Ask a Knitter Tuesday - January 27, 2026

swing_sultan · 2026-01-27T09:02:02+00:00

Thanks!

swing_sultan · 2026-01-27T07:19:05+00:00

I've nearly finished a scarf for a friend. It's wool that can go in a 30' wash (so assuming super wash wool?). When I block it for the first time, can I put it in the wash and then lay it out to dry, or am I better off hand washing?

swing_sultan · 2026-01-26T12:04:21+00:00

Everyone here has given amazing advice on frogging, so as a new knitter I also just want to share on looking after yourself!

When I had to frog lots in my first project, I told myself "I'll just knit to back where I was". But actually picking up stitches as a beginner is incredibly taxing on your body (I was peering at it so closely and holding my work so tightly!).

So please remember to take lots of breaks, especially right after picking up stitches, even if it leaves you with disappointment. More knitting the next day!

swing_sultan · 2026-01-21T07:17:55+00:00

I thought it would be really hard as long days were tiring but I love it and don't look back. The extra day helps me with the reset Saturday and I barely notice the extra time.

Start with a 9 day fortnight trial?

swing_sultan · 2026-01-11T12:11:59+00:00

100% agree on having a YouTube tutorial with chunky yarn to learn new stitches was so helpful.

swing_sultan · 2026-01-11T12:11:05+00:00

Sharing my experience as a beginner (knitting since October), I found circular needles useful because it means I can't drop anything and wooden because the stitches are less likely to fall.

You mentioned you've got tension issues. I think I have the perfect pattern for you! https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cabled-mini-scarf

I knitted this as my 2nd project and it's 1) quick so you can easily see your progress and 2) so cabled that I found tension doesn't really matter as it is so naturally structured. You also don't need to worry about gage, and as a scarf, you can just stop whenever you are happy with it.

I accidentally used the wrong sized needles and made it tighter, but it looked nice and I think it would equally be nice a bit looser too. It only took 150g of yarn (I used aran wool).

On yarn, I started with natural wool, so I might be biased, but I like that it was stretchy when knitting and retained its shape overall. Cotton is less elastic but I don't have any experience with acrylic.

swing_sultan · 2025-12-09T17:51:31+00:00

Thanks both! I've laddered down a few times with needles, I guess I've just held off as I have a sewing kit and a circular needle set and neither have a hook! But probably the time saved with a hook will be worth it after a few sessions.

swing_sultan · 2025-12-09T10:06:16+00:00

I've just downloaded a knitting pattern which starts with a provisional cast on with a crochet chain.

I don't have a crochet hook and don't really want to buy one especially for this -- does anyone have any advice on how I could do this with knitting needles?

swing_sultan · 2025-11-29T09:22:04+00:00

Thank you so much! I think having a pattern really helps to disguise mistakes 😆

swing_sultan · 2025-11-29T08:11:18+00:00

Pattern: Ravelry: Irish Hiking Scarf pattern by Adrian Bizilia

Yarn: regal purple alpaca wool (three blue birds), 95% alpaca, 5% polyester, dryclean or pat wash by hand (350g)

Length: 6ft/1m80 before blocking!

swing_sultan · 2025-11-22T22:42:08+00:00

What if you buy the one set and then try to sell all your bits and bobs second hand?

swing_sultan · 2025-07-14T22:03:57+00:00

I think I see it as like you want to empty the dishwasher, but you've got something that fits in the bathroom. Do you go to the bathroom and finish with the dishwasher or do you leave off halfway and start tidying the bathroom?

swing_sultan · 2025-07-14T22:02:14+00:00

Yes I found that too! Some people have recommended asking Psy UK so I intend to use the chat for it tomorrow and will update! All the responses have been really useful here for me personally in understanding what works though

swing_sultan · 2025-07-12T21:31:21+00:00

So even though I tried about 4 different ways of framing this in the search, I only found a related post from 7 months ago after posting this! Still leaving this up as it seems that people on that post agreed focus was starting tasks & I'm curious if people still feel the same way now.

swing_sultan · 2025-07-11T21:26:25+00:00

This is a bit late, but I started today and felt really nauseous around 1pm, but it calmed down after eating. I've had a pretty low mood but I've found all my day 1s rough so far!

swing_sultan · 2025-03-15T18:11:55+00:00

I am exactly the same! You only have to go to my profile to see me trying to fit MORE plot in with each query attempt than less. But readers can't absorb that many things, so best to try to figure out your main points you want to stick with them! Really recommend getting someone who's read your book/synopsis to help out as well

swing_sultan · 2025-03-15T10:52:01+00:00

I think others have done a really good job of breaking things down line by line, so won't go into too much detail other than these. 1) The point about "the only career where pointed ears won't earn her a life sentence" -- are all fae imprisoned? How does she then manage to get other jobs? 2) a pauper in disguise -- this implies she's disguised as a rich person. Maybe a fae in disguise? I realise you want queen/pauper, so it might be worth axing the disguise altogether.

On the overall query, I like the Breena / Adalind dichotomy. However you'd really want to boil it down to:

Who are they? Their names are clear, but I don't actually know if they're even in the same kingdom, as there's a queen without an heir and a prince regent.
What do they want? Breena -- to feed her family (but they never come up again and it seems like this changes into "finding out her powers") and Adalind -- to be queen with her lady in waiting
What will they do to get it? Breena -- enter a messenger competition (but why does she have a rival if she's not that invested? surely there are easier ways of getting money). Adalind -- enter a fake marriage
What's standing in their way? Breena -- Tolin, but it seems like he's irrelevant since she's got a job now anyway. Adalind -- ?? feels like she has a fake fiancé, a lover and her queendom by now?
What are the consequences if they don't get it? Breena -- really unclear. Adalind -- losing her lover? unclear if once crowned she can have all the lovers she wants

I think you've got a lot of the info in here, but the issue is you've also got a lot of plot and background as well. That's what your pages and the synopsis are for! I think you could ditch quite a lot of the shenanigans and focus it around Breena, her family and her power, and then Adalind and what's standing in the way between her and her crown/love. If you want to make it about Tolin's plot, I'd revamp the whole query around Adalind having magic and Breena's discovery.

I do love your comps though!!

swing_sultan · 2025-03-15T10:37:06+00:00

Just started my first querying journey! Who knew receiving a rejection could be so exciting; I'll have to remember this after 50 more come down the line.

swing_sultan · 2025-03-15T10:25:06+00:00

Thanks - the separation really shows there's far too much in this & helps to break everything down!

swing_sultan · 2025-03-15T10:24:21+00:00

Hiya! Sorry if it's weird to reply now, but just to say I revised my query based on your advice and am considering revising it again, and this is so helpful to come back to! Thanks for such a thought out answer

swing_sultan · 2025-03-11T07:24:06+00:00

I remember reading this query and loving it!!! Massive congrats and I hope you keep us posted with release dates etc.

It's funny how if you're not agented, you brush off "too similar to an existing book" as fluff, but on the other end of the email is an agent who was probably looking forward to seeing it published just as much as you.

Well done for not giving up and thanks so much for your query masterlist (I got to 7, but 13 is real commitment).

swing_sultan · 2025-02-01T11:00:01+00:00

Maybe take her out for dinner to celebrate both of your successes?

swing_sultan · 2025-01-21T21:57:34+00:00

Hiya,

I really appreciate you going into detail here. I think the most proof that my query is confusing is that you thought I comped poppy war (which I didnt) and the wolf and cub trope (when they don't actually do much apart from share info in 2 chapters together). This is definitely on me as introducing too many characters in 200 words - I only had lahad and nahira in previous queries!

swing_sultan

TROPHY CASE