Knit Knack

[bumblebeequeen]

Anybody like to knit out there?
I am a complete yarn addict! I've been knitting for several years (off and on) and I am working on some socks at present.

[spasmo]

Knitting is my next hobby... and I am kind of scared! I have bought a couple kinds of yarn (a first scarf yarn and a second scarf yarn). The needles kind of scare me as I am not very coordinated. I did buy a book that looks promising... I think that it explains things in a way that hopefully wont result in me tying my fingers in a knot. I am planning on starting my first scarf when I get back from Atlanta (arond Feb. 13). If you hear weird sounds from Texas, it will probably be me!

[aquachick]

Have you checked out the website www.knitty.com ? Lots of free patterns and some are pretty cool. -Melanie

[bumblebeequeen]

Melanie, thanks for the info on that cool site. I love the shawl they show!
I've been picking up knitting books from the 40s and 50s as I find them, I love the styles from that time and I've found patterns for some fun accessories too.

Anna, don't be scared these needles won't hurt you unless you forget where you put them and sit on one by accident. :silly:
Hope your trip to Atlanta is for fun! let us know if you need any encouragement with the scarf. They are good to start with because you can complete a fun project fairly quickly and learn the motions over relatively few stitches. Plus the sky's the limit on fun yarn here.
I was in a bookstore today and saw this book called "Yarn Harlot" by Stephanie Pearl MCPhee, she has a blog with the same name. It looked very entertaining, I might pick it for my next bookclub selection.

[spasmo]

Thanks for the encouragement ~ I will certainly need more of that when I get started! And I promise that no matter how goofy the scarf looks to me I will post some pics...

[teddybr218]

I love to knit, and I love love love yarn. Does that make me a Yarn Harlot? :) My favorite scarf that I made was done with a yarn called Katrina mixed with another yarn called Squiggle. It makes the most wonderful scarves.

[crunchies0313]

My older sister teaches at a middle school and they have a club called Knit Wits!! Its cool, they get together after school and knit! I think its an intersting club. She says they have a lot of members, and she even took up knitting just to join. The only problem was one of the boys in the club had to quit because his mother thought that the other students would look at him a certian way, because apparently boys are not allowed to knit (even though male teachers, and other boys are in it). I wish I could knit I just don't have much patience!

[sagespot]

I started knitting about two years ago and I'm pretty much a "lifer." :) I love to make scarves. I know that I should probably branch out, but I have so much fun picking out the great yarns and experimenting with different gauges...and my friends all love their creations!

I've always said that the great thing about scarves is the "instant gratification" aspect. Its a day-long investment that provides a wonderful product at the end! :)

[knitstuff]

Knitting is so much fun! I prefer working with circulars to straights, and am always tempted by yummy fibers. Currently on the needles is a simple garter stitch shawl in yummy black alpaca, so soft!

Jen

[mezzo soprano]

Count me in on the yarn addiction.

Sometime last summer (in a moment of pure lunacy I'm sure *omg* ) I said to my dd that I should make scarves for her pep band at the high school. Mind you, there are 80 kids in this group. I'm so sick of red and black yarn.... (our school colors are red and black) However, I do have a great sense of accomplishment.

Once I get done with the scarves (I have about 8 left to do) it's on to some baby blankets. I have a couple of employees who are expecting this spring. Looking for some fun baby afghan patterns.

[Autumn Moon]

I love knitting! I have been knitting for over 30 years and during my recent surgery recovery made dozens of dishcloths in addition to sweaters.
Circular needles are my favourite and I have adapted most of my patterns to them. I knit or sew most of the Christmas presents for our families so I am pretty much knitting year round. The 40 minute commute to work is a good time for me to spend knitting also.
I like to visit elann.com for free patterns. The Knitty.com site is excellent too. Each yarn manufacturer has their own website too, with free patterns.
SPASMO: Have you started that scarf yet???????

[madbo]

I've been knitting for the past 12 years but have really gotten into it more over the past 5 years. There are so many great books, websites, local groups now it's hard not to get addicted.

If anyone is looking for great deals on yarn I highly recommend Elann.com (http://www.elann.com) . I just received a package of cotton yarns from them today but I'm trying my best to resist openning it.

I'm taking part in the 2006 Knitting Olympics (http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/olympics2006.html) which ends when the flame goes out on the 26th and I'm behind on my challenges, four 8 inch squares for an afghan my local Stitch'n'***** group is doing for Project Linus and a sweater I've designed myself. I have about 5 days left to complete the sweater (which is only about 20% complete) and two more squares. The pressure is on now! :eek:

[Digitizingqueen]

I knit regularly (my grandmother taught me badly when I was 8) she was left handed I am right and I have found out from my knitting instructor and the store I go to that I twist my stitches figured out that my Grandmother taught me upside down and backwards :D

The local knit store (yummy yarns and all need supplies)has classes that go for 6 week you pick you r project and our teacher helps us along the way (you do need basic knitting skills) so two years ago I started my first cartigan well I am almst done now and when I finish it we are going to learn how to knit corretly including long tail cast on, purl the correct way and verious other basics I am really excited I plan on doing a couple of pull overs after i releanr how to knit ;) but I do love it goes well with the sewing hobby... although my yarn stash is incroching onto my fabric stash :eek:

[Autumn Moon]

For a basic sweater pattern purchase a book by PATONs called BACK TO BASICS. There are 3 versions of it, depending on what thickness of yarn you want to use.
I knit the raglan sleeve turtleneck one TOTALLY on circular needles.

[Digitizingqueen]

there are a couple of books that have great pattersn that are very easy on of the books it called the KNit Stich (can not rember the auter And I am at work.... the other by the same athe r is the purl stitch and the pattersn only use these stiches to complete the project they have a greate cartigan in the knit stich book..... may try that one after I re-learn how to knit..... in fact I have calss tonight so I will be closer to finishing my sweater YIPEE!!!!

:cheerlead

[madbo]

there are a couple of books that have great pattersn that are very easy on of the books it called the KNit Stich (can not rember the auter And I am at work.... the other by the same athe r is the purl stitch and the pattersn only use these stiches to complete the project they have a greate cartigan in the knit stich book..... may try that one after I re-learn how to knit..... in fact I have calss tonight so I will be closer to finishing my sweater YIPEE!!!!

:cheerlead

Good suggestion Digitizingqueen. The Knit Stitch (The Knitting Experience, Volume 1) and it's companion books The Purl Stitch (The Knitting Experience, Volume 2), Color (The Knitting Experience, Volume 3) are great books all written by Sally Melville and are available at Amazon and most retail bookshops.

For anyone who is a beginning knitter or who just has the basics but wants to learn more, there's a great book out called Modular Knits by Iris Schreier that's great but the book I recommend everyone have is Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Knitting Book which guides both beginner and intermediate knitters through everything from yarn selections, to casting on, binding off, knit, perl, cables, color knitting (instarsia and fairisle) and much more.

[bumblebeequeen]

I took a class a few years ago on how to fix common mistakes in knitting. I do think that knitting is an activity where you can learn a whole lot from making mistakes and learning how to go back and correct them. I think it makes you less nervous about doing something wrong in the first place and then you learn to relax and enjoy the process more- knowing you can have control over what you're doing.
I have a good friend who teaches knitting around the country and who writes books and articles on knitting. She is always saying "come knit with me" and I admit I have been a little intimidated knowing that she is an expert and I am just plodding along. But one day whe said to me that the process and experience is what's important and that we can always enjoy those things no matter what our skill level may be. The only way we improve is to keep knitting and having to figure out what went wrong or even what worked. Enjoy and relax. It's been the best lesson of all.

[Digitizingqueen]

I have to share... I was so excited last night at my Knitting class... I finished my sweater sleeves so now I can sew it together.... can wait until I get it to gether and learn how to hide all my strings and then I can actully wear it! I am so close to the end finally!....

Next I will relearn how to purl and lear a long tail cast on which is going to be very useful.... then I am making small projects ... like wash cloths and dish clothes for a while.... ;) but i just had to share how excited I am about seeing the end of my tunnel

[Digitizingqueen]

ok.... update on sweater! got the buttons sewn on before class last night (new session started yesterday) wore the sweater to class to show it off to everyone who has been rooting for me! Well now started out by doing a gauge swatch for a simple stockennet pull over.... learned long tail cast on, learned the correct way to purl (amazing how pretty it looks when it is not twisted, My teacher hook me up wiht a great book called learn to knit ( So I can refresh on the long tail want to practic euntil I can do it in my sleep... goign to wait until next week to cast on the new project but will proably make a couple of wash clothes in the mean time.... one more thing is it seemed to go so much faster when doing the stiches correctly after I got my hands to do what they were supposed to...The cartigan is beautiful and I am so glad it is done! I was even enjoying doing my gauge swatch... now I have to take out my good yarn... and proctice with the cheap stuff from wla mart or michaels or wher eever I got it from....

[Digitizingqueen]

Ok girls and update on the pull over, I actully did so well with my practice that i got it cast on before class and finished th eribbing at the bottom and started the stockentte rows... needed to knit 14 inches total to incorperate teh sleeves... well becuase I can do this in front of the tv and such (unlike my tortured cartigan) I week in and I have 2 rows o go before I have my 14inchs (it could pass now but I just want to do it right) I can't belive it I actully have most of the back done already only 2 weeks, I will be abel to start the front on my own so I can get a good start on that next week! I may have a pull over to wear before summer! I picked this great verigated yarn goes from blue ot pink... it is absolutily going to be something I will wear all the time! Wow to really know how to knit it is so awesome and so much faster!!!! ;)

[Autumn Moon]

WAY TO GO!!!!! :bliss:
Once you learn the basics on straight pin...wait until you try one on circular needles. Works up so much faster and the body (hem to underarm) is done in one piece. IF you put in raglan sleeves, it can all be done on circulars.

Have fun. I'm still doing dishcloths and socks!

Autumn

[Digitizingqueen]

Actully I only use circular needles when I knit, they hold the knitting much better and are easier to keep track of plus they don't poke my husband when we are sitting on the couch together... I still have a few sets of straights but have not used them for a long time.... I started me sleves today (had to add on about 25 stiches to get them started (they are part of the back and the front of this sweater and have been very easy to add on... now need to knot about 6 more inches and then I can start the front.... going out of town with my mom this weekedn which will give me some time to knit....I plan on tryign to have this pull over doen befroe the end of my 6 week class (3 weeks to go....

[spasmo]

I finally am learning how to knit! My sister got me started last weekend and I am having so much fun... I am going to enjoy the "shallow end of the pool" for a while and make lots and lots of long scarves. It is going to be fun finding the good yarn places around here!

Whaaaa-hooooo!

[Digitizingqueen]

Oh the yarn addiction ;-) I just went to my local knitting stores "student" sale! Wow what fin, lots of food, prizes and yummy yarn on sale got several really nice things... now to try my hand at a tank top....

[Autumn Moon]

My favourite tank pattern is from Paton's Sunshine Knits.
It's done in Double knitting weight yarn. Knits up fast (1 piece to the armhole cast off working in the round). It's called simple ribs.
Here's a link to FREE PATTERNS (http://www.estelledesigns.ca/images/Patterns/FreePaterns.htm)

And of course, you can always visit Knitty.com or Elann.com

Happy knitting!
Autumn

[Digitizingqueen]

ok I found the tank you are talking baou tWOw what a gorgeous pattern! I had a really neat moment in my stash last night.... I had bought the "last" 4 skeins of this lushus brown tweed yarn and thought it was barley anough to make soemthing.... well I am goign to the beach for he weekend tommorw and figured I would knot soem easy dishcloths, and low and behold in my stash that I bought last year from the same store I found 4 skiens already rolled into balls of the exact same dye lot and yarn! ;)
I must have really liked it LOL I am so excited becuase now I can use htis gorgeous yarn to make soemthing larger than at small tank.... maybe even a long sleeve pull over.... talk about fate hahaha I am jsut so excited, now to find the exact right pattern to knit this up with! :hijump: :yahooo:

[Autumn Moon]

Dishcloths? During my surgery recovery last fall...I added a couple dozen of them to the pile of stuff. I do round ones with 13 points.
I can spend HOURS in the yarn shop close to my house, just looking at patterns and thinking about the bins of yarn I have and would I have enough to make "this". I really wanted to try to work some of it up into things before our move but it looks like I will be moving it instead.
I am almost finished my 4th Simple Ribs tank. I have a white, varigated blue, and black one and I the one I am working on is purple. The yarn shop usually has odd lots of 4 or 6 0r 10 balls so I get it for about $1.50 per 50 gram ball. When purchasing odd lots, I just make sure I switch balls at seams and at times it gives a slightly shaded look to the finished piece.

[mezzo soprano]

OK -- I posted a few months back about my "band scarf" project. I ended up knitting about 100 of the blasted things. (I never want to see red or black yarn again, let me tell you.... :lol: ) I've finished one baby blanket, and now I'm working on another one... but alas, I think I started with too small of a needle. Should have used about a 13 size instead of a 10. Oh, well, I'm too far into it now to turn back.

It's going to be a great green color -- this is not going to be your typical "blue or pink" baby blanket!

I swear by the free patterns from Lion Brand, too! Love their yarns.

[crunchies0313]

I just took up knitting myself. It took me forever to figure out what I was doing wrong when I first started. My problem seems to be my yarn splitting...anyone have any suggestions on how to fix that? To me knitting is very relaxing, and gives me a huge since of accomplishment. So far it seems to be the only hobby I have any chance at doing a decent job. My older sister is teaching me, but I also have some books. I just learn better with someone actually showing me, and not trying to just figure out the pictures. I am excited!!

[Digitizingqueen]

Well I finished one of my washcloths (decided they are for the bath) they are really neat looking (the yarn is a twist with three different colors) which all sort of show up in the project... I am just doing squares in stochinet stich which i s making really nice cloths... they should be really obsorbant and stuff... love cotten yarn think it is my new addiction ;) Also love silk and heard hemp is wonderful but I can only get going one at a time ....

[spasmo]

OK... I have only been knitting a few weeks but I already have quite a yarn stash. So far most of it has been from sales or clearance but the stash is growing bigger all the time. Right now I am knitting scarfs 3, 4 and 5. I'm experimenting with knitting with beads... so far I haven't found the combo that "pops"... but it is fun trying. I am still enjoying knitting scarfs and I just got the book Scarf Style. There are several scarfs in there that are calling my name... enough so that I will learn to read patterns and knit backwards. I am scoping out Lady Eleanor... she wont be the first scarf from that book it is just a matter of time. What are y'all knitting?

[PitterPat]

I just started knitting a few weeks ago as well... fortunately I have a sinful sized stash to pull from! grin I'm currently working on a multicolored sweater... mainly to practice stitches and such.

[CharChar]

I don't know how to knit, but do crochet. Can anyone recommend a book to learn to knit?

[PitterPat]

Will find the names of the books I bought....
I'm an avid crocheter and have always been intimidated by knitting, but I'm now doing it!!! If I can do it... you can! :)

Books I'd highly recommend by Sally Melville:
1)The Knit Stitch (The Knitting Experience, Book 1)
2)The Knitting Experience: The Purl Stitch (Knitting Experience Series, Book 2)
3)The Knitting Experience: Book 3: Color (Knitting Experience series, The)

Then, there's always "Knitting for Dummies"


The Knitting Answer Book: Solutions to Every Problem You'll Ever Face; Answers to Every Question You'll Ever Ask by Margaret Radcliffe

Knitting Without Tears: Basic Techniques and Easy-to-Follow Directions for Garments to Fit All Sizes (Knitting Without Tears SL 466)

Please do let me know how you do!
Oh... if you go to buy needles.... I've found that the bamboo needles are much better to work with.... the metal ones slip and slide, and the LAST thing you want to do is have those suckers slip all your stitches off!

Good luck
PitterPat :)

[CharChar]

Thank you, PitterPat! Sure you don't want to come up :jet: and give me instructions?? I have a wierd way of crochetng, I don't wrap the yarn around my fingers, but hold it in my right hand with my crochet hook. I taught myself howto crochet from a book, :reading: name long forgotten, when I was about 10. I really love the sound of knitting needles clicking together. I don't know of any yarn shops around here, so I may have to try a Micheals or Barns and Noble to find these books. I like the Knitting for Dummies!!!!!!! I will let you know how I do. Is it hard to do?? :scaredcou I have a little trouble with my thumb joints, think this will bother them??

[PitterPat]

Thank you, PitterPat! Sure you don't want to come up and give me instructions??

Well, let's see.... You send a pet sitter, hubby sitter, house cleaner, and I could be talked into it VERY easily!

I have a wierd way of crochetng, I don't wrap the yarn around my fingers, but hold it in my right hand with my crochet hook.

Whatever works! Have you tried crocheting like a "normal" person? :) (vbg)

I don't know of any yarn shops around here,

That's not a problem! Unless you have bags of money to blow, you probably don't want to go to a shop that sells only needlework supplies. The prices are usually dramatically higher.... although the quality is much better and the choices are yummy.

so I may have to try a Micheals or Barnes and Noble to find these books.

You can always find books new and used on Amazon.com, or ebay, or a lot of other places, online. If you want a list of places to buy good yarns at a better price, I can send them along.

I will let you know how I do. Is it hard to do?? I have a little trouble with my thumb joints, think this will bother them??

So far I've learned the two most important things are GAUGE and TENSION. Do not work with loops that you can't easily slide up and down the knitting needle. I spent a couple of weeks knitting with various size yarns and needles.... knitting and wripping out.... fighting with my tension, till I found how best to hold my yarn. Concentrate on keeping your yarn overs loose.

Gauge is most important, so pay close attention to the information regarding gauge. This requires a weee bit of math, something I'm frightful at. If you don't pay attention to your gauge, you could end up doing like me... on one of the sweaters I thought I'd "whip up over a weekend" for my daughter. I got some really thick yarn, and honkin big needles.... figured if I simply allowed a few less stitches, then all would come out fine on the other end. Well, I ended up with a sweater back 3X bigger then what I needed! hahaha

I've had wrist problems in the past.... and am careful with any kind of repetative motion stuff. Knitting hasn't bothered my hands at all.

Good luck!
PitterPat

PS: both Michaels and Walmart will have an ample selection of yarn, and some of the cheaper Leisure Arts books on learning to knit. They came in very handy for me.

[Digitizingqueen]

just to add to this nanacys knit knacks has palm pilot sosftware as well as cards that help you do knottign math (like how long for a long tail cast on, guage by size and such, I have the best book on tips to knit called How To KNit - I think it was published by the national needlearts association has a red and white cover you would hav e to find it online I am sure because I bought it at my local knit shop... there are lots of sources online for yarn, personally I use baboo needles and am hooked on circular they keep the project on them so muhc better and seem to work well for all of my knitting..... I also recently purchased a knitting machien (havent gotten the hang of that yet still learning... ) Since I sew too I hav e little time to do it all and currently I am makeing dish cloths out of verious cotten I have...

have fun and dont be afraid to try new stuff becuase even if it isnt in th e pattern it may become a design ellement!

[CharChar]

Thank You Pitterpat! Just bring the critters, and they can hang out with my 2 birds, 11 gerbils, 7 fish and new kitty!! I will check out Walmart and see if anyone has knitting lesson classes for dummies!! Math has me running for the hills!!

[PitterPat]

Math? You too? I just can't get my brain to wrap around the concept of math.... and geeee... I just signed up for a "Math for Meds" class. ugh

PitterPat

[CharChar]

Yeah tell me about it. Algebra is worse!!! Letters and numbers are 2 species that don't belong together. Its like crossing a horse with a canary!! lol ! Did you say bamboo needles ar eeasier to work with than the metal ones?? Yeah I tried crocheting like a "normal Person" but my fingers get really stiff, and I can't get the right tension on my yarn. Weird, I know, but it works for me!! Working on a ripple pattern blanket now, I usually don't work on it during the warmer months. Keeps me warm in the winter!! I love the fancier yarns andI could become seriously addicted to them if I had the space to store them!!

[CharChar]

Well, I took the plunge and bought a pair of size 11 bamboo needles, ($$ Ouch!), at Michaels, and walmart didn't have any big books on knitting, Michaels are high dollar, and didn't seem to be in good shape, so will check public library. I did get this little folding learn to knit booklet at walmart, but am confused about the casting on method it shows, which uses both needles. I practiced with plain old red heart yarn till I thought I had the hang of it, then went and bought a skein of Light and Lofty yarn..real soft but kind of a pain to work with!! Maybe I should have stuck with regular yarn?? Oh, well think big I always say!! :D

[mimarg5557]

I have three grown daughters, 19, 23, and 24. They are all very "sophisticated"...at least in their own estimation. I think they would like the scarves. and I would love to understand a sock pattern...they like "funky" stuff they can wear...

Also, have you fooled with beads in the knitting?
Please give me some ideas...I am at a loss. I have been knitting all summer, HATS...I will finish them up for a veterans home. The original idea was to get rid of my yarn so I could go on to something else...and I am addicted now...sheesh...I like everything...quilting, crochet, knitting, xstitch, etc., etc. It is really hard to make up my mind about what I will stick to and to make a goal to FINISH.
Mary

[Digitizingqueen]

I finally finish my pull over, it is big on me think if I do it again I will use a lighter weight yarn than cotten and make the smallest size (it is supposed to be large but I think it is too large... but it turned out well and I am happy with it...I got a DVR from my cable comapny and found a bunch of shows about a varity of crafts and on the DIY network (great network BTW) the have a show called Knitty Gritty.... what a great show... fun funky knotting and basic technics as well really cool show! All of th e patterns are on the DIY web site as well so you can see what they had shows about.