The Knitters Thread

Flat_Eric

I am waiting for my delivery of pompom wool and in anticipation (and so I could have a practice) bought some Sirdar Baby Snowball Pompom.

Now this indicates that you need UK size 3 needles/6.5 needles. I have both bamboo ones and normal needles in this size so first of all had a go with the bamboo needles (and found them very slippy) so reverted to the needles I have always used.

Anyway, I got in a right mess. I should point out that I am someone who learnt to knit many many years ago but never really mastered it properly.

Anyhow, I understand that if you are stitching with the small pompoms that you only stitch once but if you are using the pompom wool that I have bought, then you stitch twice. I'm sorry for saying stitch but I am a cross stitcher at heart and I suppose I should stick to what i know best but I would so like to master this knitting business once and for all!

Does anyone have any tips for stitching with the pompom wool? It was recommended to me to cast on with a standard wool first then use the pompom to knit with but when I started with the pompom wool, the pompoms didn't end up equal and the more I stitched, the more taught the knitting became. I was using the right size needles so confused ....

So would be grateful for any tips. Thank you

twink

miffy257 wrote: »

They are the same weight so you can substitute them in patterns. Baby DK tends to be softer for more delicate skin.

thanks i did think they were but wanted to be sure

maddiemay

Flat_Eric wrote: »

I am waiting for my delivery of pompom wool and in anticipation (and so I could have a practice) bought some Sirdar Baby Snowball Pompom.

Now this indicates that you need UK size 3 needles/6.5 needles. I have both bamboo ones and normal needles in this size so first of all had a go with the bamboo needles (and found them very slippy) so reverted to the needles I have always used.

Anyway, I got in a right mess. I should point out that I am someone who learnt to knit many many years ago but never really mastered it properly.

Anyhow, I understand that if you are stitching with the small pompoms that you only stitch once but if you are using the pompom wool that I have bought, then you stitch twice. I'm sorry for saying stitch but I am a cross stitcher at heart and I suppose I should stick to what i know best but I would so like to master this knitting business once and for all!

Does anyone have any tips for stitching with the pompom wool? It was recommended to me to cast on with a standard wool first then use the pompom to knit with but when I started with the pompom wool, the pompoms didn't end up equal and the more I stitched, the more taught the knitting became. I was using the right size needles so confused ....

So would be grateful for any tips. Thank you

It is a while since I knitted with Pompom, but as I remember it:-
cast on even number of stitches. Knit first stitch from the string bit.
Then knit 2 stitches from the next string bit.
continue knitting 2 stitches per string, until 1 stitch left, knit this stitch.
Start new row, knit first stitch using string from last stitch of previous row, and so on...

8 stitches would be. 1. 2. 2.2.1
I found casting on and casting off tricky at first, not sure, but I think I may have made 1 stitch from each string. I did a little tutorial for a knitting group, but cannot find it, I think it was on the comp that has just died!

You may get better advice from someone with more idea than me, but good luck, it makes a lovely warm fabric.

Flat_Eric

maddiemay wrote: »

It is a while since I knitted with Pompom, but as I remember it:-
cast on even number of stitches. Knit first stitch from the string bit.
Then knit 2 stitches from the next string bit.
continue knitting 2 stitches per string, until 1 stitch left, knit this stitch.
Start new row, knit first stitch using string from last stitch of previous row, and so on...

8 stitches would be. 1. 2. 2.2.1
I found casting on and casting off tricky at first, not sure, but I think I may have made 1 stitch from each string. I did a little tutorial for a knitting group, but cannot find it, I think it was on the comp that has just died!

You may get better advice from someone with more idea than me, but good luck, it makes a lovely warm fabric.

Thank you very much. That makes sense and my friend who showed me briefly - well it all looked so easy and pretty much exactly how you have said - she said it was tricky to do the cast on bit and suggested casting on with normal wool first. BUT I am going back to basics and have cast on 40 stitches and am doing simple knit one row/purl one row - and will practice that first. will post a picture later so you can see how rubbish it looks already!!!!!

Flat_Eric

so having a practice... this is what it looks like



knitting project by Flat Eric on Flickr, on Flickr

any comments / suggestions ? I have to be honest, it looks ok but not great.

Apollonia

Flat_Eric wrote: »

knitting project by Flat Eric on Flickr, on Flickr

any comments / suggestions ? I have to be honest, it looks ok but not great.

It looks to me like you might be knitting into the back of a stitch causing it to twist instead of lie flat. I googled for pics to show you what I mean.

This pic shows the difference between twisted and 'correct':




(I wrote 'correct' because some designs need the stitches to be twisted!)

This shows what is happening to twist the stitch:



and the correct way:




All the pics are from this blog:

http://learningasigo.typepad.com/learning_as_i_go/knitting/

that has more information on fixing knitting mistakes.

westcoastscot

Hi Guys, read this thread regularly but haven't posted before. Love to see your makes.
I knit a lot! whenever I'm sitting, and often when standing, I have my pins in my hands. I thought I would try a circular needle rather than my usual double points for a hat i'm knitting - but i'm finding it's making my wrists and shoulders ache - there doesn't seem to be anything to get "hold of", if you see what I mean. When knitting on straights I use all my fingers, but with circulars I just use half - I thought it might get better when I had some knitting done - something to grip with my little fingers- but it doesn't seem to be helping??? Any suggestions, before I give in and go back to straights???

Oh, also I just bought a pony brand needle - but the stitches catch on the left hand needle, so knitting isn't smooth - is that common??
Thanks,
WCS

Flat_Eric

Apollonia wrote: »

It looks to me like you might be knitting into the back of a stitch causing it to twist instead of lie flat. I googled for pics to show you what I mean.

This pic shows the difference between twisted and 'correct':




(I wrote 'correct' because some designs need the stitches to be twisted!)

This shows what is happening to twist the stitch:



and the correct way:




All the pics are from this blog:

http://learningasigo.typepad.com/learning_as_i_go/knitting/

that has more information on fixing knitting mistakes.

Thank you very much. I hadn't appreciated that I could be doing that and what you say/have posted makes sense. I think I should perhaps revisit my knitting books before I try anything adventourous and I suspect I shall be making my teddy bear a scarf before I tackle one for myself :T Thank you again. :T

pennib

Flat Eric : You will get there eventually. You stitch lovely cross stitch pictures as well. Keep practising with your knitting it will all suddenly click. I love the colour of the wool it's once of my favourite colours.

Westcoast: I find it hard to knit with circulars as well so can't give you any advice I'm afraid. I tend to use my whole hand as well so I know what you mean.

westcoastscot

Glad it's not just me Pennib - have gone back to double points and it's going smoothly