The Knitters Thread

cuddles123

My latest Mug Cosy.
Knitted in team colours for my football mad nephew's birthday.

Thanks again for the help re orange wool

lynseydee

Keiss_21 wrote: »

I see that blueberrypie has answered your questions lynseydee...I am in the middle of my second sock for DS2...size 13, so takes a while with 4-ply!! Started my first sock ever last October, using Silver's tutorial, which helped immensely. Have done 5 pairs now, three following Silver's pattern completely and the other two using a circle pattern for the legs, based on Silver's tutorial, so the same number of stitches, easy to check with Silver when I got stuck/lost!

Have managed to carry on and have turned the heel which was easier than I thought. Am now knitting the length of the foot so nearly there and then just need to do another one. Am really chuffed at how easy Silver's tutorial is to follow.

PepPop

blueberrypie Thank you so much for posting the seam-sewing links. I hate sewing things up. I always find that whatever I've knitted looks great till I stitch it together and these links are fantastic!! I've bookmarked both of them - you are a star! :beer:

Great mug cosy cuddles

Can anyone point me in the direction of some tutorials for knitting with different coloured wools please - that's my other weakness?

SuziQ1962

Hi I use a crochet hook and sort of chain stitch my seams together as my sewing is really crap!

susan946

SuziQ1962 wrote: »

Hi I use a crochet hook and sort of chain stitch my seams together as my sewing is really crap!

That sounds a good idea. I also hate the sewing up - there's something very soothing about the rhythm of the knitting bit that the sewing up bit doesn't have.

I find mattress stitch quite clumsy to do. I think maybe it would be easier sat at a table so that the pieces lie flat. Does anyone have any tips?

Sue

blueberrypie

PepPop wrote: »

Can anyone point me in the direction of some tutorials for knitting with different coloured wools please - that's my other weakness?

What kind of knitting with more than one colour do you mean, specifically? There are many different kinds of knitting which use two or more colours. Can you link to a pattern that includes the kind you mean?

[Deleted User]

susan946 wrote: »

That sounds a good idea. I also hate the sewing up - there's something very soothing about the rhythm of the knitting bit that the sewing up bit doesn't have.

I find mattress stitch quite clumsy to do. I think maybe it would be easier sat at a table so that the pieces lie flat. Does anyone have any tips?

Sue

I do as you suggested and sit with the garments flat. So imagine I am sewing the front of a cardigan to the back.

I start by sewing in sections. So I am going to sew from the underarm down to the bottom side seam. First I line the pieces up flat with the right sides showing and 'pin' them together. I use stich markers which look a bit like paperclips to pin them loosely. I pin so that I won't end up sewing the seam wonky (e.g. by sewing an inch down on one side to say two inches down on the other).

I then start sewing by looping under stiches on one side on then on the other. I do this a few times and then pull the sewing wool tight. This is slow to do, but gives a really nice seam.

I found a diagram on the following link

http://www.learn2knit.co.uk/knitting/joining.php

Scroll down to invisible Seaming Matress Stitch - figure 76 for the picture.


A good way of grafting sock toe seams together is to do something similar to the two needle bind off, but using a sewing needle. This gives a really neat finish. So when you have the stitches ready to cast off on two needles (with the same number of stitches on each needle) cut the wool leaving a long tail and thread this onto a darning needle.

Follow the pattern :

FKD FP BPD BK

where F = front, B=back, K=knit, P=purl and D=drop

(1) So I would put the darning needle through the first front stitch knitwise and then drop this stitch off the needle.
(2) I would then put the needle through the second front stitch purlwise
(3) Next sew through the first back loop purlwise and drop the stitch off the needle
(4)Lastly sew through the second loop knitwise on the back needle.

Pull the wool tight.

Repeat the pattern again on the remaining stitches. When you get to the last stitch on each needle then do FKD, BPD. You will find that the last stitch will stick up a little like a small ear. However, push the needle into the sock near this last stitch so that you can tie off the sewing on the inside of the sock. Once you pull the wool tight this little ear will disappear.

Sorry, hope I have described that all properly.

La_escocesa

Just found this great little project http://www.craftbits.com/project/needle-wool-knitters-brooch

MIL is getting one of those with a book about knitting for her bday :T Sorted.

La_escocesa

Spider_In_The_Bath wrote: »

A good way of grafting sock toe seams together is to do something similar to the two needle bind off, but using a sewing needle. This gives a really neat finish. So when you have the stitches ready to cast off on two needles (with the same number of stitches on each needle) cut the wool leaving a long tail and thread this onto a darning needle.

Follow the pattern :

FKD FP BPD BK

where F = front, B=back, K=knit, P=purl and D=drop

(1) So I would put the darning needle through the first front stitch knitwise and then drop this stitch off the needle.
(2) I would then put the needle through the second front stitch purlwise
(3) Next sew through the first back loop purlwise and drop the stitch off the needle
(4)Lastly sew through the second loop knitwise on the back needle.

Pull the wool tight.

Repeat the pattern again on the remaining stitches. When you get to the last stitch on each needle then do FKD, BPD. You will find that the last stitch will stick up a little like a small ear. However, push the needle into the sock near this last stitch so that you can tie off the sewing on the inside of the sock. Once you pull the wool tight this little ear will disappear.

Sorry, hope I have described that all properly.

That's a really good explanation! :T

I've been trying to 'show' mum over the phone - not the easiest - maybe I'll call her up and read out your post word for word!

Thank you!!

I used this vid on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7jIzwO5Nv4

[Deleted User]

Thought I would join in and post a few pics of things I have made. Hope you like them.

Brown Kidsilk Haze cardi :
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg54/knittingspider/Brownkidsilklaceandcablecardi2.jpg

Chunky cable knitted winter jumper:
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg54/knittingspider/CathsbrowncabledXmasjumperDec2009.jpg

Part of a cabled tank top I finished ages ago :
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg54/knittingspider/IMG_02561.jpg

Skull and crossbones motif :
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg54/knittingspider/P1010013.jpg

I am currently knitting lots of socks and a lace wrap for my mother-in-law so I will post pics when done.