The Knitters Thread

babs_103

nursemaggie wrote: »

You don't need to do that, just keep copying your previous rows. Just make a pattern with the stripes.

I see what you mean nursemaggie but I only have one ball of each colour so will have to make sure I have enough left to do the sleeves if I don't do it all at once, thanks for the idea x

Laura_Elsewhere

europe2014 wrote: »

Hi All
I've knitted a beautiful blanket for my youngest son which I need to block and also weave in the ends - which do I do first, block and then weave in ends or weave in ends and then block?

Also any tips on how best to block - it is knitted in Aran and is about 100cm by 80cm

Thanks in advance

For me, it depends - which isn't much help to you For crochet-lace shawls, I weave in the ends after aggressively blocking, but for smaller knitted items I would weave in first and then block.

We are in a tiny flat, so I use the bed for blocking - strip the covers off, spread towels onto mattress, soak the item and pin it well through the towels into the mattress.
It works well and we've never hd any sensation of the bed being damp that night either! Mind you, after soaking I do spread it onto another towel, roll that tightly and then walk on the roll so that does take a lot of moisture out, whilst leaving the fibres relaxed enough to block.

europe2014

Thank you Kittie and Laura_Elsewhere - I will now motivate myself to doing the last bit as I really enjoyed knitting it so would be nice to see my son using it :rotfl:

I also need to sew the ears on to my daughters rabbit hat and continue knitting my eldest son blanket too.

I am however tempted to start some socks too as I've had the wool for a few years and all this talk about them is making me feel guilty

[Deleted User]

It is cold outside, I don`t want to shop for something to do. The allotment is sleeping, I have plenty of food in store. I could be bored but am completely immersed in my knitting just now.

I sit in a recliner, I bought a slightly wider one, so that it was comfy for knitting. I like my 14" lantern moon or karbonz needles but prefer circulars and dpns these days. The long needles make me lift my arms, so I get shoulder ache, they need to be higher than the armrest. The other needles, stay low in my lap and there is enough width in the chair to accomodate the wool as well as me. I have a small trolley next to me with bits and bobs on the top, radio remote, a tablet to play audible books, notebook, tissues and knitting paraphernalia and a coaster for a mug. The sun shines low and I put one blind a bit lower to shield my face but I sit in the sun, in the window and it feels so uplifting

I finished one sock yesterday and have started the rib on the other. I am casting on, one stitch at a time, on the tiny circular and making the cast on loose, so it stretches all the way around. I will do the rib on the circular and then transfer to dpns. This is giving me a very nice and loose rib.

Talking about circulars, I have an endless supply and keep them in a long pocketed hanger on the back of the door. Each space is labelled and the needle ends hang down, it clatters when I shut the door. Still that is not enough for the multiple size combinations ie needle size and length and I often like to use 2 circulars instead of straight needles. The good ones are so easy to hold and on the fingers. I also have chiaogoo interchangeable sets and use them a lot. I gave all my old needles to a cs, had some for over 50 years

Once this pair of socks is finished, it will be today, I intend to make another to put away for another birthday. I have been told that the most prized present that one person had was a pair of hm socks. I know because I love to wear mine and they are beyond comfortable

Well_Preserved

Kittie, I see a Norwegian knitting Facebook page (a Norwegian friend ‘joined’ me) & while I struggle to understand Google translate I made out that they were enthusiastic about some Addi needles called Crasytrio, where you have stitches on 2 needles and use the third to work with. They look a bit like those cable needles with a bend in them. Apparently short row heels are a doddle because there’s half the stitches on each of the two. I’m no expert, having only done a couple of pairs of socks, but they look interesting although expensive at just over £12 a pair. Oh and each needle has a sharp and blunt end. Have you come across these?

[Deleted User]

never WP, maybe you can find a forum on ravelry. I do my socks with 4 of my dpns, each side of the heel on one needle and all the front on one. Its very easy this way. The needles make a triangle shape, I make sure to put a stitch marker, safety pin type, in the centre back as all the rows start and finish there

Well_Preserved

Didn’t think to look on Ravelry - thanks!

blackcatsx2

Kittie - the environment you have described for your knitting sounds idyllic!

Seakay

WP apparently these are the same as Crasytrio but the version sold in N America https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcNK0xCFXNc

Here's AddiCrasytrio https://youtu.be/YKt6kXr3nIA

lots of other demonstrations on YouTube as well

nursemaggie

Those look very interesting.