The Knitters Thread

energize_2

SallyUK wrote: »

Can someone please tell me if this can be chunky or Aran yarn that is used for this throw? And if so, how many balls do I need?

Thanks

Sal
x


Materials: Approximately 1 ounce worsted weight wool for each square; Number 7 needles.

Gauge: 5 sts, 7 rows = 1 inch in st st.

Size: Each square measures 8.5 inches. The lap robe requires 20 squares.

The best idea is to search the yarn quoted on the ravelry yarn database to find out its weight and meterage. ie if its aran weight and 80 metres per ball you can look at other aran weight yarns, and as long as you buy the same meterage you should be ok. Hope that makes sense, if not do shout!

Le_Foot

Hello Everyone,
Although not new to the MSE site, I am new to this forum/thread. My 40 year old son, has recently started a new life with a lovely new partner who has got 5 children, ageing from 14 years to 4 years. This gives my hubby and me a total of 9 grandchildren plus the 2 partners of our 2 eldest grandchildren. Although I really want to be able to give them all small gifts for Christmas and their birthdays, we are retired, so money is tight. I used to knit quite a lot, and am thinking it may be the way to go again, if I knit all year round, I could at least have them one present each by Christmas LOL..but I was amazed at the cost of patterns and yarns!! Any advice on keeping the costs down would be much appreciated, such as where best to get the yarn from, and best sites for free patterns etc.
I'm itching to make a start, so will keep looking for your suggestions. Thank you,

Jackie

joedenise

Jackie - have you tried local charity shops? My local ones stock patterns, needles and yarn. You have to ask for the needles and patterns as they tend to be behind the counter but certainly much cheaper than buying new. Also worth looking in magazines for patterns as well as loads of free patterns on the web.

Denise

Raksha

Places like B&M sell acrylic wool quite cheaply, or buy in 1kg skeins

parkgirl

You could also put an ad on freecycle or freegle for yarn and equipment.

Le_Foot

Thanks for your suggestions, I will follow them up and let you know how I get on.
Jackie

SallyUK

I'm shouting for more help Energize! lol

Sal
x

energize wrote: »

The best idea is to search the yarn quoted on the ravelry yarn database to find out its weight and meterage. ie if its aran weight and 80 metres per ball you can look at other aran weight yarns, and as long as you buy the same meterage you should be ok. Hope that makes sense, if not do shout!

energize_2

SallyUK wrote: »

I'm shouting for more help Energize! lol

Sal
x

No problem Sally! If you click on the pattern on Ravelry http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/warm-up-america-blanket-90061ad it shows that the yarn quoted is an aran weight knitted on 5.5mm needles and takes a total of 2021 metres. If you buy an aran weight yarn, check the ballband and it should tell you how many metres are in that ball. You can then calculate how many balls you should need. Don't forget that we all knit slightly differently, some tighter some looser so you might need to bear that in mind. It's also worth looking on the other 12 projects knitted in that pattern, see the link above for the pattern on Rav and the projects are on the top right hand side. Hope that helps

Herbyme

Hi Jackie/Le Foot,
what a lot of knitting you may be doing! I'd suggest Ravelry as a source of good free patterns. I've been knitting fingerless gloves which my teenage sons really like and they take less than a ball each pair so even if you use really lovely yarn they only cost about £3 a pair and don't take too long. Here's the link to these ones but there are lots of others for gloves, cowls etc:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/easy-peasy-mitts

I tend to do things that use small amounts of yarn as I prefer knitting with nice yarns! Have fun!

alfsmum

Just wondered if anyone else has bought the new Knit & Stitch magazine from Bergere de France? Issue 1 is 99p and has two balls of wool and a pair of size 3.5mm knitting needles on it. I think issue 2 will be out this week at about £2.50 and issue 3 onwards will be £4.50 which will soon mount up as the mag is weekly!
The 2 free balls with issue 1 are 25g eacH in green and a pinky red acrylic yarn. There's also a how to knit DVD included for beginners.
I'll probably buy issue 2 but unlikely to pay out £4.50 after that.
What does everyone else think?