Support thread for Mumof2TeenBoys' and Expat's Blankets

[tribpot]

Following on from the terrible news of the loss of Mumof2TeenBoys' ds, a new Woolly Hugs project has been started and, as ever, MNers have stepped up to offer whatever little comfort we can to Mumof and her family. We also keep close in our thoughts Aillidh, the dd of expatinscotland, who died yesterday.

We've put together some general info mostly about knitting but with some crochet bits thrown in, which should get you started but please feel free to ask for any help - I'm not sure if the crocheters are going to set up a new support thread but their current one is found here.

Please dive in - we will inevitably end up talking bollocks rubbish at some point but all are welcome aboard.

I missed that too
Am sorry to hear that, joyful.

Ivana - key thing to avoid adding stitches is to avoid splitting the wool, really. The only other way I can think of to add them by accident is to pick up the yarn between stitches and knit it, not realising it wasn't already a stitch.

So: go slowly, make sure the needle only gets inserted in a loop that's over the needle, and slide the needle, don't push it. If your knitting feels very tight, which I think often leads to split stitches as it's hard to get the needle in between said stitches, move to a bigger needle size and/or try and loosen up.

You can also count your stitches at the end of every row to make sure you still only have however many you started with - counting them in groups of five makes this a fairly quick process.

If you're not near a MNer and want some on-the-spot support, I can Skype if this will help.

I am loving the idea of Trib's Skype workshops

Quick question: Do I want to enter a crochet item in the hand knit class of the village show? (yes i have a thread about this in chat but it's getting pleasingly silly!)

Knotty - you know I am all about the technology I'm now trying to work out how you video your hands from the front rather than the back, if you see what I mean.

I feel tremendously excited that you don't think I've made a mistake trib cos you know more about knitting than I know about the topic my PhD is in - I shall attempt Pidj's suggestion to cheer it up this evening, otherwise it may just get sent as it is, and Expat and Giraffe can play guess what this is with their friends when they come over :)

Thank you! Wool arrived this morning, I shall spend my afternoon knitting. Yay!

I don't know if this has been asked or anything, but wrt the colours for each blanket, I know that they're usually blue/cream/green, but could a blog post on the woolyhugs site/fb or page there for current blankets with colour specs and special requests be made for those of us with shocking memory, who write it down and lose the pages and then can't find the colour/special requests on the threads on here, can double check when having moments halfway through a square

That's a good idea, confusedpixie - there's a page per blanket on Woolly Hugs so the info could be put there unless Knotty and Pistey feel that might be a bit too public for some of the requests for specific initials?

Trib of you have a laptop you could almost 'cuddle' the screen to show the reversed angle and maybe similar with a webcam I won't mention the knot you could get yourself into Failing that some use of mirrors but not to sure how that would work with reversing hand movements etc... Ow my head hurts I'm off for a and will let you work out the best way leave it to the experts

Finished my circle of love square photos here

Trib, the illusion section of Rav is my favourite bit just now. If there are going to be Skype conferences let me know.

Glaikit love it! And love the fact that your nail vanish matched the square!

Loving the illusion ones. Still like the pic of your wee man the best tho

All planned jules! Very uncouth for ones nail varnish to clash with ones knitting!

Minnie, would you like him? He is being a nightmare today!teething I think. I've banished him and dh for a walk in the hope he sleeps!

Oh and someone many threads ago suggested I download penultimate for my iPad. Genius! I can mark off my patterns and tke screen shots! No pencils and rubbers for me!

YY matching nail varnish and square, there is no other way.

My wool finally arrived (due to me dithering over what to order as I was trying to combine it with some stuff I needed for a personal project and save postage) and it's exactly the shade I was hoping it'd be :) I'm slightly synaesthetic and it's the shade I see when I think of Ailidh, so I'm pleased it matched the online picture well. Will try and get cracking on a square tonight!

Naoko Lovely, really looking forward to seeing your squares X

I think I've worked out what I did wrong with my 'granny' squares for previous blankets - I was doing the treble stitches into every single stitch, rather than a cluster of three into each of the big holes (I know there's a more technical word for the big holes, but I can't be arsed to find it . Doh!

Do you reckon I can patent the pattern for my first dodgy squares? :o Pics here. I forgot to take photos of the ones I've done for Mumof2's blanket before I gave them to Pistey, but I can assure you, although not perfect, they did look more like the ones in books! :)

Is it a worry that I've now bookmarked at least five different wool-selling websites?! :o

Daisy stitch square and semi arty shot of same.

Damn it! I've done half a square and just measured it. It's only 4.5 inches!

I didn't crack the crochet but have been busy today and lucky me helping on school trip tomorrow and another on Thursday 😃why do I end up helping with these things!! On a better note loving the cubics trib pot and done a Chinese wave square tonight I've finished my 2 very special squares knotty !! And also have done 5 others do using up what I can to make as many squares as poss hoping to post by the weekend night all I've ironing to finish yet :) x