test knit: spoonie top

Have you ever come across a pattern that you just knew you had to knit? That somehow the pattern “got you”? For me that was the Spoonie Top by Alix Krammer (@irunthisknit).

If you haven’t read my “About Us (Me)” page, let me catch you up. My love of knitting was born because of my chronic illness. About four years ago I was mostly house/bed/couch bound with walking considered a strenuous activity, in an effort to stay mentally active, I started watching YouTube videos on how to knit. After a few bouts of giving up and starting again and giving up and starting again, I finally got the hang of it.

After about a year of knitting and following some amazing knitters and designers on Instagram I took the plunge and created an Instagram account posting my first picture on a train to Montreal.

From there the rest is history.

Enter the Spoonie Top

Although I love all my test knits, this test knit took me back to the reason I started knitting in the first place my chronic illness.

For those who don’t know what the Spoon Theory is, it is a metaphor used to describe the amount of mental or physical energy a person has to a task or activity. It is often used to provide a visual representation when a person with chronic illness describes how much energy or “spoons” it takes for a task to get done.

So, when I was scrolling through Instagram and saw a test knit call and even though I already had a few test knits on the go, I just knew I had to apply because after all I am a #spooniewarrior

Test knitting the Spoonie top

After being lucky enough to get picked to test knit, I entered the discord channel and got to work.

For my top I used Cascade Ultra Pima Cotton (DK weight, which might be my new favourite yarn) in Grey for the main colour and Pansy for the contrasting colour, purchased from my LYS Spun Fibre Arts.

The Spoonie Top is a tank style top with a seed stitch hem & collar, is knit flat and seamed together. It also features duplicate stitch to add the “No More Spoons” design.

For me the duplicate stitch was a completely new skill, but one that was so fun the learn (learning new skills is one of the main reasons I test knit) and one I can hopefully use in my own designs in the future

I used the colour Pansy (purple) for my “No More Spoons” design because it is representative of IBD (Crohn’s & Colitis) and subtly represented my chronic illness.

The top worked up fast and is super customizable and size inclusive. All in all, it took me approximately 48hours (over a few weeks) to knit up, block and weave in ends on my Spoonie Top.

Tools used for my test knit

Of course, I had to use my tester notebook for my test knit. It has space for all my notes, a space to record the due date and social media requirements as well as I like to include a final photo of my project.

I also used my gauge swatch measurement tool from Unwrapped Yarn and my measuring tape, scissors, stitch markers and a darning needle.

I like to use my ChiaGoo interchangeable needle set for all my projects and my needle point protectors from Odd Knots & Threads.

(photo of tools) (photo of notebook)

I really hope you check out Alix’s designs! And I highly recommend you knit up this amazing top! (this link redirects to Ravelry).

Any questions? Drop them below!