A New Year and a New Skill (Zippers!) // Casual Friday S7E01

This week's podcast has Tidbits, a finished project (with a zipper!), a lot of progress on my Royale sweater, and info on Finish it February.

My Ravelry project page for the sweater I'm wearing (there's no pattern, because it was reverse engineered from a favorite old cardigan)
SHOW NOTES
TIDBIT #1 18TH CENTURY GOWN

TIDBIT #2 ROMAN DODECAHEDRON

TIDBIT #3 DEATH HEAD BUTTONS
Two videos

FO - ZIPPER NECK
Yarn: Cascade 220, color Razzleberry and Knit Picks Aloft, color Gray

WIP - ROYALE
Yarn: Cascade 220, color Razzleberry (yes, the same color as I used for Zipper Neck).

FINISH IT FEBRUARY
The thread for finished items will be created on February 1.

If you have questions about this video, or suggestions for future videos, please let me know down in the comments or on social media.
0:00 Introduction
0:20 Tidbit #1 18th c gown
1:58 Tidbit #2 Roman Dodecahedron
5:24 Tidbit #3 Death Head Buttons
7:02 FO - Zipper Neck
14:28 WIP - Royale Sweater
23:11 Finish it February

[vincentbriggs]

Sorry the audio in the button video is hard to hear! It was my first time doing a voiceover and I definitely wouldn't put the music anywhere near as loud now. I did type out all the subtitles though.

[jenniferkesler]

Just hear to say I truly love your casual Friday videos. I learned to knit on YouTube, and I truly credit your channel with opening my eyes to all that is out there in the knitting world, and pulling me in deep. Thanks for sharing your passion—it is contagious.

[drodriguez]

Truly liked the finish it February theory ..and hearing that I am not the only one with UFOs..that have sat around for far too long. ❤

[xbaczewska]

Re: Zipper Installation
PetiteKnit is a fabulous designer. Mette leaves no stone unturned, having thought through every aspect of any of her patterns, regardless of level of difficulty. I have wanted to knit the ZipperNeck but was daunted by the zipper installation, but having seen Roxanne's, I may attempt it!
She also links to support tutorials for various aspects of a pattern, be they tricky or more straightforward.
Thankfully for us English speakers, she has now subtitled most, but the visuals alone are clear and close/slow enough to be helpful.

[roulatornariti]

Clever idea " finish it Friday". Just what I need. Last year I finished a project 10 years old.

[pascaleboyer]

To avoid having too many UFOs, I usually knit sweater sleeves at the same time as 2-at-a-time, same with socks or mittens and almost anything in pairs. It also allows to have identical items.

[Andracrafts]

I love the idea of "Finish it Fridays." I did "Finish it February" last year and it was so great to get so many projects off my needles in one way or another. I am currently still working through a few of them as well as some newer things

[LandonHill]

Thanks so much for that link on making buttons. I have been making a cardigan but couldn't find buttons I actually liked to put on it. I think making thread buttons is in my future! :D

[moonbasket]

My partner is not a knitter and just watches your videos when I happen to be watching them. They said that you are like the NPR of knitting YouTube and I thought you'd get a kick out of it.

[theastewart]

Great podcast as always Roxanne. Very interesting tidbits! So Sam is learning to knit! That’s awesome! I believe it’s Nina that learned as well, right? You must be thrilled. One of my granddaughters wants me to teach her so I’m excited about that! Your sweaters are just amazing. The zipper neck is beautiful. Great yarn and zipper choice. I’d love to see a technique Tuesday on that process. The Royale is stunning. You do the most amazing cable work. Thanks for sharing with us. I’d love to do Finish it February in some way or another. Thanks for going over it again.❤

[aroundtheworldfibers]

The Royale sweater is really looking fantastic! Love the facing on the dickey. Reminds me exactly of how it's done in a sewing project. I went through all of my projects late last year. Yup, I have a few, knitting, sewing, crochet, felting. I'm one of those who gets bored easily, and I need variety. A shoulder/arm injury is slowing me down, but I made a promise to myself, I will finish some in 2024. I know it's unrealistic to clear all. If I can get through 5, I'm doing well. There's always next February.

[MaraschinoPenguin]

I love hearing about your Finish-It-February philosophy. It’s delightful that you have so much respect for facing reality.

[jaapweel]

FWIW, I’ve had good luck with the Wawak catalog for things like zippers. They market mainly to alteration shops and dry cleaners and such, so a lot of people doing home sewing haven’t heard of them, but they’ll totally sell by ones and twos, quality tends to be good, and they have a LOT of assortment.

[MaryBethKelso]

I'm so glad to see your success with the zipper! I had a bear of a time removing teeth when I made a zippered cardigan. I was excited for my next one until I realized your method only works for a closed bottom zipper 🫤
I'm inspired by the idea of Finish/Fix-It February, though!

[lizwhaley]

Thanks for your zipper thoughts - I'm knitting a jacket for my husband and dreading the moment when it's time to do the zipper. I love your idea of "finish it" February or Friday. It's a great opportunity to revisit WIPs, even if I don't make any decisions, it's in the front of my mind again for a little while. There are many things on ice right now that I would love to get off the needles!

[debraraymer]

Love this. The Tidbits were especially interesting. And FIF changed my life. I currently am on a FIF which started Jan 1, and I am finishing up some more recent projects. Then, in the spirit of FIF, I will tackle some older UFOs. We recently moved, and my new office is all set up. I can't wait to tackle my queue, which is where I listed all the kits I accumulated while I was working. I am committed to finished 10 of them this year. Since some are as small as a pair of earrings, that should be doable.

[candygrubisic]

Great job on your zipper. I'm glad I'm finally comfortable with them for things instead of terrified of them and full of dread. I feel like you got that sweater done so fast. Has time just gotten away from me? LOL That would take me a year to finish. I go through my UFO's annually. Currently I'm finishing the things I started before Christmas and had to quit to make holiday gifts. I didn't realize you had FIF going for as long as you have.

[gamergranny]

I would love to see a video on thread buttons.. different types and how to.
Love your videos and watch very often

[celiajean]

What a fantastic Friday talk! First, I absolutely love the cardigan/sweater you are wearing. And a great idea to pull out and sort through my ufo's. When I consider all genre's of my projects, I too have lots. Being able to gauge how long any particular project will take is a challenge in and of itself but starting anywhere would be awesome. Thanks for the motivation. 👍

[megananderson]

I made Dorset buttons for a white cardigan I made last spring. Love them.