The Knitters Thread

[Deleted User]

Kay_Peel wrote: »

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.

Thanks for that I will let her know.
She loves knitting, has completed 3 cardigans already for my niece/nephew!! And is now onto number 4!!
X

PepPop

artydoll wrote: »

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

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

Love your scarf and pompoms

tryingtoruletheworld

artydoll wrote: »

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

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

That is a lovely scarf! My things never seem to look quite so 'finished', and I love the pom poms! :T

Aeshna

I wonder if someone a tad more experienced than I can help me out! I just bought a cone of pure lambswool, couldn't resist as it's utterly beautiful! Anyhow, not completely unexpectedly from my point of view, it still has that oily feel and smell to it. What I don't know is how to deal with this ...... hunting online didn't help at all either! Do I knit/crochet as it is, then wash carefully, or should I ball/skein the wool and wash it before using? I really should have given this some thought before I bought it, shouldn't I ....

Aeshna x

Edited to say, I know the oily feel is the lanolin and that this makes it super warm and waterproof!

shazrobo

can anybody help me?, i have a pattern i really like, but the wool, sirdar bigga has been discontinued, does anybody know an alternative that knits up on 15mm needles?

mumslave

http://www.angelyarns.com/sirdar/knit.php/yarn/301

that not it there?

mioliere

artydoll wrote: »

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

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

That is a beautiful scarf in lovely colours!

Apollonia

mumslave wrote: »

http://www.angelyarns.com/sirdar/knit.php/yarn/301

that not it there?

Just want to warn against buying from this company. There have been many complaints made about them for not supplying goods and keeping the money for months until Trading Standards get involved. Try googling Angel Yarns and the search box produces 'Angel Yarns complaints' as the second choice.

There are also warnings here on MSE:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1286581

meanmarie

Aeshna...about a hundred years ago when I was young, it was possible to buy 'oiled' or natural wool, it had been spun without any treatment to take the natural oil out....I wonder is that what you have got? If so the thing to do is knit it as it is, the oil will come out gradually as you wash the garment....be warned that you will have very blackened hands while you are knitting but they will be very soft due to the oil in the wool...good luck.
Would love to know where you got the wool as I would love to get some, although unfortunately the high postage costs from UK make things very expensive to import.

Marie

shazrobo

mumslave wrote: »

http://www.angelyarns.com/sirdar/knit.php/yarn/301

that not it there?

thats the wool, but not a great range of colours
and thanks to appolonia i googled the company as well as looking on this site, and they have a really bad reputation.
anybody know of anywhere else, looking for any shade pink/red, only need 3 balls, as its for a pair of mittens