sooo...anybody knitting?

[badbadrubberpiggy]

Badbadrubberpiggy here, novice knitter. So far, I have knitted half a scarf, then I got distracted and very busy, so I haven't done it in awhile.
When I started knitting, my then-bf now-fiance bought me Stitch N' Bitch (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0761128182/qid=1117640055/sr=8-2/ref=pd_csp_2/002-7033565-7429630?v=glance&s=books&n=507846), so I could learn how to knit better (I had bought a pamphlet from Micheal's, but it was hard to understand).

So, anybody have any advice for a new knitter? I want to make something for my fiance for getting me the book (probably just a scarf for now, not the one I'm currently practicing on). Any great projects you've made? Links to pics for inspiration? I really like doing it, but I just haven't had time lately and I'm trying to get back into it.

[Archergal]

I knit a lot these days. I currently have these projects on the needles:


socks for my husband
a pinwheel (http://www.knitlist.com/00gift/round-baby-blanket.htm) lap afghan
a sweater for myself
a lace shawl (http://www.blackberry-ridge.com/spdrquen.htm) for myself


I'm hoping to finish the pinwheel blanket today or tomorrow.

I heart knitting. Do you have a yarn shop near you? Most of them have classes. Or you might find classes at your local Michael's or JoAnn's. Finding other knitters to hang out with is fun too, because there's probably somebody who can help you out if you have problems or give you advice on how to improve your knitting. Check this (http://marthas.blogs.com/massknitting/2005/05/mass_stitch_n_b.html) out to see if there's anything near you.

As for project ideas, there are a ton of free patterns as well as free instructional sites on the internet. There's Knitting help (http://www.knittinghelp.com/), which has free how-to videos. Knitty (http://knitty.com) usually has cool patterns. And there are a ton of knitting blogs out there for inspiration. Go to Bloglines (http://www.bloglines.com) and search on knitting. Browse and be inspired.

Pick out a pattern or design you really want to do and go for it. You'll learn and have fun at the same time.

[ivylass]

Oh, yes, there's a whole bunch of us. Okay, a bunch. Very well, a handful, but we're dedicated.

I'm gearing myself up to try a sweater, but I haven't yet. I have a cable knit pillow to finish for my folks, then my son's blanket. I love cable knitting. It looks incredibly hard, but it's so easy and it looks really cool.

I have also learned that I knit better continental style. There was a time I thought I'd been doing it wrong, but Knitty Gritty on DIY Network showed me I'm not doing it wrong, just different. Whew!

[Unauthorized Cinnamon]

In a bold move, I bought myself Knitting for Dummies and signed up for an online class, and made these (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y285/ChristineLynne/Chloe%2020-24%20mos/pants3.jpg) pants (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y285/ChristineLynne/Chloe%2020-24%20mos/pants1.jpg) for my daughter as my first knitting project. I even dyed the wool myself - with Kook-Aid! I am very pleased with the result.

Now I'm working on finishing a crocheted blanket that I started eleven years ago ( :eek: ). I just don't feel right starting another knitting project until I finally get this done!

[Unauthorized Cinnamon]

er, Kool-Aid, that is. :smack:

[Archergal]

Cute pants, AerynSun!

Some folks approach knitting from a one-project-at-a-time perspective. Others of us like to have different projects for different moods. I always have something that doesn't take much thought that I can take to Stitch'n Bitch meetings or ballgames or places like that. Socks are good for that. I've finally done enough socks that a plain sock is pretty much mindless knitting.

[badbadrubberpiggy]

Thanks guys! I just went to the "knitting stories" thread, and there was a lot of inspiration there. When I get a new hobby, I get frustrated that I can't make great things right away, so that's an obstacle. There is this fantastic baby sweater in one of the books I have (everything else in it is hideous, but the knitting instructions are easy to follow), and I really want to make it. If I get good enough, I'd actually love to make it for myself - it's a simply hoodie with some kind of striped design on the front, and it zips. I want!

I think I might try some of the hats in Stitch n' Bitch next, once I get a handle on some of the different kinds of stitches. I also saw a few things on the Knitty site that I want to make.

[badbadrubberpiggy]

A couple of questions that I don't want to clog up the other knitting thread with:

1. about how much yarn does it take to make the average sweater? I know it will vary with patterns, yarn sizes, and needles sizes, but ballpark?

2. I've read about dyeing yarn with kool-aid, which works on natural fibers. Can you also use jello? I know you can use both to dye human hair

[Podkayne]

#1: I came across this tip somewhere, and thought it was very clever: take your favorite sweater (assuming you're making a sweater for yourself) that's similar, and weigh it. A kitchen scale works great for this.

If you want ballpark, I'm just finishing up a pullover for a friend that took about 40 oz of worsted weight. Your mileage WILL vary. The same size sweater in bulky weight yarn will require more, sport weight will require less.

[amarinth]

Hi,
I knit.

I knit a lot, in fact. I rarely finish things - because it's more fun to start than to finish...plus, who's ever going to know (until I'm dead and they have to find my body in the big piles of yarn - but that's...what.... 40 years and at least another bag of yarn away)

What do you like doing? What catches your eye when you look at SnB or www.knitty.com or yarn magazines or in yarn shops? Do those things. My biggest piece of advice is that there's really nothing out there that's "too difficult" for you to do (once you've finished that first scarf). With time and help, you can do pretty much anything with needles and yarn. But arguably, there's really only one or two (four tops) things you can do with those yarn and all that matters is the order in which you do those things. (There are projects out there that will frustrate you due to "unstated" directions. Or that are time quite time consuming - so, there's a lack of instant gratification. But you could certainly do them if you've got that kind of patience.)
Don't let it intimidate you - it's just yarn. And it can always be ripped out and worked again.

[FilmGeek]

A warning. The instructions for doing a yarn over in SnB are WRONG.

In the book, it says you wrap the yarn around the needle, then knit the next stitch. Wrong. Lots of people run into this problem. A yarn over is wrapping the yarn around the needle. Period. Then you do whatever comes next in the pattern, could be knit, but it could be purl or k2tog or whatever. You'll save yourself a lot of heartache if you ignore her instructions for yarning over.

[Ghanima]

Novice knitter here too. I am currently knitting a very pretty scarf, just in time for summer (haha) but I have realized I have a problem. I don't know how to stop. I have visions of a sixty foot long scarf all because I don't know what to do once I get to the length I want!! I guess I'll have to get a book or something to tell me what to do.

[Unauthorized Cinnamon]

Ghanima, I definitely recommend Knitting for Dummies. It has very clear directions, and good drawings that make things easy.

Somehow, I managed to screw things up in my mind, and wound up knitting kind of inside out - working with the back of each loop instead of the front. Finally I looked back at the book and went :smack: . No wonder I kept thinking, "Purling is so HARD, how does anyone do this fast?" The cool thing is, I just left it all, and went on from that point knitting correctly, and you can't even tell.

I also really like the forums at woolywonder.com, where I took my class. You can do classes, buy patterns and get support for them, or just ask questions on the open forums. I can hardly believe it, but I learned to increase, decrease, do short rows, and knit two pant legs on one long circular, all through the web.

[Novalyne]

A warning. The instructions for doing a yarn over in SnB are WRONG.

In the book, it says you wrap the yarn around the needle, then knit the next stitch. Wrong. Lots of people run into this problem. A yarn over is wrapping the yarn around the needle. Period. Then you do whatever comes next in the pattern, could be knit, but it could be purl or k2tog or whatever. You'll save yourself a lot of heartache if you ignore her instructions for yarning over.
New knitter here, and I'm confused. I just learned the yarn-over out of a book, and now I suspect I'm doing it wrong (although it still made an eyelet, unless it was larger than a standard yarnover hole). My instructions were to YO, then k2tog, repeat for pattern. I wrapped the yarn around, then knitted, then k2tog.

I thought that doing it as I just described was required in order to keep the same number of stitches on the stick - that the YO (with a knit included) added an extra stitch which the k2tog then balanced. If I just wrapped, then k2tog, wouldn't I end up with a decrease?

Clear as mud!

[jayjay]

Novice knitter here too. I am currently knitting a very pretty scarf, just in time for summer (haha) but I have realized I have a problem. I don't know how to stop. I have visions of a sixty foot long scarf all because I don't know what to do once I get to the length I want!! I guess I'll have to get a book or something to tell me what to do.

You want to bind off once you get it as long as you want it. Basically, starting at the beginning of the last row, knit one, knit another one, slip the first knit stitch over the second, let the slipped stitch drop off the needle. The second stitch will hold it in place. Then do it again: Knit another stitch, slip the inside stitch on the needle over the new stitch, then drop it off the needle. Keep doing this until you get to the end, when you'll just take the yarn end, put it through the last stitch, tug and weave in the end.

[jayjay]

Here's (http://www.wonderful-things.com/newknit6.htm) a helpful page with pictures and everything! :) Just go for the plain bind-off for now.

[amarinth]

New knitter here, and I'm confused. I just learned the yarn-over out of a book, and now I suspect I'm doing it wrong (although it still made an eyelet, unless it was larger than a standard yarnover hole). My instructions were to YO, then k2tog, repeat for pattern. I wrapped the yarn around, then knitted, then k2tog.

I thought that doing it as I just described was required in order to keep the same number of stitches on the stick - that the YO (with a knit included) added an extra stitch which the k2tog then balanced. If I just wrapped, then k2tog, wouldn't I end up with a decrease?

Clear as mud!No. Neither is a decrease - but your eyelets aren't spaced the way the pattern envisioned.

Imagine that you have 7 stitches on two different swatches

swatch A - k1, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog. - at the end, you've still got 7 stitches. (each yo is a stitch. each k2tog is a stitch)

swatch B - k1, yo, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, k2tog (this is apparently what SnB tells you to do.) At the end, you've 7 stitches.

But in scarf A, you have 3 closely spaced eyelets. in scarf B, you've got two slightly farther spaced eyelets - neither of these decreases. In both, you're countering the decrease (k2tog) with an increase (yo) it's just a matter of how far away the decreases are from each other. But don't assume that extra k1 unless the pattern tells you it should be there.

[stringy]

I've been knitting for a little over a year now, and the main frustration I have is the difference between UK, European and US terms for things. 'Yarn over' means different things, needle sizes have different numbers, yarn weights have different names... as an Aussie it drives me crazy sometimes, just trying to track down where a pattern comes from so that I know what set of terminologies I'm using!

Podkayne, that's a great tip about weighing a similar size jumper to get an approximate weight of yarn!

As a new-ish beginner, I'd definitely recommend finding a pattern you want to knit and just learning the techniques as you go along. I'm always afraid something will be too hard, then finding out it ain't that bad after all, and finally wondering why I put it off for so long. If you're really not sure, just give the technique a test-run on a bit of scrappy yarn first. And if it really won't work, you can always rip it out and start again, no harm done.

[Ghanima]

Thankis for the tips, guys! Very helpful!

[Anastasaeon]

I am so happy I found this thread!

I am also a new knitter. I have just learned how to purl... so I thought, anyway. I found a pattern for a baby blanket where I knit/purl for the edges, then (if I remember correctly) I do something like knit a row, purl a row... but you know something, it all looks the same to me. I don't see any difference in texture or width or whatever. It just looks like a knit blanket so far, despite all the alternating knitting and purling I've been doing, according to the pattern. The edges are supposed to look raised, and the middle indented a bit. Mine just looks the same all over. BAH!

So far, I have just been knitting scarves (made a bunch for everyone at Christmas in varying colours and textures of yarns to suit each person's taste), double knitted potholders, some coasters, several little hats, and two purses: one a small clutch style bag, and one big shoulder bag. I'd like to get started on some socks, and possibly a cat bad or two with felted yarn - my mother just shipped me her old knitting needles and supplies, since she doesn't use them anymore, and there are some circular needles in there. That should add some variety, anyway.

Thanks for starting this thread, badbadrubberpiggy! There's a lot of useful advice and websites here that I didn't see before.

[badbadrubberpiggy]

Thanks for starting this thread, badbadrubberpiggy! There's a lot of useful advice and websites here that I didn't see before.

Well, it was really supposed to be all about ME and MY knitting, but I guess you can come in as well! ;)

I'm going yarn shopping today! I found a list of Massachusetts yarn stores and there are a few not too far from where I work, and one near where I live.

[jacquilynne]

1. about how much yarn does it take to make the average sweater? I know it will vary with patterns, yarn sizes, and needles sizes, but ballpark?


This is my favourite chart on the subject:
http://secure.elann.com/faq.asp#estimates

I knit other people's patterns or design my own, as the situation warrents. My three current projects are:

a) Corset that I'm knitting to myself via the tried and true method of 'holding it up to myself periodically to see if it fits'.
b) The Cabin Fever Ridgeway Pullover (http://cabinfever.on.ca/ItemDetail.asp?DETAIL=302) in blue heathered wool for my father.
c) A rework of the Diamond patch sweater on this page (http://ample-knitters.com/jschlesier.html) I knit the one you see pictured for my mother and she dieted out of it, so I have it now. I'm making her another in a blue and teal hand-dyed.

My most recently completed project was a baby blankie (http://www.jacquilynne.com/blankie.html) based on the art (http://www.puzzlepirates.com/docs/shots/swordshatter.jpg) from Puzzle Pirates. (http://www.puzzlepirates.com)

[ivylass]

I am so happy I found this thread!

I am also a new knitter. I have just learned how to purl... so I thought, anyway. I found a pattern for a baby blanket where I knit/purl for the edges, then (if I remember correctly) I do something like knit a row, purl a row... but you know something, it all looks the same to me. I don't see any difference in texture or width or whatever. It just looks like a knit blanket so far, despite all the alternating knitting and purling I've been doing, according to the pattern. The edges are supposed to look raised, and the middle indented a bit. Mine just looks the same all over. BAH!



Stupid question, maybe, but are you turning the work after each row? I made a rookie mistake once while knitting, since the pattern didn't refer to a wrong side row I thought I was supposed to knit left to right and then right to left. I've since learned :smack: to turn the work after each row so my empty needle is always on the right, since I'm right handed.

How are you purling?

[badbadrubberpiggy]

Good news for me, and anyone living in the Boston area - there is a knitting supply store on Newbury Street (I forget the name, but it's right near the Common). If you buy your supplies there, you get free knitting lessons! Hopefully I'll have time to go tomorrow - the woman there was very kind to the newbie, and helped me find the yarn I was looking for, this really neat eyelash yarn in greens and blues, very pretty.

Also, I learned that eyelash yarn is a pain in the buttocks to work with, at least at first. All those fuzzy little eyelashes getting in the way, so I can't see my stitches. Oh well, it also looks like it will be a little more forgiving with mistakes, since you really can't see the stitches well, it just looks fuzzy! :D

[chattywine]

HURRAY! More knitters! Good point on the SnB yo error. Have seen many struggling with that. TheKnitty messageboard (http://www.knittyboard.com/) is also a good place to check out for tech advise and other chitchat with fellow addicts :)

[chattywine]

:smack: I meant advice, really I did !

preview is my friend preview is my friend

[ivylass]

Last night I ordered four balls of the Red Hat type of this yarn (http://knitpicks.com/yarns/yarn_Display.aspx?itemid=5420118). My KnitPicks catalog has a very easy pattern for a shawl with an automatic fringe when you're done. Christmas present for my step mom!! Only problem is, there seems to be a run on size 11 circular needles, 32" long. Michael's didn't have them, Knitpicks was out of stock. I suppose I could use my size 11 straight needles.

[kittenblue]

I'm a relatively new knitter, and I've made lots of scarves and the Kittyville hat from Stitch'n Bitch...it was a lot easier that I thought, and it looks great! I reccommend a CD-RoM I got at JoAnn's called Knitting Made Easy....great, clear videos, easy to understand and visual help for those printed directions. I just picked up a pattern for an easy sweater, and now need the money for the twelve balls of yarn it will take. But first, I want to make socks and a pair of mittens. I love the Magic Stripes-type yarns, and really want to try them. Lillith Fair is my personal knitting advisor, and she's been making some amazingly complex baby hats...I'll try to find a link later.

I couldn't sleep last night, so I got up at 3 am and started working on a swatch of a yarn Lillith Fair bought for me in San Francisco. But I don't have a problem, really! I did join the Yarn of the Month club, though....

[jayjay]

Last night I ordered four balls of the Red Hat type of this yarn (http://knitpicks.com/yarns/yarn_Display.aspx?itemid=5420118). My KnitPicks catalog has a very easy pattern for a shawl with an automatic fringe when you're done. Christmas present for my step mom!! Only problem is, there seems to be a run on size 11 circular needles, 32" long. Michael's didn't have them, Knitpicks was out of stock. I suppose I could use my size 11 straight needles.

The problem with that is that unless you have a very unusual supplier, there are no 32" straight needles. If that's the type of scarf I'm thinking of, it's knit horizontally (i.e. each row runs the length of the scarf instead of the width), which means you're going to want anywhere from 3' to 5' of stitches on the needle. Can't do that with straight needles.

[Idlewild]

Other good Boston area stores: I absolutely LOVE the Knitting Room, which is in Arlington. Spent $60 there last saturday actually. And Windsor Button, which is on Temple Place (kinda between the Common and Downtown Crossing area) is very comprehensive in its selection - good for lots of different price ranges of yarn.

I am currently knitting this (http://wendyknits.net/knit/feather.htm) in colour 4905 of this (http://www.muenchyarns.com/pages/yarns/sirgalli.html). I also have a sweater on the needles in Rowan Summer Tweed - silk and cotton blend, but I don't care for the pattern so I'm going to rip it out and make a lace wrap instead.

I have only been knitting since January but my experience was the first few projects were a bitch and then it *clicked*. My eyelash yarn project left me loathing the stuff though! No more novelty yarns for me. I owe my husband a pointy hat with a bobble on top some time so I'm in the market for any patterns that sound like that ;)

Re Dyeing: The knitty board - already linked to in this thread - has an entire section devoted to discussions of dyeing, questions and answers and peoples' experiences.

[Novalyne]

I'm late back to the thread, but thanks, Amarinth! Your explanation of the yo make total sense and I finally understand what I was doing (wrong).

I have gone through the dishcloth stage (I did a new lesson with each dishcloth), although I might do one more to learn twists. I'm currently knitting some placemats for my mom, but I'm ready to move on to scarves and, especially, socks.

For me, the yarn store has temporarily replaced the bookstore as the thorn in my budgeting side!

[Bren_Cameron]

What's this wrapping the yarn around the needle for a YO? The way I was taught was to just bring the yarn to the other side--if, say, I'm knitting, I YO by bringing the yarn to the front as if I were going to purl, but I knit. It works perfectly.

Aeryn Sun, I must have the pattern for those pants.

And make me another who recommends picking a project you want to make, regardless of whether you think you know enough to make it--ninety nine percent of it is just following directions, and you can always ask for help with something you don't understand. You'll enjoy it much more, and it'll be educational too.

[Anastasaeon]

Stupid question, maybe, but are you turning the work after each row? I made a rookie mistake once while knitting, since the pattern didn't refer to a wrong side row I thought I was supposed to knit left to right and then right to left. I've since learned :smack: to turn the work after each row so my empty needle is always on the right, since I'm right handed.

How are you purling?

I... don't think I am turning my work... hmm. I'm going to have to knit a little and get back to you on that. Either I'm not turning it, or I always am, since my empty needle is always on the right by the time I start a new row. Erg. I'll be able to check soon, since my mother just sent me all her old yarn and needles, since she doesn't use them anymore and I love learning how. I know I can... my aunt taught me when I was eight years old and I had no trouble. It's so much easier with a human instructor! :D (those links above are going to be invaluable, I watched a couple of the videos and had many "OH! I get it!" moments).

I'm not sure how to describe how I'm purling... the best way I can explain it with my lack of proper terms is that it's like knitting, only backwards. I hold the yarn I'm working with in my right hand with my fingers shaped so the pinky and index fingers are raised with the yarn draped over them, and my middle and ring finger are together with the yarn going under them. And then I ... knit backwards. Ugh. Does any of that make sense? :confused:

[ivylass]

It sounds like you're turning the work, but I don't think you're purling correctly. It's not about how you hold the yarn between your fingers.

When knitting, you stick the needle so it's sticking out the back of the stitch and you wrap the yarn around the needle and pull it back through. Purling, you stick the needle so it's coming out through the front of the stitch, then wrap the yarn around the front of the needle and pull it back.

Knitting (http://www.knittinghelp.com/knitting/basic_techniques/knit.php)

Purling (http://www.knittinghelp.com/knitting/basic_techniques/purl.php). The difference is where you put your "empty" needle.

[Anastasaeon]

It sounds like you're turning the work, but I don't think you're purling correctly. It's not about how you hold the yarn between your fingers.

When knitting, you stick the needle so it's sticking out the back of the stitch and you wrap the yarn around the needle and pull it back through. Purling, you stick the needle so it's coming out through the front of the stitch, then wrap the yarn around the front of the needle and pull it back.

Knitting (http://www.knittinghelp.com/knitting/basic_techniques/knit.php)

Purling (http://www.knittinghelp.com/knitting/basic_techniques/purl.php). The difference is where you put your "empty" needle.

Yeah, that sounds like what I'm doing - the needle goes in front of the stitch....

wait a minute...

I think I'm wrapping the yarn around the back, not the front. :smack: I will be trying this out and see if that's what I was doing wrong. Thanks for your help and the links, ivylass, I will be following those very closely to see what I did wrong!

[ivylass]

If you knit a row and then purl a row, you'll have a stockingette stitch (http://www.knittinghelp.com/knitting/basic_techniques/misc.php) seen here (second basic stitch)

[ivylass]

Well, I found some size 11 needles online at Joann's, but they're 34", not 32". I ordered them because I'm not knitting in the round and I don't think the extra two inches will hurt.

[jayjay]

Well, I found some size 11 needles online at Joann's, but they're 34", not 32". I ordered them because I'm not knitting in the round and I don't think the extra two inches will hurt.

They probably won't. They may actually help, in that the stitches won't be quite as scrunched up.