Time to show some love to your sweater’s wrong side!
Have you ever finished a sweater and found yourself wishing the wrong side looked as good as the right? There’s something so deeply satisfying about a knit that’s just as neat on the inside as it is on the outside.
Honestly, I never used to worry much about how the wrong side looked - until recently. Let me share what changed my mind.
As you might know, I tend to knit 3–4 samples of each design. Every time, I promise myself I’ll keep it simple: one for test knitters, one for the video tutorial - and that’s it! But somehow, I can never resist experimenting with different yarns.
There’s always that little voice saying, “How would this look in blown yarn?” Or sometimes, Alex (my husband) will ask for his own sample. And before I know it, I’ve knit multiple versions!
I absolutely adore each of these sweaters. Every stitch has a story - I can still remember where I was and what was happening as I knit them. If you’re anything like me, you know how meaningful each one feels ❤️.
But as much as I love them, I’ve decided to send the majority of them to people who need them more. My usual practice is to donate store-bought clothes I no longer wear to the Red Cross in Prague, but this time I felt my hand-knit sweaters needed to go somewhere special.
Being Ukrainian, I feel a deep connection to sending these sweaters to Ukraine, hoping they can bring a little warmth and comfort during these incredibly tough times.
I know, I promised to talk about weaving in ends, but this story is what really inspired today’s email. It’s about caring for every little detail of our knits - even the parts no one else might see.
Back to weaving in ends.
So, I washed all the sweaters, and while I was packing them for shipping, I noticed something: I felt a bit shy about how they looked on the wrong side - all these visible tails and the places where I’d threaded the yarn. They just didn’t look as polished as I’d like. But, of course, by that point, it was too late to do anything about it.
Then, just yesterday, I finished the Drop in Dream sweater for the upcoming video tutorial, and again I thought: “I could weave in these yarn tails better.”
That’s when I decided to really dive in and learn more about perfecting this part of the process. Off to YouTube I went, and I found some brilliant tips from experienced knitters that I just have to share with you!
🎥 The first is from VeryPink Knits, in her video Knitting Help - Weaving in Ends. Staci breaks down a super simple and neat method for threading your tapestry needle on the wrong side of stockinette stitch fabric. It’s quick, easy, and leaves you with a clean finish!
🎥 For those of you who love getting into the finer details, I also found an amazing video from Norman on the Nimble Knitting channel called How to Weave in Ends in Knitting - 10 Different Techniques. He goes into depth about not just how to weave in your ends, but why certain techniques work better for different projects. It’s definitely worth a watch if you’re curious about leveling up your finishing skills.
So, next time you finish a project, why not take a little extra time to weave in your ends like a pro? You might just end up with a sweater that looks so neat, you’d be proud to wear it inside out! And, if you’re one of those amazing knitters who has already mastered the art of flawless weaving, I’d love to hear your tips - just reply to this email and let me know your secret. Thank you!
📔 Featured pattern of the week:Turtle Dove Cardigan by Sonder Yarn Co.
Why you’ll love it:
- No button band! That means less stress for beginners. Yay! 🎉
- Flattering fit: This cardigan looks great on different body types. Check out the project photos from fellow knitters who have created this stylish piece.
- Quick to make: With a gauge of 16 stitches and 21 rows, you’ll be done in no time! Plus, it’s a perfect opportunity to get creative. You can use aran weight yarn (like Drops Nepal), blown yarn (like Drops Air), or even combine DK weight or worsted yarn with mohair. I’ll be updating my aran weight yarn guide soon with even more creative options!
- It's free!
I took a peek at the pattern, and while it uses some abbreviations that might need a little decoding, don’t let that intimidate you! Every knitter starts with detailed patterns that describe each step. Once you feel comfortable, it’s time to embrace lighter challenges to grow in your knitting journey.
🌍 What's new in Esenique world.
I’m excited to share that I’ve started the test knit for the Artist’s Sweater! Inspired by those popular yet complex textured stitch sweater patterns, I’ve designed a beginner-friendly version that’s both fun and approachable. While the pattern itself is easy to follow, I’m looking for intermediate-level knitters to help me bring it to life! (If you’ve knitted my Weekend Glow sweater, you’re more than ready for this!)
In the meantime, I’ll be filming a step-by-step tutorial to ensure this sweater is accessible for adventurous beginners. We’ll start with a simple stockinette stitch version (I’ve already named it the English Club Sweater) to get everyone comfortable with the techniques.
Then, we’ll dive into the Artist's Sweater, featuring a simple yet engaging 12-round repeat: 2 purl rows, 2 seed stitch rows, and 8 knit rows.
I can’t wait to see how this project comes together, and I’m looking forward to sharing all the details with you!
❤️ I hope this newsletter has inspired you to try something new.
Warm regards,
Julia Piro
Knitwear Designer & Esenotes Curator