric and quilt designers write books. Anna Maria Horner is releasing a new book this fall and I can’t wait to get it! Have you ever considered writing a book? I would definitely buy your book should you ever decide to write one! Take care.

4. Now, to my question: I just started the traveler hoodie (yay!), and I've been experimenting with different cast on techniques. I've used your 2x2 tubular technique in the past, but always wished the bottom edge didn't have the "lean" from swapping stitches. I found a technique called the "Alternating Cast On for Double Rib" (   • Alternating Cast On for Double Rib (k...  , where you hold two yarns and then do a tubular set up row. It's beautiful but may be a bit less stretchy (seemed to stretch 1/2 inch less in my test swatches). So my question is: Have you used this technique before, any thoughts on it? And/or, do you think I'll regret having slightly less stretch in the bottom of the hoodie? It's a classic form versus function dilemma! Thank you!

5 .Hello Andrea! 🧶 I haven’t heard anyone discuss this so I am hoping you have some advice. I swatched for the Weekender Crew several months ago. When I was finally ready to cast on, I referenced my 2 gauge swatches and I noticed that they SHRUNK. I decided to go up one needle size. However, if I had cast on soon after swatching, I would’ve used the smaller needle based on my swatch. I always wash my swatches and lay them flat to dry, I never pin them. I tend to have to go up one needle size when knitting your patterns. I have also noticed that my finished knits (hats, sweaters, shawls, etc) shrink over time and they don’t fit how they did when I finished them. Is this an issue with my personal gauge? I wonder if I should pick needles based off of an unwashed gauge swatch to account for the shrinkage. I’m so curious to hear your thoughts!

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