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Original poster

Knit a cardi before our babies arrive!

73 replies

MrsMcJnr · 30/10/2006 09:33

Ready4motherhood, Minshu and Firststar - this is for you . Technically I guess this thread should be in Arts ans Crafts but as the knitting is supposed to be to get us through the 2WW, I think it can go here, don't you?

OK so, where do I get needles and does anyone have an easy cardi pattern? should we do the same one? that could be fun!

Ready - I'll dig the book out tonight and post daily tips!!

OP posts:
FemaleoftheSpecies · 30/10/2006 09:35

peter jones sloane sq used to do knitting lessons (i think)

:-)

FemaleoftheSpecies · 30/10/2006 09:38

knitting info

Original poster
MrsMcJnr · 30/10/2006 09:56

Thanks Female. That was interesting. I live in Scotland though so no Peter Jones' near me but I'll check out any info on John Lewis. Sure that would be a good place to buy knitting needles actually!

OP posts:
sideways · 30/10/2006 10:03

I can't believe yo are really doing this . Are you only going to do it for the 2ww each month? What happens when you get a bfp (hopefully very soon for all of us ) - will baby only have half a cardi to wear?

Great idea though - would join you but it's about 20 years since I last knitted anything!

ready4motherhood · 30/10/2006 14:06

Ooooh MrsMcJnr I almost missed this thread!! I am looking forward to the knitting tip of the day. I am sure it's ok for it to be on the conception thread, like you say, it's a method of keeping us calm during the 2ww.

I haven't been out to get my knitting needles and wool yet... hobbycraft here I come. What is the name of your book? They sell lots of books there, I will have a look for one to get me started.

Thanks for the link FemaleOTS, I live in Manchester so a bit of a trek to Sloane Square!!

Sideways, if I get my BFP then I will go into knitting overdrive!! That's if I am any good??

Babydust xx

Pidge · 30/10/2006 14:21

Good luck ladies! And can I recommend to you this pattern , click collection and enter 3129 in the product code. I have minimal knitting skills, but have now done 4 of the round necked cardigan for my own baby and several others. It is mostly stocking stitch, with moss stitch borders, it is easy, peasy so you can watch telly whilst knitting or chat to your friends. Perfect for lowering the blood pressure and calming the nerves! And it looks pretty too, even though it is so simple.

Original poster
MrsMcJnr · 30/10/2006 14:39

Oh Pidge - how cute are those! and there is a stockist in my village would you believe! Maybe I'll do a trial one for my BF who is due in April! .

Sideways - why not?! I think I'd better treat it as a TTC project rather than a 2WW one! It's about 20 years since I last knitted too and I don't remember being very good either

Ready4motherhood - I haven't got any needles or wool yet but I'll pop into the wool shop in my village at the weekend and see what I can find.

OP posts:
NotQuiteCockney · 30/10/2006 14:41

Hats are much easier to make than cardis, I make tons of them.

If you need to learn to knit, this site is very good.

Pidge · 30/10/2006 14:57

NQC is quite right. Hats are great. And so quick to do too. And soooooo cute.

Though I did mange to make the cardy having not knitted anything since I made a hash of a jumper at age 12!! I would say - for a baby - avoid the one with the collar, as it will get in the way of their mouth and get all chewed up.

desperate2bmum · 30/10/2006 15:19

this thread is going to be sooo funny!!!

i shall be out on friday (day off) like ready4motherhood says to hobbycraft stocking up on needles and wool!
and will have to pay a visit to my nan to see if she can re-teach me some of the basics!
so we are all going for cardis then?!

Original poster
MrsMcJnr · 30/10/2006 15:23

Maybe we could share a pattern? don't know how much they cost. My little sister (9 years younger) had a canary yello cardi hand knitted by my Granny. She had tons of dark hair and massive brown eyes and looked so cute - I've been hooked on babies in hand knitted things since.

OP posts:
ready4motherhood · 30/10/2006 15:30

Is it ok to start with a hat and some socks first?? I feel like a cardi will defeat me if I try that first!!

coggy · 30/10/2006 19:47

LOL at you lot!!!!!!

A bit really!!!!!

giraffeski · 30/10/2006 19:51

Message withdrawn

pigletlib · 31/10/2006 08:40

I think it might be easier to start with a jumper so you only have 2 button holes to make instead of lots - or better yet one with an envelope opening at the top so you don't need buttons at all. started a jumper for my nephew (now 21 months), then it was going to be for my friends baby (now 11 months), but now we are ttc, so you never know - could end up being for my own one.

pigletlib · 31/10/2006 08:42

also - sorry am new to this - have worked out most of the letters, but not BFP - could someone please tell me what that is?

FemaleoftheSpecies · 31/10/2006 08:46

big fat positive :-)

Original poster
MrsMcJnr · 31/10/2006 11:37

pigletlib! you may well be right! Ready - I'll try and find a pattern for socks and a hat, that will break me in gently too!

OP posts:
Kyte · 31/10/2006 11:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ready4motherhood · 31/10/2006 11:47

When I get my wool and needles (geek) I will see if they have any patterns for hats and boots too... anything to take my mind off not ovulating (drama)

Kyte, is crochet easy?? If so, will save that as the "fall back plan" if the needles get thrown across the room in tantrum!!

Kyte · 31/10/2006 12:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

firststar · 31/10/2006 12:44

Message withdrawn

Original poster
MrsMcJnr · 31/10/2006 14:19

Ok - lunchtime reading was my knitting book! It's called "The Knitting Directory" by Alison Jenkins and one of her first tips is not to buy any needles until you know what you need for the pattern (makes sense).

She recommends that you also have the following equipment: small scissors, cable needle, tape measure, ruler, pins, bodkin, stitch holder, row counter and needle gauge.

Her second tip is to always knit a gauge/tension sample or swatch before you start a new project t as this will ensure that the tension of your knitting is correct or it can affect the finished item. The gauge should be at least 12.5 cm square (much bigger than a sock ). I guess you don't need to do this for socks or a hat!!

OP posts:
pigletlib · 31/10/2006 19:55

you can practice by knitting everyone scarves for christmas - much simpler - you only really have to know how to cast on and then off again at the other end. lots of tension practice before tackling the trickier hats and jumpers.

Minshu · 31/10/2006 20:24

Only just saw this thread after it was mentioned on November!! Another great idea, MrsMcJnr!

I can knit and crochet, but quite badly and slowly - nothing fancy. Agree with Kyte that crochet is easier to pick up and no worries about dropping stitches, etc, but the speed of it depends very much on the stitches in the pattern, for me.

And definitely recommend starting with scarves - that way you can get the hang of the basics of tension, etc.

I did quite enjoy crocheting the spider webs for halloween... I was half way through a baby jumper when I broke my thumb last year, and never got round to finishing it after being freed from the plastic splint, so perhaps I should... It is winter now, after all.