Knit, Crochet and Natter 4 - Yarning into Spring

[lazylinguist]

A thread for knitters, crocheters and woollly crafters in general. All welcome, including total newbies! Previous thread here

@petridishmystery that’s lovely. I don’t think people will be pointing and laughing, more likely asking you to make them one too. But the you wouldn’t have a beautiful unique item to yourself!

@InTheNightWeWillWish - that cushion is fab! The button bit looks really good - is that meant to be the back? I think it looks so nice I'd have it as the front!

I'm on row 13 of the KAL cushion cover now. I didn't bother with a swatch in the end, so I hope my gauge is ok. I tend to have trouble with tension when I'm doing cable, but at least with the interlaced cable cushion there is only one column of cable so maybe I'll be ok!

Oh and @CrochetBug - those trousers

Wow! That is absolutely gorgeous petridishmystery! I agree with QuiltedBear it's beautifully finished, it looks professional. I'd be thrilled to wear it out if I'd made it!

That's a lovely texture Myshitisreal, I've never tried Tunisian crochet, what's it like to learn compared to normal crochet?

That turned out so well InTheNightWeWillWish! Your DM will be over the moon

I've got about 60% of Hedwig done and the plastic eyes may arrive today in the post if I'm lucky. It's such a clever pattern, it's a really dense 3d fabric as you knit it, you can see it taking a bird shape as you go.

CrochetBug, those are my dream trousers! or maybe not

Hi all, going through a busy phase at work (funny how school returning had increased me getting things done!).

Got a 20% off code for lovecrafts this weekend apologies if this is one you’ve all got. Minimum spend of £35 though...

20YAYMAKINGUK

CrochetBug loving your mum's sense of humour! And petridishmystery that's amazing, you should definitely wear it out.

Progress on Sophie is slow, not least because I keep distracting myself with browsing online for my next project! Tunisian crochet you say?

But DH will want to watch the rugby today, and I suspect DS will spend most of the afternoon gaming, so I'll take the opportunity to settle down and crack on, while watching the last series of Line of Duty to try and remember what happened!

But DH will want to watch the rugby today, and I suspect DS will spend most of the afternoon gaming, so I'll take the opportunity to settle down and crack on

Sounds exactly like my house this afternoon probably! This morning we are off for a walk around a lake, and some of us might swim! Brrrrr! I properly twanged a calf muscle on my run yesterday and I'm hoping a bit of cold water might help, if I can bring myself to get in!

Ouch lazy. Hope it helps!

I've done the same and a week later I can almost walk downstairs properly. So far when doing couch to 5 k I've tripped over a kerb and still have the cuts from that and then I pinged something in my calf. The sofa with some knitting is beginning to seem much safer and healthier in comparison...

@lazylinguist the button bit is meant to be the back but I also think it could be the front. I managed to use up one of the balls left over from my CAL on the button bit and edge. I had literally just enough to finish off in the last stitch! I have a full ball of the colourful yarn left but I thought it would benefit from one single colour for a bit and the colours match up really well. It does mean the cushion is a mix between 100% acrylic and 100% wool but the feel is pretty similar so I’m pretty happy with that.

@flavia hopefully she likes it. The lovely buttons are from the Tectile Garden that you recommended so thank you ☺️

Those trousers are hilarious @CrochetBug 

And that is stunning @petridishmystery definitely looks like something you could buy in a high end shop! Wear it with pride

Speaking of ridiculous... Just saw this on the (normally perfectly sensible) WeAreKnitters account on Instagram. Not really my cup of tea tbh. eek!

Ahhh thanks so much for the lovely comments! You’ve persuaded me to wear it to my sister’s today!

@QuiltedBear I used this loom, fully extended I think it’s about 4”5 long but I think I had it at about 3 foot, I’ve already taken it apart to use it for something else tho! With the shipping fees from America included it wasn’t cheap but I’m so glad I bought it.

@petridishmystery That looks fab. I’ve only got the cheap plastic ones at the moment (a round set and a long set) but I’m having a lot of fun figuring out what I can do with them. My next challenge is to try double knitting!

@petridishmystery be proud of your blanket cardigan! It looks very comfy & warm.

@InTheNightWeWillWish I love the cushion, it made me smile that your dh stitched the buttons.

I've just been eyeing up yarn in Poundland again but couldn't be arsed to carry it home. Definitely fancy dusty pink ish for the Lindy sweater.

If I wanted to lengthen the bottom ribbing; I presume I could just add rows where I've highlighted

I'm off to browse Deramores for a while (free shipping over £20 & a 10% discount code), see what I end up with. Then a bit more blanket today, I think. It's growing quite quickly now.

I've never seen loom before.... how does it work please?

I love the cushion (from a blanket)

Tunisian is pretty easy really. There are so many different stitches and techniques and it can create a nice dense fabric. It feels very awkward at first but I really loved making that scarf. I made a border and used both ends of the hook as per video listed below. I don't really think its any more complicated than basic crochet, it's just different.

Basic stitch bella coco

Same stitch using double ended hook (I used this for long border but just kept the colours the same)
as opposed to cables where you're limited to the length of the cable

Good overview

Crochet crowd entrelac.

Amazing reddit post

www.reddit.com/r/crochet/comments/ggy5c1/tunisian_crochet_tutorial_links_thread/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share

Anyone can try out tunisian using a metal hook but do go bigger than you think , try a sample of ten stitches. I did this to get an idea but really, it was way easier with the right hook. I've a lot to learn. I'll stick a photo up of the bordered scarf. It's drying. I also backed with fleece so lots of firsts 🤯

Im lurking, reading every day and love seeing all your progress ♥

@crochetbug this was made on a size 4 hook i read the other day after our chat on here. So it is possible 😂 i just imagine it would take a fair bit of practice to get the tension right with such a small hook www.reddit.com/r/Tunisian_Crochet/comments/m87nce/i_got_my_first_set_of_tunisian_hooks_back_in_2018/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share

Oh wow Myshitisreal! Thanks for the links, I'll check it out

I've got to the eye sockets on Hedwig, got them knitted but have to sew them into shape next. Eek. No post today so hopefully the eyes arrive on Monday. Just two wings, legs and a beak to do after that I think.

Love the blanket cardigan, you should be super proud of it and wear it! I find people are always impressed if you made something you're wearing.

I've done very little crochet this week as done my back in and work has been crazy with all the children back in. Loving the cushions so far, they look so impressive.

@JPduck

I've never seen loom before.... how does it work please?

It’s a type of knitting except instead of needles you put the yarn on pegs, and you can make different kinds of patterns and stitches depending on how you move the yarn on and off the pegs. At its most basic it’s significantly easier than needle knitting which is why I like it but you can also do some quite complicated things. It’s a bit more limited in terms of what you can make tho.

Other than Stitch Fiddle, is there anywhere any of you would suggest/recommend for designing my own (very basic) scarf pattern?

The girls' dad mentioned something last night & I'm reasonably confident I can do it, so long as I have a chart of some kind to follow.

That cardigan is beautiful @petridishmystery! Is loom knitting like the
French knitting dolls but bigger?

Thanks for all the Tunisian crochet links. I love the older lady. DS1 was watching with me and asked if I could make a football pitch sized blanket (clearly we all share a sense of humour with my Mum)

I have done nothing today. The DCs step Mum called and said their Dad was in hospital with a suspected stroke. No more details, she told 16 year old DS and he spent most of the afternoon practically on my lap crying. :( Having told him they should go and visit him, we checked the current visiting guidelines and they are discouraging any non end of life visits. Of course that made us panic about how serious it was. Turns out ex is fine, and should be home in a couple of days. Still scary though!

@lucysmam the few patterns I've done either stay in my head and I hope for the best, or I use squared paper. Stitch fiddle is meant to be good though.

@CrochetBug I hope your dc's dad has a speedy recovery! Your poor ds, what a worrying afternoon he must have had :(

It did occur to me, after I posted, that there might be some squared paper lurking that I've acquired at some point. I'll have a look in the morning now; I'm just packing up for the night now.

@CrochetBug thank you! Yes it’s the same kind of thing except obviously there’s more variety with what you can do compared to a French knitter!