Knit, Crochet and Natter Thread

[lazylinguist]

I was hoping to join a local rl knit&natter group, and then lockdown happened. But knitting and crochet are keeping me cheerful during lockdown and as the nights are drawing in!

There seem to be quite a few ongoing chat threads on other MN boards, so I wondered if there might be any interest in a rolling knitting and crochet thread, for anyone who fancies chatting about knitting, crochet and life in general of course! Total beginners and scarily experienced needle-wizards and everyone in between, all welcome.

Share your projects, yarn stash confessions, pattern niggles or newbie questions. Not sure if it will fizzle out after a few posts, but hey ho, worth a try!

A snowy mountain walk, sea swimming and carol services sound lovely. Do you have to wear a wetsuit Barmbraic? Based off your username I'm assuming you're not in the Bahamas

I finally googled derpy, bit harsh!

I've cast on for the Broadleaf jumper but was hit with indecision on the colours so I'm knitting two until I decide which one I like best... The mohair does make it so much more snug though so I think it's winning so far.

My adult German student (in her 60s) goes lake swimming most weekends up here in Cumbria with no wetsuit, Barmbraic. It makes me shiver just thinking about it! I do admire her though. Wild swimming is supposed to be amazing for your health. She says it's become noticeably more popular recently- she sees lots of other people doing it.

No, Flavia unfortunately more Irish sea than Caribbean! I'm still swimming without a wetsuit although I have ordered a neoprene top and gloves that I hope get here soon. And when I get around to knitting myself some merino socks they will come in very useful.

CrochetBug what size hook do you use for those little figures? They are gorgeous.

Thanks @Barmbraic. I'm making them with drops paris, which is aran weight, and a 4mm hook.

I ruined Jesus. I can't stop laughing. He looks like a bug eyed toe!!! I'm going to have to remake him! I think the blanket needs to be bigger and softer. I think I'll remake it with acrylic so it drapes a bit more. Not sure what I can do to make the baby look better

he looks so adorably happy. You can't change him!

Wow Barmbraic fair play to you! I love the idea of it but I suspect not the reality

😂😂😂😂 that Jesus has really tickled me!

I’ve been asked by a friend to knit some fingerless gloves. Any suggestions for nice fair isle patterns? Preferably knit in the round but they should be easy to adapt if straight knit!

I trawled ravelry and couldn't find a pattern I loved for fingerless mitts so I cast on 60sts on 3mm needles and winged it with an afterthought thumb Kate. That's probably not helpful, sorry!

That baby Jesus is epic

I cheated with my baby Jesus and just made and folded a piece of white knitting and tucked in a tiny scrap of pink knitting for his face! Mine is vintage, I knitted it in 1982 when I had my first child and it still comes out every year. My local grandchildren are setting it up this year.
My three boys have over the years been very irreverent at times. Sometimes the lamb was in the manger, Mary was fraternising with one of the kings, the donkey had done a lot of poo ( pieces of chocolate) and Joseph was climbing the Christmas tree to chat up the angel etc.

at the shenanigans in yiur nativity, Knittingnanny!

I made him exactly how the pattern says so I don't know why he looks so awful
Im gonna keep him and make another one!

😂😂 I think smaller eyes and a blanket over his head so he's wrapped. Not over his face - we wouldn't want to hide that beautiful toe like face smother him!

Yes I think the blanket is too small, despite being made as instructed! I tried French knots for eyes and they didn't work either. I'm not sure they come much smaller than these! At least it wasn't hours of work and I'm able to laugh about it

Just a line of thread to make closed eyes might work.

I've made many things that don't look quite like the pattern.

Wow, so you're going to have two Baby Jesuses, CrochetBug? I'm sure that wasn't in the story.

I'm getting on ok with my Lettlopivest. It's a bottom-up pattern, so I've done the moss stitch border and am now a littlexway into an easy expanse of dark grey stocking stitch (with a bit of shaping at the waist) to get through before I hit the scary bits. Loving that it's in the round. I hate hate hate sewing up!

I'm only gonna keep him as a memory to laugh at. Maybe I'll hang him on the tree. He can be Jesus' less famous twin. Erm... Dave

Dave
Arghh - I need to stick to this lovely thread and avoid the rest of MN! I've got sucked into a very time-consuming spelling and grammar-related thread which has made me very unproductive today!

Crochetbug, when I was an infant teacher many Jesus’s went missing from my school set! I was forever whipping up a replacement for the next day. Just the right size to slip
Into a pocket. Must be loads around my town since the 1980’s.

I have knitted my first sock and will try to post a picture. There was confusion about the toe area so hope to perfect this next time.

I've deliberately cropped off the toe as it really is that bad. This is the first 'sacrificial sock' - the leg needs to be a bit longer. I admire all your efforts on here.

Hi gigham
I finished my first sock last night. I gotvto toe and realised i done gusset wrong and had to start all over again. I also didn't like the toe part

Am very jealous and admiring of your socks @bruffin and @ginghamtablecloths

I bought the Ann Budd book recommended on here and it really is lovely. Lovely sock pictures. Lovely sock instructions. But I think I need to get cracking instead of waiting for aforementioned lovely socks to drop out of the sky.

Off to rummage in my knitting needles for dpn's ....