The Knitters Thread

mrs-moneypenny

westcoastscot wrote: »

what an unfriendly thread! shalln't venture here again.
orkney the last regia I purchased was 3.99 from ebay - I see 100g is 4.99 now - I stand corrected.

WCS, sorry you didnt feel welcome. i dont come in regularly and should have remembered to say hello to any new posters in my last posting, i forgot but i usually try to be helpful and friendly to everyone. i dont think anyone was being deliberately unfriendly but sorry if you felt this.
i hope you will pop back in and post

currently knitting a little hooded cardi/jacket from craft seller mag, its a pain as the pattern has two mistakes that i can see in it that really affect the pattern, i did a contact us on their website but they havent replied. just got the hood to do now but not impressed as its a gift for someone and i feel its been cobbled somewhat.

westcoastscot

No need to apologise Mrs Moneypenny, it wasn;t the responses I didn't get rather than the response I did get!
I've been knitting for 45 years, and make part of my living knitting - I've often read the thread but rarely posted.
Shall go back into lurkdom

OrkneyStar

Beautiful work cuddles123 and mrs-moneypenny too. Ok to answer some posts.......

FizzWhizz wrote: »

Thank you for this lovely thread; I have knitted for 25ish years but have had a big old hiatus for the past couple. I have a pair of socks for DH which just need the second cuff knitted and I'm hoping you'll encourage me into to getting them finished

If and when they're done, I have yarn and a pattern for a steeked Icelandic cardi which would keep me toasty this winter…

Oh how I sympathise with you.....come on you can do it, just think it will free up the needles to start something NEW!!!!
And I would love to see this cardi and how it comes along- sounds great! I am doing a Lett Lopi sweater but still on the main body section right now.

iQueen wrote: »

Now, I won't allow myself to start a new project (usually!) until I have completely finished the current one. So, give yourself the incentive of starting the exciting next project - your lovely Icelandic.
:A

Oh heck, I won't ever show you my WIP (work in progress) basket and tubs.....if you are brave enough you can look at my ravelry page (linkie down the bottom) and see how many projects I have on the go! I wish I was more like you though. .

smiler34 wrote: »

Hi guys im new to this thread. Just finished knitting the body of a doll from a book called knitted toy tales and am going to sew up and stuff it tonight. As this is the first knitted toy I have made was wondering if anyone had any tips for sewing up, stuffing and adding details? I am going to be making 4 all together so if anyone has any tips would be very useful. Also I keep finding loads of patterns that I like which use either dpns or circular needles but I would like to try something simple with these before attempting something fancy. Any ideas?
Sam x

I have made a few toys/people and tbh it does take a bit or practice to get them right. Perhaps try sewing some features on to an old knitted 'thing' a few times before you do it 'for real'? Someone also told me that lipstick can be good for blushed cheeks if your toy has that 'look'. I'd also say stuff firmly but don't over-stuff as that might put some force on the seams!
As for dpn/circular knitting, it isn't that hard- you could try a nice snood or something on a circular, or if that is too scary you could knit it flat and seam it up- loads of snood/cowl patterns on ravelry. Cuddles also made a thing called a fidget, which I thought looked lovely- am sure she won't mind me posting a link of the pattern here....http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-fidget Best of luck!

mrs-moneypenny wrote: »

currently knitting a little hooded cardi/jacket from craft seller mag, its a pain as the pattern has two mistakes that i can see in it that really affect the pattern, i did a contact us on their website but they havent replied. just got the hood to do now but not impressed as its a gift for someone and i feel its been cobbled somewhat.

That is annoying, it seems to happen to me more and more these days- partly why I have taken to making up patterns as I go along these days! I hope you are able to get it sorted out and would love to see the finished article!

lynseydee wrote: »

Hi Orkney

I know you knit a lot for your little boy and have a feeling you've knitted him some hats before know. Would you mind letting me know whereabouts you got the patterns from as it's nice to see what you've made and what it looks like knitted up. I've looked at Ravelry but can't seem to find anything as nice as what you've made in the past.

Thanks.

Sorry for the late-ish reply, I have just seen this as not been on this bit for a while .
In all honesty I make most of them up as I go along, though I have used a couple of printed versions from old Sirdar patterns too.
If you search for something like 'simple childs hat' or 'simple beanie' it might bring up some nice ones for you. If you have a simple hat pattern done in stocking stitch (knit every round if doing in the round) then it is quite easy to add a few cables in here and there or moss stitch and so on. Have fun!

westcoastscot wrote: »

what an unfriendly thread! shalln't venture here again.
orkney the last regia I purchased was 3.99 from ebay - I see 100g is 4.99 now - I stand corrected.

westcoastscot wrote: »

No need to apologise Mrs Moneypenny, it wasn;t the responses I didn't get rather than the response I did get!
I've been knitting for 45 years, and make part of my living knitting - I've often read the thread but rarely posted.
Shall go back into lurkdom

We are a friendly bunch here, in all honesty I don't think anyone needs to apologise to anyone as no-one has said anything nasty as far as I can see. Perhaps a 'hello' might have been nice but I, for one, didn't actually realise you were new (I recognised your user-name, maybe I have come across it elsewhere, or someone with a similar name, but it certainly rings a bell!)

I notice you have referred to me directly (though not sure why it was only me, as someone else pointed out the Regia price thing too), I simply pointed out my experiences of how much yarn had cost me in the past and also offered advice to the lady who was trying to find out if her potential purchase was a good deal. I have never found the Regia as cheaply as you have, on e-bay or otherwise, but well done to you if you have. As for having knitted for 45 years, that is great- I am not old enough to have knitted for that long but hope to keep knitting as long as I am able to and enjoy it!

Finally some of my latest finished things.....
Cubist Socks

Practice Lopi Vest with non-Lopi yarn


I have more things on ravelry so please feel free to look there (http://www.ravelry.com/people/OrkneyStar).
We also have a MSE group on there- http://www.ravelry.com/groups/mse-ravelry

Phew, that was a long post- hope I haven't forgotten anyone........

smiler34

Wow Orkney star your makes are gorgeous. Thanks for advice too x

mrs-moneypenny

love the socks and top OS
still working on the hood, will photo it before giving it away

lobbyludd

hi - after some advice - have been knitting a honeycomb stitch as a practice for a blanket, using odds and sods of wool. the test knit looks rather lovely, is about 15 x 15 inch so I thought I might face a cushion cover with it (will st stitch the back). but I've never actually used a knit for a cushion cover, do I need to line it at all to stop it stretching/support it, and if so - how?

thank you!

FizzWhizz

iQueen, it wasn't so much SSS as FSS; FOURTH sock syndrome! I'd already knitted an identical pair in dark grey and DH requested more in black. It took me almost three years but I am officially finished :j Ends have been woven in and they're ready to be christened on the first frosty morning of the year.

OrkneyStar, thank you for the warm welcome. I'm looking forward to starting something for myself. I have three contenders -- the Icelandic steek, a new Central Park hoodie in black as my old one is now too big and rather tatty, or some cosy socks for me. I will find some time today to peruse the free sock patterns on Ravelry and make my choice then.

Notice how I conveniently forget about the many WIPs which are languishing, unloved in bags and boxes around the house…

iQueen

WIPS

One reason why I try to completely finish my WIP, is that I sometimes make modifications, or just alter the number of sts for grafting on sox. So, if I put the WIP aside for more than a week, I forget my mod, although I usually keep notes on pattern changes.

Also, in the 'old' days, when I used to stack up WIPs, I would sometimes lose interest in the project permanently (or the children grew out of them before they before they had the chance to wear them). Now, I can start a new project with excitement and a clear conscience.

Another thing, Knitters, unfinished WIPs take up space much better filled with... More stash! :T

Currently, just finishing Snug (a very EZ type of one-piece garter duffle coat, free from Ravelry) in Olive Chunky. I plan to edge it in scarlet i-cord and add red toggles. Then I shall probably knit something in 3ply, cos Chunky acrylic upsets my arthritis!

WestcoastScot Thanks for the tip on Regia - I'm always looking for really good sock wool, at a bargain price. I'll see if I can find it.

OrkneyStar

iQueen wrote: »

WIPS

One reason why I try to completely finish my WIP, is that I sometimes make modifications, or just alter the number of sts for grafting on sox. So, if I put the WIP aside for more than a week, I forget my mod, although I usually keep notes on pattern changes.

Also, in the 'old' days, when I used to stack up WIPs, I would sometimes lose interest in the project permanently (or the children grew out of them before they before they had the chance to wear them). Now, I can start a new project with excitement and a clear conscience.

Another thing, Knitters, unfinished WIPs take up space much better filled with... More stash! :T

Currently, just finishing Snug (a very EZ type of one-piece garter duffle coat, free from Ravelry) in Olive Chunky. I plan to edge it in scarlet i-cord and add red toggles. Then I shall probably knit something in 3ply, cos Chunky acrylic upsets my arthritis!

WestcoastScot Thanks for the tip on Regia - I'm always looking for really good sock wool, at a bargain price. I'll see if I can find it.

I rotate my WIP's quite a bit and don't let things get left for too long (normally ). I [STRIKE]nice[/STRIKE], knit even, socially at knitting groups and also at home, sometimes in company or watching a film, sometimes alone. I find it helps to have simpler or more complicated projects depending on the situation and whether I can concentrate or not. I too try to take notes of modifications, but occasionally loose them and then, of course, I am looking at the knitting with measuring tape and magnifying glass in hand! Re the bargain sock wool, sometimes Kemps has it in (though not checked recently) and Hobbycraft did have a 3 for 2 on as well. Always good to get sock wool cheap, especially decent quality stuff! Would love to see the snug when it is finished.

lobbyludd wrote: »

hi - after some advice - have been knitting a honeycomb stitch as a practice for a blanket, using odds and sods of wool. the test knit looks rather lovely, is about 15 x 15 inch so I thought I might face a cushion cover with it (will st stitch the back). but I've never actually used a knit for a cushion cover, do I need to line it at all to stop it stretching/support it, and if so - how?

thank you!

I think it might depend on the yarn to be honest, and whether you think the pattern will stretch over time. I am not really an expert though, so hopefully someone else will be along soon with more advice. You'll need to show us a photo when it is done. .

lobbyludd

thanks Orkney - it's all sorts of yarn from my leftovers so a mixture of types. think it will definitely stretch and probably to different degrees on different rows!

hmmm..... rethinking the cushion, will look around on ravelry to see if there's anything I can use the square for. otherwise it will be another dolly's blanket