Customize Your Knitting by Margaret Hubert
Customize Your Knitting by Margaret Hubert was what today’s sweet visit on the Yarn Thing podcast with Marly Bird 
was all about. But then, it’s always sweet to hear from Margaret Hubert.
Margaret says people generally associate her with crochet so to hear that she put together a knitting book for us is wonderful. In fact in the last year she’s had four books out, two of them about crochet granny squares. She laughed telling us that she was named ‘bi-stitchural’ by a young lady at a conference.
Margaret is a very busy teacher. Often she finds that her students DON’T knit or crochet for themselves, confining themselves to baby things or afghans, because they don’t like the fit of the garments they have tried to make. She says the ideas for the books came from classes where she shows that it’s not always just adding stitches. These are her most popular classes, and says ‘the books are based on the classes not the other way around’ which for us means she has compiled the discoveries the students in her classes have made.
This book Customize Your Knitting is a complement to the book that Margaret shared with us on her last visit, Customize Your Crochet. The books are for women’s sizes 2 to 52. In both, Margaret
takes four basic patterns and shows you the ways you can adjust. And the variety of suggestions is mind-boggling, as you can create a perfect fit for YOUR body shape, she shows you how to change the fastening, the neckline, add a collar, add a pocket, changing fastenings, embellishments…… Margaret uses for herself a garment that she likes the fit of when she’s wearing it and compares it with the garment she’s making. This has been a helpful suggestion she gives in her classes, and it reveals things we did not understand when just going by our measurements.
Making custom-fit garments has been such a difficult topic to finally get information on. Marly tells that when she created her Craftsy classes on this topic, it was very hard to find information to share. (Marly’s Custom Crochet and Custom Knit class links.) She agrees that having Margaret’s book would be great additions to our libraries.
Another factor that both Margaret and Marly emphasize here is checking your gauge with every project. Every yarn is different, every brand of needle, every unknowable factor can change our gauge, so it must be checked prior to starting every new project. Margaret advises not counting the end stitches on the swatch either, because the end stitches can be a bit off from turning the row.
In future she hopes to offer us the top down custom-fit ideas, but for now she’s given us a wealth of ideas. She says she is constantly is thinking of new book ideas and the publishers she’s working with have been treating her really well, her teaching schedule is now within a driving distance from her home, so we are assured to learn more from her, and see new books from her.
Here is the link to listen to Margaret on the last visit when she shared Customize Your Crochet. Also, here is the link from her January 2014 visit. Also, if you wish to shop for Margaret’s books in Amazon, use MARLY’S LINK
Categories: Podcast
It is always such a treat to hear Margaret. I was hearing to the podcast while working on a tatting butterfly. What a coincidence that she likes the butterflies. I participated in one of her classes at a CGOA conference and she is very energetic and gives you a lot of ideas for what you are working on. These new books are really a most have in our libraries. Thank you for the opportunity and for the great podcasts too.
This is the first podcast I have listened to and really enjoyed it. It was like watching a butterfly flying in the summer sun. Making sweaters and then not having them fit is extremely frustrating and this book sounds fabulous. Thank you for sharing your knowledge today.
Loved this interview. Margaret sounds like a delight. I can’t wait to get her new book. I can totally see why she loves the butterfly. They are so beautiful and ethereal. I wonder if she has knit or crocheted any?
I really enjoyed today’s podcast with Margaret, and receiving her book on customizing knitting would give me butterflies (more than one butterfly!!)
I love when you have Margaret on the show. I found several of her books listed in the library. I’ll fly like a butterfly over there tomorrow and check them out!
I will definitely have to check Margaret’s books out! She sounds like a very sweet lady! I hope her books don’t butterfly away before I get a chance to look at them!!
What a great interview! There was more than one butterfly in my stomach…from all the excellent information being shared. Thanks, Margaret and Marly!
Loved the podcast and love Butterflies
I loved listening to Margaret. I have knit sweaters for most of the 50 some years of knitting, but I have had my share of sweaters that don’t fit. I have a hummingbird/butterfly garden which I love even though my butterfly bush had died
Listening to you three social butterflies was very entertaining and informative. I need to look up her customize books. These sound like great gift ideas.
That was my first time to listen to any podcast and I loved it, Marly your smile and laugh are so delightful. They always make me smile. Thank you Margaret and Butterflies also has a special meaning for me too. My Granddaughter name means butterflies. I’m going to go look up your books.
I love listening to Margaret – she is so knowledgeable and articulate. And she loves butterflies! I am currently crocheting the Butterfly Prayer Shawl (free pattern on Ravelry) for a friend who recently lost her husband. I chose the pattern because I think my friend will find peace when she is surrounded by a butterfly hug. I plan to buy both of Margaret’s custom fit books – for crochet and knitting. Thanks to her, Marly and Tammy for another fantastic episode!
What an inspiring podcast: that everyone can knit a sweater to fit them perfectly with Margaret’s books and tips. While listening to this podcast, I was able to watch the butterflies in my garden- so amazing!
Loved this podcast and all the great information shared. And who doesn’t love butterflies?
This was such an informative podcast. I must make Margaret’s books part of my library. I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Monarch butterflies to my area of NY. Love them!!
Great podcast, the books sound really informative and helpful. I’ll have to check them out. I think a crochet butterfly would be a nice addition to a summer headband.
Loved this podcast with Margaret Hubert! I am new to podcasts and to more serious knitting and it is so helpful to know where to go to get great information! Thank you both so much for your inspirational words! Oops! See I AM new!
I enjoyed the talk with Margaret. She sounds like someone that you would want to spen a couple of hours visiting with or to be on the lookout for a butterfly.
Margaret is such a wonderful woman! I had the pleasure of meeting and crocheting with her at the last CGOA Convention 🙂 I’d be as as bouncy as a butterfly to own her latest book!
Loved learning about Margaret’s approach to fitting. She reminds me of a friend who also is a lover of the butterfly.
I saw the most beautiful butterfly hiking yesterday and it reminded me of the great interview with Margaret last week and herv love of beauty. So much fun to learn about all the great people in the fiber world
Loved the podcast..I don’t block usually either. That’s because I try to live free…like a butterfly!!
Wonderful podcast. I too like butterflies. I even planted milkweed for the Monarchs!
Thanks for the episode. I love books that help you make sure your knitting will fit. (Other than getting gauge!) A butterfly would approve
I really enjoy listening to Margaret. I won her “Customize your crochet book” last time she was on. So this would be a perfect addition to my Margaret collection. I hope to see a beautiful butterfly today and it will remind me of Margaret!
The butterfly could also be a lovely symbol of the transformation of a garment when it’s been customized. Great show!
I have always loved butterflies too! It was great to hear another interview with Margaret 🙂
Loved this podcast, and always looking for ways to improve the fit of my knitting. Fit issues pit me off creating garments for myseld. The mention on butterflies helped me to use their life cycle as a metaphor for some difficult personal issues I’m facing at the moment. Thanks
I would love to win Margaret’s book!
“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. The hands can’t hit what the eyes can’t see.”
― Muhammad Ali
After my mother passed, my aunt to me that my mom used to refer to me as “her little butterfly” when she talked to my aunts. Now they are even more special to me than they were before.
Another great podcast! A butterfly also holds alot of meaning for me. I enjoy watching them as they flutterby.
I love the image of butterflies. When I am feeling rushed, I feel like the universe sends me a butterfly to remind me to slow down., I always enjoy your interviews with Margaret.
I loved listening to Margaret on the podcast while I was out taking a walk. She had so many wonderful ideas about making the items we love to make fit so much better. The next time I am out walking and see a butterfly I will think of her and what fun it must be to take one of her classes.
Margaret always inspires me. I love her humbleness, her expertise, her energy, and creativity. She is a person I always feel from whom what I can learn is never-ending. I love butterflies and my 10 month old son loves to seem them land in the garden on the flowers =)
What a great episode! It was lovely to listen to Marly and Margret while I watched the butterflies in my garden.
Enjoyed learning about Margaret. I once crocheted a butterfly to put on a hair band for the daughter of a friend.
Margaret is a stitching dynamo! I have had the privilege of meeting her a couple times, and she’s just as nice and down to earth as she sounds. She’s as beatiful as a butterfly.
So happy for another fantastic crochet book. Love the depth of information from Margarets works. Wishing her Butterflly Sunshine days this summer.
A beautiful butterfly is the result of an amazing transformation just as a lovely garment emerges from a hank of fiber.
I would love to learn to customize my knitting better and adding a butterfly would make it even better!
HOPE IT IS NOT TO LATE TO LOVE A BUTTERFLY!!
What an inspiration Margaret is and allows me to believe that I too might be able to knit or crochet a butterfly one day on a sweater that is customized to fit!
Love when you have Margret on. After hearing her read the review on her granny square book I’m going to have to go check it out! Maybe there is a butterfly design hiding in there. =) I need to go check out her customize books too. I’ve only made one fitted crochet sweater which fits great but only because it happened to be shaped like a tube and so am I. Guess I lucked out! LOL
I am a landscaper and butterflies are part of my favorite part of the job
Butterflies are admittedly not really my thing. But I do love learning more about fitting my knits!
Thanks for another great show. I really enjoyed hearing about getting your knits to fit. It is so important to get things to fit when you are going to spend that much time working on it. There is a new butterfly top that I want to make and need to make sure that I get the fit right.