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With our carefully curated selection of non-superwash, plastic-free yarns and notions, we have everything you need to get started on your next project - and the one after that.
Here's to a wardrobe of knits we love and want to wear for years to come!
We're here to help you stitch sustainability into every aspect of your making.
With our carefully curated selection of non-superwash, plastic-free yarns and notions, we have everything you need to get started on your next project - and the one after that.
Here's to a wardrobe of knits we love and want to wear for years to come!
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The Making Stories Collective
May 06, 2021 4 min read
Over the past months, we've talked about gauge here on the blog. Hanna Lisa started us off with her fantastic post 'Getting Gauge', and last weeks post 'Swatching for Success' talked about how to get the most accurate gauge measurement from our swatch.
But what if you've read everything you need to know about gauge, knit a lovely big swatch that you've carefully blocked and measured, and still the fit is off for your new sweater? I know, super frustrating!
At this point, it's easy to accuse your swatch of lying or second-guess your calculations, and while it's always helpful to double-check these things, something else may be going on. Your gauge changed while you were knitting.
I know! After all that work, after taking the time to swatch, maybe multiple times, you still end up with an unpredictable gauge. Why is that? Before you even go there, no, it's not because you are a 'bad' knitter! This happens to so many people, myself included. Remember we are not machines and no matter how experienced you are, sometimes inconsistencies can occur, and there are a few reasons for this.
Just as Hanna Lisa talks about how your gauge can change by things such as needle size and changing between metal and wooden needles in her post on getting gauge, other things can affect it later while you are actually working on your project. Let's take a look!
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Not being relaxed when we're knitting can be one of the biggest culprits of an uneven gauge, and it can be happening even if you don't realise it. Here are some of the things that I have to be aware of:
I touched on this in swatching for success, as I think a lot of us try to rush through our swatches so we can cast on. This can lead to a different gauge compared to when we are more relaxed working on our project. But the same can still happen long after swatching! If I'm working to a deadline I have to watch my gauge.
My gauge can really be affected depending on my mood. As knitting tends to relax me it's not surprising that I'll reach for it when I'm not feeling myself, but until I get into the flow and reach my happy place, my gauge can be thrown off a little, particularly if I'm knitting when I'm angry or frustrated. Those stitches really start to tighten up!
I love taking my WIP's outside, but if it's chillier than expected my gauge can be affected. I'll tense up and start knitting tighter.
I had to rip back an entire yoke once because I was watching my other half play a particular stressful video game while knitting. I learned zombies and textured yokes lead to a very tight fit! That's not to say you shouldn't watch whatever you feel like, just be aware that as the action gets more intense, so can your knitting!
Of course, it's not only being tense that can affect your gauge. Even moving to a different section of the pattern can affect your knitting.
I recently knit a sweater, top-down with a colourwork yoke and stockinette all over. My gauge for the body stayed consistent throughout, even through transitioning from colourwork to stockinette. My sleeves were another story though. The only change I made here was to swap to magic loop, but my gauge was much tighter compared to the body and made the sleeves uncomfortable. I had to rip back and go up two needle sizes!
We've touched on this before but it's worth mentioning here again. Your gauge can change significantly depending on if you are knitting flat compared to knitting the same stitch pattern in the round. This is most often because our purl stitches tend to be looser than our knit stitches.
An example of where this would be an issue is if you are knitting a seamless sweater bottom-up and you knit the body in the round until you reach the underarm. You now separate the front and back and knit them flat. If you have swatched only for your gauge when you knit flat, the chances are the section knit in the round will be tighter.
So the good news is that a changing gauge does not have to be a big deal, the key thing is to be aware it could be happening. The best way to do this is to keep your tape measure handy at all times and keep checking your gauge. That way you can deal with any gauge issues as they're happening instead of post blocking.
Top tip! This is where it's super helpful to know what gauge your swatch was before you blocked it as I mentioned in 'Swatching For Succes.' Gauge will often change after blocking, so it's super helpful to have that information during knitting so you know you're keeping to gauge.
If you do find that your gauge changes during your knitting, make a note of what you think has caused the change and over time you will know to keep an eye on your gauge in those circumstances. I can't tell you how much learning the small circumference lesson has helped me knit sweaters that feel good to wear!
Do you have your own list of things that affect your gauge? I'd love to hear them!
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September 30, 2023 2 min read
Happy Socktober, lovelies!! If you've been following us even for a little while, you've probably noticed that I absolutely love knitting socks.
They're the perfect portable project, great for trying out new techniques or stitch patterns, and just so, so rewarding. There's just nothing like the feeling of opening your sock drawer on a cold fall morning, picking out the pair of hand-knit socks that calls to you, and walking around with cozy, warm toes all day long.
I couldn't resist putting together a short, sweet list of 3 sock patterns I'm loving right now to kickstart this month – one makes for excellent TV-knitting, the second one is a bit more complex, and the last one is one that I've been wanting to knit for years!
September 07, 2023 4 min read
Hello lovelies,
One of my all-time favorite tasks when we get a new yarn in is to put together pattern and color combinations. And with Bérénice, De Rerum Natura's sustainably produced Mohair / Merino / Silk yarn (fluffy like a cloud!), the possibilities for patterns and colors are close to endless!
I narrowed it down to my five favorite patterns (well, of right now) in color combinations that showcase the full rainbow of Bérénice colors. I've put a ton more patterns over on our Pinterest Board for pattern inspo for fluffy yarns if you're looking for more!
Now, though, let's take a look at my top 5!
September 07, 2023 3 min read
Hi lovelies!
I'm thrilled to be back in this space, and with something really, really exciting at that! For the past year, I've been on the hunt for a sustainably-produced fluffy yarn - we used to carry Knitting for Olive's Soft Silk Mohair which is delightful, but also... everyone has it now? So I was looking for something that was a little out of the ordinary, but also responsibly sourced, and as it goes with anything that involves mohair and silk, that was really hard.
Cue De Rerum Natura, who secretly have been working behind the scenes at exactly that yarn I'd been looking for: An "as sustainably as it can get" fluff yarn that works perfectly for a broad range of projects, from whispers of lace shawls to holding it together with more substantial yarns.
We're a delightfully tiny team dedicated to all things sustainability in knitting. With our online shop filled with responsibly produced yarns, notions and patterns we're here to help you create a wardrobe filled with knits you'll love and wear for years to come.
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