Two ply knitting. Does anyone do it nowadays?

I envy you.....my fingers can't negotiate 2 ply any more! Have you tried asking in charity shops for old patterns? They usually have a box under the counter or 'out the back' Good luck.

I like knitting with finer ply wools and although I haven't used 2 ply I have knit several things with Ciboulette which is a Bergere de France 3 ply wool. The patterns are relatively easy to follow and modern in design and a 50 gram ball seems to go on for ever. I've just got one sleeve to knit of a top for a 3 month old and have yet to break into my second ball, so for a newborn you'd probably get by with just one, which will cost roundabout the £2 mark

I'm relatively new to the brand, having initially seen a pattern in one of the knitting magazines but so far I've got no complaints at all - it's soft and washes well.

Thank you Notsogrand, I will try that.
Hungrycaterpillar, where do you get this wool and the patterns from please? It is certainly something I could look in to if it is available in my area. Thank you.

Hi nanapippa

I happen to live close to this wool shop so I'm lucky http://www.madewirral.co.uk/yarn/ but if you google Bergere de France you may be able to find a stockist near to you. I do know that there is a shop in Port Madoc, North Wales on the main road moreorless opposite the station which sells all the yarns but unfortunately I can't remember what it's called - I only found it by chance when we were visiting for the day!.

As to the patterns - I've never seen any individual ones in the shops, they all seem to come in magazine type books which cost about £5.00, but single patterns are available if you can find a stockist. If you have a look on-line some of the web-sites give you the option of clicking on each of the patterns in the books so you can see whether there are enough of them you might like to knit to justify the cost.

What got me interested in the brand was a couple of patterns that were in a Love Knitting for Baby magazine earlier this year - these used Caline which I think moreorless equates to a fourply wool. Ciboulette only seems to be available in traditional baby colours but there is a much wider range of colours to choose from in Caline

Thank you so much for that information. I will look into it

What a shame, last week I gave a lifetimes worth of knitting patterns to my local charity shop. I knit my first baby garments when I was ten and carried on until the grandchildren were on the way and was told that nobody wants handknit jackets now. I agree 2 ply make beautiful garments.

What a shame harrigran, that makes me even more determined to go visit a charity shop!! I actually have four knitting projects on the go at the moment so really must get on with them. Only 17 weeks 'till the next GC comes along!!!

Knitting I absolutely love and I have taught my daughter to knit. She was only 12 and we knitted babies jackets whilst on the train across the Algarve.
We used to knit on aeroplanes but we had our needles confiscated and nowadays they wouldnt be allowed through security. Crochet is lovely too but not as relaxing as knitting.

I love knitting with 2ply.I knit Shetland shawls but I agree you can only knit a few of those, and have to be careful you dont make them too lacy.By that I mean not getting baby fingers caught in the holes, I always make the centres in garter stitch.
As for patterns they are in very short supply.Sometimes they appear on e-bay.There is a site called Yesterknits which has 2ply patterns.
It's a shame that babies are not seen in knitted garments very much now.

I will look at yesterknits pimkprincess, thank you.

"Nobody wants handknitted garments for babies these days." I don't think so! Always a knitter, I went into overdrive when my granddaughter was on the way (she's four now) and have continued to knit for her and for the children of my daughter's friends and so on. I am told that they are often stopped in the street by admirers, asking about the garments. I think the trick is to keep the styles and the colours up to date. The vintage look seems to very popular these days, so charity shop patterns are perfect.

I agree dida, it is definitely more popular again, and also because I love knitting for them it actually doesn't worry me too much if they wear the garments or not, but they usually do. I have been on a couple of one day knitting courses at John Lewis which were fabulous and not too expensive (with a great lunch thrown in!!). Thought I could knit until I went on these. Things like finishing techniques were so useful. My garments have improved alot and I had great days out and met some nice people as well.

Bonnets and litte hats, they are just so beautiful Ive also downloaded a balaclava pattern for a 5 year old. Next winter he will be so snug.
But babies in softly knitted bonnets are just adorable.

I have mentioned this elsewhere, I know, but join ravelry.com (it's free) and take a look at their patterns. There is bound to be something suitable there, and there is also a group specifically for 'difficult' to find patterns. I can't remember the name of it off-hand, but will go on site and look it up for you.

Right - I've been on Ravelry and the group you want is 'Pattern Detectives', or you could, as I say, have a browse through the 'Patterns' section. Some patterns are free - some do have to be paid for, in US dollars. And have a good look at the pattern instructions before you choose it because Americans use a totally different ply system to ours - but you can get info. about the different names for different weights also on Ravelry.

Hope this isn't teaching someone's grandmother to suck eggs!

Thank you SuzieB, I will certainly look into that. I took the advice of other people on this thread and looked in about ten charity shops but sadly nobody had any, some even said they threw them away when they came in. I keep trying though and thanks again

I am pleased to say I contacted Sirdar who gave me the telephone number of a shop in the North who sells old patterns. I rang them, and they had two 2ply pattern books and are sending me photocopies of them to choose from. Very helpful indeed. Can't wait 'till tomorrow to see them. Thank you all for your help and advice though x

A couple of years ago I found a shop in Wells and they had lots of patterns, some were quite old but they photocopy them for customers.

don't know about 2ply but the Coats website have free patterns to print offandI have also printed off their patchwork patterns-good for giving to charity shops

try googleing free knitting patterns,a good one is " knittingpatterncentral",most of the patterns on here are totally free,just download and print off.
(wink)

try googleing free knitting patterns,a good one is " knittingpatterncentral",most of the patterns on here are totally free,just download and print off.

senior moment, sorry,

My new granddaughters have lots of lovely knitted cardigans and look so beautiful in them - I haven't made any yet - we were taken by surprise when they arrived 10 weeks early, and my feet haven't touched the ground since. But, I will be knitting dreses, tops and jackets for them, and using 2 ply on occasion for special things. There's lots of wool available on sites like Ebay at a fraction of retail prices. I only need one or two odd balls for each baby garment, so all those spare balls of wool that no-one can use certainly do come in handy.

I get all of my wool from eBay! I've even sold the odd balls that I don't need any more on there as well. Great way to grab a bargain!