Support thread 2 - new blankets

[tribpot]

This is a continuation of our thread supporting MNers creating blanket squares for Woolly Hugs. All are welcome and I'm hoping to post a link soon to a collection of our fave patterns, pics and links to keep them all in one place. In the meantime, this new thread will allow phone-based MNers like RedRosie to return from Special Phone Exile where she goes whenever the thread has too many messages on.

This is a thread of peace where knitters and crocheters, donors and crafters are all equally welcome.

According to my mum I have invented my own way of knitting. Perhaps this is why she tried and failedto teach me to knit when I younger. I sit my right needle on the top of my thighso it's standing upright then work around it.

I have just watched the sun dip behind the hills with and knitting. What a life! I'm quite merry acshully. Pistey you'll be able to tell which square I've been knitting tonight when you get them!!

I knit like this:

Hope that works - like the lady says, it's not very elegant. My mum LAUGHS at it. Meanwhile DD has a style that seems to involve removing the stitch from the needle and doing something twiddly to it. It IS knitting though, I've examined the resulting stitches! Trouble is, I can't teach her to purl because her knitting is so bizarre. It's possible MiL actually taught her this, and will be able to teach her to purl, but I do fear she may have invented it herself.

Meanwhile, just back from PTA event at the lido - think last year's made about £40, this year must have made £squillions ...

V v similar Trib but with the fingers slightly different - yarn on the middle finger rather than index, but otherwise, yes, that's it!

My nan did used to live in Scotland so maybe it's a Celtic cross-over

My mum middle fingers her wool. She is Scottish. You. iChat be on to something there.

I knit like you DontCallMeBaby, accept I take the wool the other way - through rather than round, as it were.

Morning

Morning

You know if I don't actually get on with my squares I am going to be the one who misses the deadline But at least I'd never have to own up to it

Right - I have done my i-cord bind off and my i cord, as well as picking up my slip stitches and starting the second panel. Huzzah.

Me too Pitsey.

I rashly promised to have two done by the end of this weekend.

But (whines) its all SUNSHINEY!

Notpodd - go you! Told you you could manage it, excellent work!

And Barbara? See that, no crochet hooks - on with yer bag young lady!

I started having a bash at one of these fancy pants knitting methods as I thought continental looked much easier for two colour knitting. Fortunately for my local yarn shop, who are putting on a continental knitting course later in the summer, I was utterly baffled by the whole thing on YouTube. I can see the general principle but I can't let go of the yarn in my right hand, which doesn't help, and then trying to get my left hand to do all kinds of contortions is proving tricky.

I knew I'd get picked up on that . My book has photos of a crochet hook and this old dog has had to learn a lot of new tricks already!

Reckon I'll finish up the bee stitch square and maybe one more then back to the bag! The non-icord bits are soooo boring though . Do I pick up on the slipped stitch or one in as Trib says up there ^?

I picked up my slip stitches, it was really easy and seems to have worked.

Yup, if you've slipped a stitch you can pick that up - the marvellous Emma advocates knitting the first and last stitch on stockinette so here either is fine.

Hooray! Squares FINALLY posted and should be with you some time next week Pistey. And they fitted in 'large letter' so not too expensive either

Pic of first square now on my profile :o

That's reet purdy Pidj.

Is that a 'top hooker' trophy on your pics?

It is, a very lovely surprise sent to me "anonymously"

Argggghhhh.

My double moss-stitch square, half done, fell off my slippery needles.

In trying to get the stitches back on, there was a disaster.

It's a write off. I've ripped it all off.

Am doing stocking stitch.

Can someone sew something onto it so it looks more interesting?

Yes, there will be motifs.

Plain squares are good. Plain squares are essential!

I'm so CROSS with myself!

If I had asked for advice on here, it probably could have been fixed. But because it was double-moss stitch it was so complicated to get back on properly ... and I kind of, errr, lost it.

And I'm sorry DH for being grumpy.

And to my donor for messing up!

For future reference, I find that if I have to rip back rows of knitting when I lose the plot it helps if, once I've put the knitting back on the needles, if I knit back one row. Can't remember what the "official" name for it is, but essentially you are knitting backwards or "un"knitting. That way you can check that all the stitch are on "straight" and not twisted.

Thanks Pretty. It was such a mess! Partly I think, because of the stitch pattern I chose ... It meant I had no idea where I really was, stitches were on backwards, I had the wrong number AND I didn't know which row in a four-row pattern I was actually in.

Am rubbish at knitting.

Have started again with stocking stitch.

The only good news is that my other square (Basil the sheep) is almost done. I have followed Trib's instructions ... so while it is not very accomplished, it is at least nearly done.

Gawjus Pidj! Although in honour of William 'The Shat' Shatner being in the UK at the moment, wouldn't you rather be 'T J Hooker' than 'top hooker'?

Rosie - argghhh. What colour are you knitting in, can I do some knitted hearts to go with?

Hey Trib. I'm less cross now, more remorseful that I didn't ask advice before ripping ...

Its a lovely colour - a soft, dusky pink.