2022 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

Cherryfudge

Laura_Elsewhere said:

@Cherryfudge - I would say always consider the needle size and yarn thickness as a "serving suggestion" and not as an absolute rule! 
Within any yarn category there are thinner and thicker ones, and sometimes you'll get the right stitch-count for "DK" using a thin Aran or a thick 4-ply, let alone with different needle sizes... 

The other thing to consider is - have you washed and dried your sample pieces, in the same way you will the finished thing, ideally a couple of times, and also leave the sample pieces to relax for a day or two after washing and drying? It's astonishing how much variation you can get...

I never used to bother with knitting test pieces, but now I do them for just about everything I make apart from socks where I tend to use yarns I'm already familiar with. 

I'm knitting a cardigan just now in a Rowan wool I've never used before so definitely needs test pieces - I used a couple of different needle sizes, and I also added a strand of cobweb-weight merino - and for a DK yarn, what works best is using 5.5mm needles (with DK!) and adding that thread-fine strand of cobweb merino. It gives me 4.5 stitches and 6 rows per inch, if that helps...  

But everyone knits differently and crucially yarn is a LOT less standardised than you're led to believe... 

Thank you, @Laura_Elsewhere, I'm reassured! The recommended yarn is 100% acrylic and the one I'm using is a mixture including wool so I'm wondering if it has a sort of springy resilience that stops it being as compact as the acrylic? Also I have to confess I've not washed the swatches - in fact I ripped out the first couple as they were so far wrong! I'll complete number three and wash it and while it's drying I can give the lacey pattern a try.

I like the idea of a 'serving suggestion': I'm the sort of person who reads the recipe and substitutes according to what I've got in the cupboard, so I need to develop the same confidence with yarn.

Looking forward to seeing your cardigan, especially with the mixture of yarns! What colours have you got in there?

Laura_Elsewhere

Cherryfudge said:

Thank you, @Laura_Elsewhere, I'm reassured! The recommended yarn is 100% acrylic and the one I'm using is a mixture including wool so I'm wondering if it has a sort of springy resilience that stops it being as compact as the acrylic? Also I have to confess I've not washed the swatches - in fact I ripped out the first couple as they were so far wrong! I'll complete number three and wash it and while it's drying I can give the lacey pattern a try.

I like the idea of a 'serving suggestion': I'm the sort of person who reads the recipe and substitutes according to what I've got in the cupboard, so I need to develop the same confidence with yarn.

Looking forward to seeing your cardigan, especially with the mixture of yarns! What colours have you got in there?

Ah well, even more so, yes - acrylic yarn has no 'give' as you've noticed, so it does often behave differently from a wool or wool-blend... 

I'm doing green with green Pea-green Rowan wool, with dark-green merino cobweb...



it's funny - I bought quite a few of these merino cobweb 1-ply yarns on eBay when I was new to knitting, not really understanding that I was incredibly unlikely ever to want loads of very very very very fine, seriously it's thread-fine, knitting wool in several colours... there it has sat for twenty years or so now, but I've discovered in the last few years that adding a strand of this, or mohair thread is another, will give just the tiniest bit of extra oomph to a yarn that isn't quite what I want - and of course it changes colours very slightly too! 
Remember that sparkly chestnut slipover? Those stripes were solely by adding a thread-fine extra strand. the reddest one is this merino cobweb, and the others were an extra-fine lace, and a fine silk, and then of all things a navy blue mohair thread (navy blue with chestnut?!) - I tried all of them to see which one to use and realised that the striped effect of the sample piece was actually really nice, so I used all four to make the stripes!

Cherryfudge

I think navy blue with chestnut might just be the equivalent of my yummy marmalade on mackerel! Something that shouldn't happen but goes so well.

I love the greens: looking forward to the result! And yes, you can see the stripes clearly on your top - colour is a wonderful thing to experiment with.

How are you both doing post-Covid? It seems to linger in many people but not everyone.

Gem-gem

PipneyJane said:

Gem-gem said:

Cherryfudge said:

I hope he's okay @Gem-gem? Did you go to A&E?

Yes, DH went to A&E yesterday. He had a blood test that has said it is more than likely he has a clot. He is going back either tomorrow or Wednesday for a scan. They increased his blood thinning tablets. His leg/ foot is still very swollen, painful and his leg has changed colour.  I very gently rubbed cream into his leg and massaged his feet/ ankles to try and help his skin cope with the swelling and to try and reduce the swelling in his ankles and feet.  Very worrying times. 

@Gem-gem, I did wonder about a blood clot - the symptoms you listed were consistent - but refrained from suggesting it because I knew that I didn’t have enough information to diagnose.  Fingers crossed that it resolves itself soon.

Big hugs to you both.

- Pip

Hugs most welcome thank you. 

Good news, DH had his scan today. It is not DVT. It is a ruptured Baker's Cyst. Fingers crossed one -two weeks of rest and elevation and he will be as good as new. 

Have now completed 21/192 granny squares - blanket. There is a bright side to having your bank holiday weekend activities cancelled 😁

Have resisted all clothes buying - even when my favourite two clothes shops have a 20% discount. 

Gem-gem

Thank you everyone for your virtual hugs and best wishes. I have read them out to DH and he was most touched. 

Gem-gem

Laura_Elsewhere said:

@Cherryfudge - I would say always consider the needle size and yarn thickness as a "serving suggestion" and not as an absolute rule! 
Within any yarn category there are thinner and thicker ones, and sometimes you'll get the right stitch-count for "DK" using a thin Aran or a thick 4-ply, let alone with different needle sizes... 

The other thing to consider is - have you washed and dried your sample pieces, in the same way you will the finished thing, ideally a couple of times, and also leave the sample pieces to relax for a day or two after washing and drying? It's astonishing how much variation you can get...

I never used to bother with knitting test pieces, but now I do them for just about everything I make apart from socks where I tend to use yarns I'm already familiar with. 

I'm knitting a cardigan just now in a Rowan wool I've never used before so definitely needs test pieces - I used a couple of different needle sizes, and I also added a strand of cobweb-weight merino - and for a DK yarn, what works best is using 5.5mm needles (with DK!) and adding that thread-fine strand of cobweb merino. It gives me 4.5 stitches and 6 rows per inch, if that helps...  

But everyone knits differently and crucially yarn is a LOT less standardised than you're led to believe... 

Laura_Elsewhere, I am most interested in what you are saying about washing and drying your sample piece. I am making my first ever blanket out of 100% wool and on the card it talks about washing and blocking your squares?!? Is this really necessary? Please excuse my ignorance. 

Cherryfudge

Gem-gem said:

Good news, DH had his scan today. It is not DVT. It is a ruptured Baker's Cyst. Fingers crossed one -two weeks of rest and elevation and he will be as good as new. 

That's excellent! I had to look up Baker's cyst but it seems to be eminently treatable.

Well done for avoiding the clothes shops!

I made a granny square - once. One day I would love to make a whole blanket's worth but that means sitting down and applying myself so it may not be quite yet. So you are over a tenth of the way through yours!

Liverpool_Anne

@Gem-gem, that's really good news, I must admit to also having to look up "bakers cyst", every day's a school day
Take care everyone

florianatwobob

Excellent news @Gem-gem

skogar

Gemgem - Good to hear that it is not as serious as you feared. Wishing your OH a speedy recovery.