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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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Original poster
tamum · 06/01/2006 20:29

Hello kikidee The hat sounds lovely. You're in good company, NQC hates sewing up too. Have you tried knitting on circular needles much? That gets round the need for a lot of sewing, too. Have you got a particular pattern in mind for a tank top?

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NotQuiteCockney · 06/01/2006 20:31

Hmm, is there an echo in here?

Original poster
tamum · 06/01/2006 20:32

Spooky, your reply wsn't here when I started my post

I think the Crowfoot book is really useful, it's the clearest I've ever seen, but I haven't compared the sewing up in Montse. I will do that and report back. Actually, you know the 1000 Sweaters book? A lot of the technique-y bits in there are taken directly from the Crowfoot book, pics and all, so it may be that you don't really need all three I guess. It's one of those things where you really need a proper browse through really.

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NotQuiteCockney · 07/01/2006 22:26

I'm still enjoying Montse, and working out what multi-colour stuff I will do first.

DS1's hat's gone a bit wrong, I messed up some of the cables and had to frog a bit. Will get it right this time!

I have also worked out, finally, what error I made on the blanket I made ages ago - I did an accidental short row! I did it to the hat I'm on now. And have since read up on (intentional) short rows, and it all fits.

kikidee · 08/01/2006 16:43

Hi Tamum. The pattern for the planned tank top is from the Sirdar book of Chino Knits that knits up in Arran weight wool.

I haven't tried knitting on circular needles, I am very much a beginner knitter! My mum used to knit a lot and she keeps me right with things. I'm pretty sure she knitted fair isle jumpers for me on circular needles. Do you think I could do some children's things on circular needles and could you point me in the direction of some on-line patterns for that type of thing?

NotQuiteCockney · 08/01/2006 17:03

Circular needles are very easy to use. I often use them for flat knitting, as they are smaller and tidier than regular needles.

Knitting in the round isn't hard at all. You'd want to start with something simple, like a hat, I think. Here is a sample one. About.com has quite a few free patterns.

Original poster
tamum · 08/01/2006 17:24

Well done on the short row detective work NQC! I did a sweater called Dolman, I think, from IK that was the first time I used short rows. It was quite a good learning experience. I've just started a lace scarf using some hand-dyed kid mohair from Australia (Kaalund, via GetKnitted) which is looking lovely so far, but I'm sure I won't feel that way once I start making mistakes. Frogging lace is no fun.

kikidee, I think fairisle is fine on circulars. I can't think of any patterns offhand that fit the bill, but I was going to post on here today anyway because the new issue of Magknits is up, and it's nearly all children's patterns. Some of the baby/toddler stuff is really nice, and Thing 1 and 2 is hilarious

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NotQuiteCockney · 10/01/2006 18:07

I'm nearly ready to start reducing on DS1's hat, which is going well, now. I've left one error go by (a cable doesn't go out as far as it should on one repeat), as I don't think even I would be able to spot it without spending 15 minutes peering at the hat.

But I've had some annoying news. I have this hat-for-new-baby program. A woman at school who I owe big (gave me a lift to casualty when DS2 bashed himself, had a carseat in her car, big car so could carry the pram, absolute lifesaver, although I didn't know her at all), has gone and had a boy. After two girls! I have a lovely boy's hat in the cabinet, but I was saving it for a Norwegian woman who already has a boy and who knows her knitting.

I made a lovely triangle-and-pleat hat in a sort of dusky purple. The edge is scallopped. I figured it was for this woman from school, as I expected her to have a girl. Could I pass this off as a boy's hat? Not really, I guess. Grrr.

How dare people go have something I don't expect them to! Damnit.

I guess I need to start making white hats.

NotQuiteCockney · 10/01/2006 20:12

Ok, I'm going to do a gender neutral hat. Or maybe more boys' hats?

At any rate, I have rather a lot of Jaeger Baby Merino. It takes 3.25 mm. What should I knit it up on if I wanted to work with two strands held together?

Also, how would two different (nice) colours together work? That would be ok, wouldn't it?

Original poster
tamum · 10/01/2006 20:21

Hello

I would have thought you would get away with dusky purple for a boy to be honest, but if you feel uncomfortable then I guess you'll have to start again and save that one! Two colours would be fine, I'm sure, sounds nice.

Double yarn I have never known about- my gut feeling would be to try 5 mm but it's absolutely no more than that I'm afraid. I guess you'll just have to swatch it and see. Oh yes.

My lace is looking really nice, though I say so as shouldn't (I love that phrase, although I would never use it in RL. It reminds me of Victorian parlour maids). I will definitely take a photo once it's finished and blocked, it's looking a bit ruched at the moment.

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NotQuiteCockney · 10/01/2006 20:29

I think the dusky purple is ok for a boy, but the style is quite girlish, I think. Hmm, must take pictures of hats and put them online.

NotQuiteCockney · 10/01/2006 20:52

Ok, done it. Here . That wasn't too painful.

NotQuiteCockney · 10/01/2006 20:54

There are four hats there. The annoying grey synthetic I could probably still give to someone. It doesn't really matter that I hate it. And it does look cute, and will machine wash etc.

The mixed-colour one is in theory for my Norwegian friend (C-section on the 14th I think, dunno when I'll see her), but I might give it to this other woman at school. The pink one is just up to show it off, can't really give it away as it sucks. The purple on is, I think, for a girl, but maybe would be ok on a boy.

tiktok · 11/01/2006 10:25

I love that slipped stitch one, NQC....very cute

I have finished the bolero I was knitting, and blocked it last night. Now all I have to is stitch it up, and I am determined to do it beautifully.....which doesn't come naturally to me.

I will try to upload a pic of it later this week. I am very pleased with it so far.Lets hope I don't f* up the completion

tiktok · 11/01/2006 12:32

NQC, how about this lovely garment to add to your collection of hats?!

I have an interest in vintage patterns, many of which are fascinating (imagine knitting your own knickers in 2 play wool...) so stumbled on this one.

tiktok · 11/01/2006 12:33

2 play = 2 ply

Original poster
tamum · 11/01/2006 20:23

Those hats are gorgeous! I really like the bamboo/butterfly one, and the purple one. You should definitely think about submitting patterns to Knitty or somewhere.

Look forward to seeing the bolero tiktok, with close-ups of the sewing please

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NotQuiteCockney · 11/01/2006 21:41

I have to try making the bamboo/butterfly one in wool or similar.

I'm glad you guys like them. The purple one didn't photograph well, but it is gorgeous.

I'm almost done DS1's new hat, but doing cabling while doing DPNs, and working out how to continue the pattern while reducing is killing me.

tiktok, that hat pattern looks very odd. Is it felted?

I'm still debating getting the folk hat book from the US, with the bird on it. There's a felted cowboy hat in there!

Original poster
tamum · 11/01/2006 22:17

If you make a felted cowboy hat do you have to have one of those polystyrene heads to dry it on? (or you could wear it while it dries in extremis I suppose )

The hats really are fab. Have you tried using stitch markers while you do the decreases? Like to mark the edges of the cable? I've found lace patterns much easier since I started using them.

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NotQuiteCockney · 12/01/2006 09:26

I have some plastic stitch markers, but they don't really tempt. Too ugly. I've heard of putting a slip knot in a different yarn on instead, and should try that maybe.

I don't generally use any sort of stitch marker or counter. But I am struggling at the moment, a bit, because one row I'm doing cabling, the next I'm doing reducing. Which is rather a lot.

I'm also looking at mosaic knitting, from the Barbara G. Walters, or considering twice-knitted fabrics, for my next project ...

NotQuiteCockney · 12/01/2006 09:26

Oh, and dunno about the cowboy hat. The madwoman suggests using bowls for blocking, so probably not :-P

tiktok · 12/01/2006 09:53

The ancient and peculiar bonnet in the link is made of fuzzy wuzzy wool which is a long since deleted angora yarn, very fluffy and now goes for silly prices on ebay to collectors. Yes, it looks a bit felted but its just that it's fluffy

The pink bolero was made from a pattern which asked for fuzzy wuzzy, and I used a modern angora yarn and I experimented with needles to get the same tension.

Stitch markers - i just slip a knot of different coloured yarn in the right place.

tiktok · 12/01/2006 10:52

here is the bolero
here looking a wee bit lumpy....I think I will sew a little pearl button and loop onto the sleeve bands to fasten the sleeves.

NotQuiteCockney · 12/01/2006 10:57

Oh, that looks really sweet!

tiktok · 12/01/2006 11:52

I think the sleeve bands need a bit of pressing as the edges are a bit ropey.

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