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Emily Wessel

Hi! I’m Emily Wessel, I design fun-to-knit patterns and helpful technique tutorials. I live in Edinburgh, Scotland with my husband and two kids, where I like to run, knit, learn languages, and hang out with friends. I am co-founder and designer at Tin Can Knits - www.tincanknits.com

19 Comments

  1. Mansi Singh
    March 23, 2021 @ 3:38 am

    Thanks for sharing this article, this will help me out regarding baby mittens for my little one.

  2. cinthia
    April 3, 2015 @ 1:12 am

    i really like that post, so funny and so true ! And by the way, i really appreciate your work, teaching and designing.

  3. Helen Schendel/ Nellie on ravelry
    March 29, 2015 @ 1:07 pm

    I can’t wait for your new book. Have two baby sweaters on my challenge list. Your patterns are the best ever.

  4. Sue
    March 29, 2015 @ 7:46 am

    Love these tips – entertaining and oh-so-practical!

  5. susiequinn
    March 28, 2015 @ 4:21 pm

    I really appreciated the tips in this column. I haven’t attempted a sweater yet, although I picked up the Gramps pattern (and the Road Trip book) at Knit City 2014 and will take the plunge eventually.

  6. Julie Muehlberg
    March 28, 2015 @ 2:39 pm

    so right on! and such luverly photos of those babes & todds – thanks TCK!

  7. CarrieC
    March 28, 2015 @ 12:47 pm

    Wool is fine and dandy, but for people knitting on the cheap there are DK acyclic yarn. I’m knitting Michaels brand baby yarn for the Flax sweater (my first sweater). The color choice is slim, but enough yardage for a baby and or toddler sweater. Hobby Lobby has baby yarn and DK acyclic too.

  8. kaydeerouge
    March 28, 2015 @ 1:34 am

    Such a joyful positive – and sensible – post! I’m planning to knit Old Growth for a friend’s baby, and have been dithering about finding acrylic or superwash wool. This is just the advice I needed to help me make up my mind. Go for some really beautiful yarn for this beautiful cardi –
    Time to get knitting!!

    • Emily Wessel
      March 29, 2015 @ 11:44 am

      I knit all of Max’s wee sweaters in superwash wool, and they went through the washing machine MANY times. I live in the UK, so we don’t have a dryer, so I can’t comment on how they would hold up through many dryings, but with just the wash it was fine. Plus, the knitting is much more pleasurable in a lovely wool than it is in acrylic!

    • CarrieC
      March 30, 2015 @ 12:07 pm

      I would put it on the air dry setting on the dryer. Beat hanging it outside, unless you’re into that. Timing is a guessing game.

  9. tanis
    March 27, 2015 @ 5:53 pm

    This is the best post ever! I totally agree with each point. I’m nodding aggressively as I read this, short sleeves, long cuffs on mittens, hand washing, don’t be a wuss! Love it!

  10. Elizabeth
    March 27, 2015 @ 5:08 pm

    Great post. Thank you for all the great tips!

  11. Emily
    March 27, 2015 @ 4:45 pm

    Love your points about wool. In addition it is much safer than acrylic as it is naturally fire resistant.

    Also what a meanie in your knitting group. Babies look great in every color!

  12. miss agnes
    March 27, 2015 @ 4:22 pm

    Great tips ! It is just too bad they are growing so quickly, right ? Mine are too big now, but I still enjoy knitting for other people’s babies.

  13. El
    March 27, 2015 @ 2:37 pm

    These are excellent tips, and a few of them I would never have thought of.

    • El
      March 27, 2015 @ 2:37 pm

      Ok. I wouldn’t have thought of any of them. ;-)

  14. Julie Huntsman
    March 27, 2015 @ 1:45 pm

    May I ask what the name of the darling green short sleeve sweater is?
    Thanks Julie

    • Emily Wessel
      March 29, 2015 @ 11:47 am

      Hi Julie – it’s the Prairie Fire Pullover from our book Road Trip. You can get the single pattern or the ebook here: http://tincanknits.com/pattern-RT-prairiefire.html . I made the green one for my little boy Max, but Alexa’s girl Hunter modelled the one on the webpage.

  15. Missy's Crafty Mess
    March 27, 2015 @ 12:55 pm

    Great advice and I so agree with the yellow on babies.