The Knitters Thread

archieboy

Hello everyone, I've recently been reading this knitting thread as I've been asked by my Grandaughter to knit a few things for her. I used to do some knitting years ago when the grandchildren were babies but then stopped when they got bigger. My recent projects have been legwarmers for ballet classes and wrist warmers. I've now been asked to knit a pair of socks. Help! I've bought a set of 4 needles but I've noticed on a few items that people have spoken about using sock wool. Is this a special wool that you should use for socks? Is there an 'easy' pattern for socks, although I don't want straight up and down ones and would like a proper heel - I suppose that makes it difficult. Anyway thanks for the interesting knitting updates, I've been enjoying reading them. By the way, in spite of my forum username I am a female.

NualaBuala

Mikazaru wrote: »

She does have a new jumper in the new series, although from what I can remember it was plainer so it might be easier to knit this time Are you knitting her exact jumper or is it just similar?

Thanks, I don't think she minded doing the knitting it was more the "Mum I've gone wrong", "Mum, I've dropped a stitch", "Mum, can you unpick it", "Mum, I've purled not knitted" etc. etc. that was probably annoying!

Wish I had someone on standby to save me when I drop stitches etc - I end up ripping back cos I am no good at fixing knitting.

You're right Mikazaru, the new one is a red one and the star pattern is done with purling on a stockinette background by the looks of it. I was going to start with it but went for the original instead ... or my attempt at it. This is where I'm at so far except I have got to pick up now, just frogged back to my last "save" strand as the raglan shaping wasn't quite right. In fact the whole thing is not quite right but I have an urgent sense of just wanting to get it finished, never mind the lack of perfection!

Mumof2 wrote: »

NualaBuala We've just got into 'The Killing' and DH bought the DVD set - been watching it every night and staying up way too late. Obviously I've been knitting at the same time as watching!!

I've added you as a friend - if you want to then look for me as 'Smiler33'!!

Right, off to do some more of Mum's Christmas scarf .....

Just added you too Smiler/Mum!
Oh you lucky ducker, I would love to be watching the whole thing for the first time. I only saw it for the first time when BBC4 repeated it in September and I was glued to it ... and also stayed up way past my bedtime! :rotfl: By the end, I was obsessed with The Jumper and the plot was secondary to that! Enjoy your DVDs and stand by for The Killing II in 2 weeks! :j

lynseydee wrote: »

I bet you took a shopping trip to Lidls to get that wool didn't you

I only know as I bought some too and made myself a pair of socks which are now going to be a christmas present for my dad's girlfriend as she took a liking to them.

Oh that's great cos I bought Lidl sock yarn in blue and if it knits up like that I will be very happy! It was great value, wasn't it.

NualaBuala

archieboy wrote: »

Hello everyone, I've recently been reading this knitting thread as I've been asked by my Grandaughter to knit a few things for her. I used to do some knitting years ago when the grandchildren were babies but then stopped when they got bigger. My recent projects have been legwarmers for ballet classes and wrist warmers. I've now been asked to knit a pair of socks. Help! I've bought a set of 4 needles but I've noticed on a few items that people have spoken about using sock wool. Is this a special wool that you should use for socks? Is there an 'easy' pattern for socks, although I don't want straight up and down ones and would like a proper heel - I suppose that makes it difficult. Anyway thanks for the interesting knitting updates, I've been enjoying reading them. By the way, in spite of my forum username I am a female.

Hi Archieboy (glad you clarified, wouldn't have been sure if you were that rare species, a male knitter!).
A lot of us here started with Silver's Sock Class
http://www.cometosilver.com/socks/SockClass_Start.htm
It's fab, takes you through sock knitting step by step. Her tutorial gives instructions for different weight wools. Sock wool is quite fine but you can get some very nice stuff that makes it's own stripes etc. These are my first socks that I made using Regia Design Line wool. I was so pleased because when I show them to anyone they think I made the stripes when really it was just the yarn!

Mumof2_2

NualaBuala wrote: »

Just added you too Smiler/Mum!
Oh you lucky ducker, I would love to be watching the whole thing for the first time. I only saw it for the first time when BBC4 repeated it in September and I was glued to it ... and also stayed up way past my bedtime! :rotfl: By the end, I was obsessed with The Jumper and the plot was secondary to that! Enjoy your DVDs and stand by for The Killing II in 2 weeks! :j

Just about to see Episode 9! I've never been called a lucky ducker before; first time for everything !!

cuddles123

NualaBuala wrote: »

Hi Archieboy (glad you clarified, wouldn't have been sure if you were that rare species, a male knitter!).
A lot of us here started with Silver's Sock Class
http://www.cometosilver.com/socks/SockClass_Start.htm
It's fab, takes you through sock knitting step by step. Her tutorial gives instructions for different weight wools. Sock wool is quite fine but you can get some very nice stuff that makes it's own stripes etc. These are my first socks that I made using Regia Design Line wool. I was so pleased because when I show them to anyone they think I made the stripes when really it was just the yarn!

Have to agree with a capital A - Silvers Sock Class got me knitting socks and I only started at the end of September.

I started with DK, which makes a thicker sock to wear with boots and knits up quickly. Also easier to see your stitches when you are getting used to the construction. Self patterning yarn rocks!



I then made bedsocks in Sublime



Then moved on to sock yarn





Sock yarn makes a finer sock to wear inside a shoe, and is usually a combination of nylon for hard wear and wool for warmth.
There are some really funky ones out there that knit up in fantastic designs, so no need for fancy stitches.

Are you planning to knit adult socks for male or female?

Mikazaru

Ooh, it gets really good from then on, although the whole series is brilliant I loved the second half with all the twists
NualaBuala - I can't believe the price of that jumper!

Edit: I can see your jumper now, it looks brilliant and just like the real thing!

Winchelsea

NualaBuala - re L*dl sock wool - I bought a pack of 4 balls of blue, and it made two pairs for DS (who takes men's size 11 in shoes), and they are lovely and soft and warm, and it was a joy to knit. And, there was a bit left over - I save all the odd ends of balls, and every so often make a striped pair.

I've got two experimental pairs on the go at the moment, inspired by two library books - "Knitting Circles around Socks" (where you knit two pairs at once on two circular needles - quite a challenge) and "Socks Toe Up" which is just what it says. Toe up is fiddly for the first few rounds, when there are not many stitches, then gets easy (though I haven't got to the heel yet) - and it means you can knit the legs as long or as short as you want, depending how the wool is going (just have to wind it into two equal balls at the start).

thifty

Hi
Bought some sock wool too today from my fave wool shop at Ollerton and was given a free pattern with it. The wool is Opal 4ply sock wool and is lovely self patterning stuff.
I am only on round five and am just getting to grips with holding the needles comfortably but I think I am becoming addicted as I can't wait to see what the next colour will look like.:D
I now have 2 scarves and a cardigan which are nearly finished but I don't want to finish those now I have plucked up the courage to try these
Thanks for the link to Silvers Orkney star.:A

Sneezy

Thanks Keiss and Nuala - still not 100% no knitting since Monday night or reading - feeling dizzy when trying to knit isn't good! Hope anyone else who was feeling poorly is now on the mend

Good luck to those of you who have started socks - I tried it in June and after DK hated the fact that sock yarn is so thin - gave it up as a bad job!

Will get back to the knitting soon hopefully!

bikerchick1066

pollypenny wrote: »

Does anyone remember or recognise wools called 'dolce' and 'donna', please?

I have a pattern book from 1988 which I'd like to use, but I am wondering if any double knitting wool would be okay.

I remember these from the eighties! One was a brushed double knitted and one was a bit slubby!

My name is Donna so always stuck in my mind. I did pick up a couple of balls of the slubby one a couple of years ago at a boot fair and made a lovely scarf for a friends Christmas present.