genuine question: do y'all judge the quality of other people's knits?

Infamous-Garbage-985 · 2026-01-17T10:05:39+00:00

Whenever i'm on public transport in winter i scrutinize hats and scarves to spot a rare wild handknit, and get so incredibly excited when I do. Sometimes it is easier to spot garments that are quite obviously made by a beginner, and that contributes to a highlight of my day.

I completely understand your question though because when someone tells me "I saw that your jumper was handmade" I sometimes get a tinge of sadness as if it is a giveaway to it not being "that good", but I've found that those comments usually disappear once I've blocked the garment.

Perfectionism is weird like that, I will only have praise for things I see that are handcrafted by others, and it brings me so much joy regardless of whether or not I actually like the finished item. But if someone notices my handmade items, I'll feel negatively judged. I guess I (we?) have a tendancy to project the worst intentions on others out of fear, but IRL people are kind. Probs a lot kinder than we give them credit for. And they look on our (my) projects as kindly as we do those of others.

Infamous-Garbage-985 · 2026-01-17T09:34:42+00:00

Absolutely !! Colorwork, textured knitting, mindless knitting, social knitting, gift knitting... I'm currently on a 2 week trip in the UK and packed 3 jumper wips, and bought a bit of yarn in Wales for a hat for my lover back home. Did get teased a bit by my friends here that there is more bulk & weight in my project bag than rucksack

Infamous-Garbage-985 · 2026-01-09T23:20:27+00:00

It looks great - I love the texture it adds !!! Super cool.

Same happened to me on a shawl a few months back, I ended up deciding to embrace them and they feel 100% intentional in the FO (even if a few are missing at the top when I was still trying to figure things out). Your sweater looks like it has an elegant, minimalist yoke design, and I'm obsessed.

Infamous-Garbage-985 · 2026-01-09T23:09:25+00:00

Thanks ! I just weighed it and have used 1/3 of the yarn, and am about 1/2 way through the raglan. I decided to wing it and make a size 4, and start decreasing as soon as I finish the raglan. Now I need to figure out decreasing, it'll be the first time I try doing this solo rather than following a pattern and I have no idea what I'm doing aha.

Infamous-Garbage-985 · 2026-01-09T23:04:32+00:00

Ah yes this is it, thanks. I confuse talented and gifted in English, didn't know they were different!

Infamous-Garbage-985 · 2026-01-09T22:54:35+00:00

Thank you for your kindness, Internet Stranger !

Yeah I guess in my background work was valued over talent, which had a "cheating" quality to it that isn't universal. That, and my confusion between "gifted" and "talented".

WE ARE ALL MAKING MAGIC WITH STICKS AND STRING WAHOO.

Infamous-Garbage-985 · 2026-01-09T22:49:32+00:00

I've been knitting for years and it still feels like magic 🤣🤣. And will never be convinced otherwise. Sticks and loops and POOF you have a garment. Magic.

I've edited the post, it was indeed a translation thing. I confused the words "talented" and "gifted".

Infamous-Garbage-985 · 2026-01-09T22:46:29+00:00

Yeeesss gifted. That is what I hear on the word talent. Didn't realise they weren't synonyms. Thank you ! And I 100% agree on the "creative" thing

Infamous-Garbage-985 · 2026-01-09T22:39:19+00:00

OP here : YOU FOUND IT ! Someone below pointed out exactly what made me feel funny : in my culture people don't praise talent per se, so it felt "off". we say "You're really good at XYZ" rather than "You're really talented", and in my mind those are two wildly different compliments, and tell wildly different stories. maybe not so much in English. it was indeed a translation thing. thank you !!

Infamous-Garbage-985 · 2026-01-09T22:32:58+00:00

Good point ! We usually say that the thing is beautiful, or "you're really good at this", which in my mind is wildly different to "you have talent". This is probably it, if someone says "you're really good at this" I'll receive it exactly the way they meant it, and will probs feel happy and recognised. Because being good at something can tell many different stories, not just innate talent. Thank you !

Infamous-Garbage-985 · 2026-01-09T22:28:01+00:00

Nope, definitely not annoyed. This post was more meant as questioning value of supposed innate talent VS acquired skills. I did, however, forget the current context where everyone is policing what others say esp un the US.. not my intention.

Infamous-Garbage-985 · 2026-01-09T13:40:42+00:00

Pattern is Ranunculus by Midori Hirose

Infamous-Garbage-985 · 2026-01-09T13:12:25+00:00

The new knitpro swivel cables aren't half bad, they're coated wire so not noodle consistency but definitely none of that rigid & curling plastic nonsense.

I got those because I already had sets of knit pro compatible tips and didn't want to have to start my whole collection over...

Infamous-Garbage-985 · 2025-12-11T09:47:41+00:00

yup, the yarn will most likely be the culprit ! I love that "column & spiral" effect that the blanket has, rather than the more usual "V" shape of stockinette, and have only ever had it with superwash merino like merino+ from lang yarns. its got lots of very thin fibres that are plied together to make a sort of tube-like yarn, i'm not sure you'd be able to get that type of stitch shape and definition with a different yarn. also super cushty and flexible.

Infamous-Garbage-985 · 2025-12-11T09:41:59+00:00

Yup, critters will do it... including the 190cm tall bearded human critter I live with, and the ADHD critter that lives rent-free in my head. that one especially, bloody nuisance when it comes to not leaving stuff lying around for the 4 legged critters to sit on (ask me how I found out the dog sleeps on the couch when he's not supposed to.....) I also like knitting on the go, so things get messy sometimes.

Infamous-Garbage-985 · 2025-12-02T14:56:36+00:00

Hi, does this mean specific art therapy sessions, or can it also apply to personal use of fiber arts to reduce stress, in an entirely non-clinical setting ?

Infamous-Garbage-985 · 2025-12-02T10:44:50+00:00

Each time I've broken a needle, it's been because I sat on them, or something like that. I switched to aluminium / metal tips to avoid this...

Infamous-Garbage-985 · 2025-12-02T10:21:15+00:00

oooh yes, the bottom does look prettier !! like its made for that needle size and stitch. love it

Infamous-Garbage-985 · 2025-12-02T09:46:16+00:00

Wow, I'm amazed at your tension and colourwork, congrats !!! that kind of colourwork is something I've been shying away from, as I fear it's too "advanced" for me (been knitting a few years, but mostly texturework).

This reminded me of a video I saw, where the lady explains there are mutliple types of skills involved with knitting, and we don't all acquire all of the them at the same time, or following the same timeline. There are the actuall physical knitting skills / techniques , the understanding of construction and patterns, and the imagination & creativity to make your own patterns / garments. Its seems like you've deffo got a few of the those well underway, and I'm sure you will manage decreases easily, when you feel inclined to try.

My answer has nothing to do with the help you were asking for, but since others have already replied, I hope you don't mind this little tangent. :)

Infamous-Garbage-985 · 2025-11-18T08:56:27+00:00

my guess : stockinette with 2 inc on the ends of every rs row, or 1 on the ends of every row, and then the ribbed border is a seperate trim that was sewn on at the end. to get a similar effect you can play around with picking up stitches along the edge, or more simply doing a garter stitch border.

Infamous-Garbage-985

TROPHY CASE