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.

Bobkate, try looking for a basketweave pattern?

bobkate - you need to create checks of stocking stitch and then reverse stocking stitch - I will go and have a look for an actual pattern at the mo but basically:

1 - k5, p5, k5, p5, k5
2 - p5, k5, p5, k5, p5
3 - k5, p5, k5, p5, k5
4 - p5, k5, p5, k5, p5
5 - k5, p5, k5, p5, k5
6 - p5, k5, p5, k5, p5
7 - k5, p5, k5, p5, k5
8 - p5, k5, p5, k5, p5

THEN

9 - p5, k5, p5, k5, p5
10 - k5, p5, k5, p5, k5
11 - p5, k5, p5, k5, p5
12 - k5, p5, k5, p5, k5
13 - p5, k5, p5, k5, p5
14 - k5, p5, k5, p5, k5
15 - p5, k5, p5, k5, p5
16 - k5, p5, k5, p5, k5

then swap back again to row 1.

Bobkate - Trib (hi Trib!) is right there, as ever. That may come out not wide enough as written, so you may need a couple more repetitions? Or, PM me and I'll tell you exactly what worked for me. I'm unavailable mostly today but will reply in the early evening.

Basketweave is slighty different from little check in effect - still nice but not as "sharp".

Yes, you're right Rosie, instead of 5 lots of 5 stitches I would do 6 or 7 (so 30 or 35 stitches in total).

I was going to come on and clarify the check knitting instructions last night, only my iPod died and needed recharging so I decided that that was a good time to go to bed!

I like this Granny square with a heart.

I suffer from random bouts of lack of common sense with knitting and crochet. Yesterday I misread a pattern and tried to make a hexagon with five corners.

I lead fibre workshops for a living

Right, as I have taken the rest of my life four days off work, I am going to write up the patterns that had been requested.

First was Rosie wanting a written version of the moon and star chart (this would be a nice intarsia one for anyone who fancied a lesson in 'teeth intarsia' from Minnie!) and Shredded did want a written version of Team Heart but I think has got on okay with the chart after all. Does anyone still want a written version of Team Heart?

Trib, if you need distracting, i need a pattern to go with the Bear Square. I've done two bears (in dc using chunky wool) and would like two of something else to make a pram blanket.

30 sts x 36 rows, pic of one complete square on profile :o

Only if you need a distraction to really get your teeth into, though, i don't mind if it's too much of an ask

Trib - I'm good on the team square now, but thanks for offering .

I made this sun last night, although I'm a bit worried it looks a bit like a crab from certain angles . I also had a crack at this moon and star, but it looked awful and I pulled it all out

Ha! I see that trib has linked to the same moon and star. Ignore me!

Hello! My doner wool arrived today! Yippee, after the problems we had last time, I am very grateful to my doner.

Now I just need to decide what to knit. I think the magic squares might be my "thing" so I'm off to ravelry for a gander.

trib I don't know if this is what you do, but ravelry are recruiting a web developer. There's a link at the bottom of the page. It mentions Boston, but it's not that far from Leeds!!

Glaikit - that's Boston, Massachusetts

Yeah! But it's remote apart from the odd coffee! Boston is only a 6 hour flight!!

When a patter says ka knit across is it just plain knitting?

Yeah, just knit across I think ... voila.

Just managed to bag a job in Brisbane, but I have to have a medical degree. Have offered to buy one from my old uni in Mexico: problem solved.

Hello! I've signed up to knit for Expat's blanket, my first time as part of a blanket project... Haven't got any questions (yet) as so far I'm struggling to get hold of yarn (thought I'd give the newly opened yarn store in town a chance but they don't actually seem to want to sell any; they were closed when I walked past on Friday and had a 'closed next Mon' sign on the door, and when I turned up at 3.15 yesterday they had a 'closing at 3 this Tue and Wed' sign.) but I'm a fairly new knitter so I'm sure I'll get myself in a stitch related tangle before too long. Thought I'd best introduce myself before I need help :o

Welcome Naoko! Whereabouts in the country are you? I tend to buy mine online now as standard - my fave shop is McA for the Rowan and we completely heart Black Sheep Wool although they don't seem to have a lot of our stuff in at the moment. Deramores has the Sublime on special offer at the moment.

Let us know if you need any help - if you want to get started with a practice run, any old double knitting will do to get you going!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/1514861-Blanket-Meet-ups-Sign-in-here

Maybe someone nearby can boost your confidence, Naoko?

Thanks :) I'll be ordering online now yes, I try and give local businesses a chance but if they don't actually open, then not much else I can do.

Pidj- I'm in North Wales, I looked at the thread and I'm not sure a meet up is happening for lack of local knitters, but I'll keep an eye on it!

Have just ordered my navy Debbie Bliss from Cucumber Patch so should be able to get the squares off to you before we go away in a couple of weeks' time.

Ooh thanks for that McA link tribpot, they have loads of the Sublime as well as the Rowan and I love the colours :) Just picking some now.... I know it says pinks are fine, is that all pinks, bright hot pink as well as paler ones?

That's a Knotty question really Naoko, but I think it's mainly trad pinks rather than hot pinks. In the Rowan I like Sweet, in the Sublime Delicious, in the Debbie Bliss I like Rose Pink. But these are not official endorsements Knotty and Pistey have the final say!

I know what you mean about giving local businesses a chance - a local yarn shop which doesn't open isn't going to fare well, although there's one not too far from me which basically just opens up when a customer swings by!

For Aillidh I would suggest that the pinker the better iyswim!

So you think hot pink will be fine with the other colours, Pidj?

The pinks and purples go beautifully. It's the oranges and yellows that clash.

Buy the colours and make the patterns that represent your condolences