The Knitters Thread

pennib

Mikazaru wrote: »

Have finally finished knitting my mums blanket, it was originally meant to be a surprise but she ended up knitting parts of it because I knit so slowly



I've found a pattern for a jumper I'd like to knit but it's knitted with circular needles which I've never used before and I don't understand quite a lot of the pattern, does anyone know of any simple patterns that would be good for practising with circular needles?

Good for you finishing your blanket (even tho mum did some:D)
Are those flowers knitted into the pattern or are the knitted and then stitched on?

Sorry I can't help with circular needles, my experience with them was a bit of a nightmare and I'm still recovering :rotfl:

PipneyJane

Annie021063 wrote: »

Not sure if this has been posted about before but here goes. One of the things I like currently is the chunky knitted throws and cushion covers. They retail at around £40 for throws and £10 each for cushion covers. Can you knit them cheaper? Is it possible to get big needles and good yarn for things like this? Here is a piccie of the sort of thing I mean
http://cdn.next.co.uk/co-uk/1024/images/structural/trans.gif
Thanks for any advice

Heavens yes. :j

Years ago now, I saw a cushion in a Linda Barker catalogue that I just loved. It was white with two parallel cables running up it. I think she was charging £30 a cushion. I went to John Lewis, bought a couple of 100g balls of a white, chunky wool blend, two zips and a couple of cushion blanks and made my own. The cushion blanks probably cost more than the knitting materials. (Didn't know then that you can get them cheaper in Ikea.) I think I spent £15 total for two cushions.

I can't view your picture (link won't load) but here's a rough pattern for what I made: use a 6mm circular needle and cast on using Judy's Magic Loop Guestimate the number of stitches you need by messuring your cast-on edge and making it about an inch less than the edge of the cushion. Work out the cable placement by dividing the number of stitches for one side into 3 - the middle third needs to be cable-less so if I was working two 6 stitch cables over 46 stitches per side, I'd place my cables like this: P9, K6, P15, K6, P9 K1 for the side "seam", then work back the other side of the cushion in the same fashion, knitting in the round. Cross your cables after 4 or 6 rows the first time after every 8 or 12, depending on the effect you want. Try to end with a crossed cable the same distance below the cast off row as with the cast on row. Cast off. Sew the zip in by hand using regular cotton thread.

HTH.

Pam

PipneyJane

Mikazaru wrote: »

I've found a pattern for a jumper I'd like to knit but it's knitted with circular needles which I've never used before and I don't understand quite a lot of the pattern, does anyone know of any simple patterns that would be good for practising with circular needles?

Lovely blanket.

Circulars aren't that difficult to use, although a lot of people get hung up about lengths. Either use a circular that is slightly smaller than the diameter of the garment you are knitting or practice magic loop. (I did a variant of magic loop for years before someone showed me how to do magic loop for a sock. All I did was pull out a loop of cable somewhere away from where I was knitting. It reduced the stretch of the stitches along the round.)

Also, I use them all the time for straight knitting and don't see the point of buying straight needles now. If you don't own any circulars, buy a kit of interchangeables. Expensive up front but cheaper in the long run. because you'll always have the needles you need for the project you want to knit.

For a good first circulars project, I'd suggest Kate Davies "Owls" jumper. It's a straightforward, well written pattern and can be knitted in less than a month.

Kaz2904

Mikazaru wrote: »

I've found a pattern for a jumper I'd like to knit but it's knitted with circular needles which I've never used before and I don't understand quite a lot of the pattern, does anyone know of any simple patterns that would be good for practising with circular needles?

That's a lovely blanket . I'm new to knitting but I really love circular needles. I find it so much easier to knit with them. The only thing I found when I started on the sleeves of my cardigan which I'm on now is that I didn't realise that when you knit in the round, you don't have the knitting between you and your hands rather you have your hands in between you and the knitting. This meant that I had to rip back quite a lot of my sleeve as it was inside out . If it had been a sock then it would not have been an issue as I could have just turned it once finished but as this was attached to my cardigan it was obviously wrong .
For anyone who's interested, I'm knitting the February Lady cardigan from ravelry. It's a free pattern, all in one and top down. I'm almost at the end of my 2nd ball of yarn now. I've almost finished the first sleeve just on the cuff. It's really very quick to knit up once you get your head around the pattern and the repeats. It's getting your head around not having an end amount of rows too I find sometimes!
If anyone wants to add me as a friend, I've the same user name as here

Mikazaru

PipneyJane wrote: »

For a good first circulars project, I'd suggest Kate Davies "Owls" jumper. It's a straightforward, well written pattern and can be knitted in less than a month.

Thank You, Funnily enough that's the pattern I wanted to knit! I'll have another read of it tonight, it may be easier now I've got some circular needles to try and understand it as I go along.

Thanks PenniB, originally meant to be a surprise but as she kept having to correct my mistakes it was probably quicker for her just to knit parts herself! :rotfl:The flowers were knitted separately and then stitched on after. Oh dear, that doesn't sound too good!!

Mikazaru

Kaz2904 wrote: »

That's a lovely blanket . I'm new to knitting but I really love circular needles. I find it so much easier to knit with them. The only thing I found when I started on the sleeves of my cardigan which I'm on now is that I didn't realise that when you knit in the round, you don't have the knitting between you and your hands rather you have your hands in between you and the knitting. This meant that I had to rip back quite a lot of my sleeve as it was inside out . If it had been a sock then it would not have been an issue as I could have just turned it once finished but as this was attached to my cardigan it was obviously wrong .
For anyone who's interested, I'm knitting the February Lady cardigan from ravelry. It's a free pattern, all in one and top down. I'm almost at the end of my 2nd ball of yarn now. I've almost finished the first sleeve just on the cuff. It's really very quick to knit up once you get your head around the pattern and the repeats. It's getting your head around not having an end amount of rows too I find sometimes!
If anyone wants to add me as a friend, I've the same user name as here

Thanks, Oh no what a shame! I hadn't thought of the knitting being in a different position at all. I'll add you, I go as BigWindowSeat over there...

ginnyknit

I can't get to grips with circular needles but I don't knit many big things anyway - cos I am lazy I must 'you tube' the magic loop and have a go. I love the blanket Mikazaru - very neat too.

PipneyJane

Mikazaru wrote: »

Thank You, Funnily enough that's the pattern I wanted to knit! I'll have another read of it tonight, it may be easier now I've got some circular needles to try and understand it as I go along.

What bits do you have a problem with? I knitted my Owls in September so I could probably help. If you read the comments to the pattern in Ravelry, you'll be able see my !!!!-up (I placed the row marker wrong when joining the yoke. Not paying attention after - probably - too much wine with dinner). Also, Kate's really nice about answering questions - she got back to me within 5 minutes when I posted those comments.

homealone_2

i have been knitting a short sleeve cardigan for my mum with x-long eyelash yarn on a 7 1/2mm needle it started with about 80 stitches to cast on and a pretty basic pattern. was going to just use plain stitch for ease but unfortunately if you drop a stitch you have to start again as you have no idea where it is to pick it up well my major problem now is that i have lost my pattern and cant find anything on net that will knit up as quick using such large kneedls and this particular wool. pattern was for different wool but did a guage and it workd out fine. now what can i do i have searched every knitting website i know on here and cant find the pattern the name modea keeps sticking in my mind. can anyone help that may have recently seen on big needles otherwise i am truly stuffed.

Mumof2_2

PipneyJane wrote: »

Also, I use them all the time for straight knitting and don't see the point of buying straight needles now. If you don't own any circulars, buy a kit of interchangeables. Expensive up front but cheaper in the long run. because you'll always have the needles you need for the project you want to knit.

For a good first circulars project, I'd suggest Kate Davies "Owls" jumper. It's a straightforward, well written pattern and can be knitted in less than a month.

How do you use them for straight knitting or am I being really dense?!! I've just got some circular needles and am looking for a jumper to do so am going to give that Owls one a go (when I've finished my Christmas knitting which is taking for ever!) so it's on my list!

Kaz2904 wrote: »

That's a lovely blanket . I'm new to knitting but I really love circular needles. I find it so much easier to knit with them. The only thing I found when I started on the sleeves of my cardigan which I'm on now is that I didn't realise that when you knit in the round, you don't have the knitting between you and your hands rather you have your hands in between you and the knitting. This meant that I had to rip back quite a lot of my sleeve as it was inside out . If it had been a sock then it would not have been an issue as I could have just turned it once finished but as this was attached to my cardigan it was obviously wrong .
For anyone who's interested, I'm knitting the February Lady cardigan from ravelry. It's a free pattern, all in one and top down. I'm almost at the end of my 2nd ball of yarn now. I've almost finished the first sleeve just on the cuff. It's really very quick to knit up once you get your head around the pattern and the repeats. It's getting your head around not having an end amount of rows too I find sometimes!
If anyone wants to add me as a friend, I've the same user name as here

I've added you - I'm 'Smiler33' on there and I live in Bristol just like you!!


Have any of you found about the Liat who does the KNITFreedom.com website? She's got a group on Ravelry which I've joined. I've found watching her YouTubes great and has really helped me with my knitting. I'm an almost intermediate level knitter I'd say; nothing too fancy and can't do cables/lacy stuff ..... I aim to change that though!!