The Knitters Thread

janb5

I am setting myself a challenge and wonder if anyone would like to join me?

I have my stash of wool and unfinished projects and yet I thought it was a great idea to buy another pattern and some baby Aran for my granddaughter arriving in November..........! When I die, my family will find.....amongst other things (!) my collection of wicker baskets and my wool stash.

Anyone prepared to clear their stash with me? My WIP include a baby shawl, socks (one made) a child`s jumper(half made) +socks for my daughter in law. I am going to finish one thing at a time and NOT BUY ANY MORE wool!

mrs-moneypenny

im working through mine on another forum via a stash busting thread but ill happily join you as well.

ive got way to much and spread about to consider weighing in the usused weight but ive been weighing after its knitted.
ive set myself the goal of not buying any more wool fabric or cross stiching stuff till ive used what i have.

like you my children were worried they'd be left unknitted wool in my will!

as an example i finished a cardi earlier this year that would fit a 5/6 year old, i think i started it for my eldest DD how is now 26.

iQueen

janb5 wrote: »

I am setting myself a challenge and wonder if anyone would like to join me?

I have my stash of wool and unfinished projects and yet I thought it was a great idea to buy another pattern and some baby Aran for my grtandaughter arriving in November..........! When I die, my family will find.....amongst other things (!) my collection of wicker baskets and my wool stash.

Anyone prepared to clear their stash with me? My WIP include a baby shawl, socks (one made) a child`s jumper(half made) +socks for my daughter in law. I am going to finish one thing at a time and NOT BUY ANY MORE wool!

I'm already on it! :beer:

My first Grandbaby is due beg of December (I've been waiting 20 years for this event! :rotfl:) and I thought "GREAT! Baby = tiny garments = stashbuster".

BUT, have you noticed - nothing's changed... not enough of the colour you want to use or not the right weight or too fluffy, or too coarse for a baby or... etc, etc? Just another opportunity to RE-stash! :eek:

So, having rushed out and bought a load more yarn, as soon as I knew of my promotion to expectant Grandma, I am definitely joining you on a major attempt at stash-busting.

Not only has my stash grown, but I have also wasted WEEKS 'pattern-browsing' and have increased my Queue and Library of free patterns stashed on Ravelry! Well worthwhile though, because I have found some very cute and unusual things.

Here are some: (ALL FREE!)

DK cabled suit
Cute Chunky duffle coat - quick and easy
DK Sweater with little owl - has a padded tummy!
DK Viking hat
4ply Baby socks - about 15g of leftover sock wool (easiest on 4in Knit Pro DPNs).
4ply/DK (Sport/Quick knit) Pixie Hat
DK Speckle Cardigan - great stash buster.
Dishcloth baby blanket (or similar diagonal pattern - 36in square) - ditto - and quick. (I used up some 30 year-old Chunky acrylic - 400g and used this edging in Aran weight)
DK Top-down quick cardigan
DK Sheep Cardigan

Apart from the Owl Sweater, I'm sticking to cardigans cos, in my experience of 5, babies object to being reminded of their entry into the world, by having sweaters pulled over their heads, for the first few months! :shocked:

Ooooh! Don't forget to check out Toys on Ravelry. Here are some examples:

Traditional ball (also lots of others)
'Shelf' chickens
Easy-grasp star

Raksha

karmacookie wrote: »

They also had a sock knitting loom for £2.50.

would have been rude not to buy it but goodness knows how it works :eek:

Ops, forgot that one. I struggled with it to start with, as it says for fine wool you need to set up 3 rows of wraps, well that's rubbish IMHO, I found this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKrG2SELrF4

iQueen

mrs-moneypenny wrote: »

like you my children were worried they'd be left unknitted wool in my will!

The sad thing, that I hate to contemplate, is the stash and equipment ending up in sad little bundles on Ebay, or gathering dust in the corner of a charity shop.:eek: I'm leaving my stash etc to my local WSD [Weavers' Spinners' & Dyers'] group, to sell off for their funds.

as an example i finished a cardi earlier this year that would fit a 5/6 year old, i think i started it for my eldest DD how is now 26.

When he was 15, my oldest DS, asked me to knit him a polo-necked sweater... with gloves ending the sleeves. It's still unfinished, somewhere in the house [3 house moves later] and he is 45 and too big for it now. Hmmm... wonders... if I have a Grandson... no, I'll find it and and make it into a gardening sweater for me... when I get time! :rotfl:

iQueen

Raksha wrote: »

Ops, forgot that one. I struggled with it to start with, as it says for fine wool you need to set up 3 rows of wraps, well that's rubbish IMHO, I found this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKrG2SELrF4

If it's what I think it is, it works like the French Knitting dolls - and you DO need to wrap the yarn round 3 times for the first round - it strengthens the cuff edge. After that, you just use a knitting needle to lift the bottom yarn over each prong until you have the length of cuff. Then, I think, you will work the heel flap across half the sts but I'm not sure how that would work. Or possibly the heel is also worked in the round?

DPNs are a lot easier!

iQueen

Another good Stashbuster - use up all those bits of green and muddy colours that go with nothing else!

Christmas Wreath by Kirsty McLeod

Make your own 'scarf yarn':

No need to buy scarf yarn (unless you are flush!) just knit up (Garter or any st) appropriate stash yarns (including boucle) in a long strip (about 3-4in wide?) on big needles, making single *Yarn Over, K2tog* along ONE edge, about 2-3 sts in, on alternate rows to make your own scarf yarn. When your strip is long enough, knit it up (or gather it) through the holes, and use the ruffle to bind your wreath frame - available cheaply on Ebay or from garden centres.

OR knit a strip, casting on 5-10 sts, at ONE edge and binding them off on the next row, to make a fringed fabric. Wrap your frame, as above.

mrs-moneypenny

had to buy a ball of green bamboo yesterday as id run out of yarn for the leaves on the flower brooches. have put some more together over the weekend so am up to 20 completed and 4 knitted now

hope all are well

iQueen

mrs-moneypenny wrote: »

had to buy a ball of green bamboo yesterday as id run out of yarn for the leaves on the flower brooches. have put some more together over the weekend so am up to 20 completed and 4 knitted now

hope all are well

Blimey! Your stash must be sparse - no green! :rotfl:

You're doing great! Hope they all find a home.

I've spent the day searching for a free (of course!) pattern for a baby-size Scandinavian cardigan! Didn't find exactly what I was looking for, but came across one that might work out to size, if I do it in 4ply. Gorgeous pattern.

I shall be knitting it flat because my yarn will be [STRIKE]cheap stuff[/STRIKE] acrylic and won't be good for steeking.

Not sure when I'll get it started cos I have some seaming i-cording to do, and time is running out for some items my daughter specifically requested for the baby! Erm... and there's... Christmas Knitting unstarted! :eek:

Raksha

OK, I'm getting into socks....... Technically stretching my brain just enough, never do one thing for so long it gets boring, and such lovely colours of yarn out there (shame OH will only wear black........) I like long socks, but having short fat legs, rarely found any that fitted properly, but now I also have a pattern for socks for Diabetics, and I'm in heaven! The feel of a sock that's knitted to fit your foot is like nothing else.

BUT - what's the cheapest sock yarn you can get? and is it any good? Really not sure I want to spend £8 plus on a pair of socks.....