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Original poster

More knitting chat ...

473 replies

NotQuiteCockney · 27/01/2006 10:28

Ok, new pictures, photobucket.com/albums/c176/NotQuiteCockney/?sc=6 . I like both new hats, although the photos are rubbish. (Am I not holding the camera still?)

Not sure what to do next, am slightly uninspired. Thinking about tubular knitting? DH has a colleague whose wife is having a baby, so I should do one for them ...

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Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 04/02/2006 21:18

Oh, forgot to say, I did look at "knit hats!", but it was quite simple. Nice book, but nothing I didn't already know. Well, I don't know how to make knitted carrots to go on top of a hat, but I'm not that tempted to find out ...

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fishie · 04/02/2006 21:35

nqc, wow a knitting DISTRICT? wonder what it consists of, sounds quite jolly, i imagine everybody trailing wool and needles. sounds like you are doing well getting enough projects to occupy you on your trip, i hope you are feeling ok.

i'm still plodding away on the rib thing. i'm rather slow. got a felting book out of library, but instructions are american washing machines which seem to be twin tub, anyway most of the designs are not ideal so i might put that off for a while. there are delightful bunny slippers for a toddler though.

tamum · 04/02/2006 22:04

Those books look useful NQC- glad Foyle's came through. Knitted carrots, hmm? I am becomign obsessed with the idea of making dd a Monsoon-y cardigan by sewing on strips of beaded ribbon. I might have to pay a visit to the sari shop.... Oh, and I bought some dpns today because I feel I should start knitting socks. Wish me luck

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 05/02/2006 07:02

fishie, I think it may be people knitting for a living. Not sure. I might try to make it there, will see.

Yeah, American washing machines are better for felting, as you can take out the items at any time to check on them. Montse says hand-felting is better, though, and gives precise instructions. As you'd expect. Will copy them for you if you like.

tamum, let me know how the socks go. You're not going to do that weird long-circular instead of DPN thing? I'm slightly anxious about the turning thing, so haven't got into socks yet.

The tam/beret/whatever hat is looking cute. I have still not run out of that everlasting ball of yarn. The extra rows needed to make it a beret might do it, though.

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fishie · 05/02/2006 21:39

nqc, have just looked up montse on amazon. i'm left handed and knit uk right handed, sometimes find it impossible to read patterns, don't understand just follow instructions. do you think she'd help or hinder me? and perhaps the carrots might go with the bunny slippers.

tamum, i'm thinking of trying a pair of socks just to see what happens, have done a tube topknot on a hat with dpn, was ok.

noro bag pattern has arrived, is knitted not felted, but wool is to follow [keen]

Pruni · 05/02/2006 21:45

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Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 05/02/2006 21:54

fishie, first of all, as a leftie, you might be better off knitting German style. That's what Montse recommends for lefties.

Second, you mean, you don't understand why a pattern works the way it does? Montse might help with that. Partly, I figure out how patterns work by using them, and seeing what different stitches do. Montse does help by explaining which way a k2tog leans, what happens with purls and knits in certain situations.

When I started knitting, I totally didn't understand how patterns worked, or what they really meant, even. It takes time.

Pruni, that looks nice. What size needles is it in?

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Pruni · 05/02/2006 21:58

Message withdrawn

fishie · 05/02/2006 22:16

i get rather scrambled, which doesn't usually happen with other concentraty things, so maybe my hands are 'wrong'. is the knitter's handbook the best? (or only?)

baby beret sounds so cute, ds at chucking hats on ground stage, so in hoods atm. i'd like to make a sleeveless pullover for him next, any suggestions for nice patterns? stripy, fine knit. should be a test for me....

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 06/02/2006 07:24

I would say the Knitter's Handbook is very good for details etc.

Do you have a good yarn hold? Can you knit without looking? How long have you been knitting for?

If you're struggling a bit, I strongly recommend a) considering switching to German, as it's more ambi (but the stitches are all the same, the final result is the same, and you can follow normal patterns), b) doing a very big very boring project, to get your knits and purls right. My first project was a hat, the second was a jumper, and both are unwearably bad. Then I did a giant blanket, switching to German halfway through, and after that, everything was much better.

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fishie · 06/02/2006 10:18

i've been knitting for about a year this time, but also did quite a bit 15 years ago (oh i am old). i cansort of do it without looking, depends which stitch, deffo can in ss or garter. tension is ok but not sure about yarn grasp i did a shawl when pg which speeded me up a bit. maybe a really clear reference book would help me with patterns - and i'd love to have a go at german knitting.

Klara · 06/02/2006 10:48

Hey everyone - I'm a knitting beginner. I have made a hat for my baby which is due at the endof March and am now desperate to move onto an easy cardi....however, all the patterns I have seen look horrendously complicated. Does anyone have anything easy for me to try?

thanks

klara

tamum · 06/02/2006 19:26

Hi Klara, I haven't got any really easy baby cardigan patterns but this looks very simple and straightforward. Debbie Bliss has a book of easy baby patterns, I think.

That looks nice Pruni

I should be OK with socks I think- I've made gloves on dpns, but not for years, and I've made bootees when I was a kid that had a heel. Famous last words....

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 06/02/2006 19:48

fishie, I used to not really have a yarn hold, and it really doesn't help. (I was really bad, though, I was always dropping the yarn. Montse speaks quite sternly about people who do this.)

I am really really struggling with my third new cast-on method: tubular/invisible. I may have a websearch, but I was wondering: has anyone here used it? Can they answer some questions. I think I'm casting on fine, but then when I start knitting, I can't tell which stitches are knit stitches and which are purl stitches. Also, the knit ones look like I should knit them in the back leg. Also, the row keeps getting twisted or something, and I can't tell which side is up, iyswim. Not a good sign.

The cast-on method itself is good, but much easier if you try to do it really really fast, which is strange.

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tamum · 06/02/2006 20:13

I'm sure I did use it once, but not enough to be able to remember problems, NQC. I can give it a go and see whether I get the same thing though- I'd quite like to practice it.

Giraffeski · 06/02/2006 20:21

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Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 06/02/2006 20:21

Magic Loop? Huh?

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tamum · 06/02/2006 20:23

It's using two circular needles instead of dpns. Much too 3D for me....

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 06/02/2006 20:43

Oh, no, I like the idea of Magic Loop, but haven't bothered using it.

Damn, I really must get my stuff sorted for the knitting project while away. Grrr.

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lua · 06/02/2006 20:56

Hi there! Sorry to butt in! But I spent my whole evening yesterday trying to find some online shop to buy some chenille yarn, and didn't have much luck... Then today I found this thread, and was hoping some of you might have some suggestions?

I haven't knit for a long time but DH has been longing for a soft scarve (he hates the feeling of wool in his skin), and I though some chenille yarn would work out well. I thought I might feel velvety or fleecy like.
TBH I am a very basic knitter, and am hopeless with all the new fiber types....so any other suggestions would be much appreciated

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 06/02/2006 21:05

lua, you're not butting in, this is "knitting chat", so it's for everyone. Well, except for crocheters, they're just weird ;-)

Lua, I haven't used chenille, so can't help with that. But I have had good experience with kangaroo yarns, who are here . Personally, I can't wear or knit with regular wool, but merino is just fine. You can also buy fleece yarn, which is very thick, and hence knits up quickly. Or cashmerino, which is very very soft, a blend of merino, cashmere and synthetic. Very nice to knit with, too.

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tamum · 06/02/2006 21:06

Please don't feel you're butting in

I was going to say I haven't seen chenille around for ages but I thought I'd just try Texere first and they have come up trumps. I can't link directly to the page, but if you go here and type chenille into the search box there are a few. Mainly for dyeing, but there's a 4 ply and an acrylic there. Texere usually do very good prices.

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 06/02/2006 21:06

Oh, I should say, I finished my hat, and must take a picture today, to put online. (I also may give one of my existing hats to a certain sneaky scaly secret-pregnancy MN person who I owe some stuff to, anyway. Probably the green one, as that mum has still not popped, so I can probably give her a hat after my holiday.)

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tamum · 06/02/2006 21:08

Oooh, excellent plan. Can you add some scales?

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 06/02/2006 21:09

Well, the green triangle one is a bit scaly-looking, frankly. Which is dragony, isn't it?

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