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

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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.

My first granny squares were truly appalling , until I managed to keep an even tension on the yarn . I was a knitter first and foremost , so took a lot of determination .
I found the Bella Coco tutorials on youtube the best for me to follow , rather than the picture ones .
I do like the Polly Plum designs now I have cracked the basics . She shows you exactly where all the stitches go on a photo too :)

Haven;t had much knitting time recently, I've been very with work (freelance so it's feast or famine). I've been knitting scrappy striped scarves for Knit for Peace, super easy just cast on about 300 stitches and garter stitch, change yarn at the end of every row. Great for using up bits and bobs and thickness of yarn isn't really important.

I'm also starting a MSc this year in a history related subject and thinking about writing my dissertation on a local knitting style. Or perhaps tracing the people who made embroidery samplers. Something along those lines anyway.

So it looks like I'm going to have to stop crocheting at least for a while as it's set off RSI that I haven't had since about 20 years ago . I used to get it very badly and I had forgotten all about it. It doesn't give any warning, one day fine, nest day painful thumb joint.

@Skap what type of hook are you using? If it's a metal hook then perhaps switching to a bamboo or an ergonomic hook might help. I can't use a metal hook because of joint pain but I'm fine with bamboo.

@TheWoollybacksWife it's a metal hook, I like it because the wool slides nicely. I've seen one of the YouTubers use a wooden hook, certainly worth a try. I put it down to the repetition as I was speeding up and did a couple of hours. I used to get tenosynovitis from using a computer at work in the 90s. It came and went for about ten years but I've not had it since DC were born and had forgotten all about it.
I want to persevere because it's the first time in my life I've found a "craft" that I can do, and interests me.

Skap - my daughter suffers from tendonitis , and has found the Addi swing hook to work really well for her - it curves into the palm .HERE
I am a big fan of my Clover armour , but I hook totally differently to most !

bookbook I had no idea there were so many hooks! Shame you can't try them all out before buying. That Addi website also has bamboo hooks. I might send for the swing one though because it looks like it might be bigger to hold.

have a google around Skap for a bit of discount - , I bought one for my daughter to try as it was recommended , but they are not cheap if they don't suit ! I was able to add one onto a Wool Warehouse order to make it up to postage paid , so wasn't such a big deal :)

Patchwork (English paper piecing to be precise) is my thing though WIP is a long-term though. At the age of 45 I have learned to knit over the Christmas holidays. I can do squares. Small ones. Not always neatly but hopefully sufficiently neatly for the ongoing work thing which involves people knitting said squares and clever people putting them together to make baby blankets.

@hanahsaunt I'm impressed. I love patchwork but don't have the skill or equipment to move beyond very basic tablemats

@Skap I think I've got a 4mm clover ergonomic hook lurking in my stash. I could send you it - I didn't get on with it.

@TheWoollybacksWife - my patchworking is exceedingly basic in terms of kit not least because I first started just from my head than using any books etc. I measured in centimetres and it would appear that the patchwork world is still imperial so I use no pre-made templates or cutters or anything. I use paper and a ruler to make the shapes, and then fabric/needle/thread for the stitching. All by hand - no sewing machines involved either. It's exceedingly labourious / time consuming but the slow pace is gentle and lovely and therapeutic. The end result will take forever (king size quilt) but there's a basic plan and I am pottering along.

@hanahsaunt that's really interesting - I wanted to try patchwork but was put off by the fact everything I read said you needed a machine. Maybe doing it by hand is an option I might give it a go after all. What sort of things do you make?

@TheWoollybacksWife thanks for the offer that's very kind of you, but I have ordered a hook online so will see how that goes.

A friend did a patchwork / quilting course and I saw her finished quilt. It was utterly beautiful. More so because she had used old fabrics from her children's clothing when they were little. So the whole thing is full of sentimental memories.

@bookskark: I make squares. I am working on producing four squares each of six classic patchwork patterns for a sampler quilt e.g. log cabin, courthouse steps, shoofly etc. I like squares and rectangles, triangles less so. I design the square and pick out the fabrics. I measure out meticulously the shapes on paper, cut them out then cut out the fabric. The fabric is pinned to the paper then tacked on. Then each patch is hand-stitched to produce the square. It takes a long time ... but it's very methodical and deeply satisfying. One day I will have all the squares and will then block them with squares and rectangles. The theory is that then there will be wadding and backing and hand-quilting. I may be 70 by then ...They look pretty :)

@skap

Sorry to hear you’re having problems with your hands. I do too and it’s so annoying when you just want to crochet. Crocheting doesn’t start mine off - but I can’t hook when they’re already hurting.

I like the Clover Amour hooks. Personally I can’t get on with the bulkier hooks or the metal/bamboo ones. (though I ONLY use bamboo knitting needles these days!) I think the Clover Amours aren’t too big or too thin just trial & error I suppose. I got lucky the CA was only the third one intrued!

Hello. May I join you?

I've just picked up my knitting needles after 30 years (really, the same ones!) and I am completely caught up in it. My Granny taught me the basics, and now I'm teaching myself the bits she used to do for me. I have done some fingerless gloves and a hat so far, and am now working on a stripy bag to put my knitting in. I already think it's not big enough.

My best friend patchworks like hanahsaunt. It looks great. Log cabin is a great idea. I hadn't thought of that. I'm tempted.

I tried crocheting but found it hard, and then thought of knitting and I haven't been able to stop knitting since. I dream of big lacy blankets

Hello everyone! room for a (not so) little one?

I am a terrible knitter, taught as a child and never quite mastered it. i picked up a crochet hook the week before Christmas and made a granny square following a video on You Tube. and it seems that i have found my 'thing'
I have made a blanket (a giant granny square)
3 little granny squares
a basket (from a kit bought for me years ago)
a couple of hats
and then decided to run before i could walk and followed a you tube tutorial to make a long slouch, bat wing cardigan. I completed that in a week and have been living in it. People have asked where I bought it!!!! I am so proud of myself.

I am now making a baby blanket for my friend who is due in March.

I am finding written patterns ok to read but need to really concentrate. I cannot follow picture patterns at all yet but considering I have only been at it for a month I will cut myself some slack for that.

After my blanket I want to make a summer boat neck lacy crochet top with long sleeves. I can see it in my head but have yet to find a pattern to follow.

Have you fallen down the rabbit hole that is the pattern database on Ravelry yet, ACurlyWurly

hah! Soup beat me to it .
I have a couple of tops like that earmarked in my Ravelry favourites ACurlyWurly

www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lace-motif-pullover
www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mesh-up-tee

Help please knitters!

Why is my cast off always too tight and what kind of cast off can I use to fix this problem?

Example, is the lovely hat I spent the last few train journey making, all fitting beautifully, finished it with an inch of rib around the brim then cast off and can't get the bloody thing on my head so need to undo the cast off row and do it again, with hopefully a stretchier finish.

@skap the knit pro crochet hooks with the soft rub ever handles work well for me. Broke my hand a couple of years ago now my ring finger doesn't bend or straighten properly and ring and middle fingers are very stiff so get sore easy.

I use the wooden knit pro symphonie interchangeable for knitting

https://www.amazon.co.uk/KnitPro-Waves-Aluminium-Crochet-Hook/dp/B00F3CVII8/ref=ascdff_B00F3CVII8/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=256187788999&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5289316673178673787&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006798&hvtargid=pla-419782066780&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

Re: hand issues. I must admit I tried to hold the yarn like all the videos tell you to and couldn't.

My fingers are small and tubby and I was getting terrible finger and hand cramps when I followed all the "advice" as my fingers weren't long enough to wrap it round or hold it it like they said until I thought "sod it" and now hold the yarn however I feel comfy.

I only get cramps if I'm working with thread (for teeny weeny dollhouse items for my friend who is making one) for a long time as the hooks are so small and I need to get a tight tension.

Same with knitting, can't seem to hold the yarn like they say so just hold it how I like it (I do mix of continental for knit stitch and Norwegian for purl so I can hold the yarn in my left hand as that's how I'm used to it)

I've got a couple of those weird metal yarn holders that you put on your fingers but still not sure how to use them

I'm liable to be cast out if I ever pluck up courage enough to go to a "crochet/ knit meet up" for not holding the yarn right

I never followed any instructions for holding the yarn. Or for the hook no I think about it. I just hold them in the way that came naturally.

I don't think there is a wrong way.

Oh thank god I'm not the only one Soup

I watch a lot of Youtube knitter and crocheters and felt when I first started like I was an oddball and I'd have to sit in the naughty corner if I ever did it in public.

@TorysSuckRevokeArticle50 you need a stretchy cast off.....there's a few if you google but I do this for something that I do not want to be tight

To cast off stitches:

1. knit two, take back stitch over, (all as normal so far)
2. replace stitch from right hand needle back to left hand

make sure stitches are all secure and snug, and not wafty and baggy

3. repeat until the last three or four remaining stitches and cast them off normally

...I do this as I found the stitch that got knitted twice ended up a bit lacking in tension and it was a bugger to get a tight finish on the end of the yarn

I do this to a rhythm of 1,2,3,4 (knit, knit, stitch over, stitch back)