Handknitting and the cost of yarn

ampersand

Good morning to all - catching up from yesterday, when it occurred to me, just as my beloved France was - predictably - going down tube to a rugged, superb, intelligent performance by a wonderful Puma team, that Gumtree is also good to try, although carboots are probably best.
I note some Cambridge mentions, so here is the link - look for Free Stuff:
http://cambridge.gumtree.com.
re: wasting a garment that otherwise you have taken only for its buttons - our Charity still obtains money for these from Ragman, but usually it's a matter of salvaging good trimmings from an otherwise unsaleable piece - dirty, holes, past 'sell-by' era without being interestingly retro. Fear not that they are wasted.
Yes, I have seen most little wool/haberdashery/sewing/fabric shops that I once patronised close down.
Bonne chasse!

miserly_mum

ampersand wrote: »

re: wasting a garment that otherwise you have taken only for its buttons - our Charity still obtains money for these from Ragman, but usually it's a matter of salvaging good trimmings from an otherwise unsaleable piece - dirty, holes, past 'sell-by' era without being interestingly retro. Fear not that they are wasted.!

I realise about stuff going for rags as I used to do volunteer work for our local Barnardos. What I meant was if I stripped the buttons off a perfectly good shirt or cardigan and it then went for rags even though it wasn't soiled or worn out i'd feel bad because someone else could have got wear from it. Probably just me ....I worry about these things:A :rotfl: But i'd have no problem salveging zips and buttons from old worn out stuff. My Mum used to have a button box years ago and I loved i looking through it. She only ever seemed to have one or two of everything though so not sure how practical it was.

I love the idea of a knitting forum too:T

icecubequeen

Ive just started knitting, only the basics though. Picked up some wool cheap, so got myself a pair of knitting needles and have managed to make a blanket. Just knitted lots of different coloured squares and have sown them together to make a blanket, perfect for keeping warm in the upcoming winter. Have now started making scarves for all the family

Littlebean_2

Looks as though we have a few supporters for the idea of a knitting sub-forum, does anyone know how we go about approaching the moderators to ask them? I'm happy to do it if someone could point me in the right direction.

I've now got cracking on my sweater and I'm really enjoying it - going well so far. My plan is to start searching out yarn bargains to add to my meager stash and use in future projects, so I'm looking through ebay like a demon and will be trying some of the sources that all you lovely OS'ers have suggested.
Am also thinking about setting up a village 'Stitch'n'!!!!!' group - meeting in our local pub. Now everything is smoke free I'm thinking it might be quite pleasant this winter to meet up in the local pub once a month or so, with a couple of like minded people and a bottle of red, while we work on our knitting and put the world to rights! My plan for today is to sound out a couple of neighbours - just need to work out who is a 'closet' knitter!

Littlebean_2

Sorry - didn't realise the forum would edit a slightly naughty word out of my last post - but that is what they are called - honest. What I meant was a 'knitting' group but the slightly naughtily worded version sounds more catchy.

Winsome_2

I knit a lot and do a lot of substitution of yarn because I often can't afford to usethe yarn specified in the patterns. My advice is t go for something similar in weight - a smilar DK, aran or 4ply or whatever the pattern specifies (and try to go for the same type of yarn to - ie don't substute a cotton yarn for a pure wool yarn).. knit a tension square using the wool you ahve chosen and the needles specified in the pattern and count the number of stitches (usually a set number in 10cm) - if you have more stitches try going up a needle size, if fewer stitches try going down a needles size and try again.... once you have got the tension almost right (number of stitches width wise is more important than the number of rows) then knit the garment using those needles..........

it is a fiddle to do this but the results are worth it in the end.... you might end up knitting several squares until you get it right though. I keep these and eventually sew them all together to make blankets that I donate to a local animal rescue place for the animals to use.....

another suggestion for cheaper yarn is to recycle it... if you are ever in a charity shop or at a carbootsale etc and you see someone selling a jumper made from nice yarn, even if it does not fit you, you can always unravel it, wash the yarn (put it in skeins first - I wind it round the back of my computer chair!) and the once it is dry roll it into balls........... yarn for a fraction of the price!

Winsome_2

mocolo wrote: »

and my next project is this:

http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/PATTteacosy.html

because I love teapots and cosies and I really want to try felting. I have some swatches ready for testing but not quite brave enough.

Hahaha!

I cast on this just last night because I am sick of my tea going cold!

I have changed the colours (using a dark green, pink and lilac simply because I had them in my stash), and of course not using the recommended wool......... but I did check that it would felt well and should work OK!

mocolo

Winsome wrote: »

Hahaha!

I cast on this just last night because I am sick of my tea going cold!

I have changed the colours (using a dark green, pink and lilac simply because I had them in my stash), and of course not using the recommended wool......... but I did check that it would felt well and should work OK!

oohh...what a cooincidence. What wool are you using? I have some bitds in the stash but are a bit unsure whether they would work OK. Would love to see a picture when you have finished it.

[Deleted User]

I`ve gone back to knitting after a 20 year gap and I am totally smitten. I`ve bought bamboo needles via ebay and they come from China but they are fab and an absolute bargain. I`ve got circular needles and bamboo dpns are on the way from china

The knitting is taking over in my lounge and I am shortly going to empty a cupboard so I can sqeeze my stash in. I have beautiful hand made material rolls and pouches for my kit, cheaper than I can make them myself if I was using new fabric. They are from ebay.com and if you keep to under $36 you don`t pay tax and they come in days. I just got 3 items for $33 from one seller and p+p was only $7.95 and that is about £3.60

This place is great for yarn, patterns and customer service
http://www.cpu-enterprises.com/index.html

this site is fab and the yarns are amazing. Sock yarn eg fabel is £1.80 for 50g and socks takes 2 balls. There is a link via garnstudio drops to hundreds of free printable patterns
http://www.scandinavianknittingdesign.eu/index1.html

so far I`ve made 6 baby jumpers in 4 weeks. Socks next when the dpns arrive. I can`t knit fast enough

try the forum on the angelyarns site. Brilliant for chat and info

plumduff55

Hi, I bought wool very cheaply at the Hobbycraft exhibition last year. I got 10x50g balls of Sirdar Denim Tweed DK for £ 12. They had all types and makes of wool mostly sold in 500g packs.

They have 3 shows in the near future - Harrogate and Glasgow in October and Birmingham in November. Even after paying for your ticket (around £5), you can save money.

Just google ICHF for more info, I think I'll go back this year!!!