The Knitters Thread

mardatha

Unity, can you do steeks ? that's how fair isle is knitted but its not easy until you get the hang of it.

blueberrypie

Unity wrote: »

Just wondering if we have any circular knitters here? I got a set of the Denise needles from the States which are basically short needles with detachable cords that you can use as circular or straight needles -

I have Knit Picks, which I believe is similar to the Denise system. I haven't used them a lot because I bought them whilst pregnant and I'm still in the baby-in-arms-can't-knit stage, but I did like them when I used them.

Unity

mardatha wrote: »

Unity, can you do steeks ? that's how fair isle is knitted but its not easy until you get the hang of it.

I seem to remember seeing these in a book years and years ago :rolleyes:. Is this where you knit say about an inch of stocking stitch prior to starting the pattern? I can't remember the purpose of them - I'll have to dig around and find which book it was and just hope it wasn't one I got from the library:rolleyes:.

If you have the time to quickly let me know the purpose of these and if they'll stop me having seams at the sleeves I would be very grateful :T.

As to what I can do - well, I'm a 'sinister', 'cack handed', 'southpaw' who had the worst of times trying to learn how to knit, as a little lass, in the first place. I now knit like a right-hander, although people say I hold my needles funny .

Unity

blueberrypie wrote: »

I have Knit Picks, which I believe is similar to the Denise system. I haven't used them a lot because I bought them whilst pregnant and I'm still in the baby-in-arms-can't-knit stage, but I did like them when I used them.

Hi Blueberrypie,

I just Googled and found them and they do look pretty similar - except the joins between needle and cord. The Denise ones have a half-turn click system so they are quick to release to change needles and they don't unscrew. Mind you I do like the look of the Knitpicks as the joining mechanism is metal - whereas the Denise ones are plastic. Having said that the Denise ones are guaranteed for life - so when one of my cord fixings snapped recently - I just e-mailed and they put a new cord in the post.

Hey treasure the baby-in-arms-can't-knit-stage, it's the best excuse you'll ever have :T. My three are all grown now - but both daughters are keen knitters, one very rarely needs a pattern as she'll see something in a shop, buy some wool and produce a copy in next to no time - but she's excellent at maths and I swear this helps;)

rufusdog52

Well my parcel came from Kemps, I am very pleased with it and cant wait to get started. Going to finish off the teddy bear first as not much left to do on it. Ordered some more wool today to make my Grandaughter some cardigans for Christmas.

mardatha

I think steeking is too hard, and is impossible to explain on here. I will muddle everybody up and I did fairisle over 30 yrs ago.. You make a sort of border of plain stitches in one colour, doing the shapings outwith that border. Then you cut up the middle of the "border" with scissors and sew along to tidy up the ends.

Reverbe

Pennylane wrote: »

There has been a huge surge in people starting knitting/crochet. For years I've had FAB bargains from charity shops but now, although they still get plenty in, it disappears in minutes I'm told!:mad:
.

Not from ours it wouldnt Penny. I just went in my local charity shop and they wanted £10 for a packet of 500 g worth (in 50g balls)of cream coloured dk!!!!!!!!!I won't buy it if its more than it would cost first hand esp as I havent learnt how to knit yet.:mad:

shezmit

Can everyone do me a massive favour please

Can you keep your wool reciepts for me as i send parcels to the hospitals for premature babies, But when parcels get lost i am having problems with Royal mail proving how much wool costs and i have to provide them with reciepts so i can claim the full amount back, At the moment all they give me is 12 stamps which just cover the cost of the postage not the cost of the knitted and crocheted items. I would so much appreciate if you can help me in anyway

even if you get them from charity shops

thankyou
Shelley

Unity

mardatha wrote: »

I think steeking is too hard, and is impossible to explain on here. I will muddle everybody up and I did fairisle over 30 yrs ago.. You make a sort of border of plain stitches in one colour, doing the shapings outwith that border. Then you cut up the middle of the "border" with scissors and sew along to tidy up the ends.

Thanks Mardatha, that was more or less what I thought - you explained it very well :T. Evidently there's a book by Elizabeth Zimmermann called 'The Knitting Workshop' that explains how to knit a sweater with set in sleeves, without seams. It's American so I'll have to see if I can get it over here and ideally I'd like to have a look first to see if I can understand it. I think where knitting is concerned we really are "Two nations divided by a common language" :rotfl:.

mardatha

I've had to ask americans a few times for translations yes ! There's one abbreviation, its for something simple like sl 1, k1, passo - but the way they print is is very different and muddled me up.