make good: a knitting podcast

Latest Episodes:

63: Sweater Vocab Mar 01, 2022

Show notes

From neck to hem, cuff to cuff, we're pulling apart the sweater and learning how to refer to all the little pieces they're made of.

Pattern links for examples of design elements

NECKS:

Crew Neck - Love Note by TinCanKnits
V-Neck - Cumulus Blouse by PetiteKnit
Scoop Neck - Worsted Boxy by Joji Locatelli
Metropolis by Tanis Lavallee
Turtle Dove II by Espace Tricot
Boat Neck - The Weekender by Andrea Mowry
Ballet Neck - Dissent by Andrea Rangel
Cowl Neck - Star Crossed by Jacqueline Cieslak

SLEEVES:

Circular - Ranunculus by Midair Hirose
Raglan - Flax by TinCanKnits
Saddle Shoulder - Penguono by Stephen West
Dolman - Letho by Natasja Hornby
Drop Shoulder - The Weekender by Andrea Mowry
Set-in Sleeves - The Oban Cardigan by Thea Colman

HEMS:

Split Hem - Junegrass Pullover by Carrie Bostick Hoge

The Make Good Stashdown is still going!

It will continue until March 31, so there's still plenty of time to join. Join the fun by posting photos with the tag #makegoodstashdown (no year, please!)

Send us your letters! dearscratch@scratchsupplyco.com

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62: Test Knitting Feb 22, 2022

Show notes

This week's episode is about the test knitting process - what to expect, how to do it, and when you should probably give a testing call a pass. (Hint: It's if you don't want to to knit the thing.)

*Resources: *

yarnpond.com
@fattestknits
School of Sweet Georgia Modern Colourwork Knitting

What's on our needles this week:

Soorik designed by Gudrun Johnson
Gresham Wrap designed by Michael Vloedman

** The Make Good Stashdown is going strong!**
It's the last week of February - one month to go!
Join the fun by posting photos with the tag #makegoodstashdown (no year, please!)

Send us your letters! dearscratch@scratchsupplyco.com

Support make good: a knitting podcast

61: Steeking Feb 15, 2022

Show notes

This week we're tackling the less-scary-than-it-seems issue of steeking your projects. Cardigans, armholes, necklines - your scissors are your friend, we promise.

View the transcript here

*Anatomy of a Steek: *

Brooklyn Tweed diagrams: Steeking

Securing a Steek

Crochet technique: Tin Can Knits Tutorial
Hand Sewing technique: Aleks Byrd Tutorial
Back Stitching Diagram (hand stitching): Embroidery How To
Machine Sewing technique: Interweave Tutorial

Finishing a Steek

Hidden under a ribbon: Helene Magnussun Tutorial
Steek Sandwich: Kate Davies Tutorial
Knotted Steek: Tom of Holland Tutorial

Kate Davies' helpful blog post with great photos of different steek finishes: What is a Steek
An example of how to add a steek panel to a pullover pattern: Dissent Cardigan Hack

What's on our needles this week:

Soorik designed by Gudrun Johnson
Amberwing Socks designed by Summer Lee

The Make Good Stashdown is still going!

It will continue until March 31, so there's still plenty of time to join. Join the fun by posting photos with the tag #makegoodstashdown (no year, please!)

Send us your letters! dearscratch@scratchsupplyco.com

Support make good: a knitting podcast

60: Garter Stitch Feb 08, 2022

Show notes

Garter stitch is one of our favorite fabrics: elastic, stretchy, and squishy!

NOTE: Karen said some nonsense about how to do a steeking panel during the question portion. Her nonsense was not correct. Listen to next week's episode instead of what she said here and you'll be much happier!

First historical mention of garter stitch from The Lady’s Assistant for Executing Fancy and Useful Designs in Knitting, Netting and Crotchet Work here

Book Recommendation

Knitting for Radical Self-Care by Brandi Cheyenne Harper

Patterns mentioned in this week's episode:

Melting Marl Shawl by Stephen West
Harvest by TinCanKnits
A Break in Tide Shawl by Tif Neilan
Afield by Fiona Alice
Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmerman

What's on our needles this week:

Soorik designed by Gudrun Johnson
Amberwing Socks designed by Summer Lee

The Make Good Stashdown is still going!

It will continue until March 31, so there's still plenty of time to join. Join the fun by posting photos with the tag #makegoodstashdown (no year, please!)

Send us your letters! dearscratch@scratchsupplyco.com

Support make good: a knitting podcast

59: Hand Care Feb 01, 2022

Show notes

Stretches we mentioned in this week's episode

Front of wrist stretch: turn palm up and use the other hand to pull fingertips down and back (toward the floor/elbow)
Palm stretch: backs of hands facing each other, hook your thumbs and pull (gently!)
Palm stretch 2: stretch your pinkies back with your other hand
Knuckle decompression: pull gently on each finger with other hand
Myofascial release of the forearm - squeeze one forearm with the other tight enough that you can move the skin back and forth about an inch. Push down toward wrist and hold for 60-90 seconds. Move to another spot on your forearm and do it again. You don’t need to do every inch of your forearm!

Tools and supportive aid we mentioned this week:

BioTone Muscle and Join Relief Therapeutic Massage Creme
Compression gloves (whatever you want, just a few that I like):
- Isotoner
- Vive Arthritis and Compression Gloves
- Dritz makes crafting-specific ones! Available at Joann Fabrics, Michaels, and online
- LympheDIVAS - compression sleeves and more!
- Knitting Comfortably: the ergonomics of hand knitting by Carson Demers
- Fruity Knitting podcast interview with him begins at about 40 minutes into this video

What's on our needles this week:

Radish Hat by Holly Priestley
Amberwing Socks by Amber Lee

Patterns mentioned in this week's episode:

Havrelatte by Maja Karlsson
Getting Warmer by Espace Tricot
Ursa by Jacqueline Cieslak

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58: Frogging Jan 25, 2022

Show notes

It's called "frogging" because you rip-it, rip-it, rip-it out. Then there's tinking, which is just knitting in reverse! (Technically that would be gnittink, I suppose, but let's just go with it.)

I did a kind of iffy job of explaining using dental floss as a lifeline. Interweave explains it better here.

What's on our needles this week:

Until recently: Lotta by Marie Greene
Soorik by Gudrun Johnson (from The Shetland Trader, Book Three: Heritage)
Great Gingham Pullover (no link yet, it's still in testing) by Jessie Mae
Amberwing Socks by Summer Lee

Make Good Stashdown KAL checkin

And we're off! Use the hashtag #makegoodstashdown (no year!) to enter.

Send us your letters! dearscratch@scratchsupplyco.com

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57: The Second Annual Make Good Stashdown! Jan 18, 2022

Show notes

What is the Make Good Stashdown?

It's our first KAL of 2022 - you pick your project, works through some stash, and post pictures with the hashtag #makegoodstashdown

Patterns suggested in this week's episode (but do what you want):

Slipstravaganza by Stephen West
Sea Glass Sweater by Wool & Pine
Sea Glass Tee by Wool & Pine
The Stay Pull by Park Williams
Northeasterly by Skeinanigans
Recollect Cowl by Jennifer Steingass
Whatever by Julie Knits in Paris
Fox Paws by Xandy Peters
Lucky Pieces by Inyoung Kim
Little Checks Socks by Summer Lee
Melting Marl Scarf by Stephen West
Scrapper Cardi by Safiyyah Talley
Swatchtastic by Tin Can Knits
The Beekeeper's Quilt by Tiny Owl Knits

What's on our needles this week:

Soorik designed by Gudrun Johnson
Both of Jessica's test knits are visible on Instagram: @jamesnwatts & @jessssiemae

Send us your letters! dearscratch@scratchsupplyco.com

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56: Yarn Detectives Part 2 Jan 04, 2022

Show notes

In Episode 55 we talked about how to the weight of mystery yarn; this week we're talking about ways to identify its fiber content. Grab your notebooks, goggles, and adventurously scientific spirit.

Here we go!

Smell Test

Animal fibers: it will smell like a wet sheep! Maybe a barn/hay smell too
Silk: may have an earthy or fishy smell
Synthetic fibers: generally no smell, maybe oily/artificial smell
Plant fibers: generally no smell

Felting Test

Animal fibers (including silk): will felt if non-superwash
Synthetic & plant fibers: will not felt

Bleach Test

Animal fibers: will fizz and dissolve in 12-24 hours
Silk: will dissolve in approximately two days
Synthetic & plant fibers: won't dissolve, may lose color

Acetone Test

Synthetic fibers: will dissolve
Animal fibers, silk, and plant fibers: will not react much at all

Burn Test

Animal fibers: will burn slowly and curl away from orange flame, will smell like burning hair or feathers
Silk: will burn slow and curl away, may char, may smell like burning hair or charred meat
Plant fibers: burn fast & give off smoke, leave light colored ash * cotton has a yellow flame * hemp & jute has a very bright flame * linen, hemp, and jute ash will still be in the shape of the yarn
- Synthetic fibers: will burn (or really, melt!) quickly and emit a strong, black smoke

What's on our needles this week:

Felix Cardigan designed by Amy Christoffers
Gresham Wrap designed by Michael Vloedman

Send us your letters! dearscratch@scratchsupplyco.com

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55: Yarn Detectives Part 1 Dec 21, 2021

Show notes

We're digging deep into your stash to help you identify yarn that might no longer have any identifying information. (Eek!) This week's question is about choosing patterns when knitting socks for larger feet.

WPI (wraps her inch) and Yarn Weight Charts

Ravelry standard yarn weight chart - WPI, ply, gauge ranges
Craft Yarn Council WPI Chart
SweetGeorgia Spinzilla Series for Calculating Fiber Quantities

Here's a link to a WPI tool, in case you're having trouble visualizing it!

Tools for yardage

Mystery yarn (with WPI/weight identified)
Kitchen or postage scale (need to measure in grams)
Yarn Weight and Yards per Pound Chart
These are estimates/ranges because fiber content and yarn construction affects physical weight

Patterns mentioned in this week's episode:

Rye Light designed by Tin Can Knits
DRK Everyday Socks designed by Andrea Mowry

What's on our needles this week:

Felix Cardigan designed by Savory Knitting (Amy Christoffers)

KAL Check-in!

10 Days left until December 31st
Participate by posting pictures with #makegoodsocks on Instagram OR share comments and photos on our website
Never too late to join!
One knitter will win a $150 gift card to Scratch - you don’t have to finish to win!
SOCK HOP **Join us in an Instagram Live at **4pm EST on January 1- request to join and we’ll let you go Live to show off your socks! @makegoodpod

Send us your letters! dearscratch@scratchsupplyco.com

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54: Hats Dec 14, 2021

Show notes

We've chatted about lots of types of hats in this episode. Please enjoy some pictures to show you what we did our best to describe!

Beanies or Toques
https://images4-g.ravelrycache.com/uploads/PaulaMknits/671969296/CARA1_medium2.jp
CARA Mütze by Susanne Müller

Beret or Tam
https://images4-f.ravelrycache.com/uploads/jamestwashere/663878350/ravelry_beret_photo_edit_medium2.jpeg
Best Beret by James N Watts

https://images4-g.ravelrycache.com/uploads/ginni/761038924/50841238548_0b7bdcb6c3_b_medium2.jpg
Gitchi-Gami Tam by Virginia Sattler-Reimer

Billed
https://images4-g.ravelrycache.com/uploads/WoollyWormhead/110724065/webp/Blog.Camden.Roberta.3_medium2.webp#jpg
Camden Cap by Woolly Wormhead

Bonnet
https://images4-f.ravelrycache.com/uploads/KatLinn/701875504/A2_medium2.JPG
Sunshine Bonnet by Katarina Linnhagen

Cloche
https://images4-g.ravelrycache.com/uploads/LauraNelkin/244706373/webp/folly1_web_medium2.webp#jpg
Folly Cloche by Laura Nelkin

Earflap Hat
https://images4-f.ravelrycache.com/uploads/throughtheloops/648952073/Thorpe_243_medium2.jpg
Thorpe by Kristen Kapur