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Original poster

Knitting chat

232 replies

tamum · 22/12/2005 19:26

Just thought I would start a thread that can be resurrected when any of us have bits and pieces to share.

NQC, there is a tie pattern in the latest issue of Interweave Knits

For hand-dyed yarn fans, I recently ordered some silk from Curious Yarns that was gorgeous. Highly recommended!

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NotQuiteCockney · 03/01/2006 21:13

It's not just a diagram. It's also incomprehensible notes. E.g.:

a. make slip knot, leaving a tail etc, put on needle
b. take needle and long strand in right hand
c. holding short strand in left hand, catch a loop with left thumb, moving clockwise
d. catch loop around thumb with needle.
e. Wrap long strand under needle
f. Pass loop over tip of needle and pull short strand
g. Tighten long strand.

I have no idea what that means. Alarmingly, I think it's the cast-on method I'm already using.

tiktok · 04/01/2006 13:00

What other books do you like? The American websites seem to like Elizabeth Zimmermann.

I like the video clips on \link{http://www.knittinghelp.com/knitting help}. She mentions EZ quite a bit.

tiktok · 04/01/2006 13:01

Sorry about messed up link - you'll hafta cut & Paste.

NotQuiteCockney · 04/01/2006 13:17

Oooh, that looks useful - particularly the magic loop video. I'll have a look at those later.

Helpfully, that site's names for cast on techniques don't really match the madwoman's names. And of course they have fewer types of cast ons. Shocker.

Ooh, and they talk about the felting method of joining balls ... does anyone here do that? It's quite tempting to me ...

melrose · 04/01/2006 13:41

NOw I have found the knitters I ahve a question, how did you learn? Always fancied knitting but don't know where to start!!

NotQuiteCockney · 04/01/2006 14:23

I learned from the Stitch'n'Bitch book.

The videos on the site tiktok linked to look good, too.

suzywong · 04/01/2006 14:56

tik-tok that website with You Knit What? is pant wettingly hilarious, I could look at it all day, thanks

Original poster
tamum · 04/01/2006 14:57

That CO method is the one I tried from her instructions NQC- I did finally get it right but the first couple of times I looked carefully at my lovely row of stitches to discover I could have achieved exactly the same effect much more easily by winding a bit of wool directly round a needle.

tiktok, I have a couple of EZ books. She seems very wise and chatty, but they're not easy books to skim, I think you'd have to really sit down and read them through properly. Good though, and quite opinionated too. I have raved earlier in the thread about the Ann Budd books if you want to semi-design your own stuff without haveing to do all the maths. I also like books like the Green Mountain Spinnery one. At the risk of repeating myself boringly the Knit Picks site is great for browsing. They have inside pages of most books to look at, so for example if you want to look at an EZ book like Knitting Around you can click on the "view inside pages" link.

melrose, I would second NQC's suggestion, although I learned originally as a child so I don't have any experience of learning the basics from books. The other author I have heard people say very positive things about is Sally Melville. I have her book "The Purl Stitch" as it has some good patterns, and I think the companion Knit Stitch is quite good for learning. Debbie Bliss's How to Knit might also be worth a look.

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NotQuiteCockney · 04/01/2006 15:01

(OT: suzywong, I assume you know Go Fug Yourself ?)

NotQuiteCockney · 04/01/2006 16:40

Is it wrong that I want a lot of the patterns from YKW? Ok, largely just to see how they did the horrible things they did, and based on the (probably wrong) assumption that everything is low on seams, but still ...

suzywong · 05/01/2006 05:15

the post menapausal poncho group somewhere in the Mid west are actually a bit frightening in YKW

NotQuiteCockney · 05/01/2006 08:03

I'm still most frightened of the matching hat and bag with breakfast on them.

tiktok · 05/01/2006 11:07

I had a good laugh at the knitted turds!!

'Cos that's eactly what they look like

Pruni · 05/01/2006 11:30

Message withdrawn

NotQuiteCockney · 05/01/2006 14:02

Pruni, yeah, I think so.

I think it's my method, but I do it a different way. It looks like she describes, though.

It is nice to try different ways, though, even if your method is "ideal". Loop is very good for soft edges.

Original poster
tamum · 05/01/2006 14:05

It's certainly Montse's favourite if you only have one method Pruni, but I think ideally in her world one would be able to do all 14 and pick and choose depending on the circumstances. I, however, am in the life's too short camp. I shall certainly use that one next time, though, if I can do it without it just being yarn wound around a needle willy-nilly.

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Littlefish · 05/01/2006 14:09

Hooray, hooray, hooray!!!! Finally finished sewing in all the ends of dd's cardigan! I have taken a photo - is it better to load it up on here as a "member's profile" thingy?

Original poster
tamum · 05/01/2006 14:11

OOOh yes, although it might be a bit small. Do you have any space on Photobucket, Flickr or something like that? Then you could just link to it

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NotQuiteCockney · 05/01/2006 14:14

tamum, have you tried the recommended caston method in SnB? It's the same method, I think, but much better explained.

Original poster
tamum · 05/01/2006 14:17

No, but I might try it. I'll see if I can do it again from Montse's instructions, because I did get it to work eventually, and keep SnB beside me

I finished my silk bag last night except for the strap, but I have run out of yarn so have to wait for more. Going to start a jackety thing next with some Jaeger Shetland Aran next I think. I should have had more children simply to have more people to knit for....

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NotQuiteCockney · 05/01/2006 14:38

DS1 has got angry at me because the hat I'm making him isn't multi-coloured, and he wanted a multi-coloured one. :-P

I will carry on with this one, DS2 can maybe wear it.

I am now wavering my resolve to start doing everything in less than 4mm. It takes forever! But I am curious about ways to make knitted garments that are double thickness - the madwoman talks about doing this with slip-stitch, I think I want to try it in the round. Maybe with some fairisle?

I'm also feeling an urge to try lace. Maybe make a throw or something, for the house. Can you do it in wool, or should I be using linen or something less stretchy?

lalaa · 05/01/2006 14:45

am knitting scarf for dd.
my index finger on left hand is sore from pushing the needle through. elastoplast to the rescue!

NotQuiteCockney · 05/01/2006 14:53

I've had that, lalaa. Is it possible your tension is too tight? What sort of yarn are you working with (I owe you some! Will post it this weekend, if not sooner)? Wool or similar is better, if your tension runs tight, as it has some "give".

bundle · 05/01/2006 15:17

la la what kind of needles are you using? i find bamboo less "sticky"

Original poster
tamum · 05/01/2006 15:25

Ha, I was just coming back to this thread to post exactly what bundle just said. I would definitely try different needles lalaa, I'm sure you'll be able to find some that are more comfortable. I can send you some duplicates if you like, just CAT me

NQC, lace works fine with wool. In fact I thought it usually was to be honest, although KSH is used quite a lot too. I've only done shawls and scarves though, nothing very big.

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