The Knitters Thread

lynseydee

Electra_King wrote: »

:hello:

Apologies in advance if this question has been asked before!

I'm a beginner knitter and have started my first project a top. All has gone well until now. I am coming to the end of the ball. How do I join the new ball into the knitting? iykwim

I ran out coming to the end of the row. So I have taken it back to the beginning.

Any help would be appreciated.

Another way, which is the way I do it (but I'm probably not as experienced as the others on here) is to thread the end of the new ball of wool into the end of the wool you're currently using. I just thread the end of the new ball through a needle and then do a weave through the end of the other wool and then just pull it through as if you're sewing. Then I just knit the two threads together as one.

Could someone confirm there is no flaw with this method as this is what I have always done (only made baby clothes though) so don't know if there would be the same problem as in knotting the two threads together.

paddingtondoo

Electra_King wrote: »

I remember reading somewhere that you should never tie a knot as over time it works itself loose! (Not sure where I read it though )

If I leave it at the side can I use it to join together the seams?

I knit the first stitch with the new ball as a loop then use both strands on the next stitch and use the ends to stitch up with (when I finally get round to it :rotfl:)

I also leave a fairly long trailing end when I cast on so I can stitch up with that as well so the seam can't pull undone if i don't start my stitching off too securely

Unity

Happyroly wrote: »

I would make it into a "hank" before washing. Don't know if I can describe it clearly enough but.........
Hold the end between thumb and first finger, then take the ball under your elbow, up the other side of your arm and through the space between thumb and forefinger again. Keep going until all wool is wound round your forearm.
Slide it off carefully. Knot it in the middle, securely, not too tightly. Probably best to wash by hand or in a "delicates" bag if in the washer. Unknot and loop over a coathanger to dry.
HTH

To help avoid it tangling, my DM used to tie it in four places, rather than just one and this really keeps it free from hitches.

bikerchick1066

paddingtondoo wrote: »

I knit the first stitch with the new ball as a loop then use both strands on the next stitch and use the ends to stitch up with (when I finally get round to it :rotfl:)

I also leave a fairly long trailing end when I cast on so I can stitch up with that as well so the seam can't pull undone if i don't start my stitching off too securely

That's exactly what I do to join on a new ball. Currently knitting a chunky jumper for myself, it uses 14 balls of yarn, so would be a lot of ends to sew in, but I will just use them to sew the seams with. The good thing about using so many balls is that I always think 'I'll just finish knitting this ball before I go to bed' so I'm whizzing through it!

chrisbethany

Reverbe wrote: »

Can you wash wool just in a ball before you knit with it?I got some at the weekend from Freecycle and tbh some of it looks a bit manky and I would really feel a lot happier if it was washed before I handled or knitted with it.

Hi Reverbe

I also wind my wool into hanks. Then I put them into the legs of tights and wash and hang them on the line like that to keep from tangling. Goodness what the neighbours make of it!! :rotfl:

Chris

mannews

OK I am about to look for knitting needles on the internet and some wool to knit my first pair of socks. The book says that I need 2 x 1 3/4oz balls of wool . can someone tell me please what type of wool that is. Is it 4ply or something else. They used patons diploma gold and that is not cheap. Help please anyone.
angie

maytaurus

You can get
Patons Diploma Gold 4 ply; Patons Diploma Gold DK; Patons Diploma Gold Aran
You could try looking for the actual pattern on the internet and see if it says DK or 4 ply
sorry I can't be more help

misskool

mannews wrote: »

OK I am about to look for knitting needles on the internet and some wool to knit my first pair of socks. The book says that I need 2 x 1 3/4oz balls of wool . can someone tell me please what type of wool that is. Is it 4ply or something else. They used patons diploma gold and that is not cheap. Help please anyone.
angie

If you look on the pattern it tells you what it is. Socks normally use light fingering wool.

mannews

:j Thanks guys, with a lilttle help from my mum on the phone I managed to work out what I needed to look at on the patter and it was DK I was looking for, so have now ordered some off the internet.

greenpixey

Finished this last night.... It's gonna be a birthday present for a friend of mine who collects witches