Ep 69: Fern & Feather, Poppy Tee, Cami #9, Oslo Hat, Snow Wonder, Charisma - Mostly Knitting Podcast

The Fern & Feather is lovely. Since you are working the dolman sweater flat, your stitch counter can be placed on your needles. That makes me remember to increase it each row. I have just made a chain of numbers out of beads I got at a craft store for the next sweater I work in the round that has long pattern repeats. I just completed the Pothos tee by Beth MacDonald, and the pattern is a 12-row sequence knitted in the round. I used my wooden row counter that has beads on a wooden backing that has a column for ones, tens, and hundreds with a string that you slide the bead up into small dips numbered 0 to 9, 0 to 90, and 0 to 500. It has a chain that I could put on my circular needles, but I usually just have it on my table while I'm knitting. I got it from Green Owl Farmacy at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival.

I tend to count rows in groups of 5 or 10 depending on the pattern. Every 5-10 rows I place a stitch marker (specifically a lightbulb stitch marker) and then I count the number of stitch markers so I know how many rows I've done. It has worked out pretty well for me thus far, so I thought I'd share just in case someone else is looking for a new row counting system.

Love Road to China yarn.

Sweaters are coming along nicely.

Love Twice Sheared Sheep. They are so great to work with. Love the row counters.❤️

Firstly Congrats on passing your experience(ed?) teacher application! What a relieve!
I have lots to say today 😜
The Fern and Feather looks great. If anyone can wear something this fitted it's you! I think it would look great with extra high waisted jeans (like the Levis Ribcage) It seems that the smallest part of your waist is quite a bit higher than the jeans you are wearing today. But if you think that's not a good solution I would harvest from the the arms to make the body a bit longer to work better with the bottoms already in your closet. The tight fit and long rib looks great on you though in my opinion.
The colour of the poppy tee is sooo good! Can't wait to see that one finished.
I am a big fan of Nutiden and have a pretty decent stash. I would highly recommend holding one strand with a mohair. Not only does it make the knitting experience easier/better but it also helps A LOT with pilling. Nutiden is very soft and pills easily on its own. I have yet to knit double stranded as it doesn't get very cold where I live and Nutiden is so warm. I think I have a colour that would be lovely with your light pink (it is a good match with the KFO soft silk mohair in Plum Clay to give you an idea). I don't think you need much for the colour work. I could vacuum seal it and mail it to you in an envelope. Let me know if you are interested to see pictures and I will send you some 😊

I am so happy to hear you passed your experience teacher!!! It is always so great to have these stressors behind you. Love seeing all your WIPs. Thank you for inspiring me to keep working on my projects. Prayers for relief with your arthritis. ❤

Great episode! It's so good to find your podcast every week. ❤❤❤

Breath of fresh air.
Lovely bright energy filled.
Gorgeous fiber art !

My arthritis is really helped by taking cod liver oil Tesh.

Congratulations Tash on achieving experienced teacher rating. All your projects are looking great. Thanks for the suggestions in what’s caught my eye. I’ve added some of them to my favourites. Perhaps as the pressure eases off you now, your arthritis might settle a bit more. 🤞

Congratulations on passing your experience teacher exam! We knew you would pass. You are so dedicated. I love gadgets for knitting and would buy the pretty row counter if I ever see it but I have always used a length of non splitty yarn, folded in half and tied with knots to make as many slots as rows that I need. If it’s for cables, I tie a coloured yarn in the cable cross slot. If there are two different cables with different row counts, I can keep track of them easily putting them at the beginning stitch of the cable. I hope that I’ve said this clearly because I make them all the time as I can never find the one with the number of slots I need.

Hope you get your arthritis sorted soon. 😮

Hello Tash, I really enjoy your podcasts.
Thank you for your clear and inspiring knitting projects. ❤

I love my counters from Twice Sheared Sheep. I use them most often on patterned socks to keep track of my rows. I also really like the little ones that that just have K and D or K and I. They’re great for keeping up with the alternating plain and increase (or decrease) rounds when doing raglan shaping. Hope you like them!

Congratulations Experienced Teacher!!! Sooooooo much work! 👏👏👏
My head was spinning when you said you were able to drop down stitches and do K2tog yarn over! I would have thought you’d need extra yarn - you are so knowledgeable and skilled!
I’m currently knitting a little beanie with penguins holding hands which is looking just a smidge adorable! I need to wear a brace/splint on my right hand when I knit due to my arthritis and need to pace myself which is very frustrating because like you , I can knit really fast in my head! 🤣 Good idea to chat to your GP seeing as it’s so long before your Specialist appointment.
Thanks for another great episode Tash😃🧶

A great episode,Tash🙏I had same "back order' experience with Bendigo.Hard to know how long the wait,I agree.Enjoy your weekend ,young lady Winter has definitely arrived n'est ce pas?x

Congratulations on passing your Experienced Teacher application! This is great news for you.

After watching An Italian Knitter podcast, I think I’d like to make all 4 of the seasonal patterns as a 2024 project.

Totally not knitting related but I’d love to see how you will use your iPad with teaching. After being an Itinerant for years, I’ll be headed back into the classroom in September and will be teaching math.

Congratulations 🎉

Kevin from Needles at the Ready recommended the Salish Cap. I am going to try it. Maybe a good option for your son. Thanks for your fabulous informative videos.

Huge congratulations on acing your Experienced Teacher milestone! And what a relief to have your presentation behind you too. The Poppy Tee is a very flattering color on you. I'm always a fan of your Friends; what an amazing wardrobe you have created. I've been holding you in my heart, hoping this dose of the Pred would kick in, and sorry that it hasn't so far ---and, your comfort and mobility are NOT boring :) Wonderful to have so many good knits to look forward to, and some more open time too.

Hi Tash! I love seeing your friends from the vault and am amazed at how many sweaters you have knit! Most of the patterns you chose are also in my favourites. You have inspired me to try Madeline Tosh yarns. 😊

Love your poppy tee makes me want to knit one. Have a great week ❤️

Love the color of your poppy tee! I am knitting mine now as well, but a sweater with long sleeves. Overall, amazing episode as usual, thank you!

Hi Tash, your Poppy tee looks lovely, that bright red colour suits you perfectly. Camisole no. 9 is also stunning.
I am very curious about how you will like the row counter that will be sent to you to try out. I have always used the little ones that you need to turn. I thread a piece of yarn through it and attach it to my work, right below the beginning of round/row with a stitch marker. Then I move it up once it becomes uncomfortable to reach it. It has become my second nature to turn it when I start a new round.
Thanks for the suggestion about the yarn substitution website, I have never heard of it before, it is a really good one.

I love twice sheared sheep tools. You are going to really like them and she's a dream to ❣️💙

Congratulations! On your exams and all the things going on. I hope you maybe will feel better when the weather gets better, of course, right in time for your dr appt as usual. But good is good, still go lol

I have those row counters. I love working with them. Right now I have increases every 8 rows. I have a progress keeper hooked on the 8th ring so I know that is when I work the increases 😊

Congratulations on passing the "experienced teacher". Great episode, thanks for the inspiration.

Thank you once again for a lovely informative podcast. So sorry to hear about your arthritis. I hope you are able to get in to see your rheumatologist before October. Don't go rogue with the prednisone, though. It's a powerful drug. Congrats, too, on passing your teaching test. All the very best.

Given you don’t want to mattress stitch I wonder if you have considered a Russian graft rather than a three needle bind off? Russian graft does leave a smooth surface on both sides and is a pretty finish.

You are going to love the row counter - it is a game changer! Make sure the chain hang to the front! I love Cocoknits’ stitchmarkers, the rings are colourful, smooth & magnetic! Enjoy!🎉

Massive congratulations on passing your Experience Teacher Tash. ❤️
Your Poppy Tee is looking fab and the colour really suits you. You must have so much patience knitting your lace sweater but it is going to be stunning and a deviation to what you usually knit ❤

I have used the row counters for a couple of months now. Love, love, love them. A game changer! No more trying to count rows manually. I have two sizes, a 5 row and a 10 row. I don’t have access to Twice Sheared Sheep so I bought mine on Amazon. For the 5 row counter I split a 10 row counter in half.

Congrats on your pass! 🎉

I would add some while stripes to lengthen the sewater

Your friend from the vault is beautiful so I would totally rip the sleeves back and use the yarn to make the body more to your taste.

Another great podcast, Tash. Huge congrats on successfully completing your ‘Experienced Teacher’ hurdle! It has to be a relief & now perhaps a little more time for your knitting.😉 I enjoyed weaving in the ends of my socks as I listened & watched your podcast. ❤

Congrats on passing your exam! 💪🏻💕 If you do go rogue with your prednisone, not sure how to spell it 🤭 just make sure you come back down slowly. Mother-in-law and dad have had to use this on and off over the years.

OMG I don’t miss the Sydney winter weather. It’s cold here in the morning but during the day in the sun I’m still wearing a light summer dress. Nice job on the Rowan surgery. Have a great week, thanks for sharing, Karen 😘

I think your Fern and Feather would look better
- shorter, without waist shaping so more boxy and yes it would have to be for dresses and skirts
- short sleeves if you need more yarn
When I lived in Sydney ( in a colder New England climate now) I wore short sleeved wool jumpers a lot - they look good over tees and I find them very comfy, not too hot

Congrats on passing your exams! Now you can do more knitting❤ wow you’ve made good progress on the cami and poppy T. Would love to try the cammy but I thing ones tension would have to be absolutely perfect! Yours looks great as always. Am interested in also making Charisma but will have to get help re yarn sub from LYS the on line search engine doesn’t seem to have anything that matches over 80%. I never thought bat wing clothing would make a comeback! But that too is very elegant looking isn’t it? Hope your arthritis starts to improve. Same here re health care I spent 9 HOURS in emerg last night cause pulled my knee and felt like it was out of alignment!!! They had a trauma then an aggressive alert called then a code blue I was thinking what’s coming next a tsunami??? Oh well I do work there so am quite aware of all the heath care woes. Isn’t growing older grand?😂

I love the idea of a dress made from the Pyramid Light. I've been wanting to make a summer dress but haven't seen the right pattern and have been considering Frankensteining a top & skirt to create the "perfect dress". Is it Reverse Stockinette? That would be my only issue with that top pattern

Thanks for another great episode! The scarf from your mum is just lovely! You are probably aware of the knit companion app. I have the free version on my phone and i-pad and use it to track my rows and where I am in my pattern. I never lose my place anymore. The app is a game changer for me. It works with Ravelry and drop box. Very Pink Knits has a great episode discussing the app.

Hi Tash, I’m also a Sydneysider knitter. I’m curious how you would style the Petite Knit tee shirt. Would you wear it in our Winter or Summer?

Congratulations on passes your teacher’s exams!!!! Great job! ❤Your poppy tee is a great color on you! I’m so sorry about your arthritis and having to wait so long to see them. I hope your general practitioner can help you in the meantime!!🙏❤️Sending prayers!

Lovely episode again Tash - the Charisma is looking so soft and lovely. The colour of the Poppy Tee is spectacular!

I love your podcasts and often add patterns to my queue after seeing items you’re making, planning to make etc. The one thing that really made me sit up during this one was the fact that you’re planning to knit the shore tee. I love the look of this too and have started it but totally messed it up! Not really sure why, but the start of the pattern seemed confused to me, so I can’t wait to pick up some tips from you as it’s currently on the naughty step 😅 Congrats on passing your experienced teacher… is there more to be done on this or are you free now? Thanks for all the inspiration and your seemingly endless enthusiasm 😊

The Fern and Feather Sweater is great and your ideas to change it to a short sleeve top are ideal. Cami No 9 is finished and lovely for summer. The Charisma is looking good and especially in the pink. The short rows come in handy in many situations. Congratulations on your Experienced Teacher pass. The Petute Knit T is beautiful in that gorgeous red. What a lot you had on your plate for the past few months. I went to the Opera House on the 21st June to listen to Lucia Di Lammermoor by Donazetti. It was fabulous then we went home to lhave a glass of a good red wine. It is my Birthday today and I had great day. Take care and rekax ❤😊

Thanks Tash for sharing with us your knits and plans.