Knitters and Crocheters: Post-Apocolyptic Life Skills Group Meets Here!

[DoubleNegativePanda]

I've though Mumsnet needed a "yarn group" rolling thread, and now I'm tired of thinking it so I'm doing it. Share your projects, ask for help, show us amazing new stitches you just learned or post your disasters for commiseration before frogging the whole thing!

First things first, do you knit, crochet or both? And because we all need to share the dirty laundry in our yarn bags...how many WIPs do you have going?

I've knitted for three years but crocheted for about 30. I've got:

-A knitted scarf for myself Scarf Pattern
-One knitted sock done for myself (but I hated the pattern so much I doubt I'll do the second one) I heavily modified a pattern and it didn't work out well.
-One knitted sock for DD (but I will finish those, they're just on the back burner) DD's Socks Pattern
-A half done crocheted scarf for my BIL (I'm going to finish that one on a plane next week) Not using a pattern...he wants super simple so that's what he's getting.
-And 1.5 of fingerless mitts that a friend asked me to make Fingerless Mitts Pattern

That's kind of sick and insane when I put it out there. I jump from piece to piece a lot. I'm at work (I know, I know) but I'll post a pic of the mitts when I get home. I'm feverishly trying to finish those.

Thanks @LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow will give that a go. Don't want to waste the hat and was feeling a bit fed up when I realised it wouldn't fit over my bonce!

@soupdragon & @bookbook

I sure have it was recommended to me by my mum. I have spent more hours looking at that than doing lol
I have just finished the blanket which I thought I would share.

Dear god - all those bobbles! You deserve a medal!!

It's lovely.

That blanket is beautiful!!
I have started the costal crochet seaside stash busting blanket and on week four. It is actually nice having a completed CAL to follow so I can do it at my own pace as I am really impatient with the other CAL I am following!
Getting a bit obsessed with buying wool now and I have agreed to go to the supermarket alone today to try and also get more wool without husband asking "don't you have enough at home?"

Getting a bit obsessed with buying wool now and I have agreed to go to the supermarket alone today to try and also get more wool without husband asking "don't you have enough at home?"

A friend’s given me a tip about a local place that stocks Stylecraft so I’m off to find that tomorrow

Sorting out my wool stash today and came across this....
do I just throw it away or sit and untangle

Untangle it @AHobbyaweek I used to spend hours untangling wool with my granny and I loved it. It's very therapeutic.

To be honest I don't mind doing it but when I look at the large bundle it does seem impossible. Also would rather be crocheting!

I quite like untangling yarn too :)

Untangle it for sure.

I'm in awe of all of your amazing projects and WIPs. I am learning to crochet - so far have made a small lap blanket with granny squares following attic 24 harmony pattern . I now am having a go at crocheting from a foundation chain to do her ripple blanket . Just doing the sample at the moment and I am fine with the stitches but struggling a bit with getting it all lined up . Each time I have tried I've either ended up with chain stitches left at the end or not enough chains to finish the row
Are there any tips for getting this bit right ? Also for getting the needle under both loops of the chain - I find that terrifically fiddly. I'm using 4mm and stylecrsft special dk. Hoping for some MN wisdom !

Great idea for a thread - can I join.

One leg warmers done, need to get my arse into gear and start the 2nd. Think it would have been better with a 2x2 rib rather than a 1x1. I can foresee us being a multi-pair household while I dabble to get the perfect shape/size...

Are there any tips for getting this bit right ? Also for getting the needle under both loops of the chain - I find that terrifically fiddly.

I don’t know if this will help, but I bought a scarf from a pound shop and practised using the edge as a foundation chain. It was a lot easier that way to get the hang of where to put the hook and practise getting the right number of stitches.

Also for getting the needle under both loops of the chain

Try making the foundation chain with a bigger hook (4.5mm or even 5mm).

When you make the ripple, concentrate on making sure that the increases and decreases are always neatly stacked on top of each other. Also, make sure that you don't miss the last stitch of the row - from memory you end on an increase so remember the two stitches. My ripple has a very wonky edge at the start!

Thanks so much soup and empress - I had another go today and I think I've got it . Can't wait to get going now !

That’s brilliant pip!

Made this last night

Hobby

A colleague’s having a baby in June and I’d like to make a blanket. Can people recommend a yarn that’s soft, hardwearing & low-maintenance? And light, since it will be used in summer.

@EmpressLangClegInChair

Sirdar do a Snuggly Baby Bamboo that is 80% bamboo and 20% wool and King Cole do a Bamboo Cotton (50% of each) that might meet your requirements. I think the Sirdar is machine washable on a 40 wash and the King Cole on a 30 wash so the higher washing temperature would swing it for me even though it would work out a bit more expensive to make.

Definitely worth looking into, thanks Woollyback! I can live with it being a bit more expensive.

Can I join in? Am I the only one rubbish at finishing things.

The first pic will be a shawl and I’m quite enjoying it, it started off life as a jumper but I wasn’t enjoying it and decided I really hated the collar so unravelled and started something else.

The second pic appeared on my fb page, it’s the knitting pattern for Tom bakers dr who scarf that someone might enjoy 😍

This is my latest knit. I hate sewing knitted pieces together so only knit on circular or double pointed needles. It's made with cheap yarn from Aldi I just loved the bright red. The pattern is from Andi Satterlund bought on Raveley.

All of your things are really lovely.

I am new to the group... I sew a bit and knitted a couple of things very sporadically. I have started to crochet this week and am really enjoying it. I have been going through old mumsnet threads getting lots of tips so I am already acquainted with Bella Coco, I have a book arriving soon (Stitch N Bitch Happy Hooker) and I am spending far too much time on Ebay buying crochet hooks!

I just been practising this week but I am hoping as my first project to make some water balloons for the summer (giving myself a good bit of time!). www.cucicucicoo.com/2017/08/crochet-reusable-water-balloons/This is my original inspiration but I have quite a bit of wool accumulated already despite not having knitted in 8 years (!) so I am trying to avoid buying the pack of yarn and just be able to use the wool we have already have and do some balloon shapes maybe...

Hopefully I am not overstretching myself on my first project but I can always unpick it and try again if it goes wrong or fill the cupboards with prototypes for testing when the weather turns...

All the beautiful things!

@BatleyTownswomensGuild I love those legwarmers. The colours are very wow! I definitely think you need to knock up another pair with a 2x2 rib just to see

@CaptainMyCaptain Making up and pesky ends are the bane of my existence. It takes sooooooo long. Beautiful cardigan - that red is stunning.

@billybagpuss ooh, that looks very very complicated, but very pretty! It takes me ages to finish anything. Two small children mean I don't get the time I used to, so I usually start things, forget I've started them and then start something else.

I made 6 of these stockings for the Christmas just gone. Some of the monograms were a complete nightmare and my embroidery is shockingly awful. The "M" was the easiest to do. They looked lovely lined up over the fireplace on the day and I was really quite proud of them. I did three in the green and 3 in red.

The granny square blanket has been a WIP for about 17 months. I made one for DD before DS was born and began his shortly after he came home. It's been sat almost finished since then, but other things seemed more important. Should finish it in the next few days.

The cardigan is for DD, and was started last summer. I intended it for this winter but luckily I sized it so it would fit for two winters. It's almost finished, but I went to sew on the buttons this morning and I can't find any yellow shades of thread in my sewing box. Excuse to go shopping soon I think! I love this pattern, and tend to make one for her every year. I'd love to figure out how to convert the pattern into a jumper but I'm not clever enough for that!

Now that's posted I realised I didn't think about the format. "All the beautiful things" was in reference to your things, not mine! How boastful does that look