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Original poster

Anyone around? would appreciate knitting help please

32 replies

Alambil · 15/12/2009 20:38

So, I'm knitting an ipod bag for my ds for christmas!

I'm using a lovely, soft turqouise cotton string (er, wool) not that it's very important but anyway...

I can't decide what sort of stitches to do...

I quite like the look of "moss stitch" but have only ever knitted a 2/6 inch rectangle so don't know if that's a bit too advanced!

I don't particularly want to do plain knit the whole way as I think it might be a bit boring, or is that not true?

anyway, what combination would you recommend?

OP posts:

JACKIEwrappingPAPER · 15/12/2009 20:41

stocking stitch (1 row knit, 1 row purl) or moss stitch, i love moss stitch, it's just knit1, purl1 etc etc

good luck, sounds like a fab present

KnitterInTheNW · 15/12/2009 20:42

Moss stitch would look lovely, and it isn't complicated but does take a little bit more time to do than knitting a row then purling a row. Do you know how to do moss stitch or would you like me to talk you through it?

Original poster

Alambil · 15/12/2009 20:46

I have seen a short video on knittinghelp.com ...

I've got an odd number of cast on stitches so that I just start with the knit stitch each time otherwise I know I'll confuse myself!

Do I just start straight from the cast on row or do I need to knit a row first?

OP posts:

KnitterInTheNW · 15/12/2009 20:51

Start from the cast on row. You'll need an even no of stitches to start each row with a knit stitch.

If you get confused about if you need to do a knit or purl stitch next, look at the stitch on the row underneath. If you have a little bobble underneath then you need to do a knit stitch over it. If you have a couple of flat 'v's underneath then you need to do a purl stitch over.

KnitterInTheNW · 15/12/2009 20:52

no no no you're right! Sorry! Odd no of stitches!!

almostreal · 15/12/2009 20:54

I would go stoking stitch so it's not to bulky and fits easily in his pocket.

Original poster

Alambil · 15/12/2009 21:01

ok, I've mastered seeing whether it's a purl or knit (I used the scarf/noose thing )

I will try and see how it goes... I can always start again! (got a big ball of wool lol)

OP posts:

KnitterInTheNW · 15/12/2009 21:03

If you get impatiant that the moss st is taking too long, you could have bands of moss st and stocking st?

Good luck and have fun!

winnybella · 15/12/2009 21:05

oh, you got me all confused now!
I'm making a scarf for DP and have an odd number of stitches-so one row I start with knit, one with purl, and then alternate between the two as I knit...what kind of stitch is that?

KnitterInTheNW · 15/12/2009 21:08

do you have a bobbly kind of fabric that you've knitted, or kind of vertical lines?

winnybella · 15/12/2009 21:12

vertical lines

KnitterInTheNW · 15/12/2009 21:54

That'll be ribbing then! Same as the cuffs on jumpers and cardis etc.

winnybella · 15/12/2009 22:02

oh,so maybe not so good for a scarf?
It looks quite nice and DP said he likes it.
Hmmm...don't want to do garter stitch. Any other stitch I could use?

KnitterInTheNW · 15/12/2009 22:11

It's perfect for a scarf, because the ribbing makes it kind of bunch up a bit, it'll make the scarf really cosy. Just looked at DS's scarf and that's ribbed.

winnybella · 15/12/2009 22:21

Great, thank you.
Still don't see the difference between stockinette and ribbing...
If you have an even number of stitches then, say, 4 s-k, p, k, p and on the way back k, p, k, p- so knit sits o top of purl
i have an odd number so k, p, k and then I do p, k, p, so purl sits on top of knit.
Is it that when you turn it around what was knit on the other side becomes purl, so in the end it's purl on top of purl?
Arrgh....how confusing.

littleomar · 15/12/2009 22:24

K1P1 rib looks like stockinette if you're using quite a heavy yarn (have done lovely kureyon scarf for brother for christmas whichi want to keep...)

littleomar · 15/12/2009 22:26

oh i see what you mean. er, yes, when you turn it round you purl on top of the stitches you knitted going the other way (if you actually knitted the knits and purled the purls you'd end up with....actually i don't know. some crazy mossrib thing. i think it's bedtime)

littleomar · 15/12/2009 22:26

so if your right side row was kpkpkpk, your wrong side row would be pkpkpkp

KnitterInTheNW · 15/12/2009 22:29

Yes, winnybella! Basically a purl stitch is the reverse of a knit stitch. So if you did a row of K, then turned it over and did a row of p, then turned it over and did a row of K again, you've done stocking stitch - all the flat knit stitches are on one side (because you've purled on the way back, to make knit sts on the front iyswim?) and all the bobbly purl sts are on the back for the same reason.

KnitterInTheNW · 15/12/2009 22:33

So... with your ribbing, on one side of the knitting you want all the flat stitches in columns on top of each other, and all the bobbly stitches the same, to make your vertical stripes. So whichever side you're knitting, if you have a 'v' under the st you're about to do it needs to be a knit st on top of it, if you have a bobble under it then you need to do a purl st. Does that make sense?

winnybella · 15/12/2009 22:35

Got it, thank you.
I think I was actually confused about rib versus moss stitch- in rib you knit the knit stitches ( which were purl n the other side) and in moss you knit the purl and purl the knit actual stitches in front of you.
How long would it take you to knit a scarf in rib? I find it quite slow...haven't knitted for ages, though...How many hours would you say?

KnitterInTheNW · 15/12/2009 22:41

It all depends on the size of your needles and yarn really. If you want a nice quick knit use chunky yarn and big needles, it'll take no time at all. There's something very satisfying about knitting with chunky too, because it grows so quickly. I'd also find it quicker to do k2 p2 or k3 p3 rib, rather than switching stitched every single stitch.

winnybella · 15/12/2009 22:46

No, I'm using size 5 needles, I think, and rather thin yarn- it's going to be rather long- enough to wrap it twice around the neck. I couldn't find soft thick wool and as have already started I guess I will continue with it.
I remember knitting with huge needles and it goes v.fast.
But here, small needles and alternating every stitch...I hope I will make it by Christmas!
Give me a rough estimate, please- just want to know if I'm being ridiculously slow or normal.

KnitterInTheNW · 15/12/2009 22:55

You'll find that you quicken up as you go along, your hands will start to automatically do the right movements and you won't need to concentrate quite as hard. I think it'd take me maybe a couple of weeks of hardcore knitting to make a v long scarf on smaller needles. How many stitches wide is it?

winnybella · 15/12/2009 23:00

Couple of weeks?! Haven't got 2 weeks!
57 stitches.

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