Knit, Crochet and Natter 6: Where there's a wool there's a way

[lazylinguist]

A thread for all woolly crafters, from total beginners to old hands! Previous thread here

@sophs29 they start top down, I found another pair that start from the heel as well so will try those at some point, just for the experience. What ones did you start?

Fingers crossed your jumper fits Flavia! You really do seem to be flying through it.

I'm looking at the mess that is my kitchen atm; I really have no go lately 🙄 . I'm going to try and fly through tidying it up and a couple of other bits then reward myself with an afternoon of crochet (assuming today's not the day dd2 wants to continue the various experiments we've been doing 🤞).

Omg @FlaviaAlbiaWantsLangClegBack that woman and her dogs jumpers! So cute 😭😂

Oh I see @lucysmam I've started another pair of the ones I attached up thread but in the alpaca wool, it's lovely to work with! Both sock patterns I've tried (DK & 4ply) have been from the toe up, but I am on the lookout for a different pattern that uses 4ply!

I think I saw one yesterday from the toe up but didn't really take much notice...I probably have enough to keep me going for now 🤣

@lucysmam I'd probably go down a hook size for socks because I like my socks tight. And in my experience they stretch. But I'd go up a size for anything else. 4.25mm must be a really odd hook size because the cheapest I can find one is about £6 and I'm not paying that for a hook I've only needed once in however many years !

@sophs29 these socks are worked cuff down and use 4-ply. I've made 2 pairs of them now and they are lovely.

Ooh thank you @CrochetBug they're pretty! I'll get the pattern later when I'm home and have a look ☺️

I think you're right @CrochetBug; I'm just looking at what I've done & it does look quite large. I had a quick look for a cheap 4.25mm hook on ebay and amazon last night but couldn't find anything much & as you say, £6 or so is a bit much for something that's not often called for. If I'd possibly needed one previously, I might have been persuaded but I haven't for the past year 🤷‍♀️

Hi everyone. I finished the minion. He looks a bit scary because I sewed his eyes on squint but my son wouldn't let me fix it. I'll get a chance at some point in the next couple weeks to fix it once I'm clear from the 2 assessments I have due in the next couple of weeks.

Waiting for my yarn to be dispatched. I need to look for an elephant pattern for my sons half brother.

Oh and how do you all store your yarn? Ive looked online but I'm not sure what's best.

Off to have a read and catch up!

@lucysmam that was my thinking. I don't think I've paid £6 for any of my hooks. And I use some of them constantly!

@cookiemonster5 he's adorable! Especially with his wonky eyes! I store my yarn in boxes from IKEA. One box per yarn weightplus an overflow box and random bags in the cupboard under the stairs.

@cookiemonster5 don't fix him, he's fab as he is! The wonky eyes make him unique!

My yarn's in 2 of the big-ish re-usable Poundland bags, and a Wool Warehouse organza bag, under my bed. It's sort of vaguely organised by what I have planned for it. There are odd balls down here too, that I'm using or will use soon ish. & a couple of things I want to frog chucked in.

I'm going to start the first sock again tonight, with the 4mm hook, I think. Dd2's already eyeing up the rainbow yarn 🙄🤣

Awww @cookiemonster5 I think his eyes really give him character!

And as for storage, most of my yarn is now in organza bags under my bed (I have an ottoman lift bed). I did used to have a bag by the coffee table until DP kept spilling his coffee on it 😤😂

He's very cute cookiemonster! Don't the minions spend a fair amount of time being squashed or bopped on the head or zapped or similar? You've added realism

My yoke fits me, woohoo! I was looking at it and doubting but it's sitting just about right. It is extremely festive when on I'm hoping the plain green will subdue it a bit!

cookiemonster that’s a good sign if your sign can’t wait to play with the minion to let you fix his eyes! It means he’s already well loved.

For storage, we had an under stairs cupboard built just as I started to crochet. It was meant to house the hoover… I managed to get my yarn in there first and the Hoover is still homeless I have an old IKEA wall cabinet that has no door, so some wool is stored in there and others in the organza bags from wool warehouse on a shelving unit. I have them stored by weight. I have small separate organza bags for cotton DK and cotton aran that I use for amigurumi. I also store my ends of balls from projects by weight. I do also have a separate bag for yarn of any weight that I will turn into twiddle mitts for the care Home we visit, these tend to be small scraps that have a particularly interesting texture or those colours I don’t like that much and can’t see myself using in a different scrap project. It sounds a bit like organised chaos but I’m aware of the different areas. However, DH isn’t allowed to take anything out of the cupboard or put anything away in the cupboard. I also have the ottoman which is where I keep my WIPs (when I have to tidy my crochet away because we have guests).

The jumper is looking great flavia!

I need to go through my cupboard in a minute and work out what projects I can take with me as I’m away for three days for work. It’ll be long, tiring days so I don’t want a really complicated pattern but I also don’t want something that I can do while watching TV (because my luck isn’t great with hotel TV working while away for work). So I need something relatively easy but also relatively interesting and ideally something that doesn’t make it look like I’m moving myself and yarn stash into the premier Inn!

Wow, that looks amazing Flavia! I'm so impressed. Festive is good; Christmas is my favourite time of year 🎄🎅

InTheNight you sound so organised...and also like you have an impressive yarn selection!

Do the beginnings of my cables look holey to any of you? I think I've managed to skip a stitch somewhere on the first row I'll frog & try again in daylight tomorrow.

Also, are slipstitches really necessary for socks?? I know they throw me out doing amigurumis; I'm wondering if that's why I'm having issues here maybe 🤔

Definitely the slipstitch throwing me. I count 54 (which is correct) without it, but 55 with it . I'll try without it tomorrow

The jumper is looking beautiful, Flavia!

I've finally finished the shawl apart from the tassels, which I'll do tomorrow.

Slipstitches always throw me. So I either use stitch markers in the 1st and last stitches. Or omit the slip stitches.

That jumper is amazing @FlaviaAlbiaWantsLangClegBack. I really need to practice my knitting some more!

Wow all your work is amazing!

I don't have that much space to store yarn as you guys do by the sound of it. I'll have to wait until a child moves out and I'll turn their room into a craft room lol.

I'm eager for my yarn to be dispatched! I ordered from lovecrafts on Thursday and it's still processing. I've seen a few of you talk about wool warehouse so I'll have to go have a look at them too.

lucysmam it takes up less space than I probably described but it’s just separated by bags if I can. I buy at WW just so I can get another organza bag to help with the organisation So one shelf has my basket (amigurumi eyes, ribbons, buttons, hook case if I ever put it away), my bag of 4ply (3 balls), my cotton DK, my cotton aran and my scrap bags. It is usually a case of whichever bag I want it usually at the bottom of the shelf though!

cookiemonster I’ve found love crafts can be a bit slow with the dispatch but they also send things in organza bags so that’s a plus I use a number of different sites to buy wool, it depends what brand I want, what colours I want and who has offers at the time.

lazy loving the shawl, I really like the colours. I’ve done probably 75% of the tassels on my shawl but the rest will have to wait until I’m back home as I can’t be taking that with me. I’ve got Friday afternoon off though so I’m hoping I can finish my shawl then.

I've got no sensible place for my yarn! At the moment it's in a corner of the living room, which dh says is making it look like a jumble sale . I've identified a space where I could put some kind of tall drawer or shelf unit, but we've just done the bathroom, so I don't really want to be spending money on furniture!

@FlaviaAlbiaWantsLangClegBack I say it everything time but wow 😲 that jumper is amazing! It almost looks like it's sparkling with all the colours against the white! Looks lovely and soft too! I showed my mum the other picture you put up thread and she said she was so jealous of your knitting abilities!

@lucysmam in the sock pattern I've been using, it states (on pretty much every row) not to count the slipstitches! So I wonder if yours is the same?

@lazylinguist that looks so good! The cotton really shows off the stitches! Im using cotton for DS's jacket and I love how it looks and feels!

Hi, I have a massive amount of tapestry wool and canvas to sell , and some complete and partially complete kits. Does anyone have advice on where to sell them? I'm not keen on eBay. I looked for FB groups but couldn't find any suitable ones for selling in the UK.

I'm a knitter who does a bit of sewing and crochet and don't really know much about the needlepoint word . Thanks!

Thanks I'm really pleased with it! It isn't too bad difficulty wise sophs, your DM is very kind the pattern is really easy to remember and follow from the last row, but I'm so glad I changed from the green contrast to the white, it makes it stand out so much more.

That is gorgeous lazy! I love the colours, especially that little burst of orange in the middle. The tassles are going to look so good on it, it's such a lovely shawl.

How are you doing @givemebooks? I hope you're all recovered and you got into your wool delivery!

I have no idea I'm afraid QueenOfTheNight, I would have assumed there'd be a Facebook group for buying and selling but if there's not, maybe look at Etsy or Folksy?

Morning guys, i tried posting 3 times yesterday!! Failed? Anyway I am still here family now recovered its been a heck of a week!

Wool arrived! So excited biggest ever delivery just over 30 balls! Started the doctor who C2C really enjoyed the stitch learned lots with this first panel, not perfect but like it! 8 more to go!!

Off now to catch up on the thread looks like some fantastic projects going on!!

It will not let me post pictures :( will try from my pc

Morning all. I love the jumper@FlaviaAlbiaWantsLangClegBack it looks almost sparkly with all the different colours.

Also loving your shawl @lazylinguist. Great colours and looks really cosy.

I have an ottoman I keep my yarn in. It's one in one out as it's always full so I try not to buy yarn until I have made something so it all fits. Sometimes it works!