The Knitters Thread

Savvy_Sue

Sock wool thinner than DK

wondercollie

Started another mitred square blanket.

Finished another Maple Leaf wrap for a retiring coworker.

Baby blanket and a matinee jacket for another.

i think I'm just knitting to keep my hands busy.   I'm retiring in 23 months and want to have a few gifts to give to those I like.

CAFCGirl

Hello All,

How are your projects going?
I took most of the summer off and have given up with the crochet cardigan. it's going to be too small to be wearable and I'm regretting the colour choice. So I have frogging that to look forward to (body and 80% of one sleeve).

I know I could have kept going just to have finished it but there joy just wasn't there for me, and I'm loathe to slog through something.

However, on a positive note, I was managing to do it and follow a crochet pattern so I'll take that as a win.

I think I'm going to make some 'reading gloves' - fingerless mittens for my business and I would usually loom knit them but they're very limiting size wise so I'm hunting out a crochet pattern for those, and I'd like to try my hand at crocheting a beret if I can find a pre beginners level pattern for free.

MrsCD

https://pin.it/7ImiKPi
There are easy crochet patterns for fingerless gloves on pinterest,  if that helps, @CAFCGirl

Sky_

basketcase said:

Hi all!

I need some advice please.

Question (at last!)

Can anyone recommend yarns that I can use that are soft to touch and not itchy? It doesn't have to be wool - other natura fibres or mixes wouldn't be a problem.  The main reason for asking is that at the mo, before buying anything DD and/or I have to handle the yarns physically, which can be a bit of a bind,

Also, to be MSE, could you suggest online places I could buy them at a reasonable price?

All help gratefully received.

Hi, I find Drops Merino very soft and non-itchy and it's reasonably priced.  I buy mine from Woolwarehouse but the Drops UK site (called Garnstudio) has a list of suppliers. The alpaca/wool aran blend is also soft but the Merino is softer and smoother in my experience. Most of the Drops alpaca wools are on sale at the moment, but the colour choice is limited as many suppliers have sold out of certain colours.  Most online places will happily accept returns but of course you'd have to pay postage.

Sock yarns are usually around 25% nylon or similar, to give them extra strength, it's mostly 4ply but a few DK and aran sock yarns are available, for thicker/quicker knitted socks.

basketcase

@Sky_

Thanks for the info.  A lot of people have mentioned Drops, and DD tells me she's done the 'touch test' in wool shops and thinks it's OK.

Interesting about the Aran sock yarn - must look into that.

wondercollie

Arg.   Why is it everytime I buy a new pattern, I need to add new needles?  I'm starting a new cardigan and need 4mm needles.  I would have sworn I had a pair.  Turn out I do, but they aren't very long and the cardigan is knit in one piece.  

So off to Walmart in the morning to get 4mm circulars.  The only 4mm size I could find are 8 inches long.

YorksLass

wondercollie - I inherited various sizes of single point straight needles from my late DM but sometimes found they were a bit "short".  I invested in a starter pack of Knit Pro circular interchangeable ones and bit by bit added different size shanks so now I have needles for every conceivable need!  I find they're easier on the hands and wrists too.

Savvy_Sue

YorksLass said:

wondercollie - I inherited various sizes of single point straight needles from my late DM but sometimes found they were a bit "short".  I invested in a starter pack of Knit Pro circular interchangeable ones and bit by bit added different size shanks so now I have needles for every conceivable need!  I find they're easier on the hands and wrists too.

That's my strategy too, makes life much simpler and they take the weight of the garment off the needles and onto your lap! 

Sky_

I've also recently invested in some Knit Pro interchangeable needles, I decided to go for their new swivel ones and I love them.  I've knitted since I was 7 (now in my 50's), using an assortment of inherited needles and the odd one-off needles I've bought and knew I prefer metal needles so the new set is a real treat. I can knit much faster with them and they're such a joy to use!  

I've also started using 'magic loop' (I followed 'nimble needles' tutorials) to knit socks and gloves (apart from the fingers of course) and it's a revelation after years of disliking using double pointed sock needles. I tried 'short' circular needles but I prefer 'magic loop'.