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Tension
2 Playsin 8 hours
Andrew (Caliri Creations) and Kelly (Cocky Crocheter) dive deep into this tense debate about tension. Are you a tighty-whitey or loosey-goosey crafter? They spill the secrets on why some stitches are clenched and others are gaping, and how your grip can save or sabotage your project.
Music Credit: Break by Moavii | https://www.youtube.com/@MoaviiMusic Free To Use | https://freetouse.com/music Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
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Transcript
00:00:00
Speaker
Thank you.
Introduction to Tension in Fiber Arts
00:00:14
Speaker
Hello everyone and welcome back to another episode of 2CCs of Fiber Arts. I am Kelly and I'm with my co-host Andrew and today we are talking about one of our favorite topics because we really enjoy joking a lot about this um and we've made all kinds of comments and we've kind of hinted at it in previous episodes anyway but today we decided we're going to full episode on tension. um So, you know, we are going to be talking about like, you know, just in general, like tension as we're doing our fiber arts, but also how that relates to just tension as a concept overall.
Andrew's Loose Tension Experience
00:00:49
Speaker
um So what I'm going to start with is asking Andrew, okay, so, Hey, Andrew, would you be willing to describe to our audience what kind of tension you have? Yeah.
00:01:01
Speaker
Well, yes, I would. You know, my tension has been described as gaping. um And that I'm not even kidding. People in my group say that I have gaping, loose tension, which I can't fault them for, for the most part, because I do i don't know what it is. I, you know, both crochet and knit, I just end up with like very loose stitches.
00:01:28
Speaker
um Like I said, I'm a little bit loose, you know, bringing that back. ah ah love it. love it so much. Yeah.
00:01:40
Speaker
but Yeah, I am. I am very loose, even though to me, I don't feel like I have like slack in the yarn. Like, even though the stitches come out loose, I feel like I am still holding it tightly. You know, like you have to maintain tension on your working yarn. Otherwise, like you can't work with it.
00:01:59
Speaker
You know, if you can't hold tension at all, then you can't really knit or crochet. So to me, I'm like, oh, I'm holding it tight. Like, I am keeping tension.
00:02:11
Speaker
ah But like to everyone else, it's loose. Yeah, I mean, and i that is very fascinating because you're right. like The way we all like just hold our yarn when we're doing our work, we don't feel like it's weird. like Nobody is sitting there being like, wow, I'm holding this yarn really weird. This always feels so uncomfortable. it doesn't feel natural
Kelly's Consistent Tight Stitches
00:02:34
Speaker
to me. We're like, no.
00:02:36
Speaker
In fact, it feels unnatural if we try to loosen or tighten from what we normally do. So even if we're trying to match someone else's you know gauge or tension, we're like, this feels wrong to me. like I want to do it the way I want to do. So of course, you know on the flip side, we've joked about the fact that I'm like super tight. I'm very, very close, tight stitches. um They... I have, I have actually had a lot of people, they'll comment, they'll be like, wow, your stitches, they're just so small and just so like, you know, so petite. Yeah. Very petite stitches. And I'm just like, thank you. um Like I, I always take it like very much as a compliment.
00:03:20
Speaker
They're like, they're so yeah really well done. And I'm like, thank you. Like that is, um, a point of pride for myself because I know that like there's not going to be random gaps in it or it's like not going to be uneven or anything like that. um But similar to you, I don't feel like I'm holding the yarn like I'm not gripping it with a death grip or anything. I feel very relaxed as I'm working. I just am making really, really small stitches. I'm I'm tight, but relaxed still like, you know, ah ah so you're experienced.
00:03:52
Speaker
i'm I'm very experienced. Yes, thank you. I have been doing this for two decades. um that I've made a lot of stitches. um yeah. I'm sure have.
00:04:05
Speaker
Yes, my hook has pulled a lot of yarn. sure it's like, ah must be in the hundreds or something, stitch-wise. Oh, north it's it's thousands, maybe even a million. i don't even know. like ah i've I've got a large stitch count. So, yes. All right.
00:04:25
Speaker
They're all tight. Every single one. But okay. So what, what's funny about it is that
Personalizing Tension Techniques
00:04:31
Speaker
actually, okay. So, um, I, so to be serious, tension comes from not just like, you know, the grip, but also just like how the yarn is flowing from the source to your work and how we're gripping it and everything like that is kind of like, you know, managing all of that.
00:04:49
Speaker
But, Grip and how you hold your yarn is oftentimes something that you're not directly taught or if you are directly taught You're basically just doing it the way someone's showing you until you figure out the way that it makes sense to you Yeah, right. Yeah So for me like I'll see people they'll hold their yarn and really like interesting ways like with their fingers and if I try to mimic that I'm like I have no control over my yarn But then the way I'll hold it is not the way other people will hold it, but that's just what works for me yeah So I think sometimes the key to why our tensions are sometimes different is just how that natural grip forms on its own.
00:05:27
Speaker
And yeah that's just, I don't know, that's very fascinating. So like, how do you hold your garn to maybe see like, is that a source for why it's so loose? ah I'm not going to get through this episode. No, we're we're struggling so hard, but it is okay. It is okay. I think it's fine. I think that's what people were expecting with this episode. um So, yes, yes. Well, okay, so that is, it's really interesting you talk about like the natural ah grip because that's one of the things when I was first learning knitting that was like so frustrating to me, especially as an English style knitter learning, I saw like so many continental videos where to me it just looked like,
00:06:10
Speaker
I don't know witchcraft or something the way they always had the yarn like wrapped around like three different fingers and you know like how is the yarn flowing like for me if I wrap the yarn around my finger like a lot of continental knitters do they'll wrap it like two or three times around one finger For me, the yarn doesn't flow like that. Like, I don't know, if my hands are too sweaty or clammy. i don't know what's going on with them. They feel normal to me. But for some reason, the yarn doesn't like flow over them.
00:06:42
Speaker
It gets tight and maybe maybe that's the tightness that I'm missing. But for me, I like to keep the yarn like flowing. And so I always like make sure there are like no like obstacles in the way. Like I always have like, you know, some of it unwound from the cake a little bit. So it's like a pile on the floor and then it's like free.
00:07:02
Speaker
um But, um you know, when I was learning, I basically was just holding it however. um And so I was just kind of grip it in my right hand. And I realized that like my pinky was the one holding the yarn down for tension.
00:07:17
Speaker
Oh, okay. But I didn't even realize that that was holding tension. Like when I was learning, i didn't realize, you know, that's I'm holding it here to keep tension.
00:07:28
Speaker
I was just like, I'm holding the yarn in a way that like lets me do it. And it's only like now that I'm like a more experienced knitter, I can look back and be like, oh, like I was subconsciously doing that because I knew i need to hold it for the tension.
00:07:44
Speaker
That actually like, okay, that makes a lot of sense because I don't think a lot of fiber artists, if they're not really thinking through it they they don't think through why their hands are doing the way that they're doing. They're like, well, this is just how it works. This is how I get it to work. So yeah they're not paying attention consciously to what part of their hand is holding the tension for them. Because- You're right. Like when I was first starting out, um I actually held no tension in my yarn. um What I would do is I would pick up the yarn, insert my hook, yarn over, do what I needed to do, and then I would just drop it.
00:08:22
Speaker
And then I would insert my hook into the next stitch, then pick up the yarn and pull what I needed and then do that. But I could do it really quickly and evenly. And people would like look at me and just be like, how are you holding your yarn? And I would be like, I'm not.
00:08:37
Speaker
i just I'm only holding it when I'm working the stitch, but then I drop it because I need to reset. Because like to me, how I was holding the tension was each stitch got its own little thing. Because I was like, i like you, my hands, I don't know what's wrong with them. They might also be really clammy. But yarn doesn't flow through my fingers. just doesn't.
Methods to Maintain and Adjust Tension
00:08:58
Speaker
Yeah, it's like I have to like, you know grip and pick up and drop and pick up and stuff like that now over time I did get a technique where I'm like it is hooked in my index finger like I just I just do this and grab And I grab the yarn and it just like flows through there and then it kind of flows a little through my um Ring pinky and middle fingers here and then
00:09:24
Speaker
Because they're like, it keeps It keeps the yarn. doing hand gestures like that. Okay, anyway, it it keeps the yarn in place, and then my finger, my index finger, is what's pulling it to adjust the tension as I'm working my um stitches. Oh, my God. Every hand gesture is just... there now you Yeah, now you're getting self-conscious about them. I am. i'm Now I'm really... great yeah yeah Wait, wait, wait. Before we lose the thread of this conversation, um
00:10:02
Speaker
You pinch the yarn like in between your finger there? yes i do. Like I hook it in there like that. Yeah. You will hold the yarn like this? Yes. Yeah. but it's like And then... Yeah. So it's like, it'll like go through.
00:10:18
Speaker
oh this is not long enough. Let me grab a longer piece here. Okay. So yeah. So like if I got like some yarn, it'll like flow through my fingers like this. And then... um I'm just holding it like this, like with my index finger as I work with it. Oh, man.
00:10:34
Speaker
Yeah. So see, like, this is not a grip I learned. This is a grip that just feels right to me. I've tried doing it like this. I've tried, like, you know, flowing through and doing things like that. But it's like, I have no control. It's too loose for me. And that's the thing. i think Okay. So, like, for you, you were saying, like, you have to have, like,
00:10:52
Speaker
Give like you need a lot more give in it. Whereas for me, I'm like, I need it to like give me just enough give, but I need it to be controllable. So maybe that's kind of the key to why your tension might be looser than mine and mine is tighter than yours is because of what we need.
00:11:09
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. Wow. Just doing this, just holding it like this to me, I'm like, oh man, I'm going to get a finger cramp. Like that is tight. Yeah. It's this feels tight to me. And if it's like, that's the way you hold it, then I'm like, well, no wonder your stuff comes out so tight. Yes, exactly. im like, I just, I guess just my fingers are just a lot more flexible than yours. So, you know, or you're just clenched over there.
00:11:37
Speaker
I'm just very clenched. I'm just just a ball of... But the thing is, it's like it doesn't feel crampy. like My hands don't cramp from doing this. But when I have tried doing it the other way, because I'm trying so hard to control the yarn, just testing it out, my hand will start to cramp if it's spread out too far. like If my hands are too spread... Then it are it starts to rip and need them to be a little bit more more tightened. They're maybe a little bit more coiled. yeah close your fingers over there.
00:12:16
Speaker
oh my goodness. mine have to be open. On the flip side of that, i have to have my fingers wide open for it for me to...
00:12:27
Speaker
Yes, you do You have to have all that room, all that spread out. yeah oh yeah Well, because like you were saying, like how you were saying, you've tried to kind of like loosely wrap it around in your fingers.
00:12:43
Speaker
For me, that's all I need. That's like the, the only thing that I really need is that like loose wrapping because anything else just doesn't flow. um And, you know, that is why i have learned, and I know we talked about this before, but, like, about gauge swatching. Like, that is one of the reasons why I will forever do a gauge swatch if I'm making a wearable item.
00:13:09
Speaker
Like, which is basically anything. like Yeah. At this point, yeah. Basically, for every project, I need to do a gauge swatch because I know that, you know, I know where I stand tension-wise. And I know that, like, I'm on an extreme.
00:13:25
Speaker
And, like, most people are tighter than I am. Like, I am...
00:13:33
Speaker
Not hard to be. and So yeah i know that I need to drop down a needle size or hook size, especially, you know, we've also talked about this, like me knitting or me crocheting one of your patterns.
00:13:49
Speaker
I'm going to have to drop way down to meet your attention. We are both polar opposite extremes. So like I ah yeah need to drop way. I had to drop down like five hook sizes for you.
00:14:04
Speaker
God, yeah, I know. And I remember for your hat, I had to go up like three for the half double crochet portion, but then the single crochet had to go up another size. I was like, so I think another thing there is that it's not just the grip. It's also even the type of stitch because the half double crochets, yeah I think half double crochets, they're just a naturally looser stitch than a single crochet. So the way that I work my singles is just tighter in general than even when I work a half double because that extra yarn over adds a little bit of looseness that is yeah otherwise not going to be there. So I think that that's also...
00:14:42
Speaker
a key feature is what kind of stitching are you even doing? um Because in um the project, there's a project that I'm currently working on and I've got a tester group and everything. And tension is definitely something that comes up a lot because they're trying to match my gauge. And most of them have to, of course, drop down. But yeah actually there was one person who they were like, this is a first for me.
00:15:05
Speaker
But I feel like I'm really tight. Like they're like, I'm normally a much looser crocheter, but because of the type of stick, they're like, I don't know why this feels so tight to me, but it's because there's a lot of front post and back post. Oh my God. Anyway, as No, I was just going to say, it's like, no wonder it feels tight to them because you are a tight crocheter.
00:15:27
Speaker
Like oh that probably explains it for them. pro Okay, yes, but it was more that like even when they're doing the type of things that I want them to do, um so like like with the hook size or whatever, a lot of them, they know they have to drop down hook sizes. They just automatically will do that and then they'll do their gauge swatch. But because it was a lot of front posts and back posts, um they were like, this is just very...
00:15:53
Speaker
just a tight kind of like, I'm not understanding why this is so tight. And I was like, well, if you consider the fact that a front post double crochet or a back post double crochet is not sitting on top of the stitch, it's dropping about halfway down and wrapping and then sitting on top. It's like,
00:16:12
Speaker
It's just naturally incorporating a lot more tightness to it. And so everything's like really smashed together as you're working. So you do have to kind of stretch the fabric to be able to work into it. So like, even just the type of stitching you're doing can impact the level of tightness. So, um, or looseness. Yeah. um And it was just like, it was a great revel. It was a really interesting revelation for him because he was like, I've literally never been a tight crocheter, but for some reason I feel like I have to go up a hook size. I was like, then do it. Like you if you have to do that. oh yeah Oh, that's another amazing thing is like that.
00:16:47
Speaker
he had that self-awareness of like, oh, I know that it's like, my tension is different than what I normally recognize. And like, I mean, if I was knitting something and I noticed that as well, i would be like, why is it so tight? Like, what is going on here? i know that I'm like supposed to be loose. So if I'm knitting something and it ends up tight, I'm like, what is going on? Like, I would have probably the same spiral and be like, am I doing it right?
00:17:15
Speaker
Like, what's going on? Right, and I think that that's like, if you're very self-aware of your own tension, then you can recognize when it feels off because you're right. Like sometimes I'm like, I know I'm a tight crocheter, but I also know that it it's still relaxed for me. So if I feel like something is too tight, even for me, i know that something's off. Like, yeah. Like a hundred percent. Yeah, actually. Yes. And I'm sure the same thing for you. Like if you feel like, wow, this is way loose and out of control. Like what am I doing wrong?
00:17:50
Speaker
Yeah. Well, actually, i had that revelation. Okay, so this is before I was, like, really into making gauge swatches. But actually, when I was test knitting, or i keep saying test knitting. When I was test crocheting your ah tank top pattern, the Dreamweaver, I just jumped right in with the hook size you recommended.
00:18:09
Speaker
And I think it's supposed to be, like, in a four-inch segment, like, 12 chain spaces or something like that. Something like that, yeah. I had eight. And I was like, this just feels like gargantuanly loose. Like there's, I'm sorry, there's just no way.
00:18:28
Speaker
Because I also like, I'm, you know, borderline between the large and medium size, but I wanted it to, you know, be tight. Yes, you did. You wanted it to hug.
00:18:39
Speaker
i mean, work out. So I mean, like you wanted to show off the muscles. So you opted for an extra small. I'm kidding. i know but I did. i opted for the medium and then i was like, okay, if I opted for the smaller size of the two that I could wear, like there's no way I'm right at the moment. Like this thing is huge. I must be doing something wrong, you know? Yeah. Yeah. Way too big. You just, it would not have worked. Yeah. No, it would not have. ah oh
00:19:12
Speaker
So yeah, I think like it, Being familiar with your own tension is like, I think it's part of growing up and as a fiber artist. Like you understand what tension is, first of all, because like we said, starting out, like you might have no idea what tension even is. Like me, i was like, it was only really until I switched to continental that I was like, oh, okay, I know how to hold tension like this because I know how to hold tension in crochet.
00:19:42
Speaker
Like that was transferable to me. And then I thought about it and I was like, well, I've never had to hold tension in English style. And then I started knitting English style. And that's when I realized I was doing that pinky thing, like holding the yarn here.
00:19:54
Speaker
And I was like, It was like a mind-blown moment for me. Like, oh my God, ah you have been holding tension. You just didn't know it Yeah. I love that just in general about fiber arts is that sometimes there are things that are discussed or like this is part of it, but you don't really think about it. It just comes naturally as you're working through. Like you don't pay attention to the structure of stitches. You just make the stitches. You're just doing what you're taught. You don't understand the why behind anything. You're like, I'm just shown this is how you do a slip knot. This is how you cast on. This is how you make a chain. This is how you do a knit stitch. This is how you do a single crochet. Like that's all you're thinking through because you have to think through every step of that. But then after a while, as you start to get through it, you're like, oh, okay. So now that I've got this part, I'm like, well, now what are the other things that I don't know that as you learn, you're like, as I'm reading a pattern, it's like, okay, well, I'm learning how to read a pattern. What is this thing about gauge? What is gauge? What is this thing about like,
00:20:55
Speaker
yeah Like I understand that, you know, there's yarn weight and yardage and things like that, but I don't know what a four or a
Learning Tension Through Experience
00:21:01
Speaker
medium is. I don't know what these yarn labels are telling me. I'm just grabbing yarn that looks pretty. Why is it working up differently than this other one? So I think, yeah, tension is definitely one of those things that it's like, you're not taught it. It just comes. Yeah.
00:21:15
Speaker
yeah And you realize like later, like oh, the only reason I've been able to do all these things, like cast on or chain one or like do these stitches, is because I like ah subconsciously learned what tension was. But it's never... like really brought to the forefront unless you really are trying to talk about tension or gauge. Like, realistically, I think people only talk about tension when it comes to gauge.
00:21:42
Speaker
ah You know, of course, they're tightly connected. um yeah but Yeah, there it's not a loose connection. You're right. It is a very tightly interwoven connection. All right. Yes. You're intertwined, honey. um But I think that's where people really learn, like, oh okay, if I do... Like, that's how you can find out if you're a tight knitter or crocheter.
00:22:06
Speaker
Do a gauge swatch. And if you do the exact same thing as the designer... Well, if you're doing that for like 10 different designers and your gauge swatch is always like gargantuanly large, well, you're probably loose, honey, and that's fine. Join the club. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, and that's the thing is there's almost like a, there's not a stigma attached to either one of them, which is great because I think like sometimes there are things that get stigmatized, like, you know, the type of fiber you use and people judge that or the types of colors or styles you do. But nobody's over there being like, oh, you have a tight tension. Oh, that means you're not a real knitter or anything like that. Well, I would say not on a real sense, but I think on like a shade sense, yes, there is. Because people will always be like, oh, you're like super loose. You know what I mean? Like, well, he's really loose. Yeah.
00:23:05
Speaker
It's like, obviously the joke writes itself. Right, right. It's not a real stigma, but like, it kind of is. yeah know Okay, I get that. but okay But I think there's a difference between like this being a stigma versus it being a joke kind of thing. That's true. Because like people don't, I mean, they might joke about this, but they're not going to be like, you know oh, you're an acrylic user. like I mean, they like they actually will genuinely be like, oh, you're an acrylic user. like you know yeah That's what I'm saying. I get you.
00:23:35
Speaker
Right, exactly. i like So it can have like kind of like judgment in it. But i'm like but if anybody's like, you know oh, you're really tight or you're really loose or whatever, it's like they that that's not taken seriously. That's not a, oh, that's an embarrassing thing to have. Or like it's a huge judgment. It's like...
00:23:51
Speaker
Everybody has their own tension and it's just accepted as a fact. Like it just is what it is. And you just adjust for it, which I wish we would do that with everything else. um When it comes to like anything fiber art or just in general, but like, especially fiber arts related, it's like,
00:24:07
Speaker
my tension is just as much a part of my fiber arts method as the type of colors I pick out or the type of projects I work on or the types of um yarn, like fibers and yarn weights and things like that. I think like, it's just, you know, we don't approach tension with the same level of judgment that we sometimes approach the other things. So I almost wish like, you know, we would apply that same like idea to other aspects of fiber arts. Yeah.
00:24:36
Speaker
Oh, I see. Less judgment overall. I thought you were promoting more judgment. Like people should really judge for how people's tangents are. Oh my God. No, I'm not. Maybe. Okay. You know what? Fine. Yes. I was like, wow, we're, we're letting this go by. i like, we stigmatize everything else. Why don't we stigmatize this? Let's start that. No, i say let's do the opposite. but no Yeah, no, that's good. um I think ah it is nice that it's not stigmatized. Well, also, I mean, potentially because it's not discussed that much.
00:25:10
Speaker
You know, like like I said, it only really ever comes up if you bring it up. Um, cause you can't really, I don't think that you can really tell if someone is tight or loose necessarily just by looking at them, you know, like just by watching them, it might not be like painfully obvious if it's tight or loose.
00:25:29
Speaker
Cause like for me, I know that it's loose. So if I am making something, I've already adjusted for that. So I'm already working on the smaller needles. So the actual readout of the pattern is still correct and the right size.
00:25:43
Speaker
So like, The stitches aren't loose, it's just the tension. Like, I've already factored that in. You know, that that's actually really true because i something I also wasn't thinking about was I was like, you're right, you can't really look at a project or like look at the fabric somebody's made and immediately be like, they have loose tension, they have tight tension because who
Tension's Role in Project Appearance
00:26:06
Speaker
knows? like So just because the stitch itself is tight doesn't mean they had a tight tension. They might've done like what you did where they're like, they had to drop down those needle sizes or hook sizes to match that gauge so that their stitches were tighter. but they still have a loose tension. Same thing for me. like You might look at my meshwork or my lacework and be like, oh this is like big and open and lacy and like all of that stuff. and i'm like yeah
00:26:29
Speaker
But I'm still a tight tension. like I'm like, the chains, the stitches themselves are still really like close and compact, but like I've allowed that in the work. Like I went yeah up into a hook size that would make it looser so that it would look relaxed and look lacy and drapey and everything like that. But my tension itself is still tight.
00:26:51
Speaker
Yeah, that's a really good point. Yeah. Well, I would say that point, like, first of all, thank you. Second of all, I would say that that point, it like really applies for experienced fiber artists. Like we have learned how to make those adjustments, but I will say like, you know, have you ever seen any of those like,
00:27:11
Speaker
people who tried to make a Woobles kit or something, and then it comes out, like, super long. And, like, you know, clearly they have loose tension. But, like, you know, like we said, it's not really something you learn on the first try. so like Right.
00:27:26
Speaker
I remember there was this one that she tried to make, like, a B or something, and it ended up being, like, super stretched out. Like, instead of a circle, it was, like, this long. Oh my goodness. Yes.
00:27:40
Speaker
For some instances, i would say like, yeah, you can look at someone's work and be like, you're pretty loose, huh? Like you you haven't learned yet. Yes. But I think that'll be more, like you said, it's more evident in like less experienced fiber artists. who yeah like that They bought a Woobles kit because they don't know. And so right they're just, they're given the hook, they're given the yarn, they're told to do things. And that's, that's all they're given. and Or at least that's from my understanding. So they don't understand like, you know, and they probably don't have the tools to even be like, okay, well, this isn't working. So I need a smaller hook. And sometimes even people get confused where they're like, wait, if my, so my gauge is smaller. So does that mean I need to go up hook? Do I need to go down there? Cause like, it's almost like opposite. intuition So it's like, do I go up or do I go down? And so like, even that is a skill that takes learning. So yeah there was somebody who was like, their, their tension was actually tighter than mine in a tester group. wow And in my mind, I was like, nobody's ever been tighter. So in my mind, I just immediately went into, you probably need to go, you know, like down a hook size to match my gauge. And it's like, wait, wait, no, no, no. Scratch that opposite. You need to go up. a goal Somebody needs go up. Yeah. match my gauge? Like, what is this? No one's tighter than me. How dare they? I'm the tightest in the land. exactly. Exactly. so ah so um
00:29:04
Speaker
but um So even then, like knowing like knowing your own tension, knowing how to adjust for it, all of these are skills that you just develop over time with experience. So that is hilarious though. like But sometimes I think that's what's comical or like it it's fun. It's like you're like, oh my God, I realized my tank top is going to fit a giant. Because my attention is too loose. um And then for me, I'm like, yeah.
00:29:31
Speaker
That tester one that I was doing for you, I almost could have wrapped it around my whole body. And that's and i knew it was only supposed to be one panel, like the front panel. And that's when I was like, you know what? i I'm clearly doing something wrong.
00:29:48
Speaker
It's clearly not working for me. so Yes. Yeah. Like this bee is supposed to be cute and round. Yeah, exactly. It's like this beat. Yeah. And instead it's like, it looks like a wiener dog.
00:30:01
Speaker
Yes, yeah. Well, then I'm like why did she keep going with it? Like, clearly it's not working, but it still got finished. Like, I saw the finished product.
00:30:12
Speaker
Like, did she think you would shrink at the end or something? Like, I don't know. oh I mean, she probably was like, I don't know. i don't know what's wrong. I don't know how to fix it. All I know is what's in front of me. So I'm just going to keep going and hope for the best. Kind of like with you and those sailor slippers. You were like, well, maybe if I just keep washing and drying it, keep washing and drying it, it's going to get smaller.
00:30:31
Speaker
Maybe it'll work. For real. Well, actually, funny you bring those up because when I was working on those, I had a tension issue because i was trying to do all of my purl stitches continental.
Comparing Knitting Methods for Tension Control
00:30:45
Speaker
But it was like... The purl stitches continental and the knit stitches continental just had like vastly different tensions, even just between the two types of stitch.
00:30:58
Speaker
And the only way I was able to get around it is by knitting English style. And then like somehow all my tension problems were fixed. And I'm like i'm a newer continental knitter, so it's like not shocking, I guess, that I had some problems with tension in continental.
00:31:14
Speaker
um But like you, if you have tension problems within a stitch like or like between stitches, like you can really see it in the work. It was like the stitches every other row were like twice as big.
00:31:30
Speaker
And then twice as small, twice as big, twice as small. That is fascinating. I mean, yeah that that's hilarious almost. Like you're like, why is it so different? like it's yeah I'm using the same technique, but it's just changing one stitch is like, that's all it took. So like I had that same problem when I was designing my first sweater. i had to use one hook for the main stitch, the single crochets. But then when it came to the cabling, I had to go up a hook size.
00:31:56
Speaker
or like two hook sizes because the cables were just so tight in comparison to the regular single crochet that it was like all lopsided. And I was like, so in the pattern itself, I'm like, you need two hooks. When you hit the cable, switch hooks. And then when you get back, switch the back. And I'm like, yeah,
00:32:11
Speaker
why i was like, why does this have to like, why can't I just do it with the same hook the whole time? That would be easier, but it's like, nope tension. It's the stitching itself, like changed the tension. So I had to change yeah how I helped. I did things. So like with you for your pearls, you had to do them differently from how you do it. So yeah. Yeah.
00:32:30
Speaker
Well, at least with crochet, it'd be like super easy to change hook size with knitting. Like it's such a hassle. Like if you have to do that, Oh yeah, that's true. oh my gosh. Oh, poor knitting. a Point against it for this one. Point for crochet to your never-ending tally.
Episode Wrap-up: Choosing Your Tension Side
00:32:50
Speaker
ah ah Well, speaking of tallies and never ending, we actually do probably need to wrap this up because um i think we're hitting that half hour mark and we can probably go on and on about tension and like all the jokes that come with it. But we do want to keep these in nice, digestible half hour forms. So what we do want to do is make sure to encourage you that if you enjoyed our conversation, go ahead and like it, hit that thumbs up. And while you're at it, go ahead and hit subscribe, hit that bell notification so that you can keep up with all of our episodes.
00:33:22
Speaker
yes yes and join in on the conversation we gotta settle this you know who's who has more people on their side the tight or the loose tension um want to hear from you guys and build up my army of um loosey gooseys uh so definitely what's mine tidy white oh never mind never mind now Yeah. If you want to be tighty whitey, then there you go. Tidy whitey.
00:33:51
Speaker
yeah so Let us know team Lucy goosey or tighty whitey. Let us know. um But yeah, definitely come back in two weeks. We'll have another episode for y'all. And um you know, we love interacting with you guys and we always appreciate having you here. So make sure you come back and see us again.