Maker of the Week #3 Sydney @Sydsknitss
Welcome to the third instalment of Maker of the Week! This week it’s Sydney from @sydknitts. Her projects are all super cute and the Good News Cardigan is currently at the top of my knits wish list! Enjoy the interview and make sure to follow @sydsknitss!
Hello! My name is Sydney Jessica and I am a twenty year old knitter from Southern California. I'm a junior at UCLA (go Bruins!) majoring in Jewish Studies and History, with plans to be a Professor of Holocaust History in my future!
My crafting journey first began in January 2019 when I was a freshman in college and was having difficulties meeting people with similar interests to my own. One day during work I was distributing posters and happened to come across an advertisement for Crochet Club and knew that I had to join, as I had always wanted to learn. I ended up meeting my two very close friends and learning a new hobby! Knitting has a very close place in my heart. When I first learned how to knit in early August of 2020 with the help of my neighbour, my mother found my late grandmother's old knitting patterns and I loved being able to connect to her in this way. I wish that she was able to teach me how to knit, but I feel like she has in a way!
Favourite kind of crafting?
My favourite craft by far is knitting! I love how you can make so much, from beanies to sweaters. Just the idea of hand-making something is such a lovely feeling, especially gifting it to another individual.
Biggest inspiration?
I would say that my biggest inspiration comes from my personal life: my family, who help me in all of my ventures!! With regards to knitting, my sister lets me know what's currently "in" and my mom helps with sewing in everything! It takes a village :)
Favourite all time project?
My favourite project of all time is my version of the Zipper Sweater by Petite Knit! This was my first time knitting with twisted stitch, Judy's Magic Cast On, and installing a working zipper!
Project you are most proud of?
I think the project that I am most proud of would be my Good News Cardigan, the first pattern that I ever released. From the early stages of casting on, to writing a pattern with different sizes, I learned so much!
Good News Cardigan
Projects on your to do list?
Currently I am working on writing and releasing my own patterns, but I do have a pocket cardigan somewhere on my to-do list! Keep your eyes out for it ;)
What advice would you give to someone who is just starting on their crafting adventure?
Don't give up! I know that it may seem daunting, and there are so many places to start, but I found that the knitting community is always there to help and support you! You may always message me with any questions – I had those same questions when I first started!
Why do you craft?
I love how knitting has truly given me that outlet to express myself and my feelings. Through knitting, I have learned how to manage my anxiety and spin and weave those feelings into something beautiful. I can't imagine what I would be doing without knitting!
Favourite accounts to follow?
I have so many recommendations! I love rachelesparz, Karas.knit.eng, RangerKnits, PetiteKnit, and so many more; they all have such beautiful and talented works!!
Your current project wish list consists of….
Way too many to count! I have Vicky's Vest on my to-do-list for sure – and I would love to continue with writing more patterns (my next pattern, the Amore tee, is in the process of being written).
No 1 yarn?
My favourite yarn company is Wool and the Gang, specifically their Feeling Good Yarn (it's my biggest temptation!). It's making me want to move to London just so I can get the yarn!
Quick fire round!
Knit vs crochet?
Knit always! I wish I could crochet though!
Man made vs natural fibre?
Love those natural fibres!!
Craft indoors vs outdoors?
Outdoors, by the pool or beach!
Chunky yarn vs finer yarn?
Ahh I go back and forth! Right now, thin yarn and 5mm needles only!
Tea vs coffee?
Tea for sure!
Lots of wips vs 1 wip?
You always need more than one wip! ;)
Colour vs neutrals?
I'm too scared to experiment with colours, so neutrals for now! Until someone requests colours haha!
Maker of the Week #2: Jo @andsosheknits
Maker of the Week #2 @andsosheknits
Welcome to the second instalment of Maker of the Week. This week it is Jo from @andsosheknits. She posts the best knitting reels and I’m a total fangirl of her folklore cardigans! Enjoy and give Jo a follow!
Introduce yourself….
Hi I’m Jo from @andsosheknits! I'm a social worker by day and a knitter by night. My daytime career is in criminal justice reform; I currently do data and policy analysis for various states and individual agencies to try and improve outcomes for individuals who are justice-involved. I was born in San Diego, but grew up in Maine, which is the opposite of San Diego in many ways. I've lived most of my life in the north-eastern US, but recently lived in Texas for a year and am heading back there soon, probably forever (#texasforever -- iykyk).
A few fun facts about me are: I'm a quarter Mexican (and a white redhead, so you'd never know), I was on a hip hop dance crew in college, and I've eaten a scorpion. I love traveling, reading, moving my body, and of COURSE, knitting! :)
How do you like to craft?
I'm strictly a knitter, though I would love to try weaving someday. I really like the look of a woven wall hanging and plan to commission one when I settle into a home.
How did you first learn to knit?
I first learned to knit in third grade. Growing up in Maine, it was sometimes too cold to go outside for recess. On those days, my third grade teacher would have yarn and knitting needles for those that were interested in learning. I'm pretty sure my first project was a scarf -- classic! I enjoyed knitting it, but didn't make much at that time. I also learned crochet from my mom's friend around the same time, but couldn't seem to get the hang of it, so I didn't continue.
I took a long hiatus from knitting, though I've found pictures of myself knitting at various times over the years, including at a summer church camp I went to during high school. When I was in graduate school a few years ago, my mom and I visited my grandmother over spring break. My grandmother was losing mobility so we spent a lot of time sitting around. I don't like to sit still for too long, so my mom and I went to Michael's to grab some yarn and knitting needles. I started making baby blankets for friends who were having babies, and soon began making baby bonnets, hats and sweaters for all ages, pumpkins, dishcloths, etc.! I started my knitstagram account and Etsy shop in the fall of 2019 and have been having a really fun time running my small business since then.
Who are you biggest inspirations?
I'm really inspired by makers like Amy @pineandpoppyshop and Brooke @behappedesigns. They both have really consistent content, and seem to be able to balance their maker careers with motherhood, which I admire and aspire to someday. I’m also in love with Kelly @knitbrooks. She radiates kindness and creativity and I am obsessed with her patterns and hand carved hooks and needles!
Favourite projects?
How could I possibly choose one project? There is something to love about every project. The quickness of a hat, the intricacy of lace, the satisfaction of a cabled cardigan. I don't think I've met a project I didn't like. I tend to knit things, especially big things, only once, but I have now made three Folklore Cardigans (pattern by Lion Brand Yarn, inspired by the Taylor Swift cardigan) and am working on a fourth. It's a really enjoyable project, but I can't say it's my favorite because it takes a long time and there's quite a bit of seaming involved, which is not my favorite part of knitting. :)
Favourite yarn?
My favorite yarn has to be Malabrigo Rasta. It's by far the softest, prettiest yarn I've ever worked with. The colorways are all stunning, and the feel of the yarn is unmatched. The super bulky weight makes for fun and quick projects like hats and mittens.
Favourite accounts?
One of my most recent faves is Vanessa @oshenknits. She has the coolest style where she's both low-key and a bit avant-garde. She's a scientist and super nice and encouraging of others. I'm really impressed by her pattern designs, knitting, and general social media presence. It doesn't seem like she takes herself too seriously which I appreciate. The knitstagram is a really fun and supportive place where I am constantly discovering new stitches, drooling over beautiful yarn, and impressed by creative designs.
Visit Jo’s Etsy shop here!
Sustainability Series : Introduction
Introduction to my sustainability series
Hi and welcome to the sustainability series! This started after reading a creator talk about why they use only vegan yarn which led me to realise that a) I didn’t know if their reasoning was correct and b) how little I know about how different yarns are produced and whether there is a ‘best’ choice fibre. Sustainability is such a buzz word and there is so much information out there but it’s hard to navigate as there are a lot of invested interests (an example are fast fashion brands selling ‘conscious’ lines) and subsequently, a lot of misinformation. It’s also a highly charged subject to talk about which people feel passionately about and at times, arguments can become political. I’m going to attempt to find answers for all the questions we have surrounding sustainability and our craft (knitting and crocheting) using only reputable sources and explaining the science in an accessible way. Please remember that this is my educating myself as well as sharing what I learn so if there is anything you disagree with or think is incorrect, I invite you to start a conversation in the comments.
What to expect
To get an idea of what the big questions are, I asked our crafting community for all their questions and throughout the series, these are what I will be attempting to answer.
@the_knit_purl_girl : What is deemed sustainable in the first place?
@yarn_doctor : Plant fibres: cotton bamboo, raffia - are they sustainable and how are they produced?
@craftea_lass: What should we look for when trying to make sustainable choices? What are conditions like for workers?
@yellyswonders : Are there any yarns made from 100% recycled plastic?
@seacoastyarnworks : What are the most sustainable ways to order yarn? Which companies are the most sustainable?
@Alizaknits : Does acrylic yarn really shed microplastics?
@hippie.needles: How do we find out how the sheep and alpacas we get our yarn from are treated?
@homesteadknits: Where do the big yarn companies yarn come from?
@layleej : Is acrylic or wool better for the environment?
@ssshh_im_counting: Are there any sustainable acrylic options?
@blogbykobrak: Is it better to buy new yarn or unravel old projects/clothes?
@heartsbyhopeuk: Sustainability comparison between wool/alpaca/cotton/acrylic
@lestricotsdelene: Price over sustainability? Are there any affordable sustainable yarns?
@yarn.noodles: Does acrylic yarn shed microplastics? Most sustainable companies? How sustainable is cotton?
@berryknit: Which part of the production process has the biggest environmental impact? What kind of dyes do companies use and what are their impact on the environment?
@becciboo4: The truth of superwash wool. Is it coated in plastic?
@knottedinyarn: Cotton Vs wool as a natural fibre?
@eyeof_thetigers: What about cotton/bamboo/silk/mohair compared to wool in terms of sustainability?
Most of the questions were about ‘how bad is acrylic yarn?’ and ‘is super-wash yarn harmful for the environment?’ and lots of questions were asked more than once. Rather than one huge article, I’m going to take each material and investigate how it is made, where it comes from and any associated risks to the environment. Where I’ve used sources, I will cite them and you’ll find a bibliography at the end of every article and where possible, I will use open source articles so you won’t need to pay or have access to a university account to read them if you choose to.
A quick note on sustainability: Sustainability is such a buzz word, it’s almost lost it’s meaning. Ultimately, it refers to meeting the needs of today without impairing our ability to meet the needs of tomorrow and is concerned with not only the environment, but also social equity and economic development. In the context of knitting and crocheting, we can consider 1) the raw material - how it is produced and once waste, how it is processed 2) treatment which the raw material undergoes - for example dyeing 3) How the yarn is transported both from manufacture to point of sale and then from point of sale to the consumer 4) Any waste produced during washing and 5) it’s durability. It’s a huge question to consider and isn’t one which is easy to answer so this is a big journey and one which I hope you’ll enjoy.
Just a short bio about me for transparency - I’m currently an Environmental Scientist at the University of York. I’m doing a PhD looking into peatland management and how this affects peat soil chemistry and how this chemistry impacts drinking water treatment and quality. My undergraduate and masters degrees focussed on water and soil pollution so this is the kind of thing I think about on a daily basis. More than that, I’m obsessed with knitting and I care about protecting our natural resources so I hope through this, I can help by myself and others to make good choices moving forward. At the time of writing (before I’ve done any in depth research), I prefer natural fibre and will also opt for wool or plant based fibre over acrylic. I’m not vegan or vegetarian and I believe it isn’t what we eat that is the problem - it’s how much of what we eat and the way it is produced that is causing harm.
I hope that this series will be educational and interesting, and by learning more about the materials of our craft will make us more connected with both what we’re creating and also the communities along the production chain. Please leave any questions or comments below and let’s start conversations to help us move forward.
Abbie xo
Martha Mohair Scarf knitting pattern
Perfectly snug and fluffy, this project is the perfect TV knit. A great in-between project for experienced knitters and also as a first-mohair project for beginners, it requires only two skeins of Take Care Mohair from Wool And The Gang and 3 - 6 hours of knitting. Enjoy!
Martha Mohair Scarf in Take Care Mohair - Bubblegum Pink.
Difficulty - Beginner - advanced beginner (techniques are easy but mohair is tricky to work with).
Techniques used -
1) Knit
2) Cast on
3) Cast off
Needles required - 10 mm needles
Yarn - 100 g Take Care Mohair from Wool And The Gang (here) or similar. Drops Alpaca Silk is good alternative but will be lighter (here).
Martha Mohair Scarf in the making.
On y va!
1) Cast on 26 stitches.
2) Knit every stitch. When you have one stitch left slip it onto your right needle.
3) Repeat step two until you have only enough yarn for one last row (for me this was 97 rows).
4) Cast off.
That’s it! Super simple but lovely, soft and cosy ♥.
If you make a Martha Mohair Scarf please tag me as I’d love to see!
Abbie xo
Seaside chunky cardi knitting pattern
Free Seaside chunky knitted cardigan pattern
Perfect for a beginner knitter.
A chunky knitted cardigan perfect for beginner knitters
Welcome to the Seaside chunky knitted cardigan pattern. I knitted this whilst on a trip to the Jurassic Coast and it will always remind me of Durdle Door and Weymouth where I spent a lot of time as a child. It is designed to be worn open and slightly oversized and the size is easily adjustable if you’re tall, short or just fancy something a little off-piste.
This cardigan is super cosy, chunky and perfect for beginner knitters.
Difficulty - Advanced beginner (Can you knit a hat? If so, you can make this cardi!)
Techniques used
1) Knit
2) Purl
3) Knit two together decrease (K2TOG)
4) Pick up stitches
5) Cast on
6) Cast off
7) Mattress stitch and perpendicular and horizontal seaming
8) 1 x 1 rib (knit one, purl one)
Needles required - 10 mm and 12 mm straight knitting needles
Suggested yarn -
John Lewis 100 % wool chunky yarn (shop here) knitted together with Rowan Alpaca Classic DK yarn (shop here).
Note: This yarn was a payday treat and fairly expensive but it is lovely, soft and squishy. I’ve listed some suitable alternatives below but please do check tension if using a different yarn!
Alternative yarns -
Paintbox Yarns Simply Super Chunky 100 % acrylic (click here)
Rowan Big Wool 100 % Merino wool (click here)
Rico Essentials Super Super Chunky 50 % acrylic 50 % wool (click here)
This pattern currently has not been tested for all sizes. I made mine in a size medium and scaled it up and down with some simple maths therefore yardage is approximate. If you have any comments or feedback of this pattern I would love to hear from you!
Please note: I have tried to cover a range of sizes however if you feel none of these are right for you, please do contact me and I'd be happy to work out stitch counts and yardage so you can enjoy this pattern! Writing patterns is still new to me so this is very much a learning process.
The cardigan is knitted up flat on straight needles in five parts and sewn together using mattress stitch. Stitches are then picked up along the fronts and neckline and knitted in 1 x 1 rib. As it is knitted flat, the size is very easily adjustable.
Measurements and stitch counts are indicated as below - Stitch counts are indicated in size order so make sure to follow your size.
Sizes:
XS, (S), M, (L), XL, (2XL), 3XL
Measurements:
Seaside Cardigan measurements
Measurements are all in cm
A - Cardigan length - 48, (50), 52, (54), 56, (58), 60 (If you want your cardigan slightly shorter or longer, simply knit more or fewer rows. Remember to knit the same number of rows for the front panels).
B - Width across the back piece - 56, (65), 74, (82), 92, (100), 110
C - Arm length - 30, (30), 32, (32), 34, (34), 36
D - Width of front panel - 15.5, (19), 22.5, (25), 28, (31), 34
E - Circumference of sleeve at top of arm - 37.5, (40), 42.5, (45), 47.5, (50), 52.5
Tension:
For 10 cm x 10 cm - 8 stitches x 10 rows (Please check tension!!)
Yarnage:
355 m, (400 m), 450 m, (520 m), 580 m, (620 m), 670 m of super chunky yarn using 12 mm needles.
These are approximate - if you need to increase the length of the body or sleeves, you’ll need more yarn.
Back
1) Cast on 38, (44), 50, (56), 62, (68) 74 stitches using the 12 mm needles.
2) Knit one row.
3) Purl one row.
4) Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you have 48, (50), 52, (54), 56, (58), 60 rows. If you want your cardigan to be longer, keep knitting but please note the number of extra rows to make sure your front pieces are the same length as the back. Yarnage will also need to be increased.
5) Knit 6 rows in 1 x 1 rib (This is to knit one stitch, purl one stitch and repeat until end). As you have an even number of stitches you should always start these rows with a knit stitch.
6) Cast off.
Front (make two):
1) Cast on 10, (12), 14, (16), 18, (20), 22 stitches.
2) Knit one row.
3) Purl one row.
4) Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you have 48, (50), 52, (54), 56, (58), 60 rows.
5) Knit 6 rows in 1 x 1 rib.
6) Cast off.
Arms (make two)
1) Cast on 30, (32), 34, (36), 38, (40), 42 stitches.
2) Knit one row.
3) Purl one row.
4) Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you have 30, (30), 32, (32), 34, (34), 36 rows. Please note the decreases below.
Decreases: Knit the 2nd and 3rd stitches and then the 3rd and 2nd stitches from the end of the row together.
XS and S: Decrease on rows 5, 11, 17 and 21.
M and L: Decrease on rows 5, 11, 13, 17, 21 and 27.
XL: Decrease on rows 5, 11, 13, 17, 22, 27 and 31.
2XL and 3XL: Decrease on rows 5, 11, 13, 17, 19, 21, 27 and 33.
5) Knit two stitches, K2TOG until the end of the row.
You now have 22, (24), 22, (24), 24, (24), 26 stitches.
6) Using 10 mm needles, Knit 6 rows of 1 x 1 rib.
7) Cast off.
Stitching together
The cardigan is sewn together using mattress stitch, the perpendicular and horizontal seaming technique. Check out my post (here) about the best tutorials I’ve found for help!
1) Starting from the edges, sew the back and the two front pieces together using the horizontal seaming technique.
2) Lining up the stitches carefully, sew the top of the arm to the back and body pieces using the perpendicular seaming technique. Repeat for both arms.
3) Starting at the 1 x 1 rib at the wrist sew up the arm and down the body using mattress stitch.
4) Repeat for both arms.
Front ribbing
1) Starting at the bottom of the right front panel (the right as if you were wearing the cardigan), pick up every other stitch with your 12 mm needle. Make sure you pick up the last stitch of the left front panel even if it’s not ‘the other stitch’.
2) Knit 3 rows in 1 x 1 rib.
3) Cast off.
Weave in all ends and block if necessary.
I added three buttons just for effect however as the knit is chunky, buttons should fit in between the stitches so button holes are not required.
All done!
Congrats on finishing your seaside chunky knit cardigan! I hope you enjoyed this pattern and if you have any questions or get stuck at any point, please do message me either at abbieknits@gmail.com or on instagram @abbieknits.
Please do tag me in anything you make - I’d love to see your Seaside Cardigans out in the wild!
Abbie xo