How to Wear Your Makes More Often
No matter how long you’ve been crafting, most people realize they aren’t wearing the things they’ve made as often as they would like. Maybe you’ve wondered “What was the point of putting 20 hours into that sweater??” when you’ve worn it once. Today we’re going to talk about how to plan projects you’ll wear and what to do with the ones you don’t.
A collection of my most-worn makes :)
Why Aren’t You Wearing It?
That’s the $64 question isn’t it? Grab a notebook (or your notes app) and the things you aren’t wearing, we’re going to do a little exercise. Before you try it on, lay it out and ask yourself…
Do I like it?
Yeah, pretty simple and silly. But ask yourself if you like the item objectively. The color, the fabric, the details. Let’s say it’s a sweater, do you like that this sweater has extra-long ribbing? Or did you just see it photographed in a pretty way on Instagram enough times? If the answer is “no”, you don’t like it. Get specific about why and write it down.
Now go ahead and try it on. First, write down everything you LOVE about it. Do you love that it’s colorwork? Maybe the yarn is aging like the finest wine and you can’t get enough of it. Is this the perfect amount of ease? What do you think about the length?
Next, let’s talk about what you LIKE about the sweater. Great things, but you could tweak them. “I wish the sleeves were a tad longer”, “This yarn color is beautiful, but it’s a bit itchy”, etc.
Finally, let’s look at what you don’t like. Color, style, fit? Get objective and don’t be afraid to be honest with yourself! Make sure to write it all down. Focus on the garment and not yourself. Think “the length of this garment doesn’t give me the proportions I want” instead of “I look xyz in this”.
Through this exercise, you’ll determine
Is this a style you resonate with
What are the tweaks to make things chefs kiss
What are the dealbreakers
Here are a few things I learned about myself while doing this exercise:
I prefer drop shoulder sweaters but I love oversized raglans as long as the yoke isn’t too deep.
I love bold colors or neutrals and not much in between. I want raspberry pink or ecru, and I am not too into deep earthy colors
My preferred ease for sweaters is 6” minimum and up to 10”, I like neutral or negative ease on other garments (tops, skirts, dresses)
My preferred length for sleeves is about 1” short of my knuckles or just past the wrist, I avoid cropped sweaters.
How to Wear It
Depending on the category, each garment will have a different strategy. Let’s start with the simplest, garments you love, but maybe just forgot about.
In sight, in mind. Find ways to put these items in the areas of your closet you use the most often. I like to hang my favorite sweaters with this technique so I can easily see them. Usually, when getting dressed we’re looking to get ready quickly and conveniently. So make your items quick and convenient to get to.
Planning ahead is another great method. You can also set aside a few minutes to play dress-up and plan a few outfits to have handy in your head! This takes the work of planning an outfit out of the busy moment and gives you the chance to experiment with your clothes.
Another thing I frequently hear is something along the lines of a handknit being “too precious to wear”. While there are items we want to preserve, letting go of this mentality is essential to getting the most wear and love out of your knits! One thing that helped me let go of this is thinking of my makes as a gift knit for myself. When I give someone a knit I tell them how to care for it and ask them to text me if they have any questions. Outside of that, I want them to use, wear, and love that item as much as possible! I want them to wear holes in it!! And then I want to repair the holes!!! If that’s how I want the things I gift to be used, shouldn’t I be allowed to use them like that too?
Ok, let’s move on to the next group. Items that you love, but have slight issues with that decrease their wearability.
Just fix it. When it comes to the small things, it's time to just fix it. Are your sleeves a couple of inches too long or short? Unfortunately yes, it is worth it to cut out your Italian bind-off and fix your sleeves. Scissors are your best friend! I used to be so resistant to doing this but once you start you’ll notice it’s just a few extra hours of doing what you enjoy to have a garment you love even more. Adding this to my practice has also expanded my knitting toolbox and has helped me predict/troubleshoot future issues. Doing this has also encouraged me to frequently try on my makes as I go, this way I can make adjustments in the moment.
Give your garment a new life by making some more involved changes. A perfect example of this is taking a pullover sweater and steeking it into a cardigan. You can also transform drop-sleeve sweaters into vests or dresses into top and skirt separates! Most of these involve cutting your work and picking up stitches to create new fabric. If you have an intermediate or higher experience level, you can likely figure out how to do these on a per-project basis! I love this video by Eliza Okay for inspo :)
Do you have an item you love the fit of but the color isn’t quite working? Overdying is a fantastic option! When choosing a dye make sure to look at the fiber composition as certain dyes are designed for plant or animal fibers (ex. cotton vs wool). I highly recommend Rit Dye, which has a fantastic color range and is designed for at-home use. Stay away from acid or powder dyes as these are much more involved and require a full respirator and well-ventilated space for safe usage.
The “dealbreaker” garments can be the most difficult to address. These garments tend to be beyond repair and tend to need to be re-knit to be wearable. Generally, you’re going to frog it or find it a new home.
Frogging it is generally the go-to option for unworn projects. I highly recommend frogging if you want to reknit the garment or are looking to reclaim some nice yarn. But outside of those cases, frogging is my least favorite option (personally). I notice that I don’t tend to reuse the yarn and that the garment may be best suited for someone else.
Finding a new home for projects is my favorite way to send them to their next life. I love gifting them to family and friends (especially if I’ve noticed them admiring something in particular). I’ve also given away things on Instagram stories and ask people to just pay shipping. But if you don’t have someone to gift things to, donation is always an option! I have donated several sweaters, tops, etc to my local charity shops and love the idea that someone who may not otherwise have access to hand-knit items may excitedly scoop up mine. If you want your donation to go the extra mile, look into your local charity shops and try to find one that supports causes that are special to you. My favorites are Out of the Closet in the LA area (support the queer community) and Laura’s House in Orange County (Women’s shelter). If something isn’t fit for either of these options, I like to gift things to my pets. Felted sweater? My cats love them! Sleeve panel of a sweater that I’ll never finish? Blanket for a kitten!
Kitten with the unfinished sweater panel :)
Give it a shot and give your makes some more love! Drop any extra tips you have for the rest of us down below ;)
xo Dani
