*****KNITTERS******

[Gillian76]

Where's a good place to buy Rowan yarn online?

I just bought a new book off ebay and can't wait to get going!

[Gillian76]

Have been looking at Wool Cotton at cucumber patch . Anyone used them?

[Gillian76]

Also, anyone know or a good substitute for Rowan Wool Cotton? It's sooo expensive!

[NotQuiteCockney]

You can substitute anything else that's made of the same stuff. So you want something that's the same % wool, same % cotton. Or similar. You can substitute something with wool + synthetic for it, I think, too.

But you want something that's the same (or similar) weight, so it will knit up the same. And you will have to do a tension square, and you might have to change your needles, or the number of stitches, to adjust ...

Dunno anything about cucumber patch, I use kangaroo a lot, or sometimes angelyarns (although others have had problems there).

[tamum]

I haven't used Cucumber Patch, but there are loads of Rowan suppliers out there. They all charge the same prices though, unless there's a sale on, although McA Direct don't charge postage if you order more than a fiver's worth. As NQC, you can substitute anything that knits to the same tension but there aren't many other wool-cotton blends around as far as I know. Jannette's Rare Yarns on eBay would be worth a look, she often has discontinued lines and is a treasure

[Gillian76]

SO do you think it's worth the money?

[NotQuiteCockney]

Dunno, I've never used a wool-cotton blend. Sounds a bit strange.

What sort of pattern is it?

You could maybe substitute something that was pure wool, depending on the pattern?

[philippat]

cucumber patch is my local yarn store. Never ordered online from them, but they have a lovely shop and are (fairly - if you don't go in with a 4 year old)) helpful.
I use get knitted online who are very good and currently have some sale bargains.

[Gillian76]

It's a blanket NQC and I need loads so not sure I can afford the expense!

[Gillian76]

It's a sort of Aran pattern knitted in squares.

[NotQuiteCockney]

Ok, the fact it's a blanket means the sizing isn't a big deal, you can just do it in whatever yarn you like. It's not like it won't fit if it's 5cm smaller or whatever.

Is it a blanket for a baby? Or what? How washable does it need to be? How soft?

And by "aran" do you mean, it's cabled? If so, I'd use wool or other animal fibres, and stay entirely away from vegetable fibres, as they are not stretchy, so harder to cable with.

[NotQuiteCockney]

Hmm, it's a merino blend, so cost is understandable. Still, £4.25 for a 50gm ball seems high.

You can get Jaeger merino for £3.10 for a 50g ball elsewhere.

Are you knitting this blanket with 2 strands held together? A blanket made out of this gauge of yarn will be thin, which can be nice, but it will take a long time to knit. Unless it's tiny?

[bundy]

ncq the wool cotton is a lovely yarn (but warning: dh put a lovely cardi - pink/green - that i knitted for dd2 in washing machine and it shrunk. it's now in a picture frame) but agree it's pricey. i don't normally wear wool cos it's itchy on me, but the rowan one is fine.

now - thinking of making a pair of socks with cables...debbie bliss cashmerino baby..with dpn's(they have cables too..eeek)...any top tips???

[NotQuiteCockney]

I haven't made socks, I really just do hats. Have you used dpns a lot before? They are annoying.

Also, cables take a bit of practice, but not much.

I too cannot wear (or knit with) normal wool, but merino is generally ok.

[bundy]

I think I used them years back and got annoyed with how they stick in you and it's obviously not a natural "hold" for knitting..do you have bamboo ones or just metal?

[NotQuiteCockney]

Mostly bamboo. They are nicer.

And yeah, I feel like I'm knitting with an angry octopus. And drop stitches sometimes. But they do get easier with practice.

[bundy]

ok will give it a try, the baby cashmerino felt gorgeous, may even try that new shop in Islington for dpn's on the way home.

[Gillian76]

www.knitrowan.com says wool cotton is DK weight.

[Gillian76]

sorry, knitrowan