The Knitters Thread

Pink_Fairy_2

If anyone wants to pm me, I have all my Mum's needles as well as all my own, so bound to have some duplicates. Also, as I've suggested elsewhere on here, try Freecycle, and NO, you do NOT have to give anything in return. If any Freecycler asks for anything in exchange, I would suggest reporting them to the Freecycle Moderators!

Pennylane

ASK at charity shops - most have needles for sale but have to keep them off display (for crazy health & safety reasons!! - which is daft IMHO because someone could bash you over the head with a saucepan, same as jabbing you with a k/needle!:p ) They are usually about 20 or 30p a pair. Sometimes even less.

Lidl and Aldi sometimes have bargain wool but its good quality. Also some charity shops sell it too. I would only recommend buying "cheap" (as in poor quality and grotty colours and textures) at the very beginnning, when learning the basics. Good branded wool is WAY nicer to knit/crochet with! There's a huge selection out there. Branded stuff on Ebay is fine too. Some great bargains on Ebay and also patterns.

Pipkin

pcg2001 wrote: »

That was so fast, Pipkin. Thanks. I will look in ebay.

Can you tell me where you find the patterns for your cushion covers? Thanks again.

I have a book I bought from amazon which has patterns in it, it's a lovely book.

The cushion I made first, which was good for a beginner, nothing too complicated, was stripy on the front and with a chequerboard textured effect on the back in a plain colour.

I jazzed it up by knitting a flower to sew on the front (from a free pattern online).

Very pretty and can be made to tie in with any room scheme/colour.

I've made loads for friends and they loved it too.

I will copy the pattern and pm you with it if you like, let me know.

(I'll try and take some pics tomorrow of one I made recently to see if you like it first)

Pipkin

These are the kind of deals for wool I was talking about on Ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/10-BALLS-LOT-300-GR-ICE-KID-MOHAIR-LUREX-WOOL-CREAM_W0QQitemZ320208009306QQihZ011QQcategoryZ36596QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ShippingPayment

but this would be more for once you got started and had a definite project in mind, and this is for better quality wool, which once you can knit (and you'll be great!) is better to work with, gives a nicer finish and is (on ebay) cheaper than buying in a shop as you can easily spend 2/3/4 pounds upwards on a ball of the nicer stuff.

Pennylane

OK - Pipkin & Cazarol & any wanabee crochet-bods ......:j

there are masses of sites to look at but I would recommend the following because instructions are CLEAR, diagrams are good and it shows how to make granny squares (when you feel ready). Also this is a British site - there are some FAB American sites (and books) but I have found beginner crocheters get really confused by their different terminology, stitches and hook sizes. Just for NOW, try and STOP yourself from looking at American stuff.

http://www.ethknits.co.uk
and click on "How to Crochet"

ALso one of the best little booklets (and still about the cheapest) is called First Steps in Crochet by Patons. It's only a couple of quid (in the shops) and sometimes you see one on Ebay if you're not near a wool shop. There are many, many more but VFM this one's great!

Once you are able to do the basics - chain, double crochet, treble - have a go at the squares and when you're confident with that THEN look at the American sites.
Best of luck and happy hooking!!:D

pcg2001

Thank you so much Pipkin, cazarol, Pennylane, Pink Fairy for the tips and advice. I will definitely look at the charity shops. There are several close to where I live and they are bound to have books and supplies. I wonder if I imagined this, but I think I've seen knitting stuff at Poundland?
Pipkin, if you could share the reference to the book where you get your cushion covers? If it's not too expensive I will buy it (the design you mentioned was taken from there?).

Can't wait to go shopping tomorrow!!:j

PS: I'd love to try the crochet quilts... a square at a time does not seem too much. and I'm already thinking of matching pillows!!

cazarol

pcg2001 wrote: »

Thank you so much Pipkin, cazarol, Pennylane, Pink Fairy for the tips and advice. I will definitely look at the charity shops. There are several close to where I live and they are bound to have books and supplies. I wonder if I imagined this, but I think I've seen knitting stuff at Poundland?
Pipkin, if you could share the reference to the book where you get your cushion covers? If it's not too expensive I will buy it (the design you mentioned was taken from there?).

Can't wait to go shopping tomorrow!!:j

PS: I'd love to try the crochet quilts... a square at a time does not seem too much. and I'm already thinking of matching pillows!!

I think I have seen kits in Poundland type shops, let us know how you get on when you have been shopping

new_mum_again

Thankyou Whatatwit, I can't wait to finish it now!!! Just got 1 hole in it to sew up :rotfl: and it will be put away for my daughter for Christmas.
I'm upset I gave away all my mums wool and needles after she died now, she had quite a collection and enough wool to knit everyone in the world a jumper!!!, but at least now I can start my own collection, I've had a bit of a bad start to the year and find knitting very good for taking my mind off things as I have to concentrate, - Mum however could knit, talk, watch tv and do about 10 other things while knitting lol

jinny

Pink_Fairy wrote: »

I've got one of these. Mum and I made all the squares from frogged jumpers, cardigans etc. You can pick them up from charity shops etc. Mine probably didn;t cost £10! Also got a puffball patchwork quilt my sister made from scarps of material!

Do you think your sister would let us know how to make the puffball quilt? I would love to make a patchwork quilt from scraps thanks

Olliebeak

Pipkin wrote: »

I can knit ok (not expertly, but enough to get by for what I need) but I really really want to learn to crochet!

I've got a couple of books, and I know of an online site that has step by step videos, but I'm really struggling, I just can't get the hang of it,especially holding the yarn to keep my tension even (if I could get that right I think the rest might come).

I really want to crochet one of these:

http://www.cathkidston.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=151-119-48-2&pcidl=&language=en-GB#


because I don't want to pay 160 pounds for it, and I don't like the colours.

Any tips would be greatfully recieved!

I really struggled when I first tried to learn to crochet - and the biggest stumbling block for me was how to hold the yarn. After a few failed attempts, I devised a slightly different way of working that works well for me. Many people watch me crochet and ask me 'what the heck I'm doing' and are disbelieving when I say crocheting. Then I tell them to stand behind me and just watch! They have to agree that I am crocheting - just differently! I have now been crocheting for around 35 years, have made items for sale in shops, won prizes in craft shows - so my way does give good results.

I hold my work in my left hand; my hook in my right hand; and the yarn as if I'm knitting with my right hand. This way you are taking the yarn around the hook - instead of the 'proper way of hook around yarn'. I think that it works for me because I was knitting for a few years before starting to crochet and also because of a broken wrist as a child, I don't have a great deal of flexibility in my right wrist. Anyway, give it a go - you've nothing to lose and a host of garments as possibilities to make :j .

Good Luck :T