Knitting - help and advice super thread!

I had a feeling someone would say that Yeah you're probably right, can't see any other way around it.

I would keep going too, so much time invested already that it seems a shame to rip it. For what it's worth, I would look again at the pattern and see if there is another size that is near to the cast on number of stitches of 92. Then continue knitting following the instructions for that size. You may need a few extra balls of yarn but if you bought the yarn recently, it should still be available. If there's a difference in dye lot numbers, do one sleeve in the newer balls and use the original yarn for the rest of the garment. This is just what I would do, because while ripping back is the perfect solution, it's also a great big pain. If the finished garment is way too big for you, someone you love will be thrilled to receive it. Good luck, whichever you do.

Hi Morrigan,
I have to say that's exactly how I got back into knitting too! Did a few things for my niece when she was born and haven't stopped. I used a few patterns from ravelry.com and some sites I'll link below. I later invested in this book http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Book-Baby-Knits/dp/1844009459 and I have to say the patterns are lovely and knit up much nicer than some of the free patterns on the internet. So my advice would be to get a book from the outset.

Here are some good sites though to give you an idea of the kind of thing you could do. I guess it all depends on whether you know the gender. A few cardigans, booties, hats, blankets would never go astray no matter if it's a boy or a girl.

http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/free-knitting-patterns1.htm

This is a classic for babies and easy enough to knit up. I'm sure there's matching booties and hat patterns out there too.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/5-hour-baby-sweater

Happy knitting!

wmpdd3 wrote: »

That Debbie Bliss book is great, I've done the garter hooded cardi a good few times and its so easy. It takes me about 7 hrs to do and I'm very slow at knitting.

I usually do a cream and white for 'dont know' or blue/pink and cream for genders.

I Googled that book and I was disappointed that easons were selling it for twice the price of other online book stores. I will have to wait a few days to get it in the post now

If I could make one further recommendation - make sure you use the yarn type or exact equivalent and right needle size as some patterns come out looking bizarre with even small adjustments (I learned to my detriment!)

Good idea to knit neutrals. Can be easily passed on.

I'd never heard of a special car seat blanket must look into that.

I'd be very interested to know what you knit for your new arrival @aknitter!

miss no stars wrote: »

Thing is, I measured my brother and he's long. Tall fecker and long in the body. He needs an extra few cm (about 5) in the sleeves and back on top of what the pattern for his size would give (the length doesn't increase beyond size L and he's between L and XL otherwise so am making XL)

I don't want to mess up the tapering of the sleeves so was thinking of adding the extra length in the ribbing of the cuff and bottom of the body but that might look weird? would I be better off adding say half in the ribbing, half in the stocking stitch and then starting the tapering after that? (Like, mark the end of the extra length with a thread or something and start the row counter after that).

Any suggestions would be welcome

This might not be the most helpful but I would email the magazine. They might have good tips on where extra lines could be added so that it doesn't change the proportions. Hopefully a more experienced knitter might have some advice (although I suspect they'd need to see a copy of the pattern.) it's a lovely jumper. Lucky brother :-)

I have 8 balls of Jaeger Wild Silk, with linen and cotton, wool and would like a pattern, knitting or crochet for it. Any ideas where I could get one, and also I want to find out what wool I could combine with it as 8 balls is probably not enough? As it is a fairly luxury yarn I would like something dressy.

You may get more answers in the arts and crafts forum
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=590

I admit I'm lazy!! So I do the swatch and If I can get away with a bigger needle I do as it makes it much easier to get little baby's limbs into the cardigan. Although it can decrease the warmth of the garment, houses arent really that cold anymore!

I got a blanket like this for my first baby from America, I love it:

http://shetriestolearn.blogspot.ie/2010/04/car-seat-blanket-tutorial.html

Mine is cotton jersey under the baby but knitted cotton for the flaps that open out.

miss no stars wrote: »

So I've taken up knitting this year and having made some squares, started cable knit leg warmers (gotten a bit bored with that tbh, so many cables....) and done a little crochet, I've decided to make an actual piece. My knitting is very neat (even if I say so myself) and I have the hang of increasing and decreasing, ribbing, cables etc so I've decided to plough ahead with an actual jumper :eek:

I got a pattern for this jumper with my subscription to the Knit and Stitch magazine and intend to make it for my brother (had a look at the pattern card and it all seems very straight forward, little bit of ribbing but otherwise just stocking stitch, and they have it marked as "easy")


Have the wool ordered and very excited to get going

Thing is, I measured my brother and he's long. Tall fecker and long in the body. He needs an extra few cm (about 5) in the sleeves and back on top of what the pattern for his size would give (the length doesn't increase beyond size L and he's between L and XL otherwise so am making XL)

I don't want to mess up the tapering of the sleeves so was thinking of adding the extra length in the ribbing of the cuff and bottom of the body but that might look weird? would I be better off adding say half in the ribbing, half in the stocking stitch and then starting the tapering after that? (Like, mark the end of the extra length with a thread or something and start the row counter after that).

Any suggestions would be welcome

For the body just add extra rows. For the sleeves, add an extra row or two when increasing, say it want you to increase every 6th, so you could every 8th instead. Using your guage figure out how many extra rows you need for 5cm, divide it evenly between the increases and work from there.

Moved from tLL

wmpdd3 wrote: »

No strictly a knitting question, but could I make a raw like seriously bulky yarn out of a raw sheeps skin?

I got a book in the library about spinning and I am no wiser after finishing it.

Basically I want to get a sheeps skin, make some yarn and either knit it on 50mm plus or on my arms?

Firstly, when sheep are sheared the skin isn't removed, it's just like having a hair cut.
Raw sheep wool, is very coarse, and unless it's been treated and cleaned properly it's going to be smelly, and dirty, and probably have little bits of vegetation and out stuff going through it.
Seems like it could be a lot of work, but it's not something I've done.

Hi WMPDD3

Right so I get the fleece, I wash it in a big tub in the garden and it's lovely and clean, is it felted?

Would I have to use cold water and no detergent?



An absolutely brilliant resoiurce for all matters spinning and fleece related is Ravelry, specifically but not exclusively in this case, the Fiber Prep group and the Raw Fleece group in Ravelry, www.ravelry.com, free to sign up.
From what I know, only a beginner at treating fleece myself,
the fleece will not felt in cold water, it will felt if it is subjected to changes of temperature in the soak water and with agitation. Some fleeces are quicker to felt than others. Do you want it a bit felted?

To clean the fleece, You can use a method called Fermented Suint Vat , which involves leaving the fleece in water in a large tub, in a slightly heated place, if I recall correctly and the stuff on the fleece will ferment, but when then rinsed etc, the fleece turns out beautifully clean.
Or you can use luke warm water and some gentle detergent in a small basin and wash a small amount at a time, I have done this, in an old wash-up basin in the bath. You would probably want to 'skirt' the frllece first, if it's straight from the sheep, that is, unroll it outdoors and hand pick out the worst of the dirty scruffy edges and any bits of hay/twigs etc. (the bits you discard can be used as mulch in the garden or threaded onto bushes for birds to come and take for nests)

To make a very thick yarn out of fleece, (how much of it do you require?) well, if you just want a small amount I guess you could wash it as above and then spin it with a simple drop spindle made from a piece of dowelling and an old cd or wooden toy wheel, you can look that up too on You Tube or ravelry.
You could even draft it then twist it by hand if you wanted it really thick, and not too much of it.
It is the putting of twist into the fleece strips that makes it hold together as a yarn, so if you want to use it as yarn for knitting or weaving or crochet, you will need twist in the fleece, and for that you will need a spindle or spinning wheel. Lots of ideas on both youtube and ravelry.
If you just want to use it for latch hook and the bits are short anyway , then you don't need to worry too much about spinning.
I'd love to know more about what you are do ing and what kind of fleece you have and how it is going!
regards
d

duckling10 wrote: »

Hi WMPDD3

Right so I get the fleece, I wash it in a big tub in the garden and it's lovely and clean, is it felted?

Would I have to use cold water and no detergent?



An absolutely ....... going!
regards
d

Oh thanks for that, I remember a girl in the corner in college doing something like that, she was spinning it with a door handle I think!

I just can's justify paying so much money for a few balls of roving when there are sheep's fleeces for sale for €15 in the field beside my mums!

Time, garden and tubs I have, money I dont!

Right I'll look into that that group and be ready for when the sheep get sheared.

I have knit before on my arms and with pipes (~ 60mm) but I usually use cut up t-shirts to the required thickness.

The_Morrigan wrote: »

But they say you need 5mm circular needles, are there different lengths for these?

Yes there are, I think my sets are 80cm and 40cm, what does the pattern ask for? They usually tell you.

Pattern didn't mention a length for the needle.
Blanket is 100 x 100 so I guess I'll go buy that length.

Thanks

Das Kitty wrote: »

You won't need the full 100cm, the stitches bunch up on the cable. I'd say 60cm will be more than enough.

Oh Lord I've so much to learn - I spotted a started kit for about 30 euro that has a few interchangeable cable lenghts and needle sizes.
I might pick that up.

Hi all, novice knitter here! I've knitted a baby blanket in "little shell" stitch but I think it needs finishing with a lacy edging. I got an easy enough pattern but just tried a bit and am not sure it works. (See attached photos) Would I be better with a more rounded type lacy border? Would love any suggestions

I found this on Google Books 50 Fabulous Knit Borders just in case it's of use to anyone else. Going to try out the "Dancing Daggers" one.

krankykitty wrote: »

Hi all, novice knitter here! I've knitted a baby blanket in "little shell" stitch but I think it needs finishing with a lacy edging. I got an easy enough pattern but just tried a bit and am not sure it works. (See attached photos) Would I be better with a more rounded type lacy border? Would love any suggestions

i think its lovely as is, what have you decided to do?