The Knitters Thread

Savvy_Sue

I don't know if it's OK for you, but I bought a cotton and tencel mix the other day. I was looking for DK cotton to finish a balaclava, didn't like the colours and it was (IMO) horribly expensive when I only needed a tiny bit. Spotted this other stuff which was a) cheaper and b) a lovely bright pink which contrasts beautifully with the grey cotton I was using.

Because it knits further per gram, I've probably got enough for a pink balaclava now. Plus I found a small ball of the grey cotton the other day (isn't it always the way???)

hiddenshadow

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

So what you're saying is that until I've finished the garment, I won't know if it's any good size-wise and washing wise. Just what I need: I knew there was a reason I gave up knitting in my youth ...

Not necessarily, just that you should treat your swatch as you will treat your finished garment (will it go in the washing machine? lie flat to dry? etc), and you should measure your garment against your swatch as you knit it so that you know if your larger-scale knitting is staying true to the small scale swatch (and you can adjust accordingly as you go).

Good news is that unless your gauge changes massively on the larger scale garment you should be fine, as a few stitches wider or smaller (or longer) won't make much difference.

Glad to hear it's working up well so far! I like the sound of flecked ribbing.

Savvy_Sue

hiddenshadow wrote: »

Not necessarily, just that you should treat your swatch as you will treat your finished garment (will it go in the washing machine? lie flat to dry? etc), and you should measure your garment against your swatch as you knit it so that you know if your larger-scale knitting is staying true to the small scale swatch (and you can adjust accordingly as you go).

Good news is that unless your gauge changes massively on the larger scale garment you should be fine, as a few stitches wider or smaller (or longer) won't make much difference.

Glad to hear it's working up well so far! I like the sound of flecked ribbing.

hadn't thought of offering the swatch up against the knitting as I go along, but it's still looking good. I have a cardigan I like the size of and the fronts are so far about the right width (minus the band in both cases).

I'm doing both fronts, a bit at a time, the main colour seems to be lasting quite well. One of the beautiful pink needles snapped so I had to order a wooden pair, and I do prefer them. But it's handy having one needle, I can knit bits onto a stop to put them aside and carry on with my 'best' needles, if that makes sense!

The pattern's gone a bit 'off' in places (it's K one row then k below then purl), but I'm past caring. The wool changes colour a bit so it barely shows, especially under the fluff. And it is of course a b*gger to undo or run down and pick up the right way, especially with the k below. And when I joined the pockets on I accidentally did two right fronts, for about two rows.

[Deleted User]

finally I got to wear one of my 3 drapey afterlite jumpers and it was too drapey around the neck, too much cleavage and down the shoulders. Drat, I sat and unpicked the neckline and took up far fewer stitches and graded it using circular needles in decreasing sizes. It ended with 5 rows of garter stitch. I put it on and couldn`t get it over my head. So took the garter stich rows out as the rib was stretchy. Used a larger needle for 4 rows and larger again for 5th and cast off with a larger one again. This time it goes over my head ok but not so easily. I feel that it looks nice and the neck is tidier so will leave it at that and repeat with the other two with slightly more pick ups. It would have been fine in a normal yarn but contains something that drapes and has no inner stretch like wool does. I will wear it tomorrow and see how it feels on all day.

[Deleted User]

I woke up deciding there was no way I could leave those neckbands, I have actually undone the first neckband three times but have reached perfection. The neck was a bit too wide so I did some gathers each side of the back neck and used smaller circular needles, just grading down once. I ended up with a good neck, slips over the head easily and is in no danger of slipping sideways or lower

Two tops are finished now and one more to do and being me, I have to do it right away. Then I need to write the details on the pattern because it is a pattern I will likely use again in the future. My hands are going to suffer because of the thin needles but will be ok if I wear nightime splints for a couple of days.

I just cannot do the knitting I used to, so these days am only knitting for myself. I am still spinning but am generally making 3 ply yarns from fine singles and that takes a long time, so satisfies my crafty genes.

Craftsy, free videos this weekend btw

PipneyJane

Kitty

How/where/when did you learn to spin? I would like to learn but do not want to go to the expense of buying a wheel before I do so, in case I buy the wrong one/dont like it, etc. They are a big investment and I would like to know what I am doing first.

Thanks

Pip

hiddenshadow

PipneyJane, I'm still a (very!) beginner spinner but you can buy a drop spindle for £10ish and see what you think of the general process without the upfront expense of a wheel. You can also see if there's a local Guild as they often have wheels that can be rented on a monthly basis.

(I learned what I know from Youtube videos and a bit of advice from folks at the local spinning group.)

[Deleted User]

I never got to terms with drop spindling, bought a wheel from a charity shop, stripped it down, re-did the wood and cleaned all the bearings etc and off I went on a steep self- taught learning curve. I still have the tea cosy I made from lumpy yarn. It takes a while to get to spin half decent singles, at first it bunches up and doesn`t feed on etc but it is all a learning curve. A year later I was making yarn which made jumpers for my husband and me. I never went to spinning guild for over 2 years, learnt everything from youtube, books and lots of dvds. Now I am teaching grandchildren to spin and they are in the bumpy stage, we just do a bit and leave it, then go back to it

I now have a wheel obsession, 4 wheels, one of which is my first old wheel, which I can strap in my car and take visiting. I made another wheel from a kit, the same type as the first wheel. My third wheel is also portable with 2 pedals and has a carry bag, my 4th wheel is my singing dancing rolls royce. The wheel I am using daily is the one I built from the kit. I will use that wheel until I have finished the large amount of grey falkland wool, which is a very amenable and easy to use fleece, bought ready prepared from world of wool. I get all my fibre combos from them and have boxes of the most luxurious blends eg silk/merino/cashmere, enough for a lifetime of pleasure

you can make a drop spindle from a cd and a dowel

ps, I don`t go to spinning guild, very friendly but too many days when they needed volunteers and pretty formal meetings. Anyway those days clashed with my wood carving group sessions, which I love

re the 4 wheels, I intend to invite people in to learn spinning but after I move, no charge, just tea and cake and chat

Seakay

Kittie: what a lovely idea to host spinning sessions for beginners with tea and cake, making what can be a solitary occupation a social one! People could take turns to bring cake. Hope your hands are not suffering too much after finishing your tops.
I haven't done any knitting this week but I have been darning an old favourite to prolong it's life for a bit

[Deleted User]

I am wearing an afterlight, first time, full day and have even been in my outdoors recliner in it, very comfortable. It is lovely in this warm weather and the new neckline is perfect and I am loving the 1/2 length loose sleeves. Very flattering fit, drapes in all the right places and the gathers mid V are enhancing. I have 2 black silk short sleeve t shirts/vests, very thin and they will be perfect as a layering layer. I am so glad I bit the bullet about re-doing the neckline, it has made all the difference

Another 5 skeins of falklands 3 ply have been washed and dried, so now I have, I think, 11 skeins.Taken me about a year so far. Will be heading for an al fresco overtop with this yarn, same as the one I made last time as it is very flexible and very good for winter. I am glad I am spinning finer now, I have just `discovered` a lot of earlier yarns, will need to do something with them, eventually