"Simple" to me is not boring. It feels chic and timeless. A lot of her knitwear patterns I can wear and mix with formal workwear for a professional office setting. I don't know how to design patterns (even simple ones) so I am very grateful for her designs, which are accessible and beautiful.
I remember Ravelry before the Scandinavian designers flooded the market. The super popular designs back then looked handmade, and not always in a good way. Simple isn’t boring when it’s well made.
@@bunnyechoes the no frill sweater and the Sevilla blouse. In a lofty, nice yarn with lots of positive ease, they look lovely paired with dress pants or skirt. But honestly, I think a bunch of her sweaters would dress up nicely.
I knitted four of her sweater patterns in the past year. I get tons of compliments of how good they look from knitters and non-knitters. They are also well written and I feel she gets how sweaters should fit and look.
I lived in Danemark for 4 years and the Danish knit design corresponds with the pursuit of the coziness - hygge. Petiteknit is very popular in Danemark. The lack of sizes at the beginning is due to the Danish market - the Danish patterns are very short as they rely on the knowledge of the knitter. All Danish designers are adjusting to the international market. Concerning the Sophie scarf - the fact is that nobody came with the idea before her... We can easily create it, but we would not have the idea necessarily. :) I don't get the hate.... She has succeeded and good for her... We all would like to succeed in our life... 😉
I bought one of her patterns 2 years ago. A sweater for a child, an I think an older pattern from hers. I managed to knit it! A few months ago I received an email that the pattern has been updated with additional sizes and I think some more text. Personally I love that, it shows to me that she cares and listens to feedback. And for free of charge!
Danish knitter here: Petiteknits' designs are very Danish: simple is more in our sense of style. However, there are other Danish designers with less popularity, so I have also thought about what makes Mette so popular in Denmark (and abroad). My conclusion is that a part of the reason is that Petiteknit's patterns are simple, exceptionally well-written and simple to understand. She started publishing patterns after a long period when knitting had lost its popularity. (When I was younger, I did not know a single woman who knitted ... it was something that grandmas did.) Then, suddenly, knitting was picked up by younger women and her timing was perfect ... her patterns are perfect for someone just starting to knit! She is also great at teaching you new techniques with every knit, so there are always links to youtube demonstrations of these techniques in her Danish patterns (where she works with the Danish knit instructor Kimmie Munksholm) Her sizes and calculations are spot-on. I have knitted patterns by other young designers and their designs are often off, sadly, in the bigger sizes. I have never heard Petiteknits designs 'hated on' in Denmark. Though I personally prefer more complex designs, I am grateful to Mette for making knitting available and possible for young women, who did not grow up knitting.
There’s certainly “hate” (albeit a strong word) towards her in the community here in Denmark. Actually maybe more against her “army”, but also against her because she never replies to emails with questions on clarification. This sadly creates a sense of her feeling above her customers. She has no interacting with them. Knitters can’t say one thing wrong about her patterns without being told off in certain knitting groups, because her “army” is so big.
I started knitting only since last year, and I’m grateful to have joined this community. I’ve done a Sophie scarf for my wife when I splurged on a skein of Spincycle yarn. The pattern shows off the yarn well, and she loves wearing it because it’s small. I appreciate how you point out the pros and cons of the designer’s work in an objective way, and you also don’t express hatred around it. Like it or not, her work is successful! But we don’t all need to love every design. Thanks for your informative videos!
Your wife is a lucky women! That goes to show how much simple designs have their place in the knitting world. A beautiful skein of yarn can sing in a very simple pattern.
I like her patterns because they are really well written. I have no doubts about what I should do next, the number of stitches is given at key moments, etc. And in my opinion, these knitwear are well-thought-out, simple, but nicely finished, the necklines are nicely profiled, they are simply easy to wear. Sometimes I admire knitwear from other designers, but I don't want to knit them because I know that I won't be able to fit such oversized sleeves into any winter coat. And IMO the "beige aesthetic" is, in a sense, Scandinavian aesthetics. I lived in Stockholm for 5 years and in winter people dressed in black, gray and navy blue. And that's it.
I knit a Champagne Cardigan as a gift. I wanted the double knit button band, and a reliable basic sweater. When a pattern has so many projects on Ravelry, I'm more confident that the pattern works. I recently test-knit a sweater that hadn't had a tech-edit first, it turned out so disappointingly, and the designer released it anyways, so I've lost my faith that published patterns must be good patterns. With Petit Knits, I'm pretty confident the pattern is good. Same with Joji Locatelli, I like a lot of her designs :)
Other things to say about Petiteknit is she is designing for her climate. The weather in Denmark is very similar to that of the UK, wet and relatively mild during the winter. I wear my Sophie scarf a lot as it's perfect for winters here. The other point I wanted to make is her style of pattern writing is very European. The assumption is that you know how to knit, you're beyond the basics, and you know to check the pattern for abbreviations and work out/find out for yourself what they mean. A lot of knitters in the US need more clarification and 'hand holding'! It's just what you're used to. Personally, my heart sings when I see a design that has little details that she adds - the I-cord edging to the Sophie or the pretty detail on the back of Anker's Bonnet for example. It shows thought and care.
That’s completely false and ignorant of you to say that a lot of knitters in the US need more “hand-holding.” They knit as well as anyone else in the world. The problem is this younger generation (WORLD-wide, mind you) who think they need a video tutorial for everything, also wants everything explained to them.
@@abeiradapraia all I can say is I speak as I find. I know of lots of knitters in the US that are extremely talented and very experienced. I also know lots, of all ages, who need a lot of support.
@@abeiradapraia why is it "false" or "ignorant" of her expressing her opinion? She's simply stating her opinion on the matter... that doesn't make it false or ignorant... There's absolutely no reason for you to jump down the ladies throat simply because she's stating a point based on what has been said here and in many other forums. It's not a secret that there are several ways of knitting, pattern writing, et al. The Asian market don't even have keys for most of their knitting charts bc they too expect the knitter to know what the basic symbols mean. All I'm saying is that there's no reason to be offended by her statement 🤷🏽♀️
@ because…it is false and ignorant. She’s making a generalization that she knows is not true, but presents it as so. Anyways, look up the meaning of “false” and “ignorant”. Words have meaning that you should know, I don’t know what else to say to you.
@@abeiradapraiaI think the issue is you replying to the op saying her comment is ignorant and false for generalising then immediately making a generalisation about young people worldwide needing a video and everything explained to them? Is your generalisation not ignorant too? Imho patterns have changed a lot since I started knitting. I started out 40 years ago with old UK patterns which were already 20 odd years old. Anyone learning to knit in the last decade or two might struggle with them, not because of how in depth they are but because of the style they are written. Whatever way you look at it Danish and Norwegian (amongst others) patterns have minimal instructions compared to both UK and US patterns. I've knitted from all of them at one time or another. Make what you want of that. It's not suggesting folks in the US can't knit without detailed instructions, all it's saying is that's what they are used to being offered, same as Danish knitters are used to very basic instructions. Personally I mostly prefer the very short style of pattern writing but more in depth are good when learning a new technique. There's a place for all the styles including videos and lots of support if needed.
As mutch as we Danes love and are proud of our danish designer Petitknit, we to diskuss all the subjects you are mentioning. And I agree. As long as that many people will by her paterns, it must be becourse she’s god at marketing and he patterns are relevant . And god for her. She’s humble and hard working, and therefore she deserve The hype. My opinion, off course. Thank you for a nobel and fair rewiew❤❤ I Think, we could hype female entrepreneurs mutch more than we do🎉🎉 Make room for them, rather than be talking them down.
💯 she makes it look easy but it's not. Her first pattern were not so easy to understand. And those annoyed she barely changes something but makes 5 patterns out of it - vest, cardigan, sweater, mini, junior, male/female - if you are good enough to alter your patterns yourself you don't need to buy several and those who want or need the help can. Yes it's nice that some designers include sizes from kid to male but petiteknit sometimes uses different needle sizes and yarn and for good reason. There is a lot more thought put into it and also a lot more testing. Personally I am very thankful for her pattern and they taught me a lot. They made me play around the more I learned. German pattern are usually like Danish or Norwegian- very short and though I also learned knitting at school it was petiteknit who made me get back into it and understand more short and difficult pattern from other designers now by having gained experience. I wish her lasting success and a bright future in knitwear where she can even expand in new fields.
I knit the Sophie Scarf. It took me a while to understand the instructions because I couldn't figure out the I-cord stitches. I had recently tought myself to do an I-cord cast off and my brain did not compute the cast on. Finally after watching tutorials the light went off and I succeeded. It was a satisfying accomplishment for this novice/intermediate knitter. Thank you for your review and bringing attention to the business aspect of knitting. Thank goodness for all the different designers and knitters. Variety is the spice of life.
"Simple design" designers are what got me back to knitting after a 20-year break. There definitely is an audience for those kinds of patterns. I will only support designers that are size-inclusive, but I can also see and appreciate those who cater to "no frills" tastes.
Great analysis. I’ve knit a few of her sweaters and I plan to knit more. I have a question about size inclusivity. How large should a sweater be graded in order to be considered size inclusive? I have the understanding that sometime you just can’t grade a sweater to certain size as it just won’t work out correctly? Thanks
I learned to knit because of Petiteknit! I had accidentally ruined a sweater in the wash and my mum declared it salvageable and unravelled it to reknit into a sweater. I didn't know how to knit in 2022 and googled for knitting patterns. I happened to come across somebody's finished September Sweater on reddit and I fell in love with how it looked. So I bought the pattern, a set of interchangeable needles (I was deep into research at this point and figured out interchangeables were the way to go) and dived into a swatch. I was swatching for 3 months lol, because I was a beginner, and halfway through, I decided to switch from English style to continental because of ergonomics. It took me another 3 months to finish my first sweater because I was googling for a tutorial for every step I was unfamiliar with (which was every single step since I was a beginner) and half the time I was trying to fix my mistakes from several rows down.
I think petite knit is so popular because her patterns are so WELL written. Idk how many times I’ve knit something and got to a portion where I had to guess what the pattern meant because it’s unclear. But her patterns are clear from cast on to cast off. And they’re beautiful patterns. ❤
Absolutely agree, you can knit the Ingrid Sweater in black but it is going to be more difficult to see the patterns and not translate to a good marketing photo
Great analysis. I agree totally! I knitted a few of petite knit patterns because I am not very experienced and they never fail. And I dress boring so ...simple and boring is me and I feel amazing when I put on something that I knitted myself....I always reach out for the plain things in my wardrobe...but there are lots of amazing designers that I absolutely adore and are also plain and good for beginners...I like Isabel kraemer...a lot...and I like your podcasts and I thank you for them! I learn a lot on those about colorwork ❤ lot's of love from Lisbon 🥰
I agree, she has marketed herself very well and yes, her aesthetic appeals to a lot of knitters. The last time I checked we all have free will so if we don’t like/agree with her we can move on and “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything”. I don’t know….I think the scarf worn around your neck looks really nice and suits you very well.
I'm a beginner knitter and PetiteKnits seemed very well known which helped me a lot when I needed help buying yarn. The yarn store knew the pattern right away and showed me how to read the list of sizes and how much yarn I needed to buy. Lack of larger sizes is really the only critique I think is valid, the prices for the patterns is less than a pizza here so I think it's very fair. I don't really mind if her knitted clothes and patterns are mainly beige because the color of the yarn is up to me to chose - my first knitted sweater is a summery yellow :) I wear more alternative clothing (studded collars, colorful hair, leather jacket etc) and her more simple patterns actually leaves a lot of room for my own creativity. Ppl hating on someone for being popular is honestly just immature high school behaviour. Unless she isn't an awful human being then there really is not reason to have so many opinions about a complete stranger. However... I think the sophie scarf is ugly hahaha, it is the only thing I dont find appealing among all her patterns. But that is just a matter of taste :)
Good for you being able to come up with the pattern for the Sophie scarf on your own, but I couldn't. I've never heard of the icord edge before. also, I've never seen such a scarf anywhere before, which is perfect for autumn. so I did not mind the price at all, and made 3 of them so far.
I currently in my 3rd champagne cardigan. It's such a good staple piece. Easy to knit and gets so much wear. I've also knitted aros. I'm going to knit more. I like simple pieces. If I'm going to get complicated I leave that to shawls and hats. So........ I'm a fan. Simple well put together garments.
Thank you for having this discussion. I have knit a few, maybe 3 of Petite Knit patterns and I do like the way they are written. I personally am not a fan of the Sophie scarf but I can’t appreciate its place in the knitting community
I'm glad you mentioned the cultural difference between countries when it comes to sizing. I found that it's a much greater deal in English speaking countries (mostly the US and the UK) compared to France or maybe even western Europe in general. It's something that is talked about way more in these 2 countries than Europe. Not that is a good or bad thing, this is up to one's opinion. Maybe one of the many reasons is that obesity and overweight is more present in the US and the UK than in France for example. So obviously, when something is more visible, it has more impact and has to be considered more. But a greater size range is always more than welcome (without forgetting both ends of the spectrum, larger and smaller sizes...).
I ❤ Petite knit, and as a beginner I knit her Friday vest, Friday tee, Wednesday sweater, 5 Sophie scarfs, a Sophie shawl,a Oslo hat, and I just followed the patterns,and I felt like it was magic when I finished them! Her patterns are easy to follow, I like her pattern writing style. I have to make the no frills and the stripe one, aros. I own those patterns too. I was a fan from the beginning, and she turned me into abit of a Danish groupie! I love all the Danish designers out there!
I’ve been looking into designers other than petite knit for a T-shirt pattern. None, so far, have beaten the cumulus tee. It has a gorgeous balance of casual and chic. I can wear it to brunch or to work, and I love that. For something elegant and understated I go to Petite Knit, that’s her vibe and I love it.
When I was a student, I knitted a lot, almost non-stop and confidently according to my own designs and, of course, calculated them myself. That was in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Then came other priorities. When I started knitting sweaters again barely 2 years ago, I realized that the process had changed dramatically: Working top down in one piece, being able to try it on, being able to use circular knitting needles of all necessary sizes and lengths because of the interchangeable systems, having completely new pattern constructions that you can simply download anywhere and don't even have to convert: Great. And quite overwhelming, if not scary. With two or three of the excellently written patterns from Petiteknit (which are available in German translation, my language) and two other similar basic patterns from Kutovakika, I have opened up these new possibilities. In the meantime, I can also cope with patterns written in English, Danish or Norwegian, if necessary virtually free-flying. The fact that I can now find out where the mistake is with less well-written patterns myself, or that I can construct sweaters according to my wishes without any instructions at all, is thanks to these simple, perfectly written patterns from Petite Knit and Kutovakika. That's why I don't take any chances!
I giggled at the French part. I am in a fact a French knitter and I have to say petiteknit’s designs made me (and still do) fall in love with knitting ! I love the Sophie scarf it does fit my vibe as I am in the spring a scarf girly. I’ve made many of her designs bc they are what I have been taught clothing should be: timeless, easy to style with anything and high quality. I’ve just finished the dagmar sweater and i can say after only a year into knitting I am very proud of myself. She basically taught me how to knit and I couldn’t be more thankful. I am however looking forward to find smaller designers now that I am more experienced and confident 🙏🏻
Drôle de coïncidence je tombe sur ta vidéo après avoir fait 2 patrons de Petite knit, un pour moi “week-end slipover” et un pour mon petit fils, Alfred's sweater. Je ne savais pas qu'il y avait une telle critique envers PetiteKnit. Moi j'aime cette simplicité dans les modèles et je considère que le tricot offre toutes les possibilités de “pimper” modèle conventionnel. Je trouve les indications très claires mais suis plutôt d'accord que les patrons sont chers. Bref bien en accord avec tes commentaires. Aussi surprise de voir que tu es passée á l'anglais…. J’espère que tu maintiens aussi tes vidéos en français… Mais la qualité demeure la même, bravo !
I love her patterns. They are well-written and the designs are classic. The finishings are lovely. I never understood the hate thrown at her. A lot of it is driven by jealousy. Let’s face it, she is pretty, thin, young and successful and that pisses a lot of people who are not any of those things off. I have been knitting for almost 50 years. I am so sick of all the drama in the knitting community. It’s absurd. Thank you for this video.
As a Danish knitter I think people dislike her business and patterns because they believe they could easily do it all themselves. They probably could have, yes, but she was the one who did it and very successfully. They dislike how much money she makes from writing the same sweater pattern in adult and kids version. She’s been a driving force in changing the market and landscape of knitting worldwide, and people don’t want to give one tiny woman the credit she deserves. But that’s just my opinion 🗣️
I have never knit a Petiteknit pattern. I do like her design aesthetic and I think she is a very savvy businesswoman. The times I have been tempted to buy one of her patterns since it seems that EVERYONE knits her patterns, I always think, “I could figure that out or just adjust one of the patterns I already own”. But, I agree with you, no hate to Petiteknit!
I usually enjoy knitting colorwork, but I bought the sophie scarf pattern for it's simplicity. I had a gorgeous silk/merino mix yarn that would get lost in something more complex. I also like to knitting while traveling or waiting for appointments. This is easy to travel with. It's also a break from whatever else I'm working on that I can pick up after weeks of not working on it and just be able to knit. Sometimes, mindless repetition is comforting to me.
I'm actually in the process of knitting my very first PetiteKnit pattern, and it's the No Frills sweater. I'm absolutely loving it! I'm using a speckled hand-dyed yarn and the simplicity of the pattern is what makes the yarn the star of the show. While I do agree that some designs are similar, sometimes it's those minute details that make something more or less appealing to someone. I say more power to her! 👏
As someone who is from the Nordics, Petiteknit really falls into the modern Nordic category of knit designers. Wherever you go in the Nordics, you will find clothes that very much resemble the same style, colour palette and general 'vibe' that her designs have. If you walk down the street of Oslo, Stockholm or Copenhagen, you will find that MOST people wear similar clothes; very 'beige' or muted colour palettes in simple or timeless designs that are often knit in very fine yarns. It's just the way she designs and it makes perfect sense that a Danish woman would make designs that resemble a style that she has around her and that a lot of people enjoy, but might want to personalize. I think that at the end of the day, whether you are more of a Parisian, Milanese or Nordic style knitter, you will always gravitate towards what you enjoy most (visually), however, Petiteknit is INCREDIBLY popular and so she will appear in places where she's not people's style. That's internet fame and if you don't gravitate towards Nordic style knits, of course you should not feel forced to pay for one of her patterns. Your style is your own! No matter how popular a designer is, you are never obligated to knit their patterns! Also, on the topic of pricing; ask yourself this: 'would I rather pay 5 euros/dollars/pound for a pattern that has exactly what I want, or be forced to pay 15 euros/dollars/pound for options that I either don't enjoy or will never find myself making? Personally, I would rather spend less and get exactly what I want, rather than waste extra money on things I know I wouldn't enjoy, just to get that one option that I do want.
To me the light simple colours in the pictures just make it easy to see how it is supposed to look. I use yarns in all colours as I please, bc I am one of those Nordics not that into beige and grey.
The funny thing is, Popknit Katja Dyrberg is also a Danish designer and her knitwear is the complete opposite of Scandinavian minimalism, neons, crazy patterns, etc. But in general, I agree that Scandinavians just dress like that.
@annaszu8981 I know, look at an old copy of "Hönsestrickk". I had a long discussion on Ravelry once if a sock pattern in stranded knitting, with old patterns by a Swedish designer, in Swedish yarn , was actually "Nordic" ... mostly because I picked the colour combination red and green, that was one of the suggested colour choices, it was a Christmas Sock ... I spent a lot of letters explaining that not all (traditional) Nordic knitting is the style of whatever part of Norway it is that favours natural white and natural off black. That the knitting to match the traditional costumes is often very colourful. There is Sapmi knitting, there are Genser from Norway, and other sweaters and vests, mittens from Sweden, Norway and Finland (and the Baltics) that are full of colours, and red and green, and other combinations were very common. A lot of it is actually just fashion, and not so traditional.
@@dirgniflesuoh7950 I know what traditional knitwear, patterns and clothes look like in the Nordic countries. But I wrote about what people look like on the streets every day.
Really interesting video ! I never knitted a petite knit garment because I’m always looking for colourful and fun garnement, in the design or the construction. Actually knitting the beads of joy by James n watt and I’m loving it ! As you talked about Petite knit and her simple design, maybe you could make a video for the opposite : Steven west is so popular with the opposite aesthetic ! Just a suggestion (and as a French I think it’s one of the most difficult word to say too lol, with Jelewry 😂)
Good job. I am a new knitter and have only knit the Sophie Shawl by Petite Knit. I quite enjoyed the knit experience. Since I couldn’t have figured out how to design that pattern on my own if Mette was sitting next to me coaching me, I thought the price was fine. I can’t imagine why people are hating on her. Jealousy?
I bought three of her patterns: moby sweater, Oslo hat, and weekend headband. Haven’t started the sweater, waiting for January. I’ve made three Oslo hats to give as gifts. Haven’t made the headband yet, but soon. I was going to buy the penny gloves pattern but when I read the project notes on ravelry of someone who made them, she said they were simple and just have a purl round before binding off. So I was like okay then, I’ll save my money. Also learned that they are one size which I don’t like. I made a pair of fingerless mitts according to my measurements and they fit perfectly. I do think I wouldn’t have liked the fit from her pattern bc my hands are probably wider than hers. That was my concern. I noticed the moby sweater is very popular among Korean knitters, especially younger girls.
Really great analysis! As I listened I thought of Ralph Lauren. He created a vibe, an aesthetic, a look … RL has a basic white shirt in every collection - and people don’t throw hate. And if a RL white shirt is too expensive for you - then buy one somewhere else. Also LOVED seeing you style the Sophie in new ways beyond a neck scarf. I also think the Sophie craze was a result of the timing of its release - people were worn out by the pandemic and were attracted to a no stress project.
I’ve been knitting for 27 years and I adore the No Frills pattern for its sheer simplicity. I actually made my favorite sweater of all time (the fit is spot on!) in this pattern. I used some indie dyed sock yarn, held double with silk mohair, and it turned out so gorgeous that people ask me all the time if I will knit one for them (NO!😂). I can change it up and make it as colorful or as toned down as I want. It’s an ideal pattern to let you express your personal color sense, with a design that remains simple in form. Kind of like the Tolsta Tee is meant to be. A basis to launch creativity. Plus, I adore the Nordic esthetic (much to my husband’s chagrin). I could easily be a Nordic minimalist, but I am an American. Great video!!!! Love your analysis!
My local yarn shop really recommends the Sophie scarf as a very mindless project for travel knitting or a great bedside project for caregivers. And also, for a one skein splurge project. I don't involve myself with drama or hate, I have the option to move on in kindness. Her photography is absolutely lovely.
I knit the Sophie Scarf as one of my first projects after re-starting my knitting journey (I knit as a child, but then gave it up). I had a ball of yarn that needed to be used and I wanted a simple project where I could practice my tension on. I didn't expect to use the scarf at all, but to my surprise I now wear it constantly! I actually don't like big scarfs, especially when they wrap around me several times, because they make me feel suffocated and I hate things touching my throat area. The little Sophie Scarf is light enough that I can tolerate it (I even forget it's there) so I've used it a decent amount this autumn! As I watched this video I was in the process of making another one, in fact :D
Such a balanced analysis! I don't really have feelings about PetiteKnit in either direction, but as a beginner I quickly clued in that the quality of her patterns was *trusted by the community* so I gravitated towards them (even if the style is often not my usual). I'm knitting my second Sophie Scarf because it's a good stash buster and a good gift.
thank you for this very interesting video ! I am allways thinking "I can figure it out, no need to buy a pattern". But then I saw champagne cardigan and thought : "perfect". Bought it because I wanted to have one and do it without improvising. Since I have knitted maybe 7 different versions of it. I have learned a lot from this pattern, the best part is the double knitted button band. I like her patterns, they are well written and the videos all have subtitles in english, so no problem there. Love your september sweater- now it is on my to do list. First time brioche for me ! Sometimes it is nice to jump on the band wagon !!! LOL!!!😀
I hadn't knit anything since the 80s and the Sophie scarf was the first thing I made. For me it was the perfect restart item. Clear and simple. I've knit several things since, mostly accessories. I'm trying to find the courage to knit a sweater. I watched your video and may take that leap. Eeek! 😳
Petite knit designs all have same pricing and there are no sales, so that might be why it feels like it’s more expensive than others’. But her sweater/cardigan designs, for its modern simplicity and well-written clarity, they are definitely worth it. Never seen any erratas so you can trust on her designs as well. Personally I knit Sophie scarf without buying the pattern but I definitely see why she is so popular!
I’ve only been knitting a year and have made 6 sweaters. 3 of them are petite knit: Sonja sweater, Monday sweater and Champagne cardigan. I would describe her patterns as simple classic modern pieces. Nothing crazy trendy that will look dated in a year. She pays attention to polished finishes. They are easy to follow for beginners.
Until I watched this I had no idea there was any dislike for Petiteknit, and I find it quite extraordinary. I’ve made many of her sweaters and slipovers, hats etc. iIn fact as I sit here in a strangely snowy Southern England I’m wearing my Marble sweater made up from lots of beige & brown oddments from my stash! As we say in the UK it’s horses for courses. When I started knitting three or four years ago I was uninspired by most of the knitting patterns I first came across, I’ve never worn or wanted to wear a shawl, and really dislike lacy knits and bright colours, so I was so happy to come across the Scandi pattern designers like Petiteknit, My Favourite things and Knitting for Olive, their style is 100% my aesthetic. As well as the patterns, I like the yarn she chooses, being relatively new to knitting I’m not that confident about substituting yarn and she often uses Sandnes and KFO which are some of my favourite yarns. As to the size range in the patterns, I think that is probably because when she started up she didn’t envisage selling patterns internationally and in the Scandi countries you don’t see the plus size body shape like you do in other parts of the world. My son lives in Sweden and works for a well known Swedish clothing brand, and he sometimes brings my daughter samples and they are obviously made for the Swedish market ie: someone who is 5ft 10 inches tall and size 8! My daughters 5ft 1 and curvy!
I haven't knit any of her patterns so far, not because I don't find them appealing, but because I am still learning the craft and prefer learning other techniques with cheaper or free patterns first. I'll consider it in the future. For now I'm starting my first color work project, and will be following your advice for color work
There are so many free resources nowadays, it has become very possible to spend almost nothing to learn most techniques. I love that it makes it much more accessible.
I have the Sophie shawl pattern and have made it for my mom, and it was a fine experience. Personally, I don’t buy or knit her patterns anymore because i prefer to support smaller and more size-inclusive designers, but also don’t actively hate her or judge people who do knit her patterns.
@@samjakrajnik219one that has a similar aesthetic to PK is Tiffany Liew/typical bliss. Other favorites of mine are Andrea Gaughan, Oops and Loops, Tori Yu, Perfectly Knotted, and Jaime Creates.
@@annaszu8981 the number of sizes provided is less relevant than the actual size range provided. the minimum standard that is most broadly accepted for adult women is 30-60 inch actual bust circumference (not accounting for ease, so obviously smaller if there is intended negative ease and larger if there is intended positive ease.) The largest size she offers in her "more size inclusive" range is consistently intended for a 59 inch bust, which is so close to the standard that it is even more frustrating that she could not just go the extra length to meet the standard. On the other end of the size range, I have a 27-inch bust and am used to the smallest adult size from many designers being a bit large on me, which is fine, but since her pieces already include so much positive ease, they don't really appeal to me because if I'm going to be knitting off gauge for a basic sweater, I may as well just self-draft it. Furthermore, she often is the model for her own designs (which is fine, many other designers do this too) but she never shares or features test knitters or creators of different sizes, which makes it harder for people with different body types to know what it'll look like on them until either they knit it themselves or it has enough projects from people their size uploaded on ravelry. There is far more to being size-inclusive than simply offering 10 different sizes. I hope this is somewhat helpful or clarifying.
I'm 80 and after a lifetime of being warm all the time.... I am cold all the time. I was always warm when I was younger; now I'm cold all the time. I LOVE the Sophie scarves. I wear them at night when I'm sleeping. I wear them when I'm out during the day. Thank you, Petite Knit!
I have knitted the Sille Slipover more than once, for myself and others, have also knitted the child’s version. I love the style of it, the simple sizing with the positive ease allows for a bit of flexibility in the fit. The pattern design and texture gives it style and I have received lots of compliments. Would definitely knit more of her patterns which I found to be well written.
Wonderful episode. I think it's really interesting to learn how certain designers become so popular. Thank you, you clarified some questions to me, but I think in addition to what you said some trends are hard to explain, and indeed petitknit has an amazing marketing team.
I think its easier to project your own color preferences onto a design that is beige or cream than it is to try to overcome another color. It very well might be her aesthetic, but its also good for allowing people to inject their own creativity
Petite Knits aesthetic is consistently classic and beautiful. For the critics, if you do t like her designs, then make your own- move on. Always easy to criticize others, isn’t it? It take talent to design. Thank you for your video.
Thanks for sharing your take on this designer. I barely ever knitted her patterns until recently - and I've just knitted 5 in a row. My biggest bugbear is that PK patterns do not include schematics. I still feel that a pattern without a schematic (particularly a sweater), isn't generally worth my money because it irritates me so much. I might as well just design the pattern myself if I'm going to have to redo a lot of the math. Moreover, I find her sweater drafting questionable. That insane oversized (built in ease) everything seems lazy to me. So every one of her patterns that I've knitted - particularly the sweaters - has been more or less redrafted by me just to suit my desired size. Having complained at length - why am I knitting so many of her patterns right now? Well, that beige thing does appeal to me aesthetically. AND I'm on the most serious double knit button band kick right now. Many of her recent patterns utilize this technique. I will say that the Lulu Slipover (which I've made 3 times and which I'll give away because, frankly, I don't like it on me) is incredibly clever and fun to knit. And it's a great "moderate-amount-of-stash" buster. I have a feeling that my PK moment will be relatively brief. She doesn't need my money and I'm not into most of her designs or pattern writing. But will it return in a future knitting era? Very possibly. :-) :-)
Thank you for your unbiased review. I've knitted some Petite Knit patterns, but I don't really like the "brand" because it's obviously just a company, selling its products without even pretending to be part of the community. Never a free pattern, tutorials only in Danish (ignoring the fact that she's selling worldwide), no appearances at yarn events etc. As you said, it's a business and she's good at marketing. There are other great designers who, justifiably, want to make a living from what they're doing but still give the impression of being interested in their customers and the crafts community. So, yes, I sometimes buy her patterns, but I'm no fan.
I’m not a big PetiteKnit knitter for garments for myself, but I love her patterns for accessories and children’s clothing. The Sophie Scarf is such a simple and good pattern, and I find that it really works with the Scandinavian aesthetic and weather. It’s a great scarf for spring and fall here, but for winter it’s switched out for the Sophie Shawl which I also see everywhere.
Thank you for your nuanced video about this incredibly popular pattern and designer. I'm not a fan of Petite Knit and have never knit one of her patterns. I don't consider myself a hater, but I choose not to buy her patterns. I'm a plus size knitter so I avoided her patterns because of her lack of size-inclusivity (which could still be better), but I'm also put off by how she beats a design to death by separating it into 5 separate patterns (baby, kid, teen, women's, men's) or by yarn used (e.g. mohair edition) and how she passes off exactly the same design as a new pattern. Yes, you're totally right, it's marketing, but some of them look so identical that she could have just added an extra paragraph of instruction to the original pattern. I just wish the knitting community wasn't so saturated with her patterns, it's almost like she's the designer on speed dial lol. There are so many smaller designers out there that deserve more attention, especially when they're doing a better job of being size-inclusive, but they get lost among the plethora of PK designs. I would love to see another video like this exploring Stephen West and his mystery knitalongs! He's another designer with a huge following and has created almost a cult around his annual shawl MKAL -- even people who have bad experiences one year and don't finish will rush to start the new MKAL the next year 🤣
I wear 5xl sized clothes and have made a LOT of Petite Knit patterns, they all were size inclusive. I love them because they are well written, the item is always perfect and her designs are classical and timeless, which is a style I enjoy. I agree about the variations on theme being too many, it's marketing that I don't really appreciate, but then nobody is forced to buy them
@ a number of her patterns, including the No Frills Sweater, one of her most popular patterns, are not graded up to a 60" bust once ease has been accounted for, which is generally considered the requirement for a pattern to be called size inclusive. The No Frills Sweater specifically is graded to a maximum size of 54" finished bust but intended to be worn with 6" of positive ease, so it's technically only graded to a 48" bust size. Ease is a personal choice, but if a knitter is trying to choose a size that gives them the intended ease written in the pattern, none of her designs reach a 60" bust.
I have knit the Ankers Summer Shirt by Petite Knit. This is the only item I have made of her’s, but I will make others because I am a petite it seems to fit better than some other designer’s patterns I’ve knit. I’m sorry to hear that people can be so hurtful to others rather than just moving on.
I have made many Petite Knit patterns and have yet to be disappointed. One thing I like about her pattern promotion is her posts actually show the finished object in the pictures! So many designers put up pictures that don't show the entire garment or accessory so you really don't know what it looks like on a human! She is very good at posting real life pictures that allow her potential pattern knitters to see what they are getting for their money and time. That is very valuable to me. And Jefferson is super cute ♥
Danish knitter here + I work in a yarnshop. Mette makes many elegant patterns, with a "soft" look to it, since the pattens are mainly unicolour. In my job I help many knitters, and many new knitters choose one of Mettes patterns, because they are simple to understand, there's tutarials for each pattern. I agree that many of her patterns have that simple look, but making it takes a lot of techniques, which is attracting to many knitters. Have I knitted her patterns? Off course - but I also knit patterns from many other designers. Do I have a Sophie Scarf? No - I prefer my gigantic shawls with huge colourways etc.
Thank you! I like petit knit - but have a very different style from her , the Danes are very beige - but the Norwegians seems to be more Colorful. I like her for basics...she has good basics which you need and can also pop up. I have knitted quite a few, Marsaille sweater, Stockholm vest, Balloon sweater, two bags, penny gloves, sophie schal and scarf (love the schal), Holger baby sweater, Cumulus blouse V and O neck and some baby clothers. I find her patterns well written, but I am Icelandic and more used to shorter less explanatory patterns - so I even find her patterns detailed. I like how she rates the patterns, and the videos. What I don't like is how she sells similiar patters as a whole new one - for example - cumulus blouse range ! I had knitted the Cumulus blouse V neck and then my daughter wanted the O neck some years later - and that was a new purchase - some creators have that as an update - or you should be able to buy as an add on. Rebecca in Creabea knitting normally has many versions in her patterns! I understand why Mette does it, as it is business - but it is weird to buy almost the same pattern again.
I have knitted the Fortune Sweater. It is not a so simple pattern and not really for beginners. I was a bit confused as to where to start the motif, so I've written to the designer and she kindly replied to me and offered to send me the charts, which where very helpful. It's a thing to consider when you buy a pattern, the kind of service you can expect from the designer. It's part of the price.
PetiteKnit is what got me back into knitting. Her patterns are typically simple, straightforward, and a great jumping off place for beginners, but she also offers some great advanced patterns.
The Sophie scarf apparently is very similar to the Baktus Shawl from an old blog post that was very popular years ago. There's now the "Simple Thing" which is a very similar construction and is free on Ravelry.
Loved your analysis. I bought the Sophie pattern and thought 'yeah I could do that myself' but I e made so many for gusts etc it was well worth it. Also makes me feel cool and Scandi - in my own head at least. Noone should hate anyone for doing what they do. Mean abs spiteful.
That was an interesting video to watch and listen. Indeed there is a good business model behind this brand/these patterns. I think we should consider to buy from 'smaller' and less commercial designers who try to create something new, something interesting that speaks to us. Let us make a small snowball for them as well!! Thank you for your nuanced way of discussing this item.
The business of knitting vs knitting, an excellent comment. I am a professional musician, and there is a HUGE difference between the business of music and music. Insiders know the difference, others don't get it. Thank you for this discussion. I knit simple things partly because good yarn is expensive, and I have tried a couple of things that did not work out. I can't afford to do that. Knowing that her patterns are very reliable and well written is exactly what someone like me needs, as I come back to knitting.Fellow Quebecer :)
So sad to hear about the hate she is getting, what a sad world we live now. Her designs are simple and classy and great explanations. I love her designs. I totally agree with some of the price of small items.
The hate she gets is so unwarranted, she found a need in the knitting community for simple basic clothes and she ran with it. I haven't done any of her patterns yet but they're on my wish list!
Some knitter are knitting for the finish product and some of us are more into the process of it. For me, I find them too simple to enjoy the process of it. Thats the beauty of craft! There is so many designer out there to choose from! We just need to find what fit our style!
What rubs me wrong about PetiteKnit is that it can feel a bit... consumerist? Which is the opposite of what I'm looking for in my knitting. I've knit hype patterns (I write this wearing a Musselburgh and a hacked Flax), but what those have in common is a great range of options for different sizes AND gauges, which I think is lovely. It gives the flexibility to use what you have or what's available locally and be sure you'll be able to make something that will work out, instead of having to buy a new pattern. This "choose your own adventure" kind of feeling really resonates with how knitting feels to me.
I made the Anker's sweater for myself. I had to re-pattern the sleeves because they ended up huuuuuuuge! (I've seen this comment on a lot of her jumper patterns so I assume it's a stylistic choice but I despise having to push back my sleeves every 5 seconds.) I also wish she had included a tip on how to modify the yoke to avoid the feeling of being strangled. But otherwise, I agree that the market for classic knitwear patterns is reasonably large. It makes sense that knitters will want to recreate trends, and capitalising on that is obviously going to be popular.
I just finished the April Cardigan and I really like it, would knit it again. I’ve also knit the Oslo hat and, again, very happy with it. I find myself knitting more and more of the Nordic designers’ patterns. I have favourite designers from around the world. There are so many incredible designers. Let’s celebrate them all and as for those deciding to “hate” certain ones, I say park it. We don’t need anymore negativity in this world.
I skipped by Petiteknit patterns for a while because I did not understand the popularity at the time. Over a year ago I bought the ankers jacket junior to knit for my unborn grandson at the time. I love that cardigan . Then I bought The Storm baby sweater , Eva cardigan and I can't wait to start the Dagmar jacket. Her patterns are classic wardrobe staples. My Mom would love the sofie scarf but I don't want to buy it. I think I can figure it out myself
I’ve made the children’s basic pullover- and three Sophie scarves - I like her patterns. I also like Joji and Stephen West patterns too and of course the sweater pattern that shall not be named….
I made the Sophie scarf because I had a small(ish) amount of 100% Italian cashmere yarn. Like you, it's not quite my style. However, after seeing you wrap it around your ears it was a lightbulb moment! That's how I'm going to wear it. Thanks!
Thank you for a good discussion about PL. As a scandinavian I like her designs. And just because it simple it isnt easy to come up with. Then everybody eould have made the sophie scarf pattern begore her. And they didn’t.
I bought and made the No Frills sweater exactly because it is a basic shape. I scoured Ravelry for simple sweater patterns and found hardly any at that time, so I was happy to find the No Frills. The handspun yarn I used did not work well with the pattern and the shape doesn't flatter me, so I have since then modified it, but that is in no way the fault of the pattern. Currently there are plenty of similar raglan patterns out on Ravelry, so plenty of choice (but I would most probably design one myself by now ;-))
Her not speaking English is probably (and very unfairly!) a factor in the backlash, at least among knitters who don't speak Danish. It's easier to hate on someone who feels more distant, like a brand rather than a human being with a personality and emotions. Other very popular designers-Andrea Mowry, Joji, Stephen West, Sari Nordlund-have RUclips channels, Instagram posts in English, etc., where their likable personalities are on display, so people feel as if they know them.
Félicitations pour vos propos nuancés. Je me suis remise au tricot tout récemment, et me considère comme une débutante. Alors, la simplicité pour moi, c’est un plus et jusqu’à maintenant, je trouve les patrons de Ptite Knit fort bien expliqués et j’avoue qu’à mon niveau, c’est ce qui compte le plus. Mais je constate aussi qu’il n’y a pas beaucoup de variétés dans les points de tricot utilisés et que ça peut devenir lassant.
Being Nordic, her style is my style, so her designs are spot on for me. Even as a fairly advanced knitter I enjoy the structure and support I get from patterns, even if I could design something similar myself. I just prefer to outsource that part :) I don't mind the price either; people deserve a fair compensation for their work, and there are employees, platforms, admin stuff too to pay. People wouldn't pay if it was overpriced.
I am very, very new to knitting and so I am thinking of making the Sophie scarf as a beginner project. I am not a big fan of her other designs, I find them quite boring, but they might be useful for learning basic garments. That said, it's interesting to hear that the patterns are not very descriptive/ helpful. I also think quick knits like this could make easy gifts. But, ultimately, I am looking forward to finding more adventurous designs elsewhere :)
I was honestly not really into PetiteKnit before I met a girl in a knitting group, who was very into her designs. The things she made from PK patterns look very well made and stylish in person, and it really made me reconsider my position. Simple designs can absolutely be eye catching too.
I only bought the Storm sweater pattern because I liked that one and have used it to make two sweaters. It is very well written and easy to follow/understand. It's a very good pattern. And now to all my "but"s: a) The majority of her stuff isn't for me BECAUSE it looks like the things in the stores. I don't want to make something I can just go and buy and look like everybody else. b) The putting out of literally the same pattern as a womens/mens/kids version each or as a cardigans/pullover does feel grifty to me and I hate that. c) Especially the Sophie scarf somehow grinds my gears because I find it a bit expensive for something that is available for completely free elsewhere (look up "simple thing" by Melina Brell). I have been known to pay for something I could have figured out myself because of my own lazyness, but in this case it's a bit much and imo it would have been great as a freebie to show future customers what her pattern writing looks like and perhaps make them want to buy another pattern. Concerning b) and c): Thank god we can all choose what we're prepared to spend our money on on our own and need no advice. 😊 So: I don't hate her at all, her patterns are just right for her community and they're well-written, so good for her! I hope she has a bright future ahead!
Oh thank you RUclips algorithm for recommending this channel to me! 🎉 You have interesting, nuanced takes. Personally I'm not the biggest fan of Petiteknit's style, but I absolutely see why so many people are. Subscribed!
Agree w you on all your points! I haven’t knit one of her patterns (???why?!)…Yet. I love the simplicity of the sweaters. Each one has a different or varied construction, which is why i haven’t decided on a pattern. Can’t make up my mind! Do I want an integrated button band? Raglan? Contiguous shoulder? See? And I know I’m able to tweak a raglan to fit me, but sometimes I don’t want to figure out a different construction. I don’t understand the “hate”. You can’t please everyone. You nailed it “dislike because of popularity” (not direct quote, more paraphrasing). With so many designers and variations, I for one, have a difficult time deciding. Sigh. BUT, I certainly enjoy perusing patterns to match the yarn I have (or, ahem…shop for yarn…gasp!!). Thank you for your thought! Annnnd, I got a yarn kit that included the pattern for the Sophie scarf. Seems lately I get a LOT of kits, because, well, I can! (Answer me that!) Everyone is different, varied, no “one size fits all” and that’s the beauty of all of us, knitting is an expression of that, I think!
I haven't knit many of her patterns, but I did just finish her Cloud Blouse...I really enjoyed the pattern, and I love the finished sweater ❤ As for the Sophie scarf...at first I thought she should have made it a free pattern to thank her followers for buying her patterns...since it looks like such a simple thing. But then I thought, why shouldn't she make money on it, as this is probably the way she makes a living 😊. Also, with her release of the Sophie scarf, it opened the door for many other designers to come up with their own iterations of this type of accessory and make a bit of money for themselves. My goal next year is to try double-knitting... perhaps I'll try one of her cardigan patterns
I don’t really get the craze around her either but I know a LOT of people who love her patterns. I made the Ingrid sweater and I loved the concept but didn’t enjoy it and don’t hardly ever wear it. I also think her patterns are more expensive than what I can spend. The Sophie scarf especially. But I’m interested in some of her construction methods she uses for shoulders
D'accord avec toi, I am finishing the Sophie scarf, I am a beginner at knitting and loved making it. Love from France ( I will most likely be wearing it as a scarf, the "French girl style" as you call it 😂).
I like simple. I live a very simple life on a farm, so these types of patterns suit me. That said, I love a good challenge, and as a new'ish knitter, I love trying new techniques. I have made several pullovers, and am still struggling with socks 😂, but I want to make a cardigan with a double banded button border. Since I hear that her patterns are very thorough, I will likely buy one. PS--yes, Clo, socks and I are having a love-hate relationship. 😊
"Simple" to me is not boring. It feels chic and timeless. A lot of her knitwear patterns I can wear and mix with formal workwear for a professional office setting. I don't know how to design patterns (even simple ones) so I am very grateful for her designs, which are accessible and beautiful.
I remember Ravelry before the Scandinavian designers flooded the market. The super popular designs back then looked handmade, and not always in a good way. Simple isn’t boring when it’s well made.
Great point! Being able to wear your knits to the office is such a good thing.
Right, handmade can sometimes look like a "craft project"...there's a fine line.
Which of her patterns do you wear with formal workwear?
@@bunnyechoes the no frill sweater and the Sevilla blouse. In a lofty, nice yarn with lots of positive ease, they look lovely paired with dress pants or skirt. But honestly, I think a bunch of her sweaters would dress up nicely.
I knitted four of her sweater patterns in the past year. I get tons of compliments of how good they look from knitters and non-knitters. They are also well written and I feel she gets how sweaters should fit and look.
I lived in Danemark for 4 years and the Danish knit design corresponds with the pursuit of the coziness - hygge. Petiteknit is very popular in Danemark. The lack of sizes at the beginning is due to the Danish market - the Danish patterns are very short as they rely on the knowledge of the knitter. All Danish designers are adjusting to the international market.
Concerning the Sophie scarf - the fact is that nobody came with the idea before her... We can easily create it, but we would not have the idea necessarily. :)
I don't get the hate.... She has succeeded and good for her... We all would like to succeed in our life... 😉
I bought one of her patterns 2 years ago. A sweater for a child, an I think an older pattern from hers.
I managed to knit it!
A few months ago I received an email that the pattern has been updated with additional sizes and I think some more text. Personally I love that, it shows to me that she cares and listens to feedback. And for free of charge!
@@petraz.6166 e
Exactly this!
Danish knitter here: Petiteknits' designs are very Danish: simple is more in our sense of style. However, there are other Danish designers with less popularity, so I have also thought about what makes Mette so popular in Denmark (and abroad). My conclusion is that a part of the reason is that Petiteknit's patterns are simple, exceptionally well-written and simple to understand. She started publishing patterns after a long period when knitting had lost its popularity. (When I was younger, I did not know a single woman who knitted ... it was something that grandmas did.) Then, suddenly, knitting was picked up by younger women and her timing was perfect ... her patterns are perfect for someone just starting to knit! She is also great at teaching you new techniques with every knit, so there are always links to youtube demonstrations of these techniques in her Danish patterns (where she works with the Danish knit instructor Kimmie Munksholm) Her sizes and calculations are spot-on. I have knitted patterns by other young designers and their designs are often off, sadly, in the bigger sizes. I have never heard Petiteknits designs 'hated on' in Denmark. Though I personally prefer more complex designs, I am grateful to Mette for making knitting available and possible for young women, who did not grow up knitting.
There’s certainly “hate” (albeit a strong word) towards her in the community here in Denmark. Actually maybe more against her “army”, but also against her because she never replies to emails with questions on clarification. This sadly creates a sense of her feeling above her customers. She has no interacting with them. Knitters can’t say one thing wrong about her patterns without being told off in certain knitting groups, because her “army” is so big.
I do feel like she's not as active in the community as a lot of popular designers. I'm sure it's part of the reason for the "hate"
I started knitting only since last year, and I’m grateful to have joined this community. I’ve done a Sophie scarf for my wife when I splurged on a skein of Spincycle yarn. The pattern shows off the yarn well, and she loves wearing it because it’s small. I appreciate how you point out the pros and cons of the designer’s work in an objective way, and you also don’t express hatred around it. Like it or not, her work is successful! But we don’t all need to love every design. Thanks for your informative videos!
Your wife is a lucky women! That goes to show how much simple designs have their place in the knitting world. A beautiful skein of yarn can sing in a very simple pattern.
You are a keeper! :-)
I like her patterns because they are really well written. I have no doubts about what I should do next, the number of stitches is given at key moments, etc. And in my opinion, these knitwear are well-thought-out, simple, but nicely finished, the necklines are nicely profiled, they are simply easy to wear. Sometimes I admire knitwear from other designers, but I don't want to knit them because I know that I won't be able to fit such oversized sleeves into any winter coat.
And IMO the "beige aesthetic" is, in a sense, Scandinavian aesthetics. I lived in Stockholm for 5 years and in winter people dressed in black, gray and navy blue. And that's it.
I knit a Champagne Cardigan as a gift. I wanted the double knit button band, and a reliable basic sweater. When a pattern has so many projects on Ravelry, I'm more confident that the pattern works. I recently test-knit a sweater that hadn't had a tech-edit first, it turned out so disappointingly, and the designer released it anyways, so I've lost my faith that published patterns must be good patterns. With Petit Knits, I'm pretty confident the pattern is good. Same with Joji Locatelli, I like a lot of her designs :)
That's absolutely valid. No one wants to spend that much time knitting for uncertain results.
Other things to say about Petiteknit is she is designing for her climate. The weather in Denmark is very similar to that of the UK, wet and relatively mild during the winter. I wear my Sophie scarf a lot as it's perfect for winters here. The other point I wanted to make is her style of pattern writing is very European. The assumption is that you know how to knit, you're beyond the basics, and you know to check the pattern for abbreviations and work out/find out for yourself what they mean. A lot of knitters in the US need more clarification and 'hand holding'! It's just what you're used to. Personally, my heart sings when I see a design that has little details that she adds - the I-cord edging to the Sophie or the pretty detail on the back of Anker's Bonnet for example. It shows thought and care.
That’s completely false and ignorant of you to say that a lot of knitters in the US need more “hand-holding.” They knit as well as anyone else in the world. The problem is this younger generation (WORLD-wide, mind you) who think they need a video tutorial for everything, also wants everything explained to them.
@@abeiradapraia all I can say is I speak as I find. I know of lots of knitters in the US that are extremely talented and very experienced. I also know lots, of all ages, who need a lot of support.
@@abeiradapraia why is it "false" or "ignorant" of her expressing her opinion? She's simply stating her opinion on the matter... that doesn't make it false or ignorant... There's absolutely no reason for you to jump down the ladies throat simply because she's stating a point based on what has been said here and in many other forums. It's not a secret that there are several ways of knitting, pattern writing, et al. The Asian market don't even have keys for most of their knitting charts bc they too expect the knitter to know what the basic symbols mean.
All I'm saying is that there's no reason to be offended by her statement 🤷🏽♀️
@ because…it is false and ignorant. She’s making a generalization that she knows is not true, but presents it as so. Anyways, look up the meaning of “false” and “ignorant”. Words have meaning that you should know, I don’t know what else to say to you.
@@abeiradapraiaI think the issue is you replying to the op saying her comment is ignorant and false for generalising then immediately making a generalisation about young people worldwide needing a video and everything explained to them? Is your generalisation not ignorant too?
Imho patterns have changed a lot since I started knitting. I started out 40 years ago with old UK patterns which were already 20 odd years old. Anyone learning to knit in the last decade or two might struggle with them, not because of how in depth they are but because of the style they are written. Whatever way you look at it Danish and Norwegian (amongst others) patterns have minimal instructions compared to both UK and US patterns. I've knitted from all of them at one time or another. Make what you want of that. It's not suggesting folks in the US can't knit without detailed instructions, all it's saying is that's what they are used to being offered, same as Danish knitters are used to very basic instructions. Personally I mostly prefer the very short style of pattern writing but more in depth are good when learning a new technique. There's a place for all the styles including videos and lots of support if needed.
As mutch as we Danes love and are proud of our danish designer Petitknit, we to diskuss all the subjects you are mentioning. And I agree. As long as that many people will by her paterns, it must be becourse she’s god at marketing and he patterns are relevant . And god for her. She’s humble and hard working, and therefore she deserve The hype. My opinion, off course. Thank you for a nobel and fair rewiew❤❤ I Think, we could hype female entrepreneurs mutch more than we do🎉🎉 Make room for them, rather than be talking them down.
There's is space for everyone I think and putting someone down does not help others.
💯 she makes it look easy but it's not. Her first pattern were not so easy to understand. And those annoyed she barely changes something but makes 5 patterns out of it - vest, cardigan, sweater, mini, junior, male/female - if you are good enough to alter your patterns yourself you don't need to buy several and those who want or need the help can. Yes it's nice that some designers include sizes from kid to male but petiteknit sometimes uses different needle sizes and yarn and for good reason. There is a lot more thought put into it and also a lot more testing. Personally I am very thankful for her pattern and they taught me a lot. They made me play around the more I learned. German pattern are usually like Danish or Norwegian- very short and though I also learned knitting at school it was petiteknit who made me get back into it and understand more short and difficult pattern from other designers now by having gained experience. I wish her lasting success and a bright future in knitwear where she can even expand in new fields.
I knit the Sophie Scarf. It took me a while to understand the instructions because I couldn't figure out the I-cord stitches. I had recently tought myself to do an I-cord cast off and my brain did not compute the cast on. Finally after watching tutorials the light went off and I succeeded. It was a satisfying accomplishment for this novice/intermediate knitter. Thank you for your review and bringing attention to the business aspect of knitting. Thank goodness for all the different designers and knitters. Variety is the spice of life.
"Simple design" designers are what got me back to knitting after a 20-year break. There definitely is an audience for those kinds of patterns. I will only support designers that are size-inclusive, but I can also see and appreciate those who cater to "no frills" tastes.
It is great to see someone who appreciates the whole spectrum of designers!
Great analysis. I’ve knit a few of her sweaters and I plan to knit more. I have a question about size inclusivity. How large should a sweater be graded in order to be considered size inclusive? I have the understanding that sometime you just can’t grade a sweater to certain size as it just won’t work out correctly? Thanks
I learned to knit because of Petiteknit! I had accidentally ruined a sweater in the wash and my mum declared it salvageable and unravelled it to reknit into a sweater. I didn't know how to knit in 2022 and googled for knitting patterns. I happened to come across somebody's finished September Sweater on reddit and I fell in love with how it looked. So I bought the pattern, a set of interchangeable needles (I was deep into research at this point and figured out interchangeables were the way to go) and dived into a swatch. I was swatching for 3 months lol, because I was a beginner, and halfway through, I decided to switch from English style to continental because of ergonomics. It took me another 3 months to finish my first sweater because I was googling for a tutorial for every step I was unfamiliar with (which was every single step since I was a beginner) and half the time I was trying to fix my mistakes from several rows down.
I think petite knit is so popular because her patterns are so WELL written. Idk how many times I’ve knit something and got to a portion where I had to guess what the pattern meant because it’s unclear. But her patterns are clear from cast on to cast off. And they’re beautiful patterns. ❤
Beige designs photograph well and I appreciate being able to see the details on Ravelry. Thanks for an interesting episode.
True! A beige sweater will show the design better than a dark or variegated garment.
Absolutely agree, you can knit the Ingrid Sweater in black but it is going to be more difficult to see the patterns and not translate to a good marketing photo
Great analysis. I agree totally! I knitted a few of petite knit patterns because I am not very experienced and they never fail. And I dress boring so ...simple and boring is me and I feel amazing when I put on something that I knitted myself....I always reach out for the plain things in my wardrobe...but there are lots of amazing designers that I absolutely adore and are also plain and good for beginners...I like Isabel kraemer...a lot...and I like your podcasts and I thank you for them! I learn a lot on those about colorwork ❤ lot's of love from Lisbon 🥰
I agree, she has marketed herself very well and yes, her aesthetic appeals to a lot of knitters. The last time I checked we all have free will so if we don’t like/agree with her we can move on and “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything”.
I don’t know….I think the scarf worn around your neck looks really nice and suits you very well.
I'm a beginner knitter and PetiteKnits seemed very well known which helped me a lot when I needed help buying yarn. The yarn store knew the pattern right away and showed me how to read the list of sizes and how much yarn I needed to buy. Lack of larger sizes is really the only critique I think is valid, the prices for the patterns is less than a pizza here so I think it's very fair. I don't really mind if her knitted clothes and patterns are mainly beige because the color of the yarn is up to me to chose - my first knitted sweater is a summery yellow :) I wear more alternative clothing (studded collars, colorful hair, leather jacket etc) and her more simple patterns actually leaves a lot of room for my own creativity. Ppl hating on someone for being popular is honestly just immature high school behaviour. Unless she isn't an awful human being then there really is not reason to have so many opinions about a complete stranger. However... I think the sophie scarf is ugly hahaha, it is the only thing I dont find appealing among all her patterns. But that is just a matter of taste :)
Good for you being able to come up with the pattern for the Sophie scarf on your own, but I couldn't. I've never heard of the icord edge before. also, I've never seen such a scarf anywhere before, which is perfect for autumn. so I did not mind the price at all, and made 3 of them so far.
I currently in my 3rd champagne cardigan. It's such a good staple piece. Easy to knit and gets so much wear. I've also knitted aros. I'm going to knit more. I like simple pieces.
If I'm going to get complicated I leave that to shawls and hats. So........ I'm a fan. Simple well put together garments.
Thank you for having this discussion. I have knit a few, maybe 3 of Petite Knit patterns and I do like the way they are written. I personally am not a fan of the Sophie scarf but I can’t appreciate its place in the knitting community
I'm glad you mentioned the cultural difference between countries when it comes to sizing. I found that it's a much greater deal in English speaking countries (mostly the US and the UK) compared to France or maybe even western Europe in general. It's something that is talked about way more in these 2 countries than Europe. Not that is a good or bad thing, this is up to one's opinion.
Maybe one of the many reasons is that obesity and overweight is more present in the US and the UK than in France for example. So obviously, when something is more visible, it has more impact and has to be considered more. But a greater size range is always more than welcome (without forgetting both ends of the spectrum, larger and smaller sizes...).
I ❤ Petite knit, and as a beginner I knit her Friday vest, Friday tee, Wednesday sweater, 5 Sophie scarfs, a Sophie shawl,a Oslo hat, and I just followed the patterns,and I felt like it was magic when I finished them! Her patterns are easy to follow, I like her pattern writing style. I have to make the no frills and the stripe one, aros. I own those patterns too. I was a fan from the beginning, and she turned me into abit of a Danish groupie! I love all the Danish designers out there!
I'm so glad you had such a great experience with these patterns!
I’ve been looking into designers other than petite knit for a T-shirt pattern. None, so far, have beaten the cumulus tee. It has a gorgeous balance of casual and chic. I can wear it to brunch or to work, and I love that. For something elegant and understated I go to Petite Knit, that’s her vibe and I love it.
When I was a student, I knitted a lot, almost non-stop and confidently according to my own designs and, of course, calculated them myself. That was in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Then came other priorities. When I started knitting sweaters again barely 2 years ago, I realized that the process had changed dramatically: Working top down in one piece, being able to try it on, being able to use circular knitting needles of all necessary sizes and lengths because of the interchangeable systems, having completely new pattern constructions that you can simply download anywhere and don't even have to convert: Great. And quite overwhelming, if not scary. With two or three of the excellently written patterns from Petiteknit (which are available in German translation, my language) and two other similar basic patterns from Kutovakika, I have opened up these new possibilities. In the meantime, I can also cope with patterns written in English, Danish or Norwegian, if necessary virtually free-flying. The fact that I can now find out where the mistake is with less well-written patterns myself, or that I can construct sweaters according to my wishes without any instructions at all, is thanks to these simple, perfectly written patterns from Petite Knit and Kutovakika. That's why I don't take any chances!
I giggled at the French part. I am in a fact a French knitter and I have to say petiteknit’s designs made me (and still do) fall in love with knitting ! I love the Sophie scarf it does fit my vibe as I am in the spring a scarf girly. I’ve made many of her designs bc they are what I have been taught clothing should be: timeless, easy to style with anything and high quality. I’ve just finished the dagmar sweater and i can say after only a year into knitting I am very proud of myself. She basically taught me how to knit and I couldn’t be more thankful. I am however looking forward to find smaller designers now that I am more experienced and confident 🙏🏻
Drôle de coïncidence je tombe sur ta vidéo après avoir fait 2 patrons de Petite knit, un pour moi “week-end slipover” et un pour mon petit fils, Alfred's sweater. Je ne savais pas qu'il y avait une telle critique envers PetiteKnit. Moi j'aime cette simplicité dans les modèles et je considère que le tricot offre toutes les possibilités de “pimper” modèle conventionnel. Je trouve les indications très claires mais suis plutôt d'accord que les patrons sont chers. Bref bien en accord avec tes commentaires. Aussi surprise de voir que tu es passée á l'anglais…. J’espère que tu maintiens aussi tes vidéos en français… Mais la qualité demeure la même, bravo !
I love her patterns. They are well-written and the designs are classic. The finishings are lovely. I never understood the hate thrown at her. A lot of it is driven by jealousy. Let’s face it, she is pretty, thin, young and successful and that pisses a lot of people who are not any of those things off. I have been knitting for almost 50 years. I am so sick of all the drama in the knitting community. It’s absurd. Thank you for this video.
As a Danish knitter I think people dislike her business and patterns because they believe they could easily do it all themselves. They probably could have, yes, but she was the one who did it and very successfully. They dislike how much money she makes from writing the same sweater pattern in adult and kids version. She’s been a driving force in changing the market and landscape of knitting worldwide, and people don’t want to give one tiny woman the credit she deserves. But that’s just my opinion 🗣️
I think there is absolutely a "why her and not me" thing going on for some people.
I have never knit a Petiteknit pattern. I do like her design aesthetic and I think she is a very savvy businesswoman. The times I have been tempted to buy one of her patterns since it seems that EVERYONE knits her patterns, I always think, “I could figure that out or just adjust one of the patterns I already own”. But, I agree with you, no hate to Petiteknit!
I usually enjoy knitting colorwork, but I bought the sophie scarf pattern for it's simplicity. I had a gorgeous silk/merino mix yarn that would get lost in something more complex.
I also like to knitting while traveling or waiting for appointments. This is easy to travel with. It's also a break from whatever else I'm working on that I can pick up after weeks of not working on it and just be able to knit. Sometimes, mindless repetition is comforting to me.
I'm actually in the process of knitting my very first PetiteKnit pattern, and it's the No Frills sweater. I'm absolutely loving it! I'm using a speckled hand-dyed yarn and the simplicity of the pattern is what makes the yarn the star of the show. While I do agree that some designs are similar, sometimes it's those minute details that make something more or less appealing to someone. I say more power to her! 👏
As someone who is from the Nordics, Petiteknit really falls into the modern Nordic category of knit designers. Wherever you go in the Nordics, you will find clothes that very much resemble the same style, colour palette and general 'vibe' that her designs have. If you walk down the street of Oslo, Stockholm or Copenhagen, you will find that MOST people wear similar clothes; very 'beige' or muted colour palettes in simple or timeless designs that are often knit in very fine yarns. It's just the way she designs and it makes perfect sense that a Danish woman would make designs that resemble a style that she has around her and that a lot of people enjoy, but might want to personalize. I think that at the end of the day, whether you are more of a Parisian, Milanese or Nordic style knitter, you will always gravitate towards what you enjoy most (visually), however, Petiteknit is INCREDIBLY popular and so she will appear in places where she's not people's style. That's internet fame and if you don't gravitate towards Nordic style knits, of course you should not feel forced to pay for one of her patterns. Your style is your own! No matter how popular a designer is, you are never obligated to knit their patterns!
Also, on the topic of pricing; ask yourself this: 'would I rather pay 5 euros/dollars/pound for a pattern that has exactly what I want, or be forced to pay 15 euros/dollars/pound for options that I either don't enjoy or will never find myself making? Personally, I would rather spend less and get exactly what I want, rather than waste extra money on things I know I wouldn't enjoy, just to get that one option that I do want.
To me the light simple colours in the pictures just make it easy to see how it is supposed to look. I use yarns in all colours as I please, bc I am one of those Nordics not that into beige and grey.
The funny thing is, Popknit Katja Dyrberg is also a Danish designer and her knitwear is the complete opposite of Scandinavian minimalism, neons, crazy patterns, etc. But in general, I agree that Scandinavians just dress like that.
@annaszu8981 I know, look at an old copy of "Hönsestrickk".
I had a long discussion on Ravelry once if a sock pattern in stranded knitting, with old patterns by a Swedish designer, in Swedish yarn , was actually "Nordic" ... mostly because I picked the colour combination red and green, that was one of the suggested colour choices, it was a Christmas Sock ...
I spent a lot of letters explaining that not all (traditional) Nordic knitting is the style of whatever part of Norway it is that favours natural white and natural off black. That the knitting to match the traditional costumes is often very colourful. There is Sapmi knitting, there are Genser from Norway, and other sweaters and vests, mittens from Sweden, Norway and Finland (and the Baltics) that are full of colours, and red and green, and other combinations were very common. A lot of it is actually just fashion, and not so traditional.
@@dirgniflesuoh7950 I know what traditional knitwear, patterns and clothes look like in the Nordic countries. But I wrote about what people look like on the streets every day.
@annaszu8981 I got that.
I was agreeing on that the idea of what "Nordic Knitting" is somehow ignores many traditions/styles.
Really interesting video ! I never knitted a petite knit garment because I’m always looking for colourful and fun garnement, in the design or the construction. Actually knitting the beads of joy by James n watt and I’m loving it !
As you talked about Petite knit and her simple design, maybe you could make a video for the opposite : Steven west is so popular with the opposite aesthetic ! Just a suggestion (and as a French I think it’s one of the most difficult word to say too lol, with Jelewry 😂)
I hate saying "suggestion" haha
Jefferson is so cute 🥰 Appreciate your covering this in a non deprecating way! ❤
Good job. I am a new knitter and have only knit the Sophie Shawl by Petite Knit. I quite enjoyed the knit experience. Since I couldn’t have figured out how to design that pattern on my own if Mette was sitting next to me coaching me, I thought the price was fine. I can’t imagine why people are hating on her. Jealousy?
I bought three of her patterns: moby sweater, Oslo hat, and weekend headband. Haven’t started the sweater, waiting for January. I’ve made three Oslo hats to give as gifts. Haven’t made the headband yet, but soon. I was going to buy the penny gloves pattern but when I read the project notes on ravelry of someone who made them, she said they were simple and just have a purl round before binding off. So I was like okay then, I’ll save my money. Also learned that they are one size which I don’t like. I made a pair of fingerless mitts according to my measurements and they fit perfectly. I do think I wouldn’t have liked the fit from her pattern bc my hands are probably wider than hers. That was my concern. I noticed the moby sweater is very popular among Korean knitters, especially younger girls.
Really great analysis! As I listened I thought of Ralph Lauren. He created a vibe, an aesthetic, a look … RL has a basic white shirt in every collection - and people don’t throw hate. And if a RL white shirt is too expensive for you - then buy one somewhere else.
Also LOVED seeing you style the Sophie in new ways beyond a neck scarf. I also think the Sophie craze was a result of the timing of its release - people were worn out by the pandemic and were attracted to a no stress project.
I’ve been knitting for 27 years and I adore the No Frills pattern for its sheer simplicity. I actually made my favorite sweater of all time (the fit is spot on!) in this pattern. I used some indie dyed sock yarn, held double with silk mohair, and it turned out so gorgeous that people ask me all the time if I will knit one for them (NO!😂). I can change it up and make it as colorful or as toned down as I want. It’s an ideal pattern to let you express your personal color sense, with a design that remains simple in form. Kind of like the Tolsta Tee is meant to be. A basis to launch creativity. Plus, I adore the Nordic esthetic (much to my husband’s chagrin). I could easily be a Nordic minimalist, but I am an American. Great video!!!! Love your analysis!
A basis to launch creativity! Such a great take on it.
@@cloknits ☺️
My local yarn shop really recommends the Sophie scarf as a very mindless project for travel knitting or a great bedside project for caregivers. And also, for a one skein splurge project. I don't involve myself with drama or hate, I have the option to move on in kindness. Her photography is absolutely lovely.
I knit the Sophie Scarf as one of my first projects after re-starting my knitting journey (I knit as a child, but then gave it up). I had a ball of yarn that needed to be used and I wanted a simple project where I could practice my tension on. I didn't expect to use the scarf at all, but to my surprise I now wear it constantly! I actually don't like big scarfs, especially when they wrap around me several times, because they make me feel suffocated and I hate things touching my throat area. The little Sophie Scarf is light enough that I can tolerate it (I even forget it's there) so I've used it a decent amount this autumn! As I watched this video I was in the process of making another one, in fact :D
Such a balanced analysis! I don't really have feelings about PetiteKnit in either direction, but as a beginner I quickly clued in that the quality of her patterns was *trusted by the community* so I gravitated towards them (even if the style is often not my usual). I'm knitting my second Sophie Scarf because it's a good stash buster and a good gift.
thank you for this very interesting video ! I am allways thinking "I can figure it out, no need to buy a pattern". But then I saw champagne cardigan and thought : "perfect". Bought it because I wanted to have one and do it without improvising. Since I have knitted maybe 7 different versions of it. I have learned a lot from this pattern, the best part is the double knitted button band. I like her patterns, they are well written and the videos all have subtitles in english, so no problem there. Love your september sweater- now it is on my to do list. First time brioche for me ! Sometimes it is nice to jump on the band wagon !!! LOL!!!😀
I LOVE my September sweater! It's so cozy.
I hadn't knit anything since the 80s and the Sophie scarf was the first thing I made. For me it was the perfect restart item. Clear and simple. I've knit several things since, mostly accessories. I'm trying to find the courage to knit a sweater. I watched your video and may take that leap. Eeek! 😳
Petite knit designs all have same pricing and there are no sales, so that might be why it feels like it’s more expensive than others’. But her sweater/cardigan designs, for its modern simplicity and well-written clarity, they are definitely worth it. Never seen any erratas so you can trust on her designs as well.
Personally I knit Sophie scarf without buying the pattern but I definitely see why she is so popular!
I’ve only been knitting a year and have made 6 sweaters. 3 of them are petite knit: Sonja sweater, Monday sweater and Champagne cardigan. I would describe her patterns as simple classic modern pieces. Nothing crazy trendy that will look dated in a year. She pays attention to polished finishes. They are easy to follow for beginners.
Until I watched this I had no idea there was any dislike for Petiteknit, and I find it quite extraordinary. I’ve made many of her sweaters and slipovers, hats etc. iIn fact as I sit here in a strangely snowy Southern England I’m wearing my Marble sweater made up from lots of beige & brown oddments from my stash!
As we say in the UK it’s horses for courses. When I started knitting three or four years ago I was uninspired by most of the knitting patterns I first came across, I’ve never worn or wanted to wear a shawl, and really dislike lacy knits and bright colours, so I was so happy to come across the Scandi pattern designers like Petiteknit, My Favourite things and Knitting for Olive, their style is 100% my aesthetic. As well as the patterns, I like the yarn she chooses, being relatively new to knitting I’m not that confident about substituting yarn and she often uses Sandnes and KFO which are some of my favourite yarns.
As to the size range in the patterns, I think that is probably because when she started up she didn’t envisage selling patterns internationally and in the Scandi countries you don’t see the plus size body shape like you do in other parts of the world. My son lives in Sweden and works for a well known Swedish clothing brand, and he sometimes brings my daughter samples and they are obviously made for the Swedish market ie: someone who is 5ft 10 inches tall and size 8! My daughters 5ft 1 and curvy!
Not expecting that big success is absolutely the downfall of a lot of small businesses!
I haven't knit any of her patterns so far, not because I don't find them appealing, but because I am still learning the craft and prefer learning other techniques with cheaper or free patterns first. I'll consider it in the future. For now I'm starting my first color work project, and will be following your advice for color work
There are so many free resources nowadays, it has become very possible to spend almost nothing to learn most techniques. I love that it makes it much more accessible.
I have the Sophie shawl pattern and have made it for my mom, and it was a fine experience. Personally, I don’t buy or knit her patterns anymore because i prefer to support smaller and more size-inclusive designers, but also don’t actively hate her or judge people who do knit her patterns.
Can you recommend some smaller and size inclusive designers? Still looking for some 😇
@@samjakrajnik219one that has a similar aesthetic to PK is Tiffany Liew/typical bliss. Other favorites of mine are Andrea Gaughan, Oops and Loops, Tori Yu, Perfectly Knotted, and Jaime Creates.
Can I ask what do you mean "more size-inclusive" designers? I have some of her patterns and they are available in up to 10 sizes. I'm just curious.
@@annaszu8981 the number of sizes provided is less relevant than the actual size range provided. the minimum standard that is most broadly accepted for adult women is 30-60 inch actual bust circumference (not accounting for ease, so obviously smaller if there is intended negative ease and larger if there is intended positive ease.) The largest size she offers in her "more size inclusive" range is consistently intended for a 59 inch bust, which is so close to the standard that it is even more frustrating that she could not just go the extra length to meet the standard.
On the other end of the size range, I have a 27-inch bust and am used to the smallest adult size from many designers being a bit large on me, which is fine, but since her pieces already include so much positive ease, they don't really appeal to me because if I'm going to be knitting off gauge for a basic sweater, I may as well just self-draft it. Furthermore, she often is the model for her own designs (which is fine, many other designers do this too) but she never shares or features test knitters or creators of different sizes, which makes it harder for people with different body types to know what it'll look like on them until either they knit it themselves or it has enough projects from people their size uploaded on ravelry. There is far more to being size-inclusive than simply offering 10 different sizes. I hope this is somewhat helpful or clarifying.
I'm 80 and after a lifetime of being warm all the time.... I am cold all the time. I was always warm when I was younger; now I'm cold all the time. I LOVE the Sophie scarves. I wear them at night when I'm sleeping. I wear them when I'm out during the day. Thank you, Petite Knit!
That’s amazing! I’m glad the Sophie scarf brings you so much warmth.
I have knitted the Sille Slipover more than once, for myself and others, have also knitted the child’s version. I love the style of it, the simple sizing with the positive ease allows for a bit of flexibility in the fit. The pattern design and texture gives it style and I have received lots of compliments. Would definitely knit more of her patterns which I found to be well written.
Wonderful episode. I think it's really interesting to learn how certain designers become so popular. Thank you, you clarified some questions to me, but I think in addition to what you said some trends are hard to explain, and indeed petitknit has an amazing marketing team.
I think she was in the right place at the right time and she absolutely made the best of it. Good for her!
I think its easier to project your own color preferences onto a design that is beige or cream than it is to try to overcome another color. It very well might be her aesthetic, but its also good for allowing people to inject their own creativity
I think you are right.
Petite Knits aesthetic is consistently classic and beautiful.
For the critics, if you do t like her designs, then make your own- move on.
Always easy to criticize others, isn’t it?
It take talent to design.
Thank you for your video.
Thanks for sharing your take on this designer. I barely ever knitted her patterns until recently - and I've just knitted 5 in a row. My biggest bugbear is that PK patterns do not include schematics. I still feel that a pattern without a schematic (particularly a sweater), isn't generally worth my money because it irritates me so much. I might as well just design the pattern myself if I'm going to have to redo a lot of the math. Moreover, I find her sweater drafting questionable. That insane oversized (built in ease) everything seems lazy to me. So every one of her patterns that I've knitted - particularly the sweaters - has been more or less redrafted by me just to suit my desired size. Having complained at length - why am I knitting so many of her patterns right now? Well, that beige thing does appeal to me aesthetically. AND I'm on the most serious double knit button band kick right now. Many of her recent patterns utilize this technique. I will say that the Lulu Slipover (which I've made 3 times and which I'll give away because, frankly, I don't like it on me) is incredibly clever and fun to knit. And it's a great "moderate-amount-of-stash" buster. I have a feeling that my PK moment will be relatively brief. She doesn't need my money and I'm not into most of her designs or pattern writing. But will it return in a future knitting era? Very possibly. :-) :-)
Thank you for your unbiased review. I've knitted some Petite Knit patterns, but I don't really like the "brand" because it's obviously just a company, selling its products without even pretending to be part of the community. Never a free pattern, tutorials only in Danish (ignoring the fact that she's selling worldwide), no appearances at yarn events etc. As you said, it's a business and she's good at marketing. There are other great designers who, justifiably, want to make a living from what they're doing but still give the impression of being interested in their customers and the crafts community. So, yes, I sometimes buy her patterns, but I'm no fan.
I’m not a big PetiteKnit knitter for garments for myself, but I love her patterns for accessories and children’s clothing. The Sophie Scarf is such a simple and good pattern, and I find that it really works with the Scandinavian aesthetic and weather. It’s a great scarf for spring and fall here, but for winter it’s switched out for the Sophie Shawl which I also see everywhere.
Thank you for your nuanced video about this incredibly popular pattern and designer. I'm not a fan of Petite Knit and have never knit one of her patterns. I don't consider myself a hater, but I choose not to buy her patterns. I'm a plus size knitter so I avoided her patterns because of her lack of size-inclusivity (which could still be better), but I'm also put off by how she beats a design to death by separating it into 5 separate patterns (baby, kid, teen, women's, men's) or by yarn used (e.g. mohair edition) and how she passes off exactly the same design as a new pattern. Yes, you're totally right, it's marketing, but some of them look so identical that she could have just added an extra paragraph of instruction to the original pattern. I just wish the knitting community wasn't so saturated with her patterns, it's almost like she's the designer on speed dial lol. There are so many smaller designers out there that deserve more attention, especially when they're doing a better job of being size-inclusive, but they get lost among the plethora of PK designs.
I would love to see another video like this exploring Stephen West and his mystery knitalongs! He's another designer with a huge following and has created almost a cult around his annual shawl MKAL -- even people who have bad experiences one year and don't finish will rush to start the new MKAL the next year 🤣
Thank you for your different view on the subject, I appreciate where you come from. Stephen West is such a great subject to cover!
Totally agree!!
I wear 5xl sized clothes and have made a LOT of Petite Knit patterns, they all were size inclusive. I love them because they are well written, the item is always perfect and her designs are classical and timeless, which is a style I enjoy. I agree about the variations on theme being too many, it's marketing that I don't really appreciate, but then nobody is forced to buy them
@ a number of her patterns, including the No Frills Sweater, one of her most popular patterns, are not graded up to a 60" bust once ease has been accounted for, which is generally considered the requirement for a pattern to be called size inclusive. The No Frills Sweater specifically is graded to a maximum size of 54" finished bust but intended to be worn with 6" of positive ease, so it's technically only graded to a 48" bust size. Ease is a personal choice, but if a knitter is trying to choose a size that gives them the intended ease written in the pattern, none of her designs reach a 60" bust.
I have knit the Ankers Summer Shirt by Petite Knit. This is the only item I have made of her’s, but I will make others because I am a petite it seems to fit better than some other designer’s patterns I’ve knit. I’m sorry to hear that people can be so hurtful to others rather than just moving on.
I have made many Petite Knit patterns and have yet to be disappointed. One thing I like about her pattern promotion is her posts actually show the finished object in the pictures! So many designers put up pictures that don't show the entire garment or accessory so you really don't know what it looks like on a human! She is very good at posting real life pictures that allow her potential pattern knitters to see what they are getting for their money and time. That is very valuable to me. And Jefferson is super cute ♥
Danish knitter here + I work in a yarnshop.
Mette makes many elegant patterns, with a "soft" look to it, since the pattens are mainly unicolour.
In my job I help many knitters, and many new knitters choose one of Mettes patterns, because they are simple to understand, there's tutarials for each pattern.
I agree that many of her patterns have that simple look, but making it takes a lot of techniques, which is attracting to many knitters.
Have I knitted her patterns? Off course - but I also knit patterns from many other designers.
Do I have a Sophie Scarf? No - I prefer my gigantic shawls with huge colourways etc.
Thank you! I like petit knit - but have a very different style from her , the Danes are very beige - but the Norwegians seems to be more Colorful. I like her for basics...she has good basics which you need and can also pop up. I have knitted quite a few, Marsaille sweater, Stockholm vest, Balloon sweater, two bags, penny gloves, sophie schal and scarf (love the schal), Holger baby sweater, Cumulus blouse V and O neck and some baby clothers. I find her patterns well written, but I am Icelandic and more used to shorter less explanatory patterns - so I even find her patterns detailed. I like how she rates the patterns, and the videos. What I don't like is how she sells similiar patters as a whole new one - for example - cumulus blouse range ! I had knitted the Cumulus blouse V neck and then my daughter wanted the O neck some years later - and that was a new purchase - some creators have that as an update - or you should be able to buy as an add on. Rebecca in Creabea knitting normally has many versions in her patterns! I understand why Mette does it, as it is business - but it is weird to buy almost the same pattern again.
I have knitted the Fortune Sweater. It is not a so simple pattern and not really for beginners. I was a bit confused as to where to start the motif, so I've written to the designer and she kindly replied to me and offered to send me the charts, which where very helpful. It's a thing to consider when you buy a pattern, the kind of service you can expect from the designer. It's part of the price.
PetiteKnit is what got me back into knitting. Her patterns are typically simple, straightforward, and a great jumping off place for beginners, but she also offers some great advanced patterns.
The Sophie scarf apparently is very similar to the Baktus Shawl from an old blog post that was very popular years ago. There's now the "Simple Thing" which is a very similar construction and is free on Ravelry.
Loved your analysis. I bought the Sophie pattern and thought 'yeah I could do that myself' but I e made so many for gusts etc it was well worth it. Also makes me feel cool and Scandi - in my own head at least. Noone should hate anyone for doing what they do. Mean abs spiteful.
That was an interesting video to watch and listen. Indeed there is a good business model behind this brand/these patterns. I think we should consider to buy from 'smaller' and less commercial designers who try to create something new, something interesting that speaks to us. Let us make a small snowball for them as well!! Thank you for your nuanced way of discussing this item.
The business of knitting vs knitting, an excellent comment. I am a professional musician, and there is a HUGE difference between the business of music and music. Insiders know the difference, others don't get it. Thank you for this discussion. I knit simple things partly because good yarn is expensive, and I have tried a couple of things that did not work out. I can't afford to do that. Knowing that her patterns are very reliable and well written is exactly what someone like me needs, as I come back to knitting.Fellow Quebecer :)
Artists in all fields understand that art and the business that is selling your art are such different things!
So sad to hear about the hate she is getting, what a sad world we live now. Her designs are simple and classy and great explanations. I love her designs. I totally agree with some of the price of small items.
The hate she gets is so unwarranted, she found a need in the knitting community for simple basic clothes and she ran with it. I haven't done any of her patterns yet but they're on my wish list!
Some knitter are knitting for the finish product and some of us are more into the process of it. For me, I find them too simple to enjoy the process of it.
Thats the beauty of craft! There is so many designer out there to choose from! We just need to find what fit our style!
What rubs me wrong about PetiteKnit is that it can feel a bit... consumerist? Which is the opposite of what I'm looking for in my knitting. I've knit hype patterns (I write this wearing a Musselburgh and a hacked Flax), but what those have in common is a great range of options for different sizes AND gauges, which I think is lovely. It gives the flexibility to use what you have or what's available locally and be sure you'll be able to make something that will work out, instead of having to buy a new pattern. This "choose your own adventure" kind of feeling really resonates with how knitting feels to me.
I can see what you mean.
I made the Anker's sweater for myself. I had to re-pattern the sleeves because they ended up huuuuuuuge! (I've seen this comment on a lot of her jumper patterns so I assume it's a stylistic choice but I despise having to push back my sleeves every 5 seconds.) I also wish she had included a tip on how to modify the yoke to avoid the feeling of being strangled. But otherwise, I agree that the market for classic knitwear patterns is reasonably large. It makes sense that knitters will want to recreate trends, and capitalising on that is obviously going to be popular.
I just finished the April Cardigan and I really like it, would knit it again. I’ve also knit the Oslo hat and, again, very happy with it. I find myself knitting more and more of the Nordic designers’ patterns. I have favourite designers from around the world. There are so many incredible designers. Let’s celebrate them all and as for those deciding to “hate” certain ones, I say park it. We don’t need anymore negativity in this world.
20:32 I only wear mine as this! I hate wearing hats and loved wearing my scarf in the winter to keep my ears warm
I skipped by Petiteknit patterns for a while because I did not understand the popularity at the time. Over a year ago I bought the ankers jacket junior to knit for my unborn grandson at the time. I love that cardigan . Then I bought The Storm baby sweater , Eva cardigan and I can't wait to start the Dagmar jacket. Her patterns are classic wardrobe staples. My Mom would love the sofie scarf but I don't want to buy it. I think I can figure it out myself
I’ve made the children’s basic pullover- and three Sophie scarves - I like her patterns. I also like Joji and Stephen West patterns too and of course the sweater pattern that shall not be named….
I made the Sophie scarf because I had a small(ish) amount of 100% Italian cashmere yarn. Like you, it's not quite my style. However, after seeing you wrap it around your ears it was a lightbulb moment! That's how I'm going to wear it. Thanks!
Very well said. Happy knitting 💚🧶💚
Thank you for a good discussion about PL. As a scandinavian I like her designs. And just because it simple it isnt easy to come up with. Then everybody eould have made the sophie scarf pattern begore her. And they didn’t.
I bought and made the No Frills sweater exactly because it is a basic shape. I scoured Ravelry for simple sweater patterns and found hardly any at that time, so I was happy to find the No Frills. The handspun yarn I used did not work well with the pattern and the shape doesn't flatter me, so I have since then modified it, but that is in no way the fault of the pattern. Currently there are plenty of similar raglan patterns out on Ravelry, so plenty of choice (but I would most probably design one myself by now ;-))
I love how objective you are! This was a really cool video. I'd love to hear your take on Andrea Mowry and the Rhinebeck sweaters!
I love the idea of talking about Rhinebeck Sweaters. And obviously Andrea Mowry too!
Her not speaking English is probably (and very unfairly!) a factor in the backlash, at least among knitters who don't speak Danish. It's easier to hate on someone who feels more distant, like a brand rather than a human being with a personality and emotions. Other very popular designers-Andrea Mowry, Joji, Stephen West, Sari Nordlund-have RUclips channels, Instagram posts in English, etc., where their likable personalities are on display, so people feel as if they know them.
You're right, it didn't even occur to me that she isn't active on social media in English.
Félicitations pour vos propos nuancés. Je me suis remise au tricot tout récemment, et me considère comme une débutante. Alors, la simplicité pour moi, c’est un plus et jusqu’à maintenant, je trouve les patrons de Ptite Knit fort bien expliqués et j’avoue qu’à mon niveau, c’est ce qui compte le plus. Mais je constate aussi qu’il n’y a pas beaucoup de variétés dans les points de tricot utilisés et que ça peut devenir lassant.
Being Nordic, her style is my style, so her designs are spot on for me. Even as a fairly advanced knitter I enjoy the structure and support I get from patterns, even if I could design something similar myself. I just prefer to outsource that part :) I don't mind the price either; people deserve a fair compensation for their work, and there are employees, platforms, admin stuff too to pay. People wouldn't pay if it was overpriced.
Great video - your thoughtful commentary is always good to hear.
I have the Ingrid Sweater on the needles and have just started sleeve 1, very fun to knit so far!
Hello Jefferson. Adorable video bomber. 😊
I am very, very new to knitting and so I am thinking of making the Sophie scarf as a beginner project. I am not a big fan of her other designs, I find them quite boring, but they might be useful for learning basic garments. That said, it's interesting to hear that the patterns are not very descriptive/ helpful.
I also think quick knits like this could make easy gifts.
But, ultimately, I am looking forward to finding more adventurous designs elsewhere :)
I was honestly not really into PetiteKnit before I met a girl in a knitting group, who was very into her designs. The things she made from PK patterns look very well made and stylish in person, and it really made me reconsider my position. Simple designs can absolutely be eye catching too.
I only bought the Storm sweater pattern because I liked that one and have used it to make two sweaters. It is very well written and easy to follow/understand. It's a very good pattern. And now to all my "but"s: a) The majority of her stuff isn't for me BECAUSE it looks like the things in the stores. I don't want to make something I can just go and buy and look like everybody else.
b) The putting out of literally the same pattern as a womens/mens/kids version each or as a cardigans/pullover does feel grifty to me and I hate that.
c) Especially the Sophie scarf somehow grinds my gears because I find it a bit expensive for something that is available for completely free elsewhere (look up "simple thing" by Melina Brell). I have been known to pay for something I could have figured out myself because of my own lazyness, but in this case it's a bit much and imo it would have been great as a freebie to show future customers what her pattern writing looks like and perhaps make them want to buy another pattern.
Concerning b) and c): Thank god we can all choose what we're prepared to spend our money on on our own and need no advice. 😊
So: I don't hate her at all, her patterns are just right for her community and they're well-written, so good for her! I hope she has a bright future ahead!
Oh thank you RUclips algorithm for recommending this channel to me! 🎉 You have interesting, nuanced takes. Personally I'm not the biggest fan of Petiteknit's style, but I absolutely see why so many people are. Subscribed!
Thank you and welcome!
Agree w you on all your points! I haven’t knit one of her patterns (???why?!)…Yet. I love the simplicity of the sweaters. Each one has a different or varied construction, which is why i haven’t decided on a pattern. Can’t make up my mind! Do I want an integrated button band? Raglan? Contiguous shoulder?
See? And I know I’m able to tweak a raglan to fit me, but sometimes I don’t want to figure out a different construction.
I don’t understand the “hate”. You can’t please everyone. You nailed it “dislike because of popularity” (not direct quote, more paraphrasing).
With so many designers and variations, I for one, have a difficult time deciding. Sigh. BUT, I certainly enjoy perusing patterns to match the yarn I have (or, ahem…shop for yarn…gasp!!).
Thank you for your thought! Annnnd, I got a yarn kit that included the pattern for the Sophie scarf. Seems lately I get a LOT of kits, because, well, I can!
(Answer me that!)
Everyone is different, varied, no “one size fits all” and that’s the beauty of all of us, knitting is an expression of that, I think!
Thank you for your review. I have not personally knit any of her patterns but I appreciate the classic look of them. Simple and classic is my opinion.
It's funny, I cast on the Sophie Shawl while watching this video. 😂
It's my third Sophie project.
I haven't knit many of her patterns, but I did just finish her Cloud Blouse...I really enjoyed the pattern, and I love the finished sweater ❤
As for the Sophie scarf...at first I thought she should have made it a free pattern to thank her followers for buying her patterns...since it looks like such a simple thing. But then I thought, why shouldn't she make money on it, as this is probably the way she makes a living 😊. Also, with her release of the Sophie scarf, it opened the door for many other designers to come up with their own iterations of this type of accessory and make a bit of money for themselves.
My goal next year is to try double-knitting... perhaps I'll try one of her cardigan patterns
I don’t really get the craze around her either but I know a LOT of people who love her patterns. I made the Ingrid sweater and I loved the concept but didn’t enjoy it and don’t hardly ever wear it. I also think her patterns are more expensive than what I can spend. The Sophie scarf especially. But I’m interested in some of her construction methods she uses for shoulders
D'accord avec toi, I am finishing the Sophie scarf, I am a beginner at knitting and loved making it. Love from France ( I will most likely be wearing it as a scarf, the "French girl style" as you call it 😂).
As a new knitter I got brave purchased the anker s. Love it
I like simple. I live a very simple life on a farm, so these types of patterns suit me.
That said, I love a good challenge, and as a new'ish knitter, I love trying new techniques. I have made several pullovers, and am still struggling with socks 😂, but I want to make a cardigan with a double banded button border. Since I hear that her patterns are very thorough, I will likely buy one.
PS--yes, Clo, socks and I are having a love-hate relationship. 😊
Oh socks are a little touch and go but once you find your groove, you can't stop!