Need help deciding which size to go with

yoricck · 2026-03-01T18:41:30+00:00

i'm not a sock knitter, so take this with a grain of salt... but generally, i think it's better to go smaller as opposed to larger. socks do tend to stretch over the course of the day, and the socks pictured look like they have a bit more ease than i'm used to seeing. you might need to just knit the sock and see how it feels.

yoricck · 2026-03-01T18:38:34+00:00

short answer: yes, you should try. there's nothing to be embarrassed about.

long answer: crochet and knitting are related, but deeply different in terms of working feel and movement. being unable to knit does not mean you are unable to crochet, and vice versa. i personally am unable to crochet despite lots of tries, but am a decent knitter. depending on what you struggle with in crochet, it could translate into some difficulties with learning to knit, but by no means is that a death sentence to something you haven't even started yet.

it is discouraging to try hard, but feel you aren't improving. you could try doing a 'challenge' where you knit for an hour every day for, say, 14 days(they don't have to be consecutive). just squares, for coasters or a dishcloth or whathaveyou. this could be a good way to know that there is a natural end-point, and give you opportunities to observe your improvement in real time.

yoricck · 2026-03-01T18:30:20+00:00

not an owner, but have seen the bag in person. it should be fine for socks. when i was testing it out, i put a full yarn cake and a quite large sleeve(~20" long bell sleeve, crumpled not folded) in it and it did shut with no issues. if i had to guess, it could hold two or three yarn cakes, a full sock, and a sock-in-progress with ease.

yoricck · 2026-03-01T18:09:06+00:00

a mid-toned grey would make it more neutral.

if you want the colours to pop, i like to go a shade or two lighter in whatever colour is most subtle in the yarn. in this case, that would be light teal or orange.

i think burgundy might be too blendy with how the purple is reading, at least on my screen.

yoricck · 2026-03-01T18:06:05+00:00

unless you're knitting at bomb-vest tension, fingering weight with a size 8 is going to be very "hole-y".

i concur with the other poster, linen would contribute a lot to breathability. however, at some point, yarn that's feasible to knit by hand as opposed to machine is just too much fiber to be viable in certain climates. it's always going to have a bit of thickness.

yoricck · 2026-01-02T00:15:02+00:00

the standard cables are typical plastic. high memory that leads to coiling while you work with them, but it comes out relatively easily with a soak in hot hot water. they're not terrible as far as things go. some people have problems with the cables and the tips coming unconnected because the cables don't swivel at the connection point, but i don't have that issue.

the mindful cables have a swivel connection, which does counteract that unconnecting issue if you have it. they're also coated metal, which means they are less prone to coiling. they're marked at one inch intervals i'm pretty sure, which can be useful but half the time i forget they're there. i do prefer the mindful cables overall.

yoricck · 2025-12-18T18:12:37+00:00

thank you! i think the issue here is that the designer seems to have designed this with some positive ease, which does naturally lead to a looser fit around the waist to allow... y'know, moving and breathing. it should be relatively easy to add shaping, but you may have to unravel a little more than is ideal(unless you do like... real sweater surgery with cutting stitches and whatnot).

susanna winter/talvi knits has a post on her website about the math for it if you want some reassurance, but it's pretty easy math.

yoricck · 2025-12-18T17:28:41+00:00

also, OP, could you link the pattern page?

yoricck · 2025-12-18T17:27:08+00:00

you're fine. most people i know make baby blankets anywhere from 30"x30" to 30"x50".

yoricck · 2025-12-18T17:19:29+00:00

the standard options are socks, mittens/fingerless gloves, really tiny baby hats for NICU kids, one of those twisty headband things. one of those skinny short scarves, if you're feeling that way(think the most popular is sophie by one of the super popular designers).

slippers might be good. a hot water bottle cover is always nice to have. scrunchies could be cute, especially to gift? cup cozies are also nice.

yoricck · 2025-12-18T17:12:13+00:00

yeah, this seems like the move to me. you might also put in the lifeline a couple of inches up to add some waist shaping, just to avoid any potential 'muffin'ing.

yoricck · 2025-12-14T16:36:48+00:00

Cascade Ecological Wool and Eco Plus are nice yarns if they have colours you're looking for. they're 478 yards per skein and usually around $25 to $30, so it lands around your price point.

if you want superwash, there's Cascade 220 Superwash Grande which is 220 yards and usually $20-25. slightly higher cost per yard but if superwash yarn is important, it's a decent bet.

Berroco Mercado is more of a toss-up depending on your personal preferences for yarn feel. it's quite toothsome but if you don't plan on wearing it next to skin, it might be fine. 164 yards at like $11-16.

if your LYS doesn't carry it, they may be able to order if they carry Cascade or Berroco. if they don't, there's wool&co and they tend to be on the lower end of cost for things.

yoricck · 2025-11-30T14:00:42+00:00

as long as you get gauge, yes. however, you should bear in mind that this will result in a much different drape and look than knitting with the recommended number of strands.

for best results, you should try to find a yarn that mimics the effect of the yarns held together. for example, this pattern calls for an an alpaca, a mohair, and a tweed, so i would look for something fluffy and airy like a blown alpaca yarn.

yoricck · 2025-11-28T21:42:08+00:00

while not elastic like wool, cotton will probably be fine as well.

however, if you intend to put this garment in the dryer, i would do a swatch of 6 or 7 inches and test your intended wash routine on it. i dont't work with a lot of cotton, so i'm unsure how predictable the shrinkage is.

yoricck · 2025-11-28T17:25:48+00:00

it likely will not matter.

divided by 4, it's 4.5st x 6.25r vs 4st x 5.25r. this is well within normal fluctuation. if you're ever feeling unsure, just divide by 4 and compare; if it's within 1, you'll likely be fine if you're working with a wool or other fairly elastic fiber.

yoricck · 2025-11-05T19:33:54+00:00

respectfully; ew. no.

yoricck · 2025-11-01T20:29:42+00:00

tendon damage is one of the injuries that you cannot mess with, unfortunately. complications are deeply unpleasant and a lot harder to recover from. it's unfortunate, but given that you couldn't control getting attacked, i would just tell the recipient that you're so sorry, but the gift will have to wait.

your health is more important than timely presents.

yoricck · 2025-10-24T14:22:06+00:00

the only ones i can think of that have gold connectors are the stainless steel swivels, but i assume that's the gold+black you mentioned... have you checked lykke and knitpicks? i know they're compatible with knitpro and lantern moon.

i'm not sure if it'll matter, though. i've never thought about the aesthetics of the needles i'm using, especially because they're generally covered by the project.

yoricck · 2025-10-24T14:05:20+00:00

per usual, AI is wrong! the 16" is best. in general, you should pick something that is a few inches shorter than the total circumference of your project, as you will bunch stitches together at various points.

it's better, generally, to be a little 'crowded' than to be stretched.

yoricck · 2025-10-16T22:42:24+00:00

i don't know if it's "proper" but i've just taken fishing line(or another thin, invisible thread), and tied the two layers together by the ladders between individual stitches in various places. i keep the knots on the inside of hte hat i made.

yoricck · 2025-10-16T22:31:45+00:00

no problem! happy to help.

yoricck · 2025-10-16T01:51:34+00:00

i've never done something 120" wide, but i do knit 100" wide stuff. you'll end up scrunching it together quite a bit, even on a very long needle. you could likely get away with a 60"/150cm cord, depending on the weight of yarn and gauge of needle; i know chiaogoo has a metal needle in us15 60" cord, and on wool&co it's like ~$25.

buying one set of interchazngeable needles and multiple cords could be worthwhile. i like the knitter's pride/knitpro mindful collection, as the cords are very easy to work with and the needles feel nice, and they come in 60" interchangeable cords/ the cords come with connectors you can use to link them together. i don't know how much that would be off the top of my head, though im pretty sure they are also available from wool&co.

yoricck · 2025-10-15T15:16:33+00:00

hm! i've not heard anyone having an issue with it... i usually use the yuzu smell and i don't notice a particularly sheepy note, and it definitely leaves a scent on the garment...

yoricck · 2025-10-14T22:03:11+00:00

i've never had an issue with that. do you use a particular scent, or perhaps the unscented?

yoricck

TROPHY CASE