The Knitters Thread

shazrobo

jennyjelly wrote: »

Can anyone recommend a budget wool that is good for felting? I've just used up a load of tapestry wool odds and ends for a bag that has felted very well and I'm keen to do more but don't want to go splashing out on Rowan or something equally pricey until i'm a bit more confident (can't frog it once it's felted so a mistake would be costly).

Most of the cheaper wools either have too low a wool content or are superwash which doesn't felt.

I've just finished a bag with wool from here which is lovely but the colour range is limited to naturals and I'm looking for COLOUR!

Any ideas?

got my wool for felted bags from textere, cant remember price tho, they have a website, but i'm pushed for time right now, i'll have a google later

jennyjelly

karmacookie wrote: »

http://www.newlanarkshop.co.uk/shop.php?view=category&category=92

Thank you for the link, what a lovely site, very reasonable prices and the wool looks very nice. Trouble is deciding on the colours, I just know I'll end up buying more than I should (oh what a hardship )

jennyjelly

shazrobo wrote: »

got my wool for felted bags from textere, cant remember price tho, they have a website, but i'm pushed for time right now, i'll have a google later

Just had a browse in Texere, for some reason I thought they were a company that concentrated on 'fashion' yarns like pompom and eyelash, didn't realise they also had a very good range of pure wool - that'll teach me to look properly in future. Thanks for making me look again!

lynseydee

I have just finished my shawl for a wedding I'm going to on Saturday but not sure how I should go about blocking it. I don't have any pins, will pegs do?

The other trouble I have is that it didn't come out quite as big as I would like so would need to try to stretch it a bit. Will I be able to do this whilst blocking?

PepPop

lynseydee wrote: »

I have just finished my shawl for a wedding I'm going to on Saturday but not sure how I should go about blocking it. I don't have any pins, will pegs do?

The other trouble I have is that it didn't come out quite as big as I would like so would need to try to stretch it a bit. Will I be able to do this whilst blocking?

I don't know if pegs will work but you should be able to stretch it when you're blocking it.

Kay_Peel

Blocking a lace shawl makes a big difference in the finished size. Once the (natural not manmade) fibres are wet they can be stretched out and teased inot the size that you want.

But you will need pins, really, and lots of them.

nuttywoman

Can anyone please direct me as to how to use eyelet lace in my knitting ? thanks

lynseydee

Kay_Peel wrote: »

Blocking a lace shawl makes a big difference in the finished size. Once the (natural not manmade) fibres are wet they can be stretched out and teased inot the size that you want.

But you will need pins, really, and lots of them.

Hi Kay

How long do I need to leave the shawl once I've blocked it? I could get hold of some pins but our local wool shop closes half day on a Wednesday so I won't be able to get some until Thursday. Thing is I need the shawl for Saturday evening.

Kay_Peel

Hi Lynsey.

The trick is to get it really, really dry. Sometimes I put a fan heater in the room if I need it quickly, otherwise I leave it for 36 hours at least. The longer the better. The best result I had was over 3 days but I needed to stretch that one out a lot! I'll tell you how I make small shawls 'grow' ! :rotfl:

1. Immerse the piece in tepid water with a small amount of Lux flakes or similar and leave to soak for 10 minutes - more for pure wool and less for something like cashmere or silk. Acrylic doesn't block. A small bit of soap will loosen the fibre and make it stretch-able. Put it into a ball while its under the water (so that it doesn't stretch with the weight of the water) and lift it out, gently squeezing the excess water before laying it on a towel. Roll it in a towel and then stand on it. Repeat with a second, dry towel if needed. it should be nicely damp.

2. If there are any straight edges to my work (such as the top of a triangular shawl) I take a darning needle and some strong thread and thread it through the top edge, leaving lots of thread on either side. Later on, I will wrap the thread around some pins and stretch the straight side between the pins.

3. Find some carpeted floor space or I've known people to use a spare bed (without the bedding). You need somewhere to spread out your work and leave it undisturbed for 36 hours or more. Arm yourself with loads of pins - I use the ones with coloured balls on the ends, so that I can see them - they are rust-proof too. Lay a sheet on the floor/spare bed.

4. Start pinning. Put two pins into the sheet. Stretch the thread along your top straight edge and attach to the pins. Move the pins so that the thread is nice and tight and the straight edge(s) looks straight.

5. If your piece is symmetrical, use a tape measure to make sure both sides measure the same. Pin out any scalloped or pointed edges, working from side to side - to make sure that they measure the same. It's a mistake to pin out one side and then the other.

6. Measure, stand back, adjust, measure again, stand back, move the pins and when your happy that it looks straight and even, walk away. A fan heater in the room helps if you are impatient.

7. After an hour, move every single pin outwards until you gain a couple more inches. Repeat the procedure every now and then, stretching it outwards inch by inch until it can't grow anymore.

Don't unpin it until its really, really, well and truly bone dry.

Hope that helps! :beer:

redballoon_2

Hi all, does anyone have a copy of the lets knit magazine august 2009? My friend knitted me a cardigan from this edition, (found it by looking on ravelry) its called Tansey, but its too big for me! I really like it so i was going to unravel it and redo it in a smaller size.
If anyone has the edition, could they let me know??

Thanks!!