Knitting chat

[tamum]

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!

btw tamum, am nearing the end of a 4ply cotton baggyish sweater for dd1...and remembering why I don't often use 4ply!

Try here.

That's gorgeous littlefish, nice to see it a bit bigger! What sort of pattern was it from?

And bundle, what sort of needles does 4-ply knit up on?

Littlefish, that is absolutely beautiful! No wonder you're proud Well worth all that darning....

Bundle, I feel your pain. I haven't knitted anything with 4 ply for yonks, and intend to keep on avoiding it. Ironic really, as I greatly prefer to wear jumpers made from fine yarn

NQC, I meant to say before, have you looked into tubular knitting for double thickness? Montse talks about it, and EZ is very big on it.

Yeah, I was reading Montse "Madwoman" on that subject last night. I hadn't really understood the reference to twice-knitted fabric in my other books.

You can do it in circular knitting, right?

(I was so happy to read that intarsia doesn't work in circular knitting! Another reason why it's evil and wrong!)

Hmm, I would have thought so but I haven't looked into it much. EZ is very big on circular knitting though, so I would guess so.

When I knitted dd a poncho I decided to incorporate a few hearts and things and found out from first principles why intarsia doesn't work in circular knitting. It all looks rather unpleasantly pulled

Ok, what's the best EZ book, then? I need more circular knitting books ...

NQC - it's a Rowan pattern from a book called "Pipsqueaks", it's knitted in Wool Cotton.

Glad you all like it. I know it's far from perfect, especially the button hole band, but I'm still ridiculously proud of it.

I'm now doing a lovely, very boring stocking stitch jumper (plain body and stripy sleeves) which I don't have to think about at all when I'm knitting.

The one where I know she talks about "double knitting" as she calls it is the Knitter's Almanac. Very wordy and chatty, not a quick and easy reference work.

Oooh, she has a book called "The Opinionated Knitter"!

How would you describe the Montse Stanley book? It's not quick-and-easy reference, exactly, but you can (sorta) dip in and out, getting the info you need ... I'd describe SnB as chatty, but not heavy going ...

I need to buy a bunch of knitting books from Amazon, anyway, as DH didn't buy me that folk hats book with the bird on it, or the knitting in the round book. I just really need idiot-proof instructions to make a seam-free sweater ... then I can start being all free-range with them.

I agree, the Montse is not easy giong, but you can find what you want. The Knitter's Almanac is forbiddingly densely written- I know she talks you through lots of principles for working out measurements but there's so much chat in there I can never remember where to find anything. I haven't read more than the first couple of chapters though. I've got another one by her that's more basic (and bigger type, incidentally)- I think it's Knitting Without Tears.

Shame about the books, but good idea just to buy them yourself

I'm worried DH might have been trying to make a point by not buying me the book with the freaky bird hat on it ...

Hi ladies need a recommendation if poss pls. Use to knit when little and have found my needles, can you recommend a good book that can get me started agin, have forgoten how, so needs to have basics. Thanks

Lots of people in a similar situation, if you read the thread, there are a few recommendations. I like Stitch'n'Bitch for the basics.

going, try one of the knitting magazines around, as they often have tutorials in them....I think Simply Knitting has how to knit every month, but I prefer Knitting magazine as the patterns and the look of the magazine is better.

Stich n Bitch is also good.

But if you go to the knitting help link I put in before you'll see some really good video clips to follow. I have been able to knit forever, but it was looking at those clips that taught me to knit continental (yarn in left hand) though she does English as well (yarn in right hand).

On the subject of finer yarns, I am actually using a very fine yarn at the moment - started last night. It's a little bolero for my niece, and it knits on 3.25 needles - eeek! I think the yarn is equivalent to a 3 ply, and it is certainly finer than 4. Tension is 26 stitches to 34 rows over 10 sq cm.

It is a very soft angora and she will look very, very sweet in it, and because it has short sleeves, and is short in length, and she is only 3, it won't lead me to despair at how slow it's growing....I hope.

The pattern is a gorgeous vintage one, from the 50s I think.

Sounds beautiful Tiktok - please can we see it when you've finished. What colour is it?

My 2.5mm and 3mm needles showed up in the post today. I can start working on multicoloured stuff, with the Massive Bag'o'Yarn I got last weekend. When I've finished the current hat project, which is on 3.25, so will hopefully not take too long.

I'm tempted by smaller-needle projects as a) they look so cool and b) you get a lot more knitting per pound of yarn, iyswim.

It's a very soft, gentle pink, LF, and I will post a pic when it is done....but do not hold your breath

You do get more knitting for your money, NQC, but that's why I normally avoid thin yarns and needles.....I like more instant gratification with a quick finish!

thanks guys

going4potty, tiktok suggested just what I was going to- Simply Knitting have an insert every month that's quite clearly written for basics. Another book I would recommend to anyone really is Jane Crowfoot's "Finishing Techniques for Handknitters". It sounds uninspiring, but has very clear photos right back to beginning knitting. It's excellent for things like buttonholes, and picking up stitches and different cast ons too.

NQC, I realise I must start thinking like that. I do hae a fair bit of laceweight yarn in my stash, along with the multiple bags full of aran . It would mean my stash would be less obvious if I knitted with thinner yarns routinely I guess.

Oh, don't talk about stash reduction. Mine is silly-huge. The addition of 51 balls of yarn last week didn't help, oddly enough.

I might try to get rid of the stacks of synthetic stuff I bought and now hate.

Hello ladies. I have been reading and enjoying all of this knitting chat for a while now and picking up some great links and ideas but have never felt brave enough to introduce myself. I love to knit but struggle to find time but got back into a bit over the holidays. I am currently knitting a little cabled hat in lovely Alpaca Silk for my friend's little boy's birthday. Then I'm going to do a tank top for my own ds I think. I hate sewing up as I'm completely rubbish at it so thanks very much tamum for recommending the finishing techniques book.

kikidee, I hate sewing up, too. Which is why I do everything in the round ... I should probably get better at finishing techniques, too, though.

tamum, I've been reading the finishing notes in the madwoman's book and enjoying them, really. Do you think the Crowfoot book would be useful?

(I think my problem with sewing up is, I can be reasonably sure that a bit of knitting is perfect, or maybe a bit uneven, but the stitches are all correct. While sewing up always looks dreadful to me, and never seems perfect.)