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It's Crochet, Knit & Natter 10: New Year, New Yarn, New Thread!

1000 replies

QuantumWeatherButterfly · 01/01/2023 19:56

Time for a new thread for all the lovely yarn crafters!

Old thread here: http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/artsandcrafts/4557189-its-crochet-knit-natter-9-so-many-projects-so-little-time-oh-well-i-almost-made-it-rhymee_

OP posts:
Thread gallery
274
AHobbyaweek · 16/01/2023 21:51

Hi all, joining in.
I have so many WIPs that I'm trying to concentrate on two to finish them to move into the next but have such lovely yarn to play with.
Also there is a yarn show near me in Feb I want to go to but feel guilty.
I have a £25 Etsy voucher to spend that I'm eyeing up.

AngeloMysterioso · 16/01/2023 22:01

AHobbyaweek · 16/01/2023 21:51

Hi all, joining in.
I have so many WIPs that I'm trying to concentrate on two to finish them to move into the next but have such lovely yarn to play with.
Also there is a yarn show near me in Feb I want to go to but feel guilty.
I have a £25 Etsy voucher to spend that I'm eyeing up.

There’s such a thing as yarn shows?! 🤯 tell me more!

MerylSqueak · 16/01/2023 22:06

That's very pretty @fidgetcube I'm looking forward to seeing your colours for your jewels blanket.

@Fairislefandango gis a look at your alpaca hat!

fidgetcube · 16/01/2023 22:10

MerylSqueak · 16/01/2023 22:06

That's very pretty @fidgetcube I'm looking forward to seeing your colours for your jewels blanket.

@Fairislefandango gis a look at your alpaca hat!

Thank you.

im gonna do the Eastern Jewels colourway I think. Will be at least 2-3 months before I start, if I start, who knows if I’ll finish lol. Commitment to projects isn’t a strong point of mine lol

fidgetcube · 16/01/2023 22:12

This is the 12 point star temperature blanket pattern

froggiegirl-stl.blogspot.com/search/label/temperature%20blanket

QuantumWeatherButterfly · 16/01/2023 22:20

Oh no! I swatched with the 7mm hook, and was still a stitch out, so I was all set to start tomorrow with the 8mm hook. Except now I have a horrible feeling that I had too few stitches not too many and I've already frogged it so I can't double check. Aaaaaargh!

On the bright side it was definitely looser and was much easier to frog, so the yarn clearly works better (for me) with a bigger hook.

And look how pretty it is!

It's Crochet, Knit & Natter 10: New Year, New Yarn, New Thread!
OP posts:
Fairislefandango · 16/01/2023 22:25

Here is the alpaca hat so far, with the faux fur bobble that will go on top.

It's Crochet, Knit & Natter 10: New Year, New Yarn, New Thread!
MerylSqueak · 17/01/2023 06:52

It is pretty @QuantumWeatherButterfly

That's looking great @Fairislefandango

Thank you for your small project tips everyone. I haven't picked up a needle this week though. Blooming work does get in the way.

SpinMeRightRoundBabyRightRound · 17/01/2023 09:39

Wow, I’ve so much to catch up on, beautiful projects on the thread now Smile

@GlowWine that lace scarf is absolutely stunning, it’s beautiful!

@Fairislefandango those are hilltop cloud aren’t they? I absolutely love Katie’s stuff, it’s so lovely to spin. I got one of her dyers half dozen packs on whitefaced woodland, I’m spinning it at the minute and I love it, so woolly and bouncy. I’m nearly though my fibre stash and I’m going to need more once I finish some John Arbon fibre but I’m going to get a fleece this time I think. Your hat is fantastic, it looks brilliant!

I love your rainbow baby blanket @fidgetcube, it’s gorgeous!

@GlowWine oh that is such a shame, it’s beautiful. Could it have been Rowan tweed maybe? I got moth sachets from Lakeland that actually smell nice, not their own brand, an Italian one I think. I’ve had carpet beetles rather than moths and I think I’ve nuked them all now but I’m not taking any risks of them getting into my wardrobe!

It's Crochet, Knit & Natter 10: New Year, New Yarn, New Thread!
QuantumWeatherButterfly · 17/01/2023 10:22

That hat looks so lovely, @Fairislefandango!

I've convinced myself I was over the stitch count - I'm starting with the 8mm later, and hang the consequences!

That yarn is gorgrous, @SpinMeRightRoundBabyRightRound

OP posts:
CrochetBug · 17/01/2023 12:05

Here's my mum's temperature blanket. The border across the short ends is just all the colours she used in order.
The long sides are the colours in order, but the number of stitches in that colour match how many days there were in that colour. So there were 4 'white' days so there are 4 white stitches on the border. I'd never have thought of that!

It's Crochet, Knit & Natter 10: New Year, New Yarn, New Thread!
It's Crochet, Knit & Natter 10: New Year, New Yarn, New Thread!
GlowWine · 17/01/2023 12:23

Thank you @SpinMeRightRoundBabyRightRound the beauty of the scarf is all in the wool - that's why I could not leave it lying sad and unused.

The Aran wool - I really don't know, bought in 1999 or even the year before in a local independent wool shop (looong gone). It's got 3D coloured random flecks so I hope the knots will not show too much, as I have decided that I will use the shorter ~1.5m lengths of my wool regardless and just knot them together. I've finished the dismantling, it's so tightly curled I might need to stretch it twice, I have only done this once before on lightweight wool, but I invested in a 1 yard Niddy Noddy recently . Anyway below a pic of the resulting yarn collection in its current state, I'll keep you updated with progress. I'll have to do some careful measuring to figure out how much I have before I can start looking at patterns. It was a long line jumper so I'm quite hopeful I can get something substantial made again.

Regarding the moths - yes unfortunately we live in an oldish house with wool carpets and despite regular surveillance and treatment there are always some that slip the net. The jumper and the scarf had not been used/touched for a couple of years (in a drawer with sachets) and were unlucky. And you should have seem the cashmere gloves that I thought I had lost but which had slipped behind some furniture 😢

So now I'm looking for the next smallish project to make a dent in my collection of sock wool. I suppose I could make another pair of socks - I do wear them all the time.

@AngeloMysterioso Wow the cupboard of my dreams! I have lidded plastic boxes spread around the house... But you have reminded me we have an underused cupboard (for DH's 'random' stuff that just gets thrown in there), maybe I can acquire that!

It's Crochet, Knit & Natter 10: New Year, New Yarn, New Thread!
SpinMeRightRoundBabyRightRound · 17/01/2023 12:50

@GlowWine As disgusting as it sounds, spit felting might be a better option than knotting, though for that amount I’d replace spit with tap water Grin If it was me, I’d skein them on the niddy noddy and soak them then leave them to hang to dry to get some of the kinks out instead of stretching them.

It’s just started snowing here and I had 7 skeins of wool in the bath soaking. I have to go outside to the laundry room to spin them. This will be fun Grin

GlowWine · 17/01/2023 12:53

@SpinMeRightRoundBabyRightRound ah yes soak and hang was my plan - obviously using the wrong terminology here! Clearly NOT "stretching" then.
How labour intensive is the felting - off to google I think...

SpinMeRightRoundBabyRightRound · 17/01/2023 13:07

Oh sorry! I’ve seen people literally hang weights on their skeins which always makes me wince a bit for the wool!

You soak both ends though spit or water and then rub them between your hands until they’re warm and felted. It’s probably as quick as knotting as you do it when you come to an end!

mousehousehiest · 17/01/2023 14:18

oh I want to join. I made my son a really tricky and long fair isle scarf for Christmas and he has lost it already 😞

WeCanLiveLikeJackAndSally · 17/01/2023 20:13

@12roundsofwhitelowfatspread DH got me a yarn subscription from Toft for Christmas which comes with a pattern, my current pattern is for a porcupine. I’ve not started making it yet as I’ve lost the pattern and need to get it from online. It comes in a Hank and this is why DH is insisting I need a swift and wonder because I had to use his arms and a toilet roll insert.

@QuantumWeatherButterfly it could be the prym hook. I got a set for Christmas too and I tried doing something with the 6mm prym hook and it worked up bigger than the 6mm cheap Amazon hook.

@SpinMeRightRoundBabyRightRound what you’re describing sounds like something you’d watch in taskmaster when the task is ‘do the most absurd thing with this jumper’ Grin

Ladywithacat · 17/01/2023 20:21

Hello ladies! I am joining in with the knitting 🤩 I am starting this year with new project. Decided to make my husband this jumper. Placed an order today for yarn by Katia, havent tried this brand before so looking forward to it 😍

It's Crochet, Knit & Natter 10: New Year, New Yarn, New Thread!
QuantumWeatherButterfly · 17/01/2023 20:40

Welcome, @Ladywithacat - your username describes me well too!

Yes, they do feel especially chunky, @WeCanLiveLikeJackAndSally. I went for it with the 8mm tonight and told myself if the length of the finished foundation row was anywhere near, I would live with it. But it wasn’t, it was 20cm too long (yes, really!). So I frogged it and I’ll try again with the 7mm tomorrow (no more time today, due to meetings with colleagues in different time zones.

But the good news is it frogged beautifully this time, so no harm done. I think the Prym hooks work better with the yarn, and I’m finding them nice to use. I miss having a thumb rest, but if I continue to enjoy them, I might buy some smaller ones too.

We talk a lot about yarn stashes, but does anyone have a big collection of hooks or needles that you want to show off? I would love to see!

OP posts:
WeCanLiveLikeJackAndSally · 17/01/2023 21:18

I have a massive pencil case with loads of hooks in (and yarn for stitch markers/lifelines, yarn cutters, tape measure, stray ribbon that hasn’t made it to the ribbon and button box, pens, pom pom makers). I have quite a few nice hooks. DH bought me a knit pro set similar to this when I had DD. I have some Tunisian crochet hooks that are the same (although I can’t find the Tunisian crochet hook that means I could finish my Tunisian projects). I got a set of prym hooks for Christmas. But I love my cheap Amazon basics. I have so many hooks because I temporarily lose hooks as I take projects with me wherever I go and I can’t be bothered to find wait until they appear again so I order more from Amazon! Probably not the most sustainable though. I love looking at lovely crochet hooks and I have so many favourited on Etsy but honestly I feel they are just wasted on me.

My pencil case doesn’t have any needles or stitch markers, although there is room for them. I used to store my needles and stitch markers in the little plastic box the stitch markers came in but DD can open that pretty easily. She can also get into my pencil case but she just likes holding the hooks. So I have a little bag for stitch markers and needles that she can’t get into it.

Ladywithacat · 17/01/2023 21:28

QuantumWeatherButterfly · 17/01/2023 20:40

Welcome, @Ladywithacat - your username describes me well too!

Yes, they do feel especially chunky, @WeCanLiveLikeJackAndSally. I went for it with the 8mm tonight and told myself if the length of the finished foundation row was anywhere near, I would live with it. But it wasn’t, it was 20cm too long (yes, really!). So I frogged it and I’ll try again with the 7mm tomorrow (no more time today, due to meetings with colleagues in different time zones.

But the good news is it frogged beautifully this time, so no harm done. I think the Prym hooks work better with the yarn, and I’m finding them nice to use. I miss having a thumb rest, but if I continue to enjoy them, I might buy some smaller ones too.

We talk a lot about yarn stashes, but does anyone have a big collection of hooks or needles that you want to show off? I would love to see!

I have a lovely collection of knitting needles that I can show and talk about. Regarding crochet hooks I only have one set which seems to work for everything I need.

books and knitting needle collection seems to have turned in to a separate hobby for me

SpinMeRightRoundBabyRightRound · 17/01/2023 21:54

Oh no @mousehousehiest! How gutting! I’m assuming no knits for him any time soon unless you make him those mittens with a string to go down the arms of a coat Wink

It does a bit @WeCanLiveLikeJackAndSally Grin

sophs29 · 17/01/2023 22:22

Wow! So many lovely things on this thread I can't keep up!!
I'm making my friends DC a dragon toy for his 2nd birthday soon and his fav colour is orange, so in my excitement I accidentally ordered chunky instead of the DK I needed, I don't mind too much as it will just come out bigger which isn't a bad thing, the original pattern uses DK and a 2.5 hook, I don't know whether to just use the hook suggested on my yarn when it comes or try a different hook size altogether! It's not a complicated pattern so I guess I can just frog it and retry!

Ladywithacat · 17/01/2023 22:37

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Ladywithacat · 17/01/2023 22:37

Here is my knitting needle collection. I will describe them all in order I will add pictures.

When I started knitting at first I have used knitpro nova I believe. They were just something I come across in woolwarehouse when I ordered my yarn from them. When I understood that I love knitting so much and started to watch youtube knitting podcast I come across Chiaogoo needles and really wanted full set as a Christmas/Birthday gift that I asked all my friends and husband to get me. This was my most loved and used set and up to this day I can say they are one of my go to needles that I just know I wont go wrong in choosing.
This is 5” needle full set by Chiaogoo.

Then few years later I had some voucher from work and decided to gift myself Chiaogoo DPNS. Up to this day they are the only ones that I have. They are lovely for socks or I usually use them if I knit cables.

This is 6” double point needle set by Chiaogoo.

These were my two sets I had for quite some time and they suited all knitting needs that I have. However me being me I wanted to try out some wooden needles. I love colour pink, so of course the colour was deal breaker in this case. They were lovely gift from my dear husband when we purchased our first house.
I was fascinated by their colour and they come in a lovely set. This I believe only comes in full set and dont have option to buy small or large set. I have picked them up to knit this years mystery shawl by Stephen West.
As I started knitting with them about a week in I noticed that the metal part sort of oxidised and got all scratched up and darker. Which already made me slightly upset as I have knitted with my chiaogoo for few years and they have not changed their appearance at all. Also knowing their price I was expecting slightly more. When I had finished my shawl and was putting needles back in their case I have also realised the colour had changed as well and turned much darker. Maybe this is to do with the wood they are made out of or the dye used when making them Im not too sure. Still haven’t come across someone that has then and could tell me if something similar had happened to them. Their cables are quite sturdy and thick, they do have a memory but they are not the worse out there. Definitely much much better then knitpro purple cables. Overall lovely colour and they make me happy whenever I look at them. However these wouldn’t be my first choice if I was buying knitting needles.
This is Lykke Blush set in 5” tips with Fuchsia Denim effect case.

My mum is obsessed with everything to do with Japan. When I told her about Japanese knitting needles I found she insisted on getting them for me. This is how Seeknit knitting needles made their way to my life.

From the very first touch I could tell the difference between them and lykke as they were the only other wooden needle I have tried (I had knitted with knitpro wooden needle once before but they didnt left much memory for me). These are very very smooth and light knitting needles. They are lovely made and have twistable cable (if this even make sense. I mean that knitting needle tips keep twisting around the cable).
They are very well joined and yarn doesnt catch on the join part at all when you knit with them. Lovely case as well. They also had 2.5 tips in the case which was quite surprising to see as most sets dont have this number and also looking at the fact they weren’t metal it was very lovely to come across. I have tried knitting socks with them and they were a pleasure. These are made out of bamboo and you can choose from two types of bamboos. Very thin cable which is clear. However they do have memory, so there is definitely something they could improve on. The set also comes with 3 different sizes for joints when it comes to cables having two cables for each size. I want to purchase longer cables for smaller needles as the cables are quite short and sometimes not as comfortable when I knit in loop method. If you prefer wooden needles for your knitting these are a great choice in my opinion.

This is Seeknit Shirotake all time favourite luxury set, case in Cherryblossom print

Next set I have received from my Godmother as a Birthday gift this year and I was very impressed with how pointy the tips were. Not as chiaogoo but not far from it. The only problem with these ones is that I have got 4” tips. I am used to knitting with 5” and this tiny difference feels really weird when I knit. It gives strange pain to my right hand. Maybe I will get used to it as I try knitting more using these needles. This is small set I believe. My set came with just two cables. Therefore I have ordered two longer cables and will give them a try again with one of my projects this year. Their cables really impressed me. Very similar to chiaogoo but slightly thinner. I would say these are maybe even nicer cables than chiaogoo ones and this is a very big compliment for knit pro. They are definable going in the right direction.
Overall case and the whole collection feels very natural and calm. It also has seperate bag with a zip to keep cables and other small bits.
This is KnitPro the mindful collection, the kindness set in 10cm tips.

It's Crochet, Knit & Natter 10: New Year, New Yarn, New Thread!
It's Crochet, Knit & Natter 10: New Year, New Yarn, New Thread!
It's Crochet, Knit & Natter 10: New Year, New Yarn, New Thread!
It's Crochet, Knit & Natter 10: New Year, New Yarn, New Thread!
It's Crochet, Knit & Natter 10: New Year, New Yarn, New Thread!
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