Knitting - help and advice super thread!

duckling10 · 03-04-2014 12:40am

wmpdd3 wrote: »

I use an old changing Mat too, it lives under the bed!

I have a wool acrylic mix scarf, 20 / 80 , and it will not lay flat, I have blocked it twice with steam, then wet it and left it for 48 hrs, still it curls, what's the next level of blocking?

good idea, changing mats are available fairly cheaply in some discount stores I think. Guineys, Dealz, maybe....

re your scarf, I wonder why it is curling? And in what way does it curl? Could it be the dreaded Stocking stitch Curl?
Stocking stitch is notorious for curling inwards along the sides of a knitted piece. Blocking and pressing probably won't remove the curl permanently, it will curl again, especially when washed. The curl doesn't matter when the pieces are to be sewn together, eg, jumper back to jumper front, as the fact that the pieces are then sewn together will prevent the curl from expressing itself.
But in a scarf, there is nothing to stop the curl. If this is the reason, you could knit a garter stitch band around the sides of the scarf, by picking up stitches, and knitting etc, or knit a band separately and sew it on.
To avoid the problem from the beginning, one can incorporate a garter stitch edge in a scarf, maybe 4 to 6 sts at each edge knitted KNIT every row.
Sorry if this does not address your problem, and/or if you know all this already and I am insulting your intelligence!:)
liz

wmpdd3 · 03-04-2014 10:22am

Yeah, its the stocking knit curl. I knitted it on the machine so I'd have had to do the garter stitch by hand on the edges and I didn't.

I always do when I hand knit and it sorts the edges.

I'll try once more, I'll wash it and then pin it for 48 hr s after that, I'll rip it back and start again.

Lesson learned.

ABajaninCork · 03-04-2014 10:25am

How much are the changing mats in Guiney's? I'm bidding on some of those foam tiles that kids use on eBay and also thinking of getting some t-pins but they're hard to come by in Cork City. Any idea where I could get some without paying a bloody fortune in postage for them?

wmpdd3 · 04-04-2014 1:58am

Bit left field, but:

There was a jigsaw in tesco playschool section that was 26 foam mats, it was reduced to €4 about 2 months ago, you might be lucky in Mahon or Douglas.

like this one:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/alphabet-playmat

I cant use t-pins with the changing mat, only straight dressmakers pins, the plastic cover is too tough.

duckling10 · 04-04-2014 3:44pm

what about searching online on adverts.ie or donedeal.ie for secondhand foam mat/camping mat/changing mat?
or searching the local charity shops for the mats secondhand?
personally that would suit me, I know I can give them a wipe with something like hot water and a splash of Dettol or Fairy liquid, before I use them, so I wouldn't be worried.
but everyone to their own, of course!

duckling10 · 15-04-2014 12:31am

ABajaninCork wrote: »

How much are the changing mats in Guiney's? I'm bidding on some of those foam tiles that kids use on eBay and also thinking of getting some t-pins but they're hard to come by in Cork City. Any idea where I could get some without paying a bloody fortune in postage for them?

At the weekend i saw a foam hopscotch mat for sale in Tesco Limerick (Roxboro) for 6.99euro. It has 10 tiles in the pack, each tile was just about 12inches square,so 10 sq ft of foam mats, which I would presume can be made up in whatever shape you want, not just Hopscotch.
There are foam rollable camping mats in Aldi (I think, or was it Lidl) coming in next week or so , for 6.99. Another option, maybe, but maybe the mats would roll too much, even when spread out flat?

Pandalaura · 15-04-2014 10:45am

Hi,

I'm hoping to knit a throw for a double bed in moss stitch. Does anyone know of any good patterns to follow or have any advice?

Thanks

Pandalaura · 15-04-2014 11:15am

tea and cake wrote: »

Hi,
I'm a beginner knitter. I am just starting this sirdar baby blanket pattern 1903.
The pattern says to cast on 3 stitches(this bit I can do!) and
row 1- yfwd, k3.
Row 2-yfwd, k4 and the pattern continues like this. While I know what yfwd is I'm not sure how to do this stitch at the start? I can do it if I k1 and then do yfwd,I'm just a little confused.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Tea and cake I'm also doing this blanket!!!
It looks lovely when you get four leaves together

wmpdd3 · 15-04-2014 12:13pm

Pandalaura wrote: »

Hi,

I'm hoping to knit a throw for a double bed in moss stitch. Does anyone know of any good patterns to follow or have any advice?

Thanks

:0 buy a machine!

I guess you will be working in sections, the size of which depends on the needles you want to use, personally I'd knit 12 inch square panels, at 6ft by 6 ft thats 36 panels.

I think any bigger and you'd struggle ot maintain tension. Have you costed the yarn? After spending so long knitting something like that I'd want it to last a lifetime so research how the yarn wears, I'd but a ball and knit a sample and wash it a few times.

Gatica · 15-04-2014 12:18pm

Pandalaura wrote: »

Hi,

I'm hoping to knit a throw for a double bed in moss stitch. Does anyone know of any good patterns to follow or have any advice?

Thanks

I saw this one on Ravelry and just fell in love with it!
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/beehivewoolshop/fabulous-winter-white-blanket - No pattern unfortunately...

There are some other though if you're willing to trawl through their gazillion patterns:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/search#craft=knitting&view=captioned_thumbs&query=blanket&availability=free&sort=best&pc=throw|other-blanket (filtered by throw and other under blanket, free knitting patterns)

This one looks quite simple: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/divine-throw

Gatica · 15-04-2014 12:21pm

wmpdd3 wrote: »

I guess you will be working in sections, the size of which depends on the needles you want to use, personally I'd knit 12 inch square panels, at 6ft by 6 ft thats 36 panels.

I've crocheted granny squares before and got really bored very quickly. You'd want to be sure you don't mind making that many pattern repeats.
Then again, one big blanket may be repetitive anyway.... :rolleyes:

Pandalaura · 15-04-2014 12:36pm

I was thinking of using circular needles instead of making it in sections, not the best at sewing them all together!

wmpdd3 · 16-04-2014 12:20am

Even with really long circulars and chunky yarn, you're looking at least 6 panels in my opinion.

a 3ft wide section would drive you made on circulars.

I would look up videos of seaming and master that before you consider buying yarn.

the throw above used 14 skeins of yarn, @ a fiver a skein for acrylic or a blend, you are looking at €70 for yarn alone.

LoonyLovegood · 17-04-2014 9:37am

I'm FINALLY blocking the shawl I've been working on for the last few months.

ABajaninCork · 17-04-2014 11:35am

Gosh! I have so many projects to finish. So far I have:

A baby blanket which I need to finish in a hurry. She's due in 3 weeks. :eek:
A bolero for which 317 stitches need to be picked up for the border. *sigh*
A cardi which I need to finish the border for.
A baby jacket for the newborn which I need to start.
A hat I promised my niece since Christmas. Not started yet!
Two hat & scarf sets which need to be blocked & sewn.
And a jacket for my nephew. Got the wool, but...

vitani · 17-04-2014 11:39am

ABajaninCork wrote: »

Gosh! I have so many projects to finish. So far I have:

A baby blanket which I need to finish in a hurry. She's due in 3 weeks. :eek:
A bolero for which 317 stitches need to be picked up for the border. *sigh*
A cardi which I need to finish the border for.
A baby jacket for the newborn which I need to start.
A hat I promised my niece since Christmas. Not started yet!
Two hat & scarf sets which need to be blocked & sewn.
And a jacket for my nephew. Got the wool, but...

That's my second least favourite part about projects (the first is making up). I'm knitting my first Aran jumper at the minute, so will only have a few stitches to pick up around the neckband, and less seams to sew up.

wmpdd3 · 17-04-2014 11:55am

I just finished my last project on Saturday. idle hands. !

I have a few sewing things on the go though

thinking about a knitted summer dress with a crocheted bodice.

need to find a cotton mix 4 ply that's not to expensive. best so for is 3.50 for 100g.

LoonyLovegood · 17-04-2014 1:12pm

Started a grrlfriend bag to keep all my hexipuffs in (I know, I know, but they're fantastic for using up little bits that wouldn't be used otherwise). Did it wrong. Two hours of work, out the window.

ABajaninCork · 17-04-2014 2:42pm

What do people do with spare balls of wool? I always seem to have one ball left, even though I knit to the correct tension (albeit using smaller needles as my tension tends to be tight!). Very annoying :mad:

Gatica · 17-04-2014 3:16pm

My mum does stripy gloves - kinda hippy style. I really like them.
Personally I like having spare wool for trying out stitch patterns, I have lots of little swatches of different techniques and patterns where I was trying to see the best zig-zag stitch, or cross stitch or if combining two patterns together looked weird or nice.

iguana · 17-04-2014 4:30pm

Very stupid question and slightly off topic as it's crochet rather than knitting. I've never used a pattern before and am interested in trying to do this jumper but I can't work out what ply wool you use. Also what size is a skein? 50g/100g something else entirely?

http://web.archive.org/web/20130723144436/http://www.naturallycaron.com/projects/avalon/avalon_1.html

Gatica · 17-04-2014 4:46pm

Here's what I found about the yarn:
http://www.royalyarns.com/Caron-Naturally-Spa-Yarn_c_5310.html

Looks like they use the less-standard 85g... So you're better off going with yardage metrics for your needs.
So for small size you'd need 4*251 = 1004 yards. If you find an equivalent weight yarn, just get enough to give you that yardage and air on the "more" side, so you don't run out.

PS:
Similar yarn here, http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/spa-shawl-top, they're saying it's sports weight 5ply.

ABajaninCork · 17-04-2014 5:39pm

I reckon either lace or 4ply would be the weight.

Wool is supplied in skeins when the yarn is either very light or something like silk/linen. You'll have to wind it into balls before you work with it. Otherwise, you'll be in for a world of pain with tangles!

LoonyLovegood · 17-04-2014 7:26pm

Skeins of yarn are so pretty though.

As for the spare yarn query, I'm making a beekeeper's blanket. Well, making three of them, actually, in different colour schemes

ABajaninCork · 17-04-2014 8:55pm

Yeah - I've got the art of winding wool down pat! Instead of prevailing on my poor long-suffering hubby to hold the wool whilst I wind, I now sling the skein over two kitchen chair backs and work away...

I got a skein of Fyberspates lace weight wool a few weeks ago, in the sale. That skein is 1km long! And took me almost 1.5 hours to wind the wretched thing. Just as well I got only the one skein!!

cofy · 17-04-2014 10:49pm

wmpdd3 wrote: »

I just finished my last project on Saturday. idle hands. !

I have a few sewing things on the go though

thinking about a knitted summer dress with a crocheted bodice.

need to find a cotton mix 4 ply that's not to expensive. best so for is 3.50 for 100g.

The dress sounds fab. I would love to see a pic when you finish it please.

Gatica · 18-04-2014 9:14am

ABajaninCork wrote: »

Wool is supplied in skeins when the yarn is either very light or something like silk/linen.

Many places use the word skein to describe a unit of yarn being sold whether a ball or twisted hank. I wouldn't rely on the term for defining the quantity being sold or the form in comes in. You're better off looking up by manufacturer.

wmpdd3 · 18-04-2014 9:18am

I really have to get back to taking pics of the stuff I make. it's so annoying when you go to make something again and you can't remember how you did it.

all I ask when I make garments for people it's a pic of the wearing in, but most forget.....

ABajaninCork · 18-04-2014 9:35am

Gatica wrote: »

Many places use the word skein to describe a unit of yarn being sold whether a ball or twisted hank. I wouldn't rely on the term for defining the quantity being sold or the form in comes in. You're better off looking up by manufacturer.

I don't rely on that, and look at the meterage of the wool instead to work out what I need. When the wool turns up, I can then either use straight away if it's a ball, or have to wind the hanks.

wmpdd3 wrote: »

I really have to get back to taking pics of the stuff I make. it's so annoying when you go to make something again and you can't remember how you did it.

all I ask when I make garments for people it's a pic of the wearing in, but most forget.....

I don't take pictures of the pieces I make for myself. But I do if I'm making for others. Just as well, really. I made a baby blanket for my nephew and had his name & DoB embroidered on a patch which I then sewed on the blanket. It got lost in the post! :mad: But I did take a picture before sending.

Gatica · 18-04-2014 10:32am

ABajaninCork wrote: »

I made a baby blanket for my nephew and had his name & DoB embroidered on a patch which I then sewed on the blanket. It got lost in the post! :mad: But I did take a picture before sending.

oh, how awful! of all things to lose by post, it'll always be something irreplaceable... Did it take you long to make it?
My SIL was making a baby blanket before their first child over 2 years ago, she's only got around to doing the border now as they're expecting their second. I suppose they had heir hands full the rest of the time.

ABajaninCork · 18-04-2014 10:40am

No, fortunately it was a fluffy blanket which was only stocking st in Aran weight. But it was a real nuisance! He has another blanket I made and brought over to London before he was born, so he has something from his auntie!

iguana · 18-04-2014 1:27pm

Gatica wrote: »

Here's what I found about the yarn:
http://www.royalyarns.com/Caron-Naturally-Spa-Yarn_c_5310.html

Looks like they use the less-standard 85g... So you're better off going with yardage metrics for your needs.
So for small size you'd need 4*251 = 1004 yards. If you find an equivalent weight yarn, just get enough to give you that yardage and air on the "more" side, so you don't run out.

PS:
Similar yarn here, http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/spa-shawl-top, they're saying it's sports weight 5ply.

ABajaninCork wrote: »

I reckon either lace or 4ply would be the weight.

Wool is supplied in skeins when the yarn is either very light or something like silk/linen. You'll have to wind it into balls before you work with it. Otherwise, you'll be in for a world of pain with tangles!

Thanks a million!:) As it happens I have a 1kg skein of 4ply wool that my dad got for €5 in a charity shop last year that I think would work well for this top. I have a lot of crochet practice to do first though as the top is very ambitious for my crochet skills. It's nice to have a project though. I hurt my elbow a few months back and knitting makes it feel worse but it's ok with crochet.

Gatica · 18-04-2014 1:29pm

I think your pattern gives a gauge, so as long as you can make a sample using chosen yarn and a hook you should be able to measure it across... if it's too small, use a bigger hook and vice versa...

That_Girl_ Is_ A_Cowboy · 19-04-2014 10:55pm

I did a little bit of knitting when I was in primary school and it was something I liked. Last year I took a notion to take up knitting and the little I learned in school came back to me. I'm learning so much with a large book on knitting that I picked up from DK. I learned a little how to read patterns from that book and to date I worked on some knitting. At first I did straight pieces then I moved onto doing other bits. I knitted a cap, a dress, a skirt, and headband for a doll and I was very happy with the finished pieces. I love wandering around shops that sell knitting supplies looking at all the wool and yarn and bought some nice yarn for the doll clothes.

Currently I'm working on a few different pieces including a batch of baby caps in some beautiful baby bamboo yarn.

I'm knitting a dress for a doll and this evening and I noticed the needles I was using were two different sizes. One needle a 3 1/4 and the other a 3 3/4. The pattern requires me to knit the dress in two pieces - front and back and then seam them up later on. One side is going to have about 15 rows done with two different needles. Will this have much of an effect when it comes to seaming it up? I don't really want to go back and do it again.

duckling10 · 20-04-2014 1:45pm

hi, This may be too late,, but I am just wondering if anyone has seen the Crochet Easy World Craft book (Dorling Kindersley) at their local Aldi store recently, and if so, do you think the shop still has it left? I don’t usually go to Aldi so I missed these books and just managed to get the Classic Knits book at Aldi on Dublin road Limk, but they were out of the crochet book. I have since tried the other Limerick Aldi as well as in Nenagh and Thurles, and my sister tried Tipperary and Mitchelstown, no luck.

If anyone thinks they could be so good as to buy a copy for me and then post it to me, please let me know, I can pay you In Advance for the book and the postage by Paypal/other payment means promptly.

Alternatively, if anyone has a copy of the book and wants to sell it, let me know!
regards
d

wmpdd3 · 20-04-2014 2:40pm

I'd say for a doll's dress it will be fine,one row will be taller then the one before it, thats all.

Do you have a link to the DK book, I haven't a clue how to red patterns, I just wing it!

I costed a dress out of 100% cotton @ €3.95 for a 50g ball, looking at €70 min. (need about 800g or 2400 m.)

In 50% cotton, looking at €2.00 per 50g ball, so €about €40.

And while that's well worth it for a dress, I don't have the money, so I'm on the search for a white 1kg cone of Dk or thicker for > €40..... I should have bought out of season last year when I saw all the bargains!

Oh and I taught my nieces to finger knit yesterday( 9 and 7), I've never seen them so quite.

duckling10 · 20-04-2014 3:09pm

Quote: I noticed the needles I was using were two different sizes. One needle a 3 1/4 and the other a 3 3/4. The pattern requires me to knit the dress in two pieces - front and back and then seam them up later on. One side is going to have about 15 rows done with two different needles.

it's a doll's dress, so it won't be very big, I imagine, but the side knitted with the not-matching needles might just be a tiny bit bigger/longer than the second side, presuming you use matching needles on the second side.
It may or may not be noticeable, depending on your knitting tension, thickness of wool, etc...
If you don't want to undo the 15 rows you ave already knit, would it be possible I wonder to use the same not-matching needles on the first 15 rows of the other side? just a thought...

Gatica · 22-04-2014 11:32am

That_Girl_ Is_ A_Cowboy wrote: »

I learned a little how to read patterns from that book and to date I worked on some knitting. At first I did straight pieces then I moved onto doing other bits. I knitted a cap, a dress, a skirt, and headband for a doll and I was very happy with the finished pieces. I love wandering around shops that sell knitting supplies looking at all the wool and yarn and bought some nice yarn for the doll clothes.

Currently I'm working on a few different pieces including a batch of baby caps in some beautiful baby bamboo yarn.

Oh phew, I started reading your sentence there about knitting a cap, a dress and a skirt and I thought wow, I must be a real slow starter if you've gone on to such huge projects so soon! I finished reading it though, and see that it's for a doll. Mean as it is, it made me feel a little better

I do hope you go on to make awesome big project though!
It's a great idea to knit for a doll. I tried knitting for a barbie when I was 10, I did a few rows and my mum had to finish it cos it took me almost a year to just do those.
If it's a project that's close to your heart and you want it perfect, I'd just hold my breath and rip up the rows... Otherwise, duckling10's suggestion to do the other side in same way sounds like a plan.

I've had to rip up chunks of a number of projects, actually I think all of them, at least once before completing... a finished beret back to about 30% a couple of times because the beret width didn't turn out to be enough. A ribbed hat because it wasn't wide enough for the head, my swatch was stockinette and I counted stitched based on that, but since the hat was ribbed the stitch count would've been higher than in the swatch. Completed cardigan back ripped back down to the arm-holes because I wanted a long cardigan and stretching it width-wise shortened it. a "completed" crocheted doily because I misread the pattern and missed 2 rows quite early on, so it curled up a bit instead of laying flat. a cable hat completed and ripped back half way twice because it was too short, then too long as it needed to be in multiples of the cable pattern...
It's hard to rip up work especially as new knitters we're a bit/a lot slower than pros. However, I've always been glad I did it as that one mistake that I'd let slide would've always bugged me.

Knitting a swirl baby hat at the moment, and forgot to do the cable switch on one of the swirls early on, so only noticed the mistake about 9 rows later. The stitch count between the swirls then was off, so just ripped back to the mistake round, recounted the stitches and back knitting it again.

vitani · 22-04-2014 12:36pm

This is a complicated one but what do you guys do if you have to decrease stitches when there's a detailed pattern?

I'm knitting an Aran jumper and the pattern calls for me to decrease each side by twelve stitches. This will cut into the shell-like pattern that's at the bottom of this picture.

The pattern for that section is simple enough - it's seven rows of p2, k2, p4, k2, p2 alternated with k2, p2, k4, p2, k2. On the eighth row, it's p2, sl2 F, p2, y.o.n, k2 together from cable needle, sl2 B, k2 together from cable needle, y.r.n, p2

When I have the twelve stitches decreased, there'll only be four stitches left of the pattern.

I don't know if I should ignore the pattern completely and just do reverse stocking-stitch - it seems like the simplest way but it means the shells would just disappear suddenly. But if I continue the pattern as written, I have no stitches left to put in front or behind the cable needle.

Does that make sense to anyone?

Gatica · 22-04-2014 12:42pm

Personally I would continue the pattern over the 4 left over stitches, it will just be the alternating p2, k2 I presume.
Is that what you're asking? or do you mean whether to do the pattern on the decrease row?

vitani · 22-04-2014 12:48pm

Gatica wrote: »

Personally I would continue the pattern over the 4 left over stitches, it will just be the alternating p2, k2 I presume.
Is that what you're asking? or do you mean whether to do the pattern on the decrease row?

Thanks, yes, that's what I'm wondering - it's hard to explain. I'd be left with the first four stitches as written above, so the p2, k2 alternated with k2, p2.

Gatica · 22-04-2014 12:49pm

vitani wrote: »

On the eighth row, it's p2, sl2 F, p2, y.o.n, k2 together from cable needle, sl2 B, k2 together from cable needle, y.r.n, p2

When I have the twelve stitches decreased, there'll only be four stitches left of the pattern.

... But if I continue the pattern as written, I have no stitches left to put in front or behind the cable needle.

Sorry, I just realised about the cable on the 8th row. Can you do a small swatch to see how it would look, doing a p2 + p2 on eighth row (keeping it just plain) or p2 yo k2 together on eighth row (kinda part of the pattern).

vitani · 22-04-2014 12:50pm

I think that's probably the best idea!

ABajaninCork · 22-04-2014 7:32pm

Interesting article on blocking from Love Knitting. Might help someone!

kandr10 · 25-04-2014 10:05am

I've just spent two hours picking up and counting stitches on a baby bolero and my 3.25 mm snapped in half! Think the best I can do is knit the border on a 3.5mm and just knit off the broken needle hoping for the best :-(

cmbutterfly45 · 25-04-2014 11:10am

Hi guys hoping someone will b able to help me find a knit pattern for a doll or teddy for a beginner child to knit she is seven and I've been teaching her to just knit but she wants to turn it into something now rather than just squares!
I remember doing a really easy rag doll in primary school so I imagine there are a few patterns like this floating around thanks in advance for any help!

wmpdd3 · 25-04-2014 11:10am

Oh no, if possible I'd use a smaller needle for the pick up and then move to the larger needle.

LoonyLovegood · 25-04-2014 11:16am

If anyone's in Galway, Aldi have 400g balls of acrylic yarn for €2.99. It's decent quality stuff!

Gatica · 25-04-2014 11:35am

cmbutterfly45 wrote: »

Hi guys hoping someone will b able to help me find a knit pattern for a doll or teddy for a beginner child to knit she is seven and I've been teaching her to just knit but she wants to turn it into something now rather than just squares!
I remember doing a really easy rag doll in primary school so I imagine there are a few patterns like this floating around thanks in advance for any help!

Have you tried ravelry? I put in search filter for free knitting pattern for Doll Clothes and puppet. There are 30 pages of patterns!
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/search#page=2&photo=yes&craft=knitting&pc=puppet|dollclothes&view=captioned_thumbs&sort=best&availability=free

I think these look good, but depends on her skill level I suppose:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/itty-bitty-dress
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/1112-robe-rose
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mini-weasley-sweater

cmbutterfly45 · 25-04-2014 11:45am

Gatica wrote: »

Have you tried ravelry? I put in search filter for free knitting pattern for Doll Clothes and puppet. There are 30 pages of patterns!
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/search#page=2&photo=yes&craft=knitting&pc=puppet|dollclothes&view=captioned_thumbs&sort=best&availability=free

I think these look good, but depends on her skill level I suppose:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/itty-bitty-dress
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/1112-robe-rose
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mini-weasley-sweater

Thanks for that
It's a doll or teddy I'm looking for rather than clothes I have tried ravelry along with lots of other knitting blogs but I can't find any to suit her level online it would be very basic beginner I'm looking for as in a pattern that only uses knit if imagine a primary teacher might have something?

Knitting - help and advice super thread!

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