The Knitters Thread

PipneyJane

Shropshirelass said:

I don't think the problem is washing, i treated this jumper as I normally do, i.e. washed by hand, dried flat during first 2 years or so, then when it was no longer 'best', washed in machine, still dried flat.
I like to use DK, and I have a 4mm circular needle, it's square, but nice to use. It's the yarn I'm not sure of, some types seem to be less stretchy than others, and some are silky, I find them difficult to keep firm.
I'm not able to get to a proper wool shop, not only because of lockdown, but the nearest is over 25 miles away, so can't compare yarns. I usually buy online.
I will (surreptitiously) watch himself putting his jumpers on and off, there may be something there! 

@Shropshirelass - four things spring to mind:-

1. The fibre content of the yarn that you are using.  Pure wool is elastic and should retain its shape.  Cotton and acrylic will "drop". Alpaca is also slippery, as is silk.  I think you should look for something that is 100% wool, preferably plied so that it won't pill much.   (Do you remember back in the early '70's when crochetted dresses were fashionable?  My mum made one in cotton and wore it to a wedding.  By the end of the day, it had stretched from above the knee to ankle length.)
2. Do you have a loose tension?  Things that a knitted loosely are more likely to drop out of shape just because the stitches are bigger, which is why knitted lace shawls have to be blocked back into shape each time.  Do you knit tension squares and adapt your needle size to match the designer's tension?  If you are getting the designer's tension, it may be worth going down a needle size and knitting the next size up in the pattern to compensate.
3. You're drying the jumpers flat but, for anyone else who reads this, wet knitting is heavy so hanging it up will distort the knitted fabric, causing it to stretch downwards.
4. You're washing the jumpers in the machine.  Are you washing them in a garment bag or pillowslip, or just loose?  I'm wondering if the spin cycle you're using is stretching them.   Do you pull each jumper back into shape when you lay it out to dry?

On the question of yarn shops, I'd recommend Black Sheep Wools .  They visit a lot of yarn shows, sell over the internet and have a bricks-and-mortar shop.  They have an excellent clearance section, full of bargains  (e.g. they're currently selling Sublime Extra Fine Merino DK for £2.99/ball.  That's pure wool and it's machine washable).  If you have queries, they will answer the phone and are very helpful.

HTH,

Pip

Shropshirelass

Thank you everyone, I have made notes, and will now have a lovely time choosing yarn. I was wondering about alpacas, as we met some on holiday last year, and they were so cute, but don't want slippery. I will try using smaller needles and instructions for size + 1 on my next cardi for DGD, to see if I can improve on my loose knitting.

Savvy_Sue

If it helps, https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/ have a sale on atm.

Savvy_Sue

Finished the bands and cast off last night. Just got to sew the shoulder seams and put the buttons on. Pics to follow.

millie

PipneyJane said:

On the question of yarn shops, I'd recommend Black Sheep Wools .  They visit a lot of yarn shows, sell over the internet and have a bricks-and-mortar shop.  They have an excellent clearance section, full of bargains  (e.g. they're currently selling Sublime Extra Fine Merino DK for £2.99/ball.  That's pure wool and it's machine washable).  If you have queries, they will answer the phone and are very helpful.

HTH,

Pip

I always use the Sublime Extra Fine Merino wool. I washes well never get any piling and is really warm. I usually search for the place that has the cheapest prices. It is usually Black Sheep Wools, just finished knitting a cardigan and a jumper for myself. Its not cheap but well worth paying the extra for.

Savvy_Sue

Savvy_Sue said:

Finished the bands and cast off last night. Just got to sew the shoulder seams and put the buttons on. Pics to follow.

Sleeves in, ends tidied. Just the buttons ...

Savvy_Sue

Savvy_Sue said:

Savvy_Sue said:

Finished the bands and cast off last night. Just got to sew the shoulder seams and put the buttons on. Pics to follow.

Sleeves in, ends tidied. Just the buttons ...

Buttons sewn on during church. I love online church. 

I was at an online AGM last night and one of our members was knitting. 

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

absolutely gorgeous!

MrsCD

That's lovely @Savvy_Sue. So many colours! I imagine it's all warm and cozy. 
 I'm just settling down with my crochet ready for a you tube online church service from Ohio! (Alistair Begg if anyone's curious!) 

annieb64

I knit during online church too. Usually I try to do knitting  for charity so I feel less guilty. We've  been watching Mass from a monastery in Ireland as they were  still allowed to sing but we were  a bit late today so watched the Mass from Westminster  Cathedral  and they had a lovely  choir.