The Knitters Thread

Mumof2_2

Yay - I've done the back of the jumper :j!

I'll definitely be doing the 2 sleeves on the 1 needle as someone suggested - much less scope for error that way.

jennyjelly

LizD wrote: »

I've got the Orient in Oxide for that one. Unusual colour, but I doubt anyone else will have the same jumper as me!
Funny one to knit with - knits as DK, but it's more like 2 or 3 ply to look at.

I love that - it will look really tweedy I imagine, and it will go with anything from jeans to posh. Good choice.

Post a piccy when it's done!

Auntie_Noo

morganlefay wrote: »

I'm sure the answer would be in here somewhere but I can't read 119 pages - sorry......my grown-up daughters want to learn to knit. (I dislike knitting tho I sew lovely things) Can anyone recommend a website or book which will show tham 'knitting for beginners' but is not aimed at 10 year-olds. I have bought them each some wonderful wool and giant needles and a pattern which will (might) turn this ball of wool into a lovely scarf if only they can master casting on and off and plain and purl - thats all. Sounds so easy but I can't explain it to them down the phone ! (I can knit but just don't) Thank you......

The Stitch n (Beach) (Forum doesn't like the proper word - but it's like beach but looks more like stitch!!) books are pretty good - they have patterns in too so are not a complete waste of time once you have learnt. But there are also videos on Youtube and there is a site called knittinghelp.com which also has videos. (Actually knittinghelp is probably the best place to start!) Once they have got the basics it is well worth the joining Ravelry.com (free) as it is just an amazing resource of patterns and yarn information. Hope they enjoy it!

lynseydee

I have finally managed to get round to starting my shawl and I am having problems right at the very beginning. The pattern calls for a 2ply lace weight yarn which I have bought but twice now it has snapped on me and I'm also finding it very difficult to knit with. Is this normaly for this type of yarn as I have only knitted with dk and 4 ply before

PepPop

lynseydee I found that 2ply does take some getting used too, I found it needed much more concentration to work with than normal - I kept knitting stitches together :rolleyes: but the lace does look pretty (although confession time - I've still not finished it )

lynseydee

PepPop wrote: »

lynseydee I found that 2ply does take some getting used too, I found it needed much more concentration to work with than normal - I kept knitting stitches together :rolleyes: but the lace does look pretty (although confession time - I've still not finished it )

Hi PepPop

I'm not sure if I like it or not. The stitches seem to be really loose and the little bit I did do looked horrible. I'll persevere with it as I have until April to finish my shawl.

PepPop

lynseydee Is it the kind that you have to pin down and stretch when it's finished. My mum used to knit ones like that and they did look a bit strange until she had stretched them all out.

lynseydee

I'm not sure to be honest. It's just that when I first started I did about half a dozen rows and I think because the stitches are so loose it just looked all messy. I'm also worried that if the yarn breaks so easy when I'm knitting it what will happen when I want to wear it :eek:

Kay_Peel

Palema wrote: »

Hi Everyone,
I am hoping someone here can help me.
My mum is disabled and has started knitting again to pass the time, as she is housebound - this has been brought on by the news of my brother and his wife expecting their 1st baby in May!!
She is looking to knit a shawl but is in need of large knitting needles, 50cm in length and 3 1/4 thickness (I think?) Could anyone point me in the direction of a good website where she could get these?
Thanks in advance
Palema
X

I would recommend that she gets herself some circular knitting needles like these:

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3984.m38.l1313&_nkw=3.5mm+circular+needles&_sacat=See-All-Categories

rather than long straight needles. She'll see the benefit when she starts to knit the shawl because the plastic tube (in the middle) takes all the weight and makes the shawl so much easier to handle. With long straight needles, you find that all your stitches are crammed and bunched up, but on circulars they are much more spread out.

If she's knitting a lacy shawl then she will need pointy needles - so watch that you don't get ones with blunt ends. She will have the choice of plastic, metal or bamboo needles - I prefer bamboo because its warm on the hands, doesn't attract grease or sweat like metal ones can and its nice and light.

You can get needles from Ebay - but I get mine at the indoor market in a town near me - the stall holder sells wool too. Perhaps it may be worth a visit to a shop or stall just so that Mum can get a feel for the different sorts.

Good luck to your mum. Once she's got a set of needles that are fit for purpose and comfortable in her hands, I bet she'll get a lot of pleasure from knitting.

artydoll

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4011/4284990225_60277ca241.jpg

Just finished this scarf,now all the snow has gone.:D:D:D