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Post by V on Oct 9, 2016 8:31:55 GMT -5
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Post by ashtangi on Oct 10, 2016 9:06:40 GMT -5
Ooh, V that's really pretty! What color yarn are you using?
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Post by ashtangi on Oct 10, 2016 9:14:58 GMT -5
I thought I would share this with my fellow knitters. This was made sometime in the mid-to-late 70's for my mother by my nana's sister in law Jean (fondly referred to as Aunt Jean). My mom had it in her closet for years, found it last year, and gave it to me. It fits me perfectly, even though my mom is a few inches taller than me. I *think* it might have been washed and shrunk at some point, but I'm not sure. Anyway, it's super cozy and the perfect lazing-around-the-house type of sweater. It must have taken a lot of time because there are three different cable patterns on it. I'm glad it's finally getting used by somebody!
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Post by V on Oct 10, 2016 11:04:54 GMT -5
www.redheart.com/yarn/unforgettableEcho - ID#E793_3940 It is a purple/green/grey mix that is working up really nicely so far. 100% Acrylic Cheap WalMart yarn. We don't have any yarn places in Mayberry except WM. And I'm not good enough a knitter to spend money on nice yarns. I've already run into my first snag though. I apparently dropped a couple of stitches in the first rounds somewhere and this first round of the yoke has come out uneven. I'm trying to decide how to make up for the mistake: Either I can pick up two sets of two rows in the ribbing OR I can pick up a couple of stitches evenly spaced on the short side OR I can rip it all out and start from scratch. (I don't like this option because the yarn is fuzzy and I don't think that it will rip out well. KWIM?) I had finished the neck ribbing and started the first round of the yoke when I found my error. It's not a huge investment of time or yarn, but I hate to start from scratch. Also, I have been looking at the pattern and it talks about making "right or left" leaning stitches. I cannot for the life of me figure out how to make them lean one way or the other. I think it has to do with making the stitch through the back loop before or after the front loop stitch. But when I read the directions on how, it just confuses me. I am a "continental" knitter, meaning that instead of flipping the piece over to purl the other side, I just knit backwards (first knitting from right to left, then knitting left to right to make a stockinette stitch). I think that it will have to have some combination of slipping a stitch so that the back loop is worked to the left or right of the front stitch. Does that even make sense?
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Post by clcountry on Oct 10, 2016 11:55:05 GMT -5
V, remember I'm a brand-newbie, so take this with a shaker of salt, but from a quick glance at that pattern, it looks like the right/left-leaning language only applies to the increases. This article is written for left-handed knitters who "backwards" knit like I do, but it still might help: yarncrafts4lefties.blogspot.com/2014/06/which-way-do-they-go.htmlIf not, hopefully someone who knows more will be around in a bit to answer questions! ashtangi, that sweater is amazing! Such a neat find and so cool that it fits you. I worked on my baby blanket a little bit this weekend, but I'm getting a little bored with the pattern, so I also made a dishcloth that's mostly knit in stockinette stitch; I wanted to practice for a shawl I want to make after I finish the baby blanker. I also started a second dishcloth for my stepmother--might as well use that yarn!--and got halfway through; I'll probably finish it tonight. Well, now I'm off for my first knitting date of the week. I'm going to try to get to the halfway mark on this baby blanket!
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Post by ashtangi on Oct 10, 2016 12:33:48 GMT -5
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Post by suzieq52083 on Oct 11, 2016 11:24:08 GMT -5
And I'm not good enough a knitter to spend money on nice yarns. Ack! This makes my heart hurt! Not true! Lol. I totally understand if you are happy working with acrylic and don't have access to a yarn shop. Its cheap, its accessible, it is easy to care for, which are all good qualities. But, I think every knitter (even beginners!!) is worthy of 'nice yarn'. If you are ever interested, I can point you towards some online resources for not too expensive options (knit picks is one of them). I started out using high quality yarn shop yarn, even for my very first projects, and I never looked back! I use acrylic when its more appropriate than wool, blankets and baby wear mostly, but other wise I am using natural fibers.
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Post by suzieq52083 on Oct 11, 2016 11:26:50 GMT -5
Also, I have been looking at the pattern and it talks about making "right or left" leaning stitches. Right leaning - pick up from the back and knit through the stitch normally Left leaning - pick up from the front and knit into the back of the stitch I don't know how it would change with the way you knit though.
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Post by clcountry on Oct 11, 2016 11:57:01 GMT -5
For me, even the difference between yarn bought at Wal-mart and yarn bought at Hobby Lobby is enormous, at least when it comes to cotton. It's not too much more expensive, and the Hobby Lobby yarn is soft and a joy to knit with while the Wal-mart brand hurts my hands.
I do want to order some of the truly good stuff eventually, but I want to save it for a special project. I just checked the price on a recommended yarn for a baby blanket I liked, and the cost for the yarn alone is over $300. I don't even like my own hypothetical baby that much, much less someone else's!
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Post by suzieq52083 on Oct 11, 2016 12:05:18 GMT -5
I just checked the price on a recommended yarn for a baby blanket I liked, and the cost for the yarn alone is over $300. That is CRAY! Lol. I spend a crapton of money on yarn and I think that is insane. Lol. I spent like 75 on a baby blanket recently because I needed a third skein of yarn unexpectedly. I was annoyed. Lol. I spent $100 on a wool for an adult length blanket. I think that 100-150 would be my limit for a blanket or sweater. I used acrylic for my last adult blanket because wool would have been too expensive. So, acrylic has its place, but beautiful wool also has a place. I find it really interesting that hobby lobby quality is better than walmart! I'm glad you found something you enjoy working with.
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Post by V on Oct 11, 2016 12:56:40 GMT -5
After looking at the site ashtangi linked, I finally get it! Those videos and illustrations made a difference. I will be bookmarking that site for future reference. Thank you!
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Post by ashtangi on Oct 11, 2016 13:10:52 GMT -5
Woo hoo V ! I use that site a lot if I have questions with increases and decreases. Adding to the yarn conversation, I bought some cotton yarn recently at Joanne Fabric and I could not knit with it. It seemed fine in the ball but when I started to knit with it, it was just stiff and splitty and felt awful. It was super cheap, so it didn't set me back much money, but I loved the color. Oh well. Sometimes you never know how a yarn is going to behave until you start to knit with it. Also, some brands are SO expensive. I have a few sweater patterns that call for yarn from The Plucky Knitter, and they're around $30 a skein. It would be like $200 to knit a sweater. I always wonder how people can afford that! Luckily it's pretty easy to substitute yarn.
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Post by clcountry on Oct 11, 2016 13:55:52 GMT -5
I went in a yarn store in Texas with my STBXMIL over the summer. They had some gorgeous yarn, and I wanted to buy it for my friend who knits (I wasn't knitting yet), but it was almost fifty dollars for one small hank. No way.
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Post by clcountry on Oct 12, 2016 7:53:22 GMT -5
I've officially passed the halfway mark on the baby blanket I'm making! It's the same pattern as the first dishcloth I made, just bigger. I'm really pleased with it so far, although I do think it may end up being too small for the baby I'd originally planned it for. Luckily, I have another friend due with a girl any minute, so if necessary, I'll give this blanket to her and start another one for my cousin's baby. I ended up ripping out the scarf I was working on after deciding it looked sloppy. I'm afraid the yarn itself may have been the problem, but I really do love it, so I'm going to try again using this pattern: www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/misti-chunky-ribs--ruffles-scarf
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Post by ashtangi on Oct 12, 2016 8:23:30 GMT -5
clcountry I love the blanket! You pick out great colors I wouldn't worry about the blanket being a little small. The baby will still be able to use it, cuddle with it, etc.
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Post by suzieq52083 on Oct 12, 2016 13:05:15 GMT -5
I went in a yarn store in Texas with my STBXMIL over the summer. They had some gorgeous yarn, and I wanted to buy it for my friend who knits (I wasn't knitting yet), but it was almost fifty dollars for one small hank. No way. I bought a $50 skein ONCE. But, I bought it with credit I received for working at my yarn shop during a trunk show. And, it was longer than a normal skein. Happily, I get the absolute most compliments about the scarf I made from it. It matches a ton of my wardrobe and I basically wore it all winter.
Otherwise, my normal max is like $27-30 for a skein if I don't have a gift card. If I have a gift card, I will sometimes buy something more expensive. If I need more than one skein, I consider the overall price for the project and if it would be worth it. I compare how much I would spend on the item if I bought it in the store to the price of the yarn (obviously not taking into account my time).
I'm not afraid to pick something up and put it back down again when I see the price. I have gotten really good at saying 'that is outside my budget right now.' Lol.
I worked on my sock yesterday for a bit. I am using the new wood needles I bought after I broke one of my needles on my other set of double points. I am not sure about them. I think they might be a little too 'sticky' for my tight knitting. I thought that they were smooth enough, but after finishing one sock I feel like the smoothness has worn off? Weird I know. Lol.
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Post by ashtangi on Oct 13, 2016 8:58:43 GMT -5
Suzie I have bamboo needles and I got a pair from a different brand and they definitely felt different. Like, the coating wasn't as smooth and they "sounded" different when the yarn moved across them. It was a bit distracting but I got used to it. It's amazing how particular we get about our needles and stuff.
I'm planning on going to my local yarn shop this weekend because my nephews have been asking me for socks. I gave them two pairs of my most neutral colored socks because sadly luckily we have the same foot size right now. But they'll bust out of them soon and I need to buy some boy-appropriate neutral colors. My oldest nephew wore a pair the other day and I was so excited. He loves cozy things and apparently my handknit socks pass the cozy test!
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Post by clcountry on Oct 13, 2016 10:44:44 GMT -5
Good morning, knitters! I have a question. I expect to finish the blanket I'm working on sometime in the next couple of days, and then I'd like to start another one for a friend of mine due with a little girl any day now. After three dishcloths and a baby blanket, I'm tired of the diagonal pattern I've been working with, though, and I'd like to do something a little different. I'm thinking a simple stockinette stitch with a garter stitch border, knit on circular needles. What length of cord should I buy, though? I've never used circulars before.
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Post by V on Oct 13, 2016 10:58:44 GMT -5
I'm happiest when knitting on circulars - even when knitting flat items. Then I don't have to worry about the stitches dropping off the DPNs or the yarn twisting around the free ends of the needles. I'm not very coordinated, so that can cause a lot of problems. I couldn't find size 2 circulars for my currnt project and it is not easy with the DPNs I am using. I went with the circular needles sold at WM (because I live in Mayberry and don't have access to big city stores). I think they are 18".
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Post by V on Oct 13, 2016 11:29:22 GMT -5
Aaaaand I got very upset when I realized I had made yet another mistake with dropping a stitch. Original project ditched. Casting on new stitches from scratch. Bleh
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Post by suzieq52083 on Oct 13, 2016 12:06:52 GMT -5
Good morning, knitters! I have a question. I expect to finish the blanket I'm working on sometime in the next couple of days, and then I'd like to start another one for a friend of mine due with a little girl any day now. After three dishcloths and a baby blanket, I'm tired of the diagonal pattern I've been working with, though, and I'd like to do something a little different. I'm thinking a simple stockinette stitch with a garter stitch border, knit on circular needles. What length of cord should I buy, though? I've never used circulars before.
First, make sure you do quite a big border in garter, as stockinette rolls without it.
Second, I was wondering if you were working that blanket on straights! It looked like it in the picture, but I forgot to ask. I use circular needles for pretty much everything. I don't think I have used my straight needles in at least a year. I would get a 24 or 32 inch cord for the baby blanket. I think a 24 inch would be fine for a baby blanket, but the longer the cord, the more stitches you can fit. Also, just as an FYI, I bought chiaogoo bamboo needles when I was starting out. They are good quality and not too expensive. I eventually bought an interchangeable set, but the chiaogoos were great for my needs as a beginner.
I got into my sweater yesterday! Finally! I think I am on the right track. I am working on making the stitches between the cable a little less stretched out. But, otherwise, I am happy with what is happening.
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Post by ashtangi on Oct 13, 2016 13:44:49 GMT -5
I use circular needles for almost everything, too. The 24 inch ones should be good, as Suzie said, but it wouldn't hurt to use the 28 inch either. You just don't want them to be so much bigger that the cord starts to get in the way. suzieq52083 what kind of interchangeable needles do you use? Do you think they're worth it?
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Post by suzieq52083 on Oct 13, 2016 13:59:43 GMT -5
I have an interchangeable set of Hiya Hiya. I absolutely 100% think they are worth it. I was constantly having to go out and buy needles for projects. I discovered online that they have sharper versions though. I love them because I feel like the yarn moves like butter across them. I notice a significant difference when I have to go to my fixed bamboo needles.
The main reason I like them though is that I have every needle and cord size I use regularly (I got the hiya hiya because they have a 16 inch cord, many other interchangeable sets do not have a 16). And, I love that they are in a nice little case. My other needles are all jumbled in a zip lock bag and it drives me nuts trying to figure out if I have what I need. Also, the set was only like $100, totally worth it in my opinion.
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Post by clcountry on Oct 13, 2016 14:05:35 GMT -5
Awesome. Thanks, everyone. And yeah, knitting the current blanket on straights was a big mistake. Oh well--the end is in sight!
Another question: I really do want to try my hand at a pair of socks. Does anyone have a good beginner pattern recommendation? I'd prefer to use the magic loop method, but I'm not totally opposed to double pointed needles; I'm sure I'll need to learn to use them eventually.
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Post by suzieq52083 on Oct 13, 2016 16:29:55 GMT -5
Does anyone have a good beginner pattern recommendation? The first socks I did were 'Vanilla Latte'. It is a pattern on raverly for top down socks. But, you could also just do straight stockinette (with a ribbed cuff) if you wanted. If you are looking for a tutorial on how to do it, I recommend very pink knits. I actually really like using double points. I have used magic loop when I didn't have the size needles I needed, but I find it a pain because my yarn always ends up in the wrong place. But, that said, TONS of people prefer magic loop. I'm just not one of them!
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