knitting and crochet, nattering and sharing

witzend

I spent over an hour browsing jumper patterns, this time via wool warehouse where there are pattern filters and the patterns are nicely laid out. Tbh I really want mindless knitting, fulfilled by socks at the moment. I need dk not worsted as in many of rav patterns. I don`t want a shapeless jumper down to my knees and I don`t want polo neck or boat or low neck, after all a wool jumper for me has to be cosy. Not many cables or aran style either, I have 2 already and mostly it is just too warm to wear them

I find what I might like and pop them into my library in rav, at the moment I am liking west yorkshire spinner patterns as they are stylish and not over the top, like many rowan patterns. They are safe in my library and I shall re-visit them when I have finished my sock session, which may be in a few weeks

I finished my socks, wished I had used my instinctive size 2 circular. I used 2.25 and the socks expanded (the yarn relaxed) after soaking, I have them on now over tights and they are fine like this but I am already knitting on a size 2, which is like knitting with pins

karmalady

I just found a knit and natter group, only a walk away but it is in an evangelical chapel and I don`t do religion, having gone through a lifetime, up to age 40 being a catholic. I am not going to that one. I am still looking,

Ours is or was - we haven't met since Covid hit) in a pub - it doesn't mean we are all alcoholics?.

Also, from the other 'side', my local church rents out rooms for all sorts of things - pilates, toddler groups, poetry appreciation, things like that- but there is no religion involved.

Unless the knitting group is specifically to knit items for the church, you may well find that nobody who goes is a church member, or even if they all are they won't be talking about religion. There's no harm in checking it out to see for yourself, if you are on the lookout for a local group.

Sorry - missing bracket in first line.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Now I am prepping for the breslin, I have wound a cake of yarn from a skein (bought a swift and am glad), yarn strand is fine in diameter, it would have taken a very long time winding by hand from a chair back

I did my body measurements, no different to me sewing from a pattern and size 3 will suit. I am short and will take 1" off the body length, sleeve length looks fine as the sleeve underarm is high into the armcye. I can adapt later if needed. Underarm body length will be 15.25

Next and most important step is to find the gauge, I need 24 x 38, so will have to go down several needle sizes, I think I will start with size 2.5. I am not wanting to make a swatch with circulars ie every row knit. I will do the normal stockinette on straight needles, back and forth 1 row k and 1 row purl. To compensate, I will firstly put strands to mark, so I know where the gauge is supposed to be, it will help with the counting. I am comparing pattern gauge with yarn recommended gauge btw, hence the much smaller needles than pattern plus I knit loose

I can get the prelim gauge while the swatch is still on the needles, I can get a fair idea after 2 inches, if it seems ok I will carry on to make a 6 x 6 inch square. I will then record the gauge before washing. This will help me to be accurate when using actual circulars, so I can compare before I get too far.

Then I wash the swatch and steam block by patting ,not pressing down and get the accurate final gauge when the swatch is bone dry. It seems a long process and it is, but is very worth it, in the end.

That's a lovely pattern.

I agree that preparation is key. I use a lot of Colourmart yarns, and as they don't match up to UK weights you really need to be sure you've got the right one for the pattern, and you need to test the gauge when the swatch has been washed and the oils are removed.

I tend to get round this by choosing patterns that aren't row-dependent (ie looser styles with instructions that say 'continue until pattern = 15cm' rather than 'knit 30 more rows').

I'm using Noro yarn on the sweater I'm knitting now, and have got to the shaping, so am really having to fiddle to make sure the stripes stay roughly the same size as the body.

I noticed upthread that a poster had said she had several works in progress. I tend to finish one project before starting the next…….what does everyone else do?

It was probably me!

I always have lots of things on (different) needles. Sometimes it's so I can have a mindless project to watch in front of the TV and a more complex one for interest when I can concentrate.

Sometimes it's because I am knitting one thing when someone asks me to make another. Sometimes I just get bored with a project and put it down until it appeals again. Sometimes I just see the perfect pattern, or buy the perfect yarn and just have to cast it on.

Lol doodledog! I crochet as opposed to knitting, but can knit if necessary. Many moons ago I got hooked on knitting Icelandic sweaters…..the entire family, including my parents, had one of these. We looked like the cover of a knitting pattern! I’ve been given a kit for Xmas to knit a Shetland Kep……afraid to start it’s been so long!

katek, do you use lopi wool? Icelandic jumpers are beautiful but I had to give mine away as it was so hot to wear

The swatch is washed and steamed and is now on its last stage, the final dry and it will remain like that until I have finished my socks. I am a weeny bit too tight on stitch count, I also adjust on row count if needed, much easier. I would not get closer with any other size of needle but I know that knitting completely in the round on circulars will be a teeny tad looser. If the swatch remains the same then I will stick with size 3. My 10cm swatch was 25 stitches. It changed completely when the oils and finishing had been washed out

Doodledog, I have several cones of colourmart yarn, not used any of it yet. They smell very much like when I was machine knitting from cones, similar to shetland wool on cones and by golly that bloomed really lovely after the all important wash. Depending when I can get into my cupboard again, I may just spend some time on making swatches and storing them, with notes. I can always use the ravelry tool for finding patterns to fit a particular gauge. Rather than fitting gauge to a pattern

Ahh, a kep is a hat. I made something similar to this free pattern, with jamieson yarn. Blocked nicely on a balloon

www.jamiesonsofshetland.co.uk/da-crofters-kep---shetland-wool-week-pattern-2021---wilma-malcolmson-2946-p.asp

I can knit and crochet ok. Its the sewing everything together Im not so keen on.

Oh Doodledog I knit ‘funny’ too so it was heartening to read your robust defence . I’m now wondering if my technique came through my Irish maternal grandmother. I’d like to think so.

Lockdown saw me learning crochet. Like others, I find Bella Coco a great teacher.

I did think it was a bit ironic to be making a ‘virus shawl’ (which has a rapidly multiplying pattern) during a viral pandemic .
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swatch is drying but still damp and it is tightening a bit
stitches now numer 26. It does not seem a lot but I have done some calcs for size 3 and size 4 circumference

size 3 24 stitches in 4 inch swatch ={252/24] x4 =42 inches
size 4 " " " " ={276/24} x4 = 46 inches

size 3 26 stitches in 4 inch swatch = {252/26} x4 =39 inches
size 4 " " " " = {276/26} x4 =43 inches

I hope that helps someone re swatching and how important it is wrt number of stitches. Now I am going to make size 4 not size 3 because ease is 2-4 inches and my bust is 39, so size 3 would be skin tight

If I get a reduction in rows, it won`t be much and in that case I will make size 4 straight off without taking any length off

almost a mishap with needle sizing. I mistakenly read 2.5 on the needle tip, the reading light is intense and the mm size is below, US size, my needle size for breslin is actually 3mm. Phew, I am very glad I double checked after getting 2.25 mm, or US size 1 ready for ribbing. I noticed the 2 numbers more clearly. I really need to check my needles with a gauge before starting a swatch

I intend to have two wips this time, as they are very different. I cast on with 2.75 and two needles held together for a nice stretchy edge I am shortly going to remove one needle and wire and will add that tip to the other end of the remaining wire to give me my 32inch circular. I put a marker on every 50 stitches, to save me repeat counting. I will be taking the markers off

I am going to join the circle now and just make one row of rib. To join neatly, I make one extra stitch on the right side and do a slip stitch to join ends and avoid the jog over

That was a very near miss for me re the needle size, I have now marked two small zip lock bags and will store the needles in those, for this jumper

Merino has a short staple length and will quickly bobble on wearing but it will be warm. If I like it, then I may well make another in a yarn containing a long staple, such as silk or bfl (blue faced leicester) Certainly one with much less merino. Bfl or silk only needs to be a part of the mix

I have 40 rows, not 38 for the gauge. I want to lose 3/4-1" from side length. A few more calcs, same as above for stitches

I can lose 1/4" from the rib. I have 0.5" left to lose ie 5 rows

There are 3 intervals between decreases when I can lose 1 row each time. After that I need to k 25 rows and will lose the other 2 rows then

The person who wrote that pattern has done a fantastic job, one of the clearest patterns I have ever used. Her schematic (drawings) are excellent with all the finished measurements marked and lots of empty space for notes

I'm wanting to knit socks. I've made leg warmers on 4 needles years ago. I think joining in the round wasn't perfect but accept I'd improve with practice. I've bough an Addi sock wounder circular needle which is tiny but apparently makes sock knitting easier. Any ideas anyone whats the best way to try sock knitting? Anyone recommend an easy pattern

I used to go to slimming class held in a church. No religious people or religious talk. You may see a cross on the wall. The religious people are the keyholes who unlock the doors. The slimming and knitting clubs bring in money for the church seems congregations are so small these days it help them pay for the heating bills etc.

Keyholders

Socksandsocks01 I would have a look at Winwick Mum for socks, her easy sock patter is very well written and gives clear instructions and photographs of every step.
I use the magic loop method because I find the very short circular needles awkward to use. You will discover what suits you best the more you do! I’ve knitted 32 pairs of socks now and I find it quite addictive ?

www.winwickmum.co.uk is the website

sockandsock, your hands should quickly get used to 9" circular needles for your socks, mine did. I use dpns for heel turning and toe. Get a ball of opal yarn (for interest) and use a free pattern for vanilla socks, the one I posted earlier is good. I like my socks with quite a tight tension and use 2mm needles plus 2.75 for the ribbing. 60 stitches. Re joining in the round, CO 1 extra stitch on the right needle, hold the 2 needle ends together, put r needle purlwise into the first stitch on the left, slip the extra stitch over, put the slipped-over stitch back on the left needle. That will give you a lovely neat join and the correct number of stitches

My jumper is knitting very well, the yarn is gorgeous and the socks will be finished today.

socksnsocks, also thanks to you for the post about the knitting clubs, I shall follow up soon and also the clubs that take place in another chapel in town

I’ve just discovered that an additional stitch avoids a jog in the round but I must thank you for pointing the value of washing a swatch.

you are welcome nannagarra. I dislike making swatches, they are so time consuming but I would cry if a garment did not fit

Katek

I noticed upthread that a poster had said she had several works in progress. I tend to finish one project before starting the next…….what does everyone else do?

I have a ‘mindless TV knitting’ blanket on the go, double DK on a fat circular needle, and a ‘worry monster’ that needs a bit of concentration, on thin needles.
I shall be glad when the blanket’s finally finished - I won’t be embarking on such a big one again - but that’s enough for now.