The Knitters Thread

pollypenny

Moneysaverme wrote: »

Hello all,

Just a quick question if any of you can help me...

I'm looking for an Arran sweater to order and am wondering if anyone would be able to point me in the right direction?

Rather than trawl the internet I thought I'd ask here first.

I've had a quick look at Etsy but it all seems to being coming from the US.

My Nana was a great knitter and produced all sorts of things for us when we were kids. I am lucky enough to still have one of her Arran hats. Would really love a jumper.

Ive plans to tour the Highlands and Islands and north of Scotland but it will not be for a couple of years, so don't want to wait til then!

Many thanks,

X

Many, many years ago a colleague knitted an Arran sweater for me and i made a dress for her daughter.

Do you have a skill you could swop and anyone to swop with?

Puddylove

OrkneyStar wrote: »

Ravelry?
Speaking from experience, socks thicker in anything thicker than DK are most suited for wellies, bed socks etc. For wearing with standard shoes I'd aim for 4ply, or 6ply if you really cannot stand the thinness of 4ply.

I do have horses, and wanted thick socks to stop my toes dropping off in the snow, so I really did mean Aran and DK.
I'll have a look at Ravelry, thanks.

OrkneyStar

Puddylove wrote: »

I do have horses, and wanted thick socks to stop my toes dropping off in the snow, so I really did mean Aran and DK.
I'll have a look at Ravelry, thanks.

Sure, just wanted to check . With the thicker yarns there is more tendency for them to fall down too, so if you do manage to find a nice pattern, then perhaps make sure you have a decent amount of ribbing at the top (maybe even go down a needle size if your yarn can take it!). Thin socks can also be really warm too- hand knitted socks always seem warmer than shop ones now to me lol!
PS I really like these: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/easy-aran-socks (when I searched for them again there seemed to be a lot coming up under 'aran socks' so hopefully ravelry will do the trick for you ).

MoonJelly

I have found that my local knitting group is a wealth of information and advice. Any time I have a question they will actually tutor me through the process. If you have the yarn already in your stash take it to the group and they will be able to tell you what they think it might work best for.

grannybroon

Circular knitting needles - advice please. I am currently knitting a blanket and will be picking stitches up from both sides plus top and bottom. Because of the number of stitches down the side (about 180) I have decided it will be easier to use a circular needle. Will 60cm be long enough?

moo2moo

Not knitting.... not yet anyway.....my first attempt at spinning. The OH is baffled as to why I'm leaping up and down with excitement.

moo2moo

grannybroon wrote: »

Circular knitting needles - advice please. I am currently knitting a blanket and will be picking stitches up from both sides plus top and bottom. Because of the number of stitches down the side (about 180) I have decided it will be easier to use a circular needle. Will 60cm be long enough?

I wouldn't have thought so, especially if you're using aran or chunky.

azzabazza

moo2moo wrote: »

I wouldn't have thought so, especially if you're using aran or chunky.

If you are using DK I would think they may be OK. You don't want the plastic length to be too long as it may stretch your stitches. I think I read somewhere that you roughly calculate 10sts to 1 inch.

moo2moo

azzabazza wrote: »

If you are using DK I would think they may be OK. You don't want the plastic length to be too long as it may stretch your stitches. I think I read somewhere that you roughly calculate 10sts to 1 inch.

But you have to span four sides of a blanket which will be uncomfortable on such a short cable. At 60cm you're allowing 15cm for each side . I would have thought 1.2m would be more realistic if not 1.8m.

grannybroon

moo2moo wrote: »

But you have to span four sides of a blanket which will be uncomfortable on such a short cable. At 60cm you're allowing 15cm for each side . I would have thought 1.2m would be more realistic if not 1.8m.

I have to pick up the stitches and do the edges individually, not span all four sides. I have adjusted the length of the baby blanket slightly and I think the maximum stitches for the two long edges will be around 160-170 per side, fewer for the two top edges. I am using DK yarn.