Why (and How) I Modified a Well-Written Sweater Pattern // Casual Friday S7E22

In this week's podcast, I explain why and how I modified a really well-written pattern to suit my wants and needs. Also, some spinning updates.

SHOW NOTES
OAKLEDGE CARDIGAN
Oakledge Cardigan by Valerie Hobbs:

Videos for the various techniques I discussed
Adding Waist Shaping to a Sweater:
Cable Cast On

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
0:23 (Almost) Finished Oakledge Cardigan
10:18 Oakledge changing the cast on
24:25 Spinning BFL/Romney
28:38 Fall Fest Gale Woods Farm

[nicolelafontaine]

Thanks for showing so many differnt ways to cast-on. It always fascinates me all these possibilities. I love your new cardigan, looking forward to see you wearing it.

[nancymcconnell]

Such a phenomenal amount of knowledge in your arsenal! I’m forever thankful that you have documented this for all our benefit.

[emveecee]

Gorgeous knitting as always. What an intriguing bottom that sweater has - I love the combo of partial ribbing and partial flat!!😍

[shirleemohiuddin]

Another wonderful episode. This was packed with so much info. I especially love that you shared the way you motivate youself with your charts. This is fascinating!

[chrisb]

Fab information on the casting on! Thank you 💕🌿

[cathiapizetta]

That was fascinating! I love your channel! You are such an inspiration and an amazing teacher! I feel privileged for making part of your subscribers! Thank you so much for sharing this!❤

[elaineenstone]

The cardigan is beautiful, love the colour. The demonstration of the cast ons is fascinating. Thank you. 🇬🇧

[karendiesner]

Hi Roxanne!
I always use the twisted German cast on these days (I used to use the simpler long tail cast on). I just love the stretchy yet durable finish of it, and I use it for sock cuffs as well as welts and neckbands - everything! I love the textured edge you get, as well. Good job we are all different, is t it, and that there are so many techniques for every purpose 😊
I love your casual Fridays, I look forward to each one, and am so happy to support you on kofi (selfishly trying to make sure you keep going for as long as possible! 😂) Karen x

[zan_wild]

I have only steamed a couple of dyed braids that were really compacted, it does make a huge difference! I am a pre-drafter supreme though. I got in the habit of pre-drafting when I first learned to spin over a decade ago, and I just enjoy it. I love the feeling of the fiber in my hands & it’s a great way to get to know a braid before spinning it

[aimeveryday]

That is so interesting about tow! I use the term towhead all the time! I think flax/linen is super cool.

[ms]

LOL, I never had any idea where the term tow headed came from. I always learn so much from your casual Fridays!

[susanlopez]

Great video, as usual— thank you. 😊 I have only steamed compacted dyed fiber in the past. Malabrigo fiber, especially Nube (pronounced noo bay, meaning cloud) is often sticky and sometimes even fulled in the dying process, and steaming it makes it much easier to draft. I’ve never felt the need to steam undyed fiber. Good luck with it, it’s a beautiful color!

[batya]

Fascinating lesson about casting on. I tend to like stretchy cast-on methods for my socks. Being ambidextrous, that right-handed longtail cast on made total sense to my brain!

I'd like to see how you actually affix the ribbon and cut buttonholes to stabilize the button band. Never progressed that far.

Glad you mentioned "tow-headed" and "flaxen-haired."" Spoke to someone recently, and they had no idea what tow was.

[LottaSocks]

I absolutely love your content! I don’t always comment unless to share a tip or ask a question. I just want to say I LEARN sooo much from you! The “Tow-head” tidbit gave me a “Huh…how interesting”!
Thank you for making my day(s) with information, whether techniques or historical bits or new (or different) ways to make xyz (ie: cast on, bind off etc).
I always refer to your channel if I have a problem or question w my knitting. A treasure trove full of information!
Thank you!!!

[KnittingPolarTree-fdgx]

Dear Roxanne, your segment about CO just blew my mind, I already knew some of it because I have been watching your channel for a long time but waw this was so so cool, thanks. Also, I made this embroidered cardigan recently. For the button band, in order to prevent H and V stretch (see I listen to you), I chose seed st with a reverse crochet st border. This suits my aesthetic preferences in knitting that are very different from yours. I find it fascinating that we are so different and so similar at the same time. I basically always choose the opposite to you, I prefer fingering, neon colorwork, in the round, etc... however, I also love cardigans and buttons. Furthermore, I recently bought a sewing machine and I want to make machine buttonholes. I plan to train on fabric then knitted samples first. Of course, I'm looking forward to seeing how you tackle this kind of technique. Knitted fabric is so squishy, I wonder how it would behave under the needle. Any advice would be highly appreciated. Have a nice day

[maureenbell]

I was fascinated by the detailed cast on tutorial. So useful especially understanding all the ‘Why?’s.

[sonmarmat]

Fascinating episode, as always!

I particularly enjoyed the tidbit about the tow, as we are part of a church that is mostly Americans of Scandinavian descent and there are always tons of little tow heads running around, but I'd never known where the term came from. I wonder if the tow varies in color much, because a lot of the kiddos have even lighter hair than that. Some of our kids have been almost accurately described as q-tips 😂

[stitchann]

Your new cardigan is beautiful. The colour so vibrant. I also like the sweater your were wearing.

[rachelbonner-edux]

This was such a helpful video! I really enjoyed learning about the different castons and how to make a certain side your first row. Thanks for the great information!

[theastewart]

Hi Roxanne. Interesting episode! It’s like a Technique Tuesday and a Casual Friday all rolled into one, lol. Your cardigan is stunning! Such a beautiful work of art. Thank you for explaining all about the cast on thought process. Fascinating. About 25-30 years ago I started making a beautiful sweater in separate pieces using this beautiful teal Icelandic wool yarn. It was more of a green teal. I got the pattern from a magazine and it finally got to the point where I couldn’t read the pattern anymore. I had tried to write it out but it was a lost cause. It was full of beautiful cables. Eventually sadly I tossed it. You have given me the courage to maybe try a sweater like that again. I did enjoy making the separate pieces. I have an unfinished top down raglan sweater that is just waiting for the sleeves to be done but my interest just isn’t there. Who knows. Maybe I’ll give it a shot one of these days. Thanks for the inspiration!😊