Tag: how-to-knit

This week on GK: test knitting a new-old design, new pattern updates and a new tutorial video!

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This week I continued to update my patterns with the links to my tutorials: the next ones on my list were the GK Cowl and the Eryx Double Pompom Hat.

If you purchased any of the patterns mentioned above through Ravelry, you probably already have the email about the update in your mailbox by now. Please follow the instructions in it to download the new version.

Both updated patterns (and a third one: the GK Beanie which didn’t need an update) are available on Etsy, Payhip and LoveCrafts as well from now on.

There is a new video included in these patterns: how to join your work in the round. I show you 2 ways for joining: the easiest and the nicest (well, in my opinion, anyway 🙂 ). You can read about it by clicking here.

I was really busy in the past week doing the pattern updates but in the meantime I also took some projects off the shelf that were left unfinished before GK was sentenced to a forced 2 years rest in 2019… I have a hoodie design that is really close to being published. You may remember the Tyche Hoodie, I wrote about it here.

When I wrote this post back in 2018, I had said I need a tech editor for this design but I struggled to find one eventually. After a while I got too tired of trying, I just neglected the topic and it slowly became forgotten.

Well, it is definitely not a beginner level design but I don’t think it is that impossible, so now I started dealing with it again. I am also thinking about extending the size range, because many of you asked for an adult version for this one. This may take me some time to figure out so please bear with me… I am trying my best to deliver.

I would like to be proactive on this design, so while I am working on updating my patterns that have been already published, I would like to start gathering test knitters for Tyche. I add some details for you below in case you happen to be interested 🙂 :

Tyche has raglan sleeves and it is joined in the round after reaching the armhole. It has a kangaroo pocket and a hood both of which have an I-cord hem. The pattern is written in 5 sizes: 3-6 mos, 6-12 mos, 12-18 mos, 18-24 mos and 2-4 yrs and it includes both chart version and written instructions. It requires the following skills: knit, purl, increase, decrease, kitchener stitch, I-cord edging. Because of its complexity, it is a design for intermediate and experienced knitters. Application is open from now until Wednesday December 8. 2021. Deadline for the finished pieces: Monday January 31, 2022. Please only apply if you can meet deadline.

You find further information about this test knitting project by clicking here. If you are interested in test knitting GK designs in general, and would like to get ear-burned by me every time I have something available, please apply in my Ravelry Test Knit Ear-burn Group! I would be very happy to welcome you there as well 🙂 !

Finally I would like to thank all of you, who are here and reading my blog – whether it is a one time read or every single week! I probably don’t say this enough but it really means a lot to me! I enjoy writing for myself, too, but it is definitely better if I have company 🙂 ! I am really grateful for everyone of you ❤ ! Have a nice week!

Happy Knitting!

Mici

New video tutorial, pattern updates and the GK Payhip Store!

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I have many things to share with you this week!

First of all, the next episode of the first GK Knitting Help series is live on YouTube! As usual I have written a few thoughts about it, which you can read here. It is about creating and joining an I-cord. If you are following me for some time, you have probably noticed that I-cord techniques are one of my favorites. They are the finishing touch of every garment that makes the whole thing perfect. This is why it became a bit longer video than usual, I guess… and it is probably not the last one on that topic since I use different I-cord techniques quite often as a selvedge for example.

You can find all of my tutorials in the GK Knitting Help library by clicking here. If you would like to be notified when I post a new video to YouTube, please subscribe to my Channel and click on the bell to set up notifications. I appreciate every subscription, like and comment.

The next thing I would like to tell you about is – as I promised before – I am updating all of my patterns with the tutorials, so beginner knitters can read and watch tutorials as they proceed with a pattern.

The following patterns have been updated with tutorial links so far this week: Cobweb, Fiona, Lysander, Titania and Puck.

If you purchased any GK pattern mentioned above through Ravelry, by now you have probably already received an email notification about the update (or you should in a few hours), and you have nothing else to do but to follow the instructions in that email.

If you purchased through Etsy, and would like to get the links to the tutorials, please contact me via this form, or send an email to gynkaknitwear@gmail.com (in this case I will ask for your Etsy user name and email address to be able to identify your purchase) and I will send you the updated pattern pdf ASAP.

The updated patterns mentioned are also available on LoveCrafts and Payhip from now on. Which brings us to our last topic for today, namely the GK Payhip Store is now up and running! I am very happy about this as it a huge milestone for me and I have been planning it for a long time. I just hadn’t have the time to set it up until now. I will upload all my patterns there as soon as I am done updating them which I hope to be done in a few weeks. I will keep you informed about it here and also on Instagram!

Thank you so much for being here and I hope to welcome you next time, too! 🙂

Happy Knitting,

Mici

The GK YouTube Channel is here :)

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Last week I talked about making some changes to GK. Probably the biggest one after closing the online shop is I officially started the Gynka Knitwear YouTube Channel and I have just uploaded my first video! These videos will always come with some explanation which you will find in the main menu under the title tutorials. The explanation for this particular video is here.

If you check my channel on YouTube, you will see that there are two videos there (if you are reading this at the beginning of November 2021, of course…). That is because I had one uploaded about a year ago but that was quickly made for someone who asked for help and I realized the best I can do for her is to film how I do it myself… I don’t count that video to the series I am filming now but it was a milestone for me in a way that it was the time when the idea of a GK YouTube Channel first came to my mind, so I left it up there.

The reason for the YouTube channel and the video series is that in my experience, most of you, Lovely Knitters, are visual-minded like me, so I believe demonstrating a solution for a problem for you is a better way than just telling you what to do. After almost 5 years of experience in designing, writing and supporting knitwear patterns I know the points where almost every beginner knitter needs help with my patterns. All the questions I am asked are concentrating to the same part of a pattern and every pattern has its own “problem part”. Most of the time it is a knitting technique that knitters are not familiar yet. I tried to help to all of those who got to me for assistance with an already existing video on YouTube (there are plenty of fantastic ones) but in many cases they are not helpful or they not the exact technique I use in my pattern (for example I haven’t found a video that is using the exact same method for joining an I cord to a knitted piece that I use) and it can be rather confusing.

I also know that many beginners are not asking their questions, they try to find a solution on their own and if they don’t succeed, they put the project aside and probably never return. My aim is to go ahead of this problem and create a visual aid to all beginner knitters and link these videos into the patterns so they will be right there when they are needed. This way all the help I can possibly offer will be right there in the pattern without making it too long (or over-explained for the advanced knitters if that is a word…).

I struggled a lot about the structure of these videos. They would probably be more informative if I talked you through some parts but since English is not my mother language I believe it is better for everyone if I don’t talk :D… Let us stick to subtitles and you tell me if it helps or not.

For now, my plan is not to post videos on a regular basis but to publish them in line with the new patterns. So there may be no videos for a longer period but then there’ll be more of them at the same time when I release a new design. I am making a series now for my existing patterns and when I am finished with the series, I will update all of my patterns with the links. Everyone who purchased my pattern through Ravelry will get an automatic update when it is done but I will also inform you through the blog.

I really hope you will benefit from these videos. I am always willing to listen to your thoughts about them, so if you have something to say, please do in the comments and I will try my best!

Happy Knitting!

Mici