Knitting

[george]

I love knitting too. I can knit pretty much anything but I don't know enough people to knit jumpers for and I have more than I really need.

I have just knitted a cute baby jacket and I am currently knitting a jumper with a picture of a horse on it which is quite interesting. It is in 4ply wool though so it grows slowly.

If you are getting started knitting I recommend using thick wool (double knitting or chunky) as that grows much quicker and is more satisfying. Knitting with the feathery wool that is popular these days makes cool scarves but it is much harder to keep track of your stiches.

[bluensm]

I've just done the heel in my second ever sock! I never thought I could knit socks having not much experience at all but it's not that difficult after all. First one did admittedly take me six months but this one is definitely going quicker. In fact I might even have a pair of socks in time for Christmas ! Other than that I've only knitted a few things before, a scarf, small blanket, booties. Think I'm hooked now though and I never realised so many other people knit too.

[red]

socks are easir then they look aren't they

i like small projects becasue I ama slow knitter.. and tend to have too many projects on the go at once

[the.fee.fairy]

I can knit!

I taught myself using some books last year. So far, i've knitted a scarf, a headband, the toe of a sock, half another sock, half a wristband, some slippers for my sister, a nosewarmer (also for Nik) and i've done the back and one side of the front of a jumper.

There are more half-finished projects than completed ones...But...i do have a cupboard full of yarn...and another cupboard...

[linzibean]

I taught myself using the interwebs this summer. So far I mostly knit scarves and hats, but I also mastered double knitting, and have just knit my first cowl in the round. I have been given sock yarn by MIL but still a bit scared to try! I find knitting very therapeutic, I use it to wind down when all the teacher paperwork gets too much! I'm currently in the middle of a laceweight scarf, a wavy pattern scarf in blue/green silk wool, and a double knit scarf with patterns on for hubby. I might finish one of them sometime soon

[rockchick]

I recently rediscovered a 'My first knitting book' which I was given when I was 8. I could knit back then but have had to reteach myself the basics. I want to knit my friend something for her new baby and as a practice decided to knit a dolls dress. It did take me about an hour just to work out what 'yarn forward' meant and my attempt at resizing it for a smaller doll wasn't entirely successful, but my daughter was very pleased and dora looks a whole lot more decent than the bikini she arrived in! I nearly posted this on the other thread about looking things up on the web but I have been trawling for a relatively simple cardigan to knit. I found some lovely double knit baby yarn and am looking for something simple which does not require circular needles as they scare me

[ina]

something simple which does not require circular needles as they scare me

I was just going to suggest a really simple way for knitting kids' jumpers and cardies, all in one piece - but you do need circular needles for that! Funny, I knit everything with circular needles - I find the long ones terribly cumbersome; if you knit in a public place, you always have to make sure you don't prod your neighbours with them; and you can so easily lose one of them...

[snapdragon]

Circulars are wonderful i love 'em - but I always had a problem with long needles so am happier with a crochet hook, circulars or double pointed needles
I've seen a description of knitting two socks together on one long circular needle very clever and Very technical
so far with my handspun I've done two shrugs and a jumper, and a couple of moebius scarves (cowl/smoke ring type) and some shapes middle-out on DPN's which might become something else eventually
I just wish I could re-teach myself euro style knitting (or German style as I knew it) where you hold the yarn in the left hand and hook it through with the right needle a bit like crocheting, but the paws don't want to play these days humph

[ina]

I just wish I could re-teach myself euro style knitting (or German style as I knew it) where you hold the yarn in the left hand and hook it through with the right needle a bit like crocheting, but the paws don't want to play these days humph

I've got the opposite problem - just can't get my head and fingers round British style - and it would make Fairisle so much easier...

[snapdragon]

I just wish I could re-teach myself euro style knitting (or German style as I knew it) where you hold the yarn in the left hand and hook it through with the right needle a bit like crocheting, but the paws don't want to play these days humph

I've got the opposite problem - just can't get my head and fingers round British style - and it would make Fairisle so much easier...

Nod Nod Ina - we could have a colour in each hand and double-quick if we could do it both ways

mind you I'd still get it tangled

[Brij]

Nod Nod Ina - we could have a colour in each hand and double-quick if we could do it both ways

mind you I'd still get it tangled

Easy-peasy!

I've just finished a pair of 100% baby llama gloves... made the wrists quite long and ribbed, so I can roll them up or just use them to keep my forearm warm!

Anyone tried double-knitting? I managed to do a pair of socks for my little brother like that, so I could do two at a time, on one circular, so one came out inside the other (rather than doing two on a magic loop, which means you're constantly changing yarns)... managed not to stitch them together, and that used the same technique as double-ing Euro with Brit knitting, though they were pretty simple.

Again, I'll gladly extend an invitation to anyone who wants a knitting-partner in Southampton... I'm not always condescending! Just pm me!

[Annpan]

Brij, I swear, you were born to knit.... I have been knitting seriously for 3 years but I have known the basics for 20 years.... in no way are any of those things as easy as you make out.

[StripyPixieSocks]

Nod Nod Ina - we could have a colour in each hand and double-quick if we could do it both ways

mind you I'd still get it tangled

Easy-peasy!

I've just finished a pair of 100% baby llama gloves

I didn't know Llamas had hands...

...

... I'll get my coat

[Loobyloo]

Nod Nod Ina - we could have a colour in each hand and double-quick if we could do it both ways

mind you I'd still get it tangled

Easy-peasy!

I've just finished a pair of 100% baby llama gloves

I didn't know Llamas had hands...

...

... I'll get my coat

No need SPS that made me lliterally LOL!

[Brij]

I needed a chuckle - thanks!

Knitting really is that easy though, you just have to visualise it in your head, then swatch up and you're off! I'm not very fast though...

It delights my mum, who's taken to finding pictures of knitted items that she wants, to show me, so I can either explain to her how to do them or get on with it for her