The Knitters Thread

mardatha

Yes Shetland needles, double pointed 40cms/16" long. From Jamiesons of Lerwick. It's how I learned to knit and the only way I can do it without getting annoyed. I did try the short dpns but its like trying to knit with toothpicks

nursemaggie

Hi everyone back from my holiday in Malta.

I actually have a tan it was unseasonably warm around 27 - 31 should have been 18 - 25.

Halfway through my ten days DD said "Mum you have a bit of colour!"

SiL said "Your not nuclear white any more"

Of course they are all very tanned as they only wear jumpers or cardi's from Jan to March.

I think it was about 2 years ago we had a discussion on needles and arthritis. Some came to the conclusion that for heavy garments circular needles were good as the weight was on your knee and wooden needles for other knitting.

I have stayed on metal ones and use shorter needles for smaller items. I have been relatively pain free most of the ten days I have been away. I have done no knitting for 12 days now. I have had the odd hour or two when my wrists throbbed. I put that down to not knitting and walking about more.

I have managed to read three books while away. I ran out of reading materials half way back so I ought to have bought another book.

Nomoonatall

In case anyone's interested, there are £1 large bamboo knitting needles in either B and M...or it could be Poundworld, can't remember. Wish I'd bought some. I hope someone can clarify!

spirit

I'm interested in the needles chat. I had all sizes til I moved house and gave away most of my knitting stuff.


Silly me because I am back into it with a passion. I've got most common sizes from PRYM. but am looking to buy a set of decent ones. I've also got a few in-the-round style ones which I find handy for heavier items as the work sits in your lap as you knit.


but which ones to get? Knitpro or something else? I had to get some 2.75 ones yesterday and all they had were massive great long ones like telegraph poles. I like them the shorter the better.


I've made 2 baby things from Debbie Bliss and currently working on a third. A friend of mine also recommended Bergere de France for baby/children patterns/yarn. I'm open to other suggestions too?

mardatha

I'm with the telegraph poles lol. Bergere is gorgeous wool.

spirit

Thanks Ma,


methinks a trip to John Lewis' is in the offing tomorrow

maryb

Bergere is lovely and much cheaper than Rowan, though it tends to have more blends than 100% wool (but it's quite a high percentage of wool) so good for things that get washed often.

The village where we go on holiday in France has a Bergere de France shop. Family send out a search party after a while.

I prefer short needles because my mother was taught (and taught me) to hold the right needle like a pencil rather than with the hand over the top. Apparently this was a more 'ladylike' way to hold the knitting as it showed off the hands more elegantly:rotfl: (The fact that it is less efficient didn't matter). But it means that if I use a long needle it knocks against my upper arm with every stitch

Paddee

Regarding this yarn, my local Home Bargains store has had small packs (4x25g balls) for £1.50 for some months. It can be a hit and miss affair but so far I have managed to get the equivalent of 4 ply and also aran. Looking at the price for the 50g balls it was quite a bargain. I used the white 4 ply to make baby cardigans for a friend and was so pleased with the results. At first it was in the aisle where the laundry items were but now it is in the stationary aisle.

maryb

There's a new Home Bargain opened near me, we've never had one anywhere near before so I'll pop in and suss it out soon, thanks for that

spirit

maryb wrote: »

I prefer short needles because my mother was taught (and taught me) to hold the right needle like a pencil rather than with the hand over the top. Apparently this was a more 'ladylike' way to hold the knitting as it showed off the hands more elegantly:rotfl: (The fact that it is less efficient didn't matter). But it means that if I use a long needle it knocks against my upper arm with every stitch

I hold it the same way maryb, I knit fast this way, I don't think I could if I held it on top? Looks much more cumbersome.