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The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
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From: blackie
Date: 12-09-2004, 06:33 PM (1 of 9)
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I have officially started knitting! My friend taught me how to do a basic stitch on Sunday. I am knitting a chemo cap for my dad, who unfortunately was recently diagnosed with secondary cancer a couple weeks ago. I am knitting in the round with size 6 needles and extra fine merino wool, 120 stitches cast on for the first part of the hat. The hat is going to be big and then semi-felted down to size. Both the needles and the yarn are small and the needles are metal and very slippery. I think I picked a rather ambitious first time project, however I am a fast learner and almost halfway done. The frustrating thing is I occasionally make this one mistake, but I can't tell exactly how to correct it. I usually catch myself and I sort of have two loops I have to deal with and I can't tell how to put them together. I end up doubling them up on the left-hand needle and treating them as one stitch. I think I am adding a stitch when this happens.  So... what are some good knitting resources you ladies have enjoyed? I am particularly interested in finding more out about types of yarn... What "50g" means and "worsted weight" and all that stuff. Any help is appreciated! see the mundane life of a housewife.
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User: blackie
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 594 |
From: Sailorliz
Date: 12-10-2004, 01:10 PM (2 of 9)
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Hi Blackie, I'm also a knitter and have knitted for more than 15 years. I would be happy to help you with some of your beginner questions. I also try to teach anyone who is interested. I've taught two of my three daughters to knit, now my other daughter wants to learn. I also have two new students here at work. I find knitting very relaxing. I love to sew, but it can sometimes stress me out. I usually don't get to stressed knitting. Maybe because I knit in my recliner while watching tv at night. I'm always knitting something. My small Xmas projects have been those "funky" eyelash scarfs for the young girls in my family. I'm currently working on a guitar strap for my daughter's boyfriend. I'm sorry to hear that your father has cancer. My mother passed away from cancer 4 years ago. I did a lot of knitting while waiting in hospitals and Dr.'s offices that year. It helped with the nerves. Your father will love what you are making for him. As far as you having two loops on your needles after finishing a round, I would say maybe you might be forgetting to slip it off of the left needle. Here is a link to a poem, to help remember the steps in a a knit stitch. http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/na_knitting/article/0,2025,DIY_14141_3083776,00.html 
Happy sewing/quilting/crafting
Liz Visit my photo page http://new.photos.yahoo.com/sailorlizmi/albums |
User: Sailorliz
Member since: 07-20-2004 Total posts: 386 
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From: plrlegal
Date: 12-28-2004, 01:12 AM (3 of 9)
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Ha! Ha! Ha! Blackie, I'm relearning to knit again. So far, it's pretty fun. I'm working with the eyelash yarn (fun fur) making a scarf for my niece/goddaughter. I thought I had completely forgotten how, but it is coming back to me rapidly. Patsy Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: Magot
Date: 12-28-2004, 02:56 PM (4 of 9)
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http://knitting.about.com/ has loads of free knitting patterns and links but I love the socks on http://www.planetshoup.com/easy/knit/index.shtml - quite a few of which I have knitted, as well as the moebius strip scarf. If you really get into socks then go here http://www.socknitters.com/advice.htm for advice. http://www.dnt-inc.com/barhtmls/knittech.html has some videos/cartoon of techniques in action. It is so much easier to see something than just read about it......... welcome to the neurotic Knitters fraternity! love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626 
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From: blackie
Date: 01-03-2005, 12:00 AM (5 of 9)
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thanks for the tips and links! i am doing well and enjoying knitting. i finished my dad's chemo cap and gave it to him for Christmas (it fit perfectly). i bought the book Stitch N Bitch which has helped me learn a few types of cast-on and whatnot. while on Christmas vacation i made a cute stripey Euro-esque hat for my daughter out of this lovely baby Alpaca DK yarn (with a novelty yarn for stripes and tassels). i am also most of the way done with a scarf for my sister, in a wool variagated yarn with just a wee bit of seed stitch for detail. so far everything has been my own patterns but the next thing i am making is the earwarmer cap from Little Turtle Knits.com (http://www.littleturtleknits.com/patterns.htm). i'm sure i will have TONS of questions while i attempt to read my first pattern! one thing i am interested to know is, how do you store your needles and projects and yarn? i have been sort of misplacing this and that lately. i have a full sewing room, maybe i just need to put in a few shelves and devote them to yarn. what storage methods and tips do you gals have for a newbie? thanks - happy knitting! see the mundane life of a housewife.
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User: blackie
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 594 |
From: Magot
Date: 01-03-2005, 02:55 AM (6 of 9)
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There are some cute things on little turtle knits. I tend to store my wool in drawers though I have to admit, some is stuffed in crrier bags shoved at he bottom of the wardrobe. Needles I do keep in a drawer. Ideally I keep the sleeve they come in and return them to it after a project but over the years I have just a mangle of needles that I sort through every time I want something. OK for most things but disasterous for the double ended needles - the thin ones all look the same width. I need to get a needle sizer. Or you can sew yourself a needle roll with lots of pockets in and pop them in that.
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626
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From: Sailorliz
Date: 01-12-2005, 07:59 PM (7 of 9)
Well, when I first started out knitting, I had gotten a nice set of needles in a case for my birthday. As my collection has grown over the years, I have kept needles and yarn in a craft tote. Well I eventually outgrew that. Now I store my extra knitting needles in a shoe box! All of my yarn was in plastic or rubbermaid totes. (Yes, you can also accumulate a stash of yarn to go along with the stash of fabric.)  But I've been redecorating my old sewing room and turning it into a general craft room. I have setup those plastic "milk cartons" along one wall for all of my yarn. I am going to move my knitting needles into a glass vase and place on the shelf in the room. Also, I have heard of storing your circular needles in a portable cd case! I also have those in a shoe box, but am planning on trying that in some of my old cd cases, that my kids have left empty in the house. As far as a needle gage, it is the best investment I have made. Most of my metal needles have sizes on the tops. But the double ended and wooden needles, they have no size markings.
Happy sewing/quilting/crafting
Liz Visit my photo page http://new.photos.yahoo.com/sailorlizmi/albums |
User: Sailorliz
Member since: 07-20-2004 Total posts: 386
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From: plrlegal
Date: 01-12-2005, 09:59 PM (8 of 9)
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I'm making progress on my knitting. I've completed one of the boucle and eyelash (fun fur) yarn scarves and started a second one. In fact, I think that's what I'm going to sit and work on for the rest of the evening until bed time. Patsy Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: Magot
Date: 01-13-2005, 09:33 AM (9 of 9)
A friend of mine has just salvaged a dustbin bag of wool for me which my husband says we can't give house room...  however she suggested I go through it and store it in her place and ask for the yarn when I want it YaY!
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626
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