# Tell me your Knitting Stories! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 6, 2004, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-knitting-stories/278424 "2004-12-06T22:08:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-knitting-stories/278424/101 "2005-03-08T19:54:10Z")
> [@Miss Purl McKnittington](#): > > Then I’d try doing intarsia on something small, like a throw pillow or a felted purse, so you won’t be as disappointed if it takes a while to get the hang of it. With the purse, you’ll even be able to completely mangle the first few intarsia rows and it’ll come out all right. Isn’t there a pattern for a felted purse with intarsia in Stitch ‘n’ Bitch? I believe it’s a backpack…the Punk Rock backpack, actually. There’s also a set of intarsia wristbands in SnB that’s an even smaller project. ---
**Author:** ![dare\_devil007](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@dare\_devil007](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dare_devil007)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-knitting-stories/278424/102 "2005-03-08T19:55:56Z")
I’m working on a pink and orange scarf for my friend. It’s that V-pattern where you knit one row and then purl the next. But, for some reason, one of the edges of the scarf are loose. It looks very ugly because one stitch on one edge of the scarf is loose and then everything else looks fine. Help? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-knitting-stories/278424/103 "2005-03-08T20:01:41Z")
> [@dare\_devil007\_](#): > > I’m working on a pink and orange scarf for my friend. It’s that V-pattern where you knit one row and then purl the next. But, for some reason, one of the edges of the scarf are loose. It looks very ugly because one stitch on one edge of the scarf is loose and then everything else looks fine. Help? 😕 Tension on the first stitch of a row can be hard to maintain. Start the row, then after the second stitch, tug the yarn a little, just enough to take up the slack. For rows you’ve already worked, there are a couple of options. What kind of yarn are you using? If it’s not wool, once the scarf’s done you should be able to throw it in the washer and let it go through a cycle. The agitation should even out the tension throughout the scarf. If it is wool, you’ll have to tink…take a knitting needle and kind of…well…bump the stitches a bit until you have things evened out. Put the needle into the second stitch in the row and ease the slack through…then the next stitch, then the next, until you feel you’ve gotten far enough in that the looseness of the tension isn’t visible. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-knitting-stories/278424/104 "2005-03-08T20:01:58Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > …If you can get everything together (preferred pattern and the yarn to make it) by Gettydope, you can give it to me there … You da man! And no urgency, honest to god. Frankly, I think I’ll pick a fairly simple pattern, and just get a gorgeous color of yarn. (Gorgeous to me – you’ll probably be sick of it before you’re done. 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-knitting-stories/278424/105 "2005-03-08T20:55:46Z")
Thanks for the advice, **jayjay** --I figured it might be something like that. Intarsia does look a bit daunting, and I know I need to learn increasing and decreasing (I’m not that good at learning the techniques from a book, so I think that’s something I’ll have to have my friend show me). I am very motivated, though, and I think that will help me out. I would imagine it’s easier to learn when there’s something out there that you really want to do–right? Thanks! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![dare\_devil007](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@dare\_devil007](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dare_devil007)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-knitting-stories/278424/106 "2005-03-08T21:14:23Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Tension on the first stitch of a row can be hard to maintain. Start the row, then after the second stitch, tug the yarn a little, just enough to take up the slack. > > For rows you’ve already worked, there are a couple of options. What kind of yarn are you using? If it’s not wool, once the scarf’s done you should be able to throw it in the washer and let it go through a cycle. The agitation should even out the tension throughout the scarf. If it is wool, you’ll have to tink…take a knitting needle and kind of…well…bump the stitches a bit until you have things evened out. Put the needle into the second stitch in the row and ease the slack through…then the next stitch, then the next, until you feel you’ve gotten far enough in that the looseness of the tension isn’t visible. Ooh, thanks for the advice. I’ll try this I finish procras - I mean, studying…_Coughs_ ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-knitting-stories/278424/107 "2005-03-08T21:22:12Z")
> [@Miss Purl McKnittington](#): > > I’d probably pick something like [Banff](http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter03/PATTbanff.html) or [Grace](http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring04/PATTgrace.html) from Knitty for a first sweater, if you’re jumping directly to it from a scarf. The [Striped Raglan from the Bottom Up](http://glampyreknits.tripod.com/glampyrephotos/id34.html) from Glampyre Knits is also pretty easy. It calls for knitting on circulars, though. > > As **jayjay** says, intarsia can be a bitch. If your heart is set on Skully, I’d try a few smaller projects to learn how decrease and increase, like a hat and mittens set to go with your scarf. Then I’d try doing intarsia on something small, like a throw pillow or a felted purse, so you won’t be as disappointed if it takes a while to get the hang of it. With the purse, you’ll even be able to completely mangle the first few intarsia rows and it’ll come out all right. Isn’t there a pattern for a felted purse with intarsia in Stitch ‘n’ Bitch? Thanks! Good idea, starting out with something smaller. Maybe I’ll see if I can do the Skully pattern on a hat or a scarf (matching sweater and scarf might be kind of cool). I think I want to avoid the circular thing for awhile–those needles look a little scary. 🙂 This is a problem I have–every time I start a new hobby I just want to jump into it with both feet. Fortunately in this case I have fairly simple ambitions (I’ll be happy as a clam if I can knit hats, scarves, and sweaters–no need for anything complex) but I want to be able to do it all _now_, darnit! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-knitting-stories/278424/108 "2005-03-08T21:59:13Z")
I learned to knit when I was about nine years old. My mom taught me. I made a gazillion pairs of mittens and sold them to the neighbors for 50 cents a pair. I was really quite good at it. Sorry to say I haven’t knit a thing in probably 35 years. But if I took it up again, I’d knit me one of these ----\> ;j ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-knitting-stories/278424/109 "2005-03-08T23:05:50Z")
> [@winterhawk11](#): > > Why I’m here is that I have a question for the folks who have the “Stitch ‘n’ Bitch” book. I got it a couple of days ago and now I’m obsessed with the Skully sweater. I _must_ have this sweater! Right now I know how to do the knit and purl stitches and cast on–Experienced knitters who have the book and know which sweater I mean, how hard do you think that sweater would be for me to make (as in, how hard will it be to pick up the other necessary skills?) Is it reasonable to think I might be able to do it as my next project after I finish my scarf, or should I get some more practice under my belt before I try to learn new techniques as I go? Keep in mind that I’m hoping to have something I won’t be embarrassed to wear in public when I’m done. 🙂 Um, what are your resources? My sister just learned how to knit (she wasn’t interested at all 20-something years ago when I learned) and she’s enjoying it. She made a hat, some swatches, and now she’s trying a sweater (#8 from the winter 2004/05 Vogue Knitting - some shaping, picking up stitches, but not much else going on there). The idea is that we’re each making the sweater at the same time, so that I’m not guessing wildly at what the pattern might have in it. I know, I’m making it. And so far, it’s going pretty well, even though she’s hundreds of miles away. If I were you, I’d do some intarsia first (just to learn how to control the tension and wrap the yarn). But I don’t think you have to have done tons of it. And if you’ve got someone around to show you or help you when you have questions - you could just jump in and do it. Worst case scenario, you rip out some of the sweater and re-knit it. Most yarn is quite forgiving that way. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-knitting-stories/278424/110 "2005-03-09T18:27:19Z")
To keep tension on the first stitch of a row I often knit into the back of the stitch. Makes a twisted edge which is barely noticable but usually tighter. ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-knitting-stories/278424/111 "2005-03-09T18:44:05Z")
**winterhawk** , I think one of the best ways to learn new techniques is baby sweaters! They’re small, so when you end up having to rip out and redo, or, Og forfend, restart, you don’t get quite as frustrated. And if you decide thirty rows in that you _hate_ the pattern / yarn / needles / technique you’re using, with a baby sweater, heck, you’re halfway done, whereas with an adult sweater you’d have a long, boring slog ahead of you. And if you’re anything like me, there’s always _somebody_ you know who’s preggers and will go absolutely ga-ga over a handmade baby shower gift. **dare\_devil** , if washing doesn’t fix your loose stitches, you could crochet those edges to camoflage the problem a bit. Just do a row or two of sc (single crochet) in the same color. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-knitting-stories/278424/112 "2005-03-09T19:37:52Z")
Also, don’t be afraid of circs. They are EXACTLY like straights. I promise. ---
**Author:** ![chattywine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5daacb/32.png) [@chattywine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chattywine)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-knitting-stories/278424/113 "2005-03-09T22:45:43Z")
If you reallly want to do the skull but aren’t up to intarsia yet why not duplicate stitch? “Some” call it cheating but hey, it is easier to correct mistakes and whatnot. [Knittinghelp.com](http://knittinghelp.com/) has a ton of visual references/instructions for those increases and decreases. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Purl_McKnittington)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-knitting-stories/278424/114 "2005-03-09T22:59:30Z")
> [@Podkayne](#): > > dare\_devil, if washing doesn’t fix your loose stitches, you could crochet those edges to camoflage the problem a bit. Just do a row or two of sc (single crochet) in the same color. Crocheting around the edge of stockinette (that v pattern) is cool too because it will help stop the stockinette from curling up on the edges. That way, the scarf will be flat instead of rolling itself up into a tube. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-knitting-stories/278424/115 "2005-03-10T16:16:58Z")
I learned to knit when I was about 7. Did a boatload of scarves, before daring to attempt the occasional shawl, baby garment (sweater, overall). I think the one shawl, which had a complicated pattern involving 8 different rows, repeated, was the toughest. Unfortunately lost interest in it a few years back and as a result have several uncompleted projects (a baby blanket, a scarf) _somewhere_ around the house. Oh well. I also started crocheting an afghan. Over 25 years ago. It’s around the house somewhere, less than half finished. It’s moved with me at least 10 times. Does that take the prize for the longest time a project has gone unfinished? I pick it up once a year or so and do a few more rows on it. I’m sure my hypothetical grandkids will enjoy it as a souvenir of their batty ol’ Nanna. Did a couple of afghans in “afghan stitch”, an odd stitch involving a very long crochet hook, on which you basically “cast on” a row of stitches then crochet them off. This produces a very tidy, solid surface ideal for embellishing with (for example) stitched designs. The only thing I’ve knitted in recent years is a Mobius Scarf (google it). Yes, it’s one-sided and one-edged. Really cool and it only took me 3-4 days. Did it more as a joke than anything else, but it was fun. Somehow I keep stumbling across people who know how to knit, but don’t know how to cast on 😕 so I wind up having to teach them. Most years, that’s the only knitting I do 😃 ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-knitting-stories/278424/116 "2005-03-10T16:25:15Z")
My mom has an afghan (crocheted) that she started when she found out she was pregnant with my brother. It’s still unfinished. He’ll be 31 in October. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-knitting-stories/278424/117 "2005-03-10T17:33:34Z")
> [@Podkayne](#): > > **winterhawk** , I think one of the best ways to learn new techniques is baby sweaters! > > They’re small, so when you end up having to rip out and redo, or, Og forfend, restart, you don’t get quite as frustrated. And if you decide thirty rows in that you _hate_ the pattern / yarn / needles / technique you’re using, with a baby sweater, heck, you’re halfway done, whereas with an adult sweater you’d have a long, boring slog ahead of you. > > And if you’re anything like me, there’s always _somebody_ you know who’s preggers and will go absolutely ga-ga over a handmade baby shower gift. Hmm…good suggestion, but I…well, let’s just say I’m not wild about babies, and couldn’t see myself getting excited about knitting something for one. There’s just something too…I dunno…_girly_ about it? (Hey, my knitting bag came from Hot Topic and has a skull and crossbones on it…I don’t do girly.) 🙂 I will take a part of your suggestion, though, which is to make something small first before tackling the big stuff. I can probably learn intarsia by making patterns on a scarf (right?) And hey, maybe I could make a sweater for one of my cats. 🙂 (Kidding!) Thanks! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![davenportavenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@davenportavenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davenportavenger)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-knitting-stories/278424/118 "2005-03-20T04:22:14Z")
> [@Siege](#): > > **continuity eror** , I repeat, send me an e-mail! (I love your user name, by the way.) > > CJ Sorry I didn’t reply to this before! I should do vanity searches more often. Anyway, I’m sending you an email (yes, I do live in Pittsburgh). 🙂 As far as the knitting goes, I’ve become totally obsessed with it. I’ve finished two scarves, one hat (with intarsia), and a pair of gauntlet gloves. I’m working on a sweater (sans pattern… well I have a pattern but I’m just following it wrt general shape, I’m using a totally different type of yarn and needle size) and another hat right now. I even bought a set of interchangeable Denise needles (see site [here](http://www.knitdenise.com)) since I prefer working on circs. My next goal is to find some tiny double points so I can make some socks. ---
**Author:** ![annieclaus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5a626/32.png) [@annieclaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/annieclaus)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-knitting-stories/278424/119 "2005-03-20T21:22:25Z")
> [@continuity eror](#): > > . My next goal is to find some tiny double points so I can make some socks. Go to any yarn shop worth its salt (or any online yarn retailer) and they’ll have double pointed needles from size 00 on up. I recommend buying bamboo or birch double points for socks. The stitches won’t slip off. (Bot those buggers are expensive!!!) ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-knitting-stories/278424/120 "2005-03-21T04:03:55Z")
My mother taught me to knit when I was 7. I did a few scarves and hats and mittens over the years, but the knitting bug really bit me last Fall. I am in the middle of my fourth pair of socks, my first sweater (with yarn for two more on the way), and have mittens and a scarf all finished, that I wear all the time. I also began crocheting an afghan over the weekend… I have three unfinished ones in a closet. I just LURVE knitting socks. I especially lurve the KnitPicks Sock Garden yarn. FaBOOOO fabric it makes, on US1 needles. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-knitting-stories/278424.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-knitting-stories/278424.md?page=7)