Some knitting advice please!

I think DK would be too thick and not work with your patterns , if you could get someone to look in the charity shops they sometimes have odd balls of knitting wool in 4ply

If you are just making toys and want to use DK wool up you already have I would say use it,the toys will just come up bigger. Why don't you join Ravelry (it's free to join ) lots of advice and free patterns as well.

On the wool band it usually says what needle size to use. If you were making a jumper you would have to be careful with sizing, but with a toy personally don't think it really matters.

If you keep looking on Ebay you can find job lots of 4 ply. This auction in the link is probably getting too expensive, but keep trying.
I am not a great knitter but small items are very satisfying aren't they? Good luck.
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222388441365?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

If you look on wool band it will tell you the needle size to use. But you could use larger or smaller needles.

You'd usually use size 10 (3.25mm) needles for 4ply with ribbing done on 12's (2.75). Double knit usual sizes 8 (4mm) and 10. As Firecracker said things will come out bigger.

Ebay has lots of wool sellers. Charity shops good for small amounts.
I bought some DK yesterday in Hobbycraft, on offer buy 2 get 1 free, they may have 4ply too.

I don't think it is a simple as trying to knit DK yarn on 4ply size needles I think you would find the needles will get very crowded with yarn and be tight to knit.

Try all the local charity shops. I had a lovely haul of needles and crochet hooks etc, that came with a knitting needle bag.

Try Kemps online wool shop. It has discounts on a variety of yarns.

What a quick and detailed response! Thanks all.

eBay is a great place for odds and ends of wool. Charity shops are a bit hit and miss so you must grab it whenever you see it! I find that buying the large cones of wool that are used for knitting machines are a great buy, and if wound up into balls can be doubled up and used more or less as 4-ply.

Www.deramores.com , I buy my wool online , I think they do mixed packs of tiny balls of wool for toy knitting. Might be worth a look .

Thanks shysal I've got a bid in on that EBay job lot.
And I guess if I'm back to using the DK wool with 4mm needles, I'll have 3 very plump Wise Men and a cheeky Robin who's let himself go. I can live with that......( and identify with it )

If you use DK for a 4 ply pattern it will come out bigger so, if the pattern tells you to knit for, say, 4" or 10cms you will have to make it a bit longer to be in proportion.
Most patterns have a tension guide eg 22 stitches and 24 rows for a 4" or 10cms square (or whatever).

Unless you are an experienced knitter, it could be too difficult.
The easiest thing would be to try to find a pattern in DK or to buy some inexpensive 4ply yarn and use your DK yarn for something else.

Ravelry have free patterns and I saw these too (I like the baubles)

www.loveknitting.com/christmas-knitting-patterns

ps 8ply is DK in English!

These fairy dolls are lovely (there are more in the set) if you have DGD:
www.amazon.co.uk/Patons-Flower-Knitting-Pattern-Booklet/dp/B0054DDHYE?tag=gransnetforum-21
The Rose Fairy is available free from Ravelry.

You don't have to use the recommended yarn, but using the same make of yarn would be best because even DK varies slightly.

Thank you Jamila and Firecracker123 I've joined Ravelry - 3 GGD to fight over my first Rose Fairy!

Nona4ever Happy knitting. I'm sure your first Rose Fairy will be lovely.

I would use the double knitting and just accept the toy will turn out a bit bigger. But I would not use 4mm needles for toy making. If the knitted fabric is very dense , the stuffing will be enclosed better and not show through. Personally I would use 3.5 or 3.75 . Using 4mm will be too "see through"

loveknitting.com is another site I find patterns on. They also sell wool.

I have knitted up some 4 ply patterns with DK wool and vice versa. I use the correct needles for the wool (not what the patterns says) and have found that it's knitted up ok ... just a bit bigger (or smaller if I've used 4ply for DK). I'd say you jump up or down one size, so I use the length measurements for that size.

However, for knitting toys it's probably easier to use the specified yarn thickness. Might end up with some interesting toys though!!!

If anyone is on Facebook there is a good group called Knit and Natter, Hooked on our Needles. It's a friendly group.

Good advice given Nona.

It might also be worthwhile investigating if there's a Knit & Natter group nearby that you could manage to attend occasionally. They're usually welcoming groups & may even be able to help with transport.

Most prolific knitters will have a "stash" of not only incomplete projects, but oddments that they know will be useful "sometime". Regular Knit & Natterers (& other crafters) will be pleased to let you have odd bits of wool to complete your work at no cost.

Have fun.

They both wanted my Rose Fairy so I kept her myself and she cheers me up every time I see her
They can play with her when they come here!

I saw these online:
www.sirdar.co.uk/images/products/Elephants%20by%20Sue%20Jobson%20-%20Sirdar%20Knitalong%20Part2.pdf