Posted on 11/10/2005 6:11:29 AM PST by Knitting A Conundrum
The Vast Right Wing Knitting and Needleworker's Circle
Well, I walk by the knitting and crochet mags and what do I see on their covers and headlines besides the usual sweaters and afghans? Scarves!
So let's talk about making scarves. Some are easy, some are tricky, some are just fun. And they tend to be great beginner projects, and can be great, fun gifts. Have you been making any scarves?
What have you done? Or want to do?
VRWKNC Ping! And I don't think I lost anybody's name this time! Yay!
since scarves are the only thing i KNOW how to knit, i am a knitting away on them. everyone will get one for christmas. there are so many fun fibers to knit with, that is the attraction for me.
If you can knit a scarf, you could knit an afghan, potholder, a shawl, and probably a sweater. (I am always trying to convert the word to knitology, you know!)
I have the first set of socks that I was making for my niece's kids done, and I started a scarf pattern, in acrylic yarn, but before I go any further, I am going to start it over in a different yarn, probably a real wool, maybe in a lace weight or fingering. It will be very lacy. I started it out k1 the first row. then start the pattern:
slip first stitch. (p1, k1 yo, k2 tog across) k the last stitch.
slip first stitch. p across until the last stitch, k that.
slip first stitch, k across.
It makes a corrugated pattern, totally reversible. with rows of lacy holes.
But before I do that, I have to start the socks for my grandniece, now that I have finished the ones for her brother.
Woohoo!
Thursday knitting!
Did some minor replumbing in re switching refrigerators; cleaning grates -- discovered a lose HVAC tube. Power lantern began failing.. but little LED light provided enough light for me to sufficiently feel my way around in reconnecting the tube. Oh, yes, (sarc) I just love crawling under houses...
But Scarves! I admit.. I have this addiction for getting very, very excited about the newer materials available on the market.
Probably stick with the afghan, as I'm in pre-Turkey prep mode.
Wrapping some Christmas gifts today. The end of the year just about blows my home projects up; but it evens out after the start of the year. In the dead of winter..
Perfect timing KAC!
I started a shawl the other day, a simple garter stitch shawl for my great-grandma, in a shiny cotton yarn; It's very pretty. I've finally grasped the concept behind YO, which helps. ;-P
YOs open a whole world of lacy pretty stuff. Yep. An important concept.
That is some good braiding! I am impressed!
Knitting is the one needle skill I've never mastered. It defies and eludes me. Any hints about good teaching materials?
Thanks.
Wow. How long did it take to make yours? Where did you learn how?
Well, I (unknowingly) got the wrong stuff for this one, but it still turned out okay. I just did a little here and there when I had time at work for four days. I'm estimating that it took me about 16 hours total; cutting, braiding, etc. I used an eleven foot piece that cost about fifty bucks.
I just picked up a few books. I also was a Boatswain's Mate in the Navy.
That's amazing; What a neat hobby! (/covet)
There are some sites online that have videos of how different things are done, but if you are really having problems, you might want to take a class.
If you crochet, you might find doing knitting in the continental way easier than the American style, because you hold the yarn in a similar way, and it is perfectly possible to knit continental holding the yarn wrapped around your hand like you were crocheting.
If the problem you have is stitches falling off the needle, you can switch to bamboo needles, which can really help.
If casting on dismays you, you can crochet a base chain in a needle about the same size as your knitting needle. Then you can pick up the loops in the chain like you do if you are doing afghan crochet.
Another trick is to make sure your needles are long enough for the piece you are working on. Short needles tend to lead to stitches falling off.
I don't use single pointed needles much. I tend to use double points for working in the round and circular needles for straight knitting, in part because I find I am less likely to let stitches drop off by accident.
What sort of problems have you been having getting started? That might help us figure out something to help you!
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