We Are Knitters Kit Review and Giveaway

I recently had the chance to try out a knitting kit from We Are Knitters. They make fashion-conscious, easy-to-knit (and crochet) projects that are fun to knit and to wear.

I should start by saying their kits only come in one size (the one I tried, the Vivian Tee, comes out about 36 inches around) and they’re worked flat and pieced. The instructions are written row by row rather than suggesting length measurements, which means when I first knit mine, following the directions as written, I didn’t quite realize how huge the armholes were becoming. As you can see in the picture, it was way too big to wear without another shirt under it.

It was a simple enough fix for me (still in progress; I have to redo the edgings) but I don’t know if a beginner knitter would understand how to fix it. I removed my edgings, ripped out about 10 rows on either side of the straps and finished them with a three-needle bind off.

As well as being written out in rows, the pattern isn’t well written. The top is worked in Reverse Stockinette, but there’s a portion where the pattern switches which side is knit and which purl at a point when it would make no sense to do so (and there’s no indication in the pictures of the garment that such a thing actually happens). There are two row 97s, and the instructions could have been written more clearly and concisely throughout.

Because the kit provides everything you need to knit and finish the project, the edgings are supposed to be picked up and worked flat as well. I don’t know how that would work with an armhole in particular, so I skipped that part and worked two rounds of single crochet on the edges instead. It can also get heavy when you’re knitting back and forth with 82 stitches on a straight needle.

Still, I did find this project fun, and once I’m finished refinishing it I will definitely wear it. It’s a comfy cotton yarn tank that’s a little beyond the basic look being in Reverse Stockinette and with color blocking. The yarn is soft and was easy to work with knitting, though it did split a fair bit while I was seaming and doing the crochet border. Take your time and it should be fine.

We Are Knitters wanted to give one of you a chance to try one of their kits as well, so they are hosting another giveaway for us, this time of the Juliet Tee (click this link to enter). This is a cute tee with a mesh pattern at the top and Reverse Stockinette body. The prize includes three balls of yarn (remember this is a one-size project running around a medium), needles, the pattern, a sewing needle and a We Are Knitters tag to sew into the finished top.

As before this is a giveaway that requires Facebook to enter. (So sorry for those it automatically eliminates; we’ll have a cool new giveaway for you next week.) It’s open through July 13.

Thanks for visiting and good luck!