The Knitters Thread

bellaquidsin · 28 February 2008 at 11:41AM

hev - I'm nearly cured of my magazine addiction, not completely but nearly.

It is so infuriating when the mags are in a plastic bag and you can't thumb through and see what is what. I only buy them now if the freebie (you know that thing that is costed into the price of the mag) on the front really appeals. I guess it's the child in me that likes to have a new toy.

Can't help with the Wendy Narvick I'm afraid but I do know from my days of working in a wool shop that those 'fashion' yarns as they are called are usually very specific and not really interchangeable with anything else. You could try asking in a wool shop as they should have charts which can work these things out.

Bella.

hev_2 · 28 February 2008 at 11:57AM

Thanks, Bella, but I think I will just give it a miss. The pattern has it knitted on 9mm needles and the 8mm needles I am currently using feel like telegraph poles. I will have a shock when I get back to straight double knitting. The pattern isn't that great, I was just curious.

I suppose I have a background of knitting saving money or being an inexpensive way to add to your wardrobe, then I see a pattern in a magazine using something like the Colinette absolutely drop dead gorgeous yarns which I would love to do - and it would cost over £70 for the yarn :eek::eek::eek::eek:

What if you make a mistake? Or it gets shoved to the back of the sofa with all the unfinished stuff and the cat is sick on it? I used some comparatively expensive Denim Aran for a sweater for my uncle and it dropped to double the size the first time he washed it. All the stuff I've done with cheapo acrylic has lasted fine.

Sigh, back to reality.

mioliere · 28 February 2008 at 12:08PM

Hi everyone. I get really cross with the way they put magazines in plastic bags; we keep being told not to use the plastic carrier bags but you have no choice with magazines - even some of the mail, junk mail especially, is delivered in clear plastic bags. I keep them all tied up in an elastic band - they're useful for all sorts of things. I put knitting patterns that I've downloaded into them to protect them, I've even used them as sandwich bags in emergencies, so at least they're being recycled. Anyway, I've wandered off from the point! A very good magazine is a new one called 'Let's Knit'. I missed the first one in January; my Mum discovered it and wanted me to buy it so she even sent me the £5 to buy it! We don't live close to each other so can't share. I thought it was pricey but it is very good. I bought February's and should have had the March issue put by but didn't, so I missed it. I shall definitely get the next one put by. I haven't bought a knitting mag for ages because they just seemed to be full of advertising but 'Let's Knit' so far has lots of patterns, ideas and tips so I shall keep buying it for now!

Have a look on here http://www.yarndex.com/ for the Wendy Narvick. It describes it as 'bulky'. This site has a yarn search facility which I've just had a good wander round and will be great for finding the right wool for the right pattern. I shall put in on my faves!

Seakay · 28 February 2008 at 12:15PM

If you change your mind, I think that you could get to 9mm thicknes by knitting a chunky and a 4ply together, or maybe 2 arans. It depends on the content of the yarn - generally, the higher percentage of wool in a plain yarn the thicker the yarn knits ie 100% wool more likely to be chunky + 4ply whereas 100% acrylic in a plain yarn more likely to be chunky+ DK or arran.
It really is a question of doing the boring tension square, but it is always possible to substitut the yarn in a pattern as long as you are prepared to work around the problem a little.
As a rough guide you can think of it like a sort of a sum
4ply = 4
DK = 8
arran = 12
chunky = 16

I knit 4ply on 3-3.5mm needles, Dk on 4mm and chunky on 5-6mm needles.

Depending on whether I know the yarn thickness or the needle size in a pattern, I can play around to make yarns that I already have suitable by mixing them together.

So, if you know that the yarn is chunky but you don't have any then you could try using 2 DKs or an arran and a 4 ply or 4 4plys from your stash.

Or, as you know that the needle is 9mm, that is 6 + 3 ie chunky + 4 ply.

As I said, you still need to do a tension square as this method just gives you a rough guide.

hev_2 · 28 February 2008 at 1:03PM

Thanks Seakay, that helps a lot.

I still think I may abandon the plan. So far, apart from any hiding in cupboards that I have forgotten about I have

1 tunic to finish knitting & make up for me.
1 sweet jacket to make up for DS before he grows out of it
1 sweater to knit for friend for Christmas
2 patterns + wool for projects for me

... and there was this gorgeous little sweater for DS in the magazine today and I have wool to do it.

However I am going to keep and save your advice.

Olliebeak · 28 February 2008 at 2:10PM

I googled Wendy Narvik and it came up with some suppliers who have a sale on at the moment. Down to around £1.50/£1.65 a ball. May be worthwhile you having a peep at these:

http://www.cucumberpatch.co.uk/narvik.htm

http://www.mywoolshack.co.uk/cart.php?target=category&category_id=173

hev_2 · 28 February 2008 at 2:47PM

Ooooooooo! Thank you Olliebeak.

Looks like the sweater may be on after all!

(The wool looks absolutely gorgeous. I am a sucker for good looking wool.)

pol · 28 February 2008 at 3:14PM

After reading this thread and looking at some of the pics, I decided to have a go with a book I got from the library Fast Knits, Fat Needles by Sally Harding, using strips of cloth with wool. I'm used to knitting with 10mm needles, so I thought I'd have a go with 20mm, but they're £5 a pair!:eek: Bought some doweling and OH made a pair for less than 10p. Going to rip up my old lace curtains and whatever else seems ok and I'll post the pics when I finish something. ( if I ever finish the 3 projects I already have!).
pol

katiesmummy · 28 February 2008 at 11:57PM

sorry to butt in on your knitters thread but i was wondering...

are there any knitters in the london area that would be willing to teach me? i have always wanted to learn but have nobody to teach me!

thank you

cazarol · 29 February 2008 at 9:15AM

pol wrote: »

After reading this thread and looking at some of the pics, I decided to have a go with a book I got from the library Fast Knits, Fat Needles by Sally Harding, using strips of cloth with wool. I'm used to knitting with 10mm needles, so I thought I'd have a go with 20mm, but they're £5 a pair!:eek: Bought some doweling and OH made a pair for less than 10p. Going to rip up my old lace curtains and whatever else seems ok and I'll post the pics when I finish something. ( if I ever finish the 3 projects I already have!).
pol

would love to see a picci when you get going with this project.

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