The Knitters Thread

Sky_

basketcase said:

@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.

I don't find all their wool yarns soft, but their merino and alpaca blends that I've tried are very touch friendly.  

The aran sock yarn I've seen was more for slipper socks and were eye-wateringly expensive hand-dyed yarns, but knitting two thinner (and more affordable) yarns together would create cheaper aran-weight sock yarn. This site https://doradoes.co.uk/2020/08/22/yarn-weights-explained/ has a helpful chart about 2/3 of the way down the page.

threepenny_bit

Well you have all inspired me in the past couple of months - my knitting had taken a back seat! Money is tight so I decided to get some stocking fillers and gifts knitted using the plethora of yarn I have hoarded. 
Socks for daughter finished and put in the christmas box. 

threepenny_bit

Little outfit finished and having a bath - is a gift for my friends new grand baby; really bad pic but it is wet so looks dark lol!  Ordinarily I would just have gone to the shops and bought something but now it is time to use what I have!

MrsCD

Very nice knits, @threepenny_bit
The colour of the socks is lovely and the pattern on the baby clothes is very pretty.

janb5

Hi- where did you get the sock holders- they`re lovely.

PipneyJane

Ooohhhh.... Those socks look lovely, @threepenny_bit as does the baby outfit.  I hope both will be treasured and worn with pride.

- Pip

SIRENS

threepenny_bit said:

Well you have all inspired me in the past couple of months - my knitting had taken a back seat! Money is tight so I decided to get some stocking fillers and gifts knitted using the plethora of yarn I have hoarded. 
Socks for daughter finished and put in the christmas box. 

Beautiful socks, love the colour, I struggle with socks mine always end up with holes at the heel 🙄

PipneyJane

SIRENS said:

threepenny_bit said:

Well you have all inspired me in the past couple of months - my knitting had taken a back seat! Money is tight so I decided to get some stocking fillers and gifts knitted using the plethora of yarn I have hoarded. 
Socks for daughter finished and put in the christmas box. 

Beautiful socks, love the colour, I struggle with socks mine always end up with holes at the heel 🙄

Are those holes during the making, or from wear and tear, @SIRENS?  We may be able to help but, there are different cures depending on how the holes are formed. 

- Pip

wondercollie

threepenny_bit said:

Little outfit finished and having a bath - is a gift for my friends new grand baby; really bad pic but it is wet so looks dark lol!  Ordinarily I would just have gone to the shops and bought something but now it is time to use what I have!

The mums I knit for at work are really not into the traditional, pastel baby colours.   I always ask what they'd like and a soft grey is the most popular!

plumduff55

ITCHY WOOL

Hi,  just delurking to tell you what I do to make itchy wool a lot better.

 I've just finished an Aran hat for grandson in 75% acrylic 25% wool and it was quite prickly.
I soaked it in cold water with 3 tablespoon of white vinegar for 20 minutes. I then rinsed it well in cold water, rolled in a towel to absorb the water then left it to dry flat. The prickliness has now gone. 

If you Google " make wool less itchy" you will find lots of variations of this method. Most say to then rinse in hair conditioner but I've never done this but still the prickliness has gone and it's a lot softer.

Hope this helps although maybe best to try on a tension square first to check it doesn't shrink etc.