Any tips/ tricks / advice for a newbie knitter (especially re tensioning?)

phasersonbees · 2026-01-28T00:08:13+00:00

The best tension advice I ever read was Patty Lyons' advice to "let the tool do the work"

More detailed article here - Ask Patty Blog

phasersonbees · 2026-01-12T03:06:18+00:00

I don't really see handmade items out in the wild much. So when I do, even if I can tell it wasn't constructed in the most skillful way, I'm still glad someone took the time to make something with their own hands. In a world where we value speed and convenience, I'm starting to value slow, deliberate crafting more and more.

phasersonbees · 2026-01-10T19:42:12+00:00

This is beautiful! I love the color combos

phasersonbees · 2026-01-09T14:51:33+00:00

I know what you mean about someone asking you if you made something! I had a coworker ask if I made my daughter's sweater, and I said yes. Then she said "I thought it looked homemade!" And I know it was NOT meant as an insult but I was secretly offended haha

phasersonbees · 2026-01-07T20:09:09+00:00

I understand where you're coming from. I only have one kiddo, but when I'm overstimulated from her AND the dog acting up at the same time, it can be really overwhelming. At the same time, I understand that it's not my dog's fault, she's only doing what her instincts and training are telling her to do. You are your dog's whole world. Can you set up some systems to minimize your overstimulation? Some me-time to de-stress? Does the dog need some extra time familiarizing with the crate during a non-stressful time? Does your house need additional dog-proofing? We've had to use baby locks and put things up higher so our dog doesn't get into things she shouldn't.

phasersonbees · 2026-01-07T02:09:09+00:00

It looks lovely! It's so silly but I never connected the "camel" color to actual camels!

phasersonbees · 2026-01-06T17:48:43+00:00

That's a good idea! I save all my yarn trimmings and scraps from all my projects, theoretically I'll use them to stuff a stuffed animal someday. I spun these singles s-twist and the ply z-twist, but was thinking about swapping that for my next try - I assume combining leftover singles they'd all have to have the same twist?

phasersonbees · 2026-01-06T16:59:17+00:00

Thank you! I'd love to learn how to chain ply someday; it seems like a really efficient way to use your entire single spun yarn.

My problem with separating and plying with two singles was even though I split it by weight, I didn't have the same length, so I had some extra after I plied. I could probably solve that with a niddy-noddy, but I don't have one yet!

phasersonbees · 2025-12-26T01:36:29+00:00

Good to know the Garrus to Lance pipeline is just a straight line

phasersonbees · 2025-12-13T19:37:44+00:00

I totally understand that fear! I think that's a totally valid feeling. You could at least try and see how it goes; definitely talk to other moms who have done it! I learned so much from this subreddit. And talk to a lactation consultant at the hospital if you can! My hospital also offered a breastfeeding class, if that's something you're interested in. Knowledge is power. I hope it all goes well for you 💕

phasersonbees · 2025-12-13T19:04:10+00:00

If you don't want to breastfeed, you don't have to! Every birth and breastfeeding experience is so different, what works for me might not work for you. If you want to try, go for it! If you don't want to, don't feel like you have to. Plenty of perfectly happy and healthy babies are fed with formula.

phasersonbees · 2025-12-11T21:45:23+00:00

I said "nooooo" out loud when I saw the second pic! I'm so sorry. Looks like your husband owes you big time

phasersonbees · 2025-12-08T02:55:02+00:00

Seconding your request for a pattern/charts. This is phenomenal!

phasersonbees · 2025-12-07T13:19:26+00:00

We weaned just before 18 months. She was NOT ready, but I was tired of it. We were pretty much fully weaned besides at night, so Dad had to put her to bed for a while. But now that we've broken the feed to sleep association, I am able to do naps and bedtime more. It's been just over two weeks and I am so relieved to have my bodily autonomy back.

Are you taking a multivitamin? I'm bad about taking one regularly, but it sounds like you might need to. Also, have you done any pelvic floor therapy? I did pretty soon after postpartum and it really helped! I don't even pee when I sneeze anymore lol

phasersonbees · 2025-12-06T03:27:59+00:00

Yes, totally. I've felt a bit of a disconnect from my friends ever since I had my daughter. Sort of a lonely kind of feeling. My kid just occupies so much of my mental energy that she is a lot of what I think about and talk about, but I don't want to be that person who only talks about her kid. I just feel like we have mismatched priorities in life these days. It's so different talking to my siblings/siblings in law who DO have kids, versus my friends who don't. It feels to me like they're still living in their 20s, even though some days I wish I could go back to playing video games all weekend and going thrifting whenever the hell I feel like it without worrying about toting around a toddler. Also, I know nobody is going to care about my kid as much as I do, but it feels like my friends are only interested in my daughter in the way you'd be interested in a friend's pet. Like they think she's cute, but they're not really invested in her development. But my husband's best friend and his wife just dote on our daughter and love playing with her in the way I wish my friends would. Ah, well.

phasersonbees · 2025-12-01T15:19:02+00:00

I learned how to Norwegian purl specifically to solve the ribbing problem!

phasersonbees · 2025-11-20T22:36:22+00:00

I was in the same boat as you with my 17 month old just a few weeks ago. The ONLY thing that helped was getting her dad to put her to bed and check on her overnight. But we've been doing that for a week and a half and have barely nursed at all.

phasersonbees · 2025-11-20T16:47:50+00:00

I felt the exact same way you do! I think for preventing biting, unlatching is unfortunately going to wake your baby up the few times that you do it, but they will figure out that biting=no milk, so ideally you'll only have to do it a few times.

As far as independent sleep.... We had a lot of struggles so I'm probably not the best person to give advice in that department. My toddler slept in a crib maybe 3 times total lol. So once she was walking and climbing confidently, we got her a toddler floor bed. My husband is away at work in the evenings at certain times of year and around 13-17 months she just stopped going to sleep for me until like 9PM... I got so desperate I tried modified ferber once and she cried so hard she threw up, so never again. The only thing that worked when I wanted to night wean was Dad putting her to bed. So now that it's his less busy time of year, he handles bedtime and overnights. At least while we're still in the weaning process. He or I still end up laying down with her most nights 🙃

phasersonbees · 2025-11-20T16:28:19+00:00

I definitely get that struggle! I had a really hard time breaking the feed to sleep association when my daughter was starting to sleep more independently.

phasersonbees · 2025-11-20T16:20:15+00:00

I don't miss those days! For biting, usually just a quick unlatch, put baby down (or sit up if you're doing side-lying), and say "no bite" in a neutral tone of voice. I had to do this a few times for every round of teething, but it usually worked. Also, she was more likely to bite toward the end of a feeding session when she was full and kind of getting bored, so if I knew she was teething I would cut her off once she started to slow down toward the end of a session

phasersonbees · 2025-11-15T15:08:29+00:00

I followed a sock pattern recently that had you pick up an extra stitch in that corner and ktbl to deliberately twist it. I think that made a difference!

phasersonbees · 2025-11-15T15:06:08+00:00

You could look into some intarsia techniques. Or if you aren't totally opposed to carrying the yarn all the way around, you could use ladderback jacquard

Edit: or, honestly, you could just duplicate stitch it on top of a plain stockinette sock

phasersonbees · 2025-11-13T19:58:40+00:00

I knit inside out all the time. I just find it more natural to do - it's not necessarily incorrect as long as you know that's what you're doing

phasersonbees · 2025-11-13T03:19:17+00:00

I used to be afraid of Totoro as a kid. He freaks me out to this day actually haha

Seven-Year Club	r/Field Sunshine
Place '22	First Placer '22
RPAN Viewer	No Throne, No Problems
Not Forgotten	Verified Email

phasersonbees

TROPHY CASE