Replies

1. 
   Jean | Oct 23, 2002 02:40am | #1

   I MUST get started on my Christmas sweaters for the grandkids.  Does anyone have a Barbie graph for the front of a sweater.  The 5 year old just loves them.  I know a dinosaur would make the  7 year old happy.  Fortunately I have a couple of knitting machines and it should go quickly once I get started.

1. 
   ehBeth | Oct 23, 2002 02:49am | #2

   Hello Jean - yes, you're right - time to start (finish?) those Christmas projects. I'm still a needles-only knitter - i find it a good diet aid - can't eat when both hands are busy!

   The Needlework show was in town last weekend, difficult to leave without a suitcase full of patterns and yarns. Only the knowledge of the rubbermaid totes full of fancy yarns kept me slightly sane <grin>.

1. 
   Jean | Oct 23, 2002 04:08am | #3

   I know, I have more yarn than most yarn stores, I swear!  but never the exact color I seem to need...LOL.

1. 
   ehBeth | Oct 23, 2002 06:09am | #4

   Jean, i try to time my dog walks for AFTER the nearest yarn shop is closed. Then i can gaze and drool and NOT spend.

1. 
   Jean | Oct 23, 2002 06:24am | #5

   Uh oh, I just found a new on-line store to browse..

   http://www.pagelinx.com/cgi-shopper/loadpage.cgi/smileysyarns/ezshopper?user_id=6535&file=about.htm

   That was mean of me, I know. Sorrry.

2. 
   ehBeth | Oct 24, 2002 03:03am | #11

   Jean - i'm beginning to understand that knitters have to share yarn hot-tips - makes us feel some tiny bit less guilty about the pounds and pounds of beautiful yarn already in our possession - yeah, but >>> she <<< has MORE!

2. 
   oliveoyl | Oct 23, 2002 05:54pm | #6

   need encouragement on this one - I have some mohair/silk waiting to be knit into a sweater that has two front cables. The big problem I am having is with the edge stitch-they seem to be big and sloppy on one side as it is knit with bigger needles. I want to get this finished for Christmas!!!

1. 
   carolfresia | Oct 23, 2002 07:05pm | #7

   I've gotten my knitting needles out recently, too, after a long hiatus. Lately I do only flat, rectangular objects because I'm always trying to knit while also watching TV or keeping the kids from damaging themselves or each other--too hard for me (I'm not very experienced at knitting) to follow a pattern at the same time! But I've kind of fallen in love with those novelty yarns that you can knit with size 11 needles--it's great to be able to complete a project really quickly, and end up with a cool, fuzzy/fluffy/hairy scarf or wrap or whatever at the end.

   Maybe one day when...when?!....I'll try some more involved things. Hope so...big fluffy  mohair sweaters and the like. Yum!

   Carol

1. 
   ehBeth | Oct 24, 2002 03:25am | #13

   CarolFresia - i'm a fan of shetlands knit in the round - if you can count to 5 without being distracted, you'll have a sweater in a week or so.  hmmmmm, i wonder if there are patterns for big fluffy sweaters knit in the round. must check. ohhhhh noooooooooo, i've found a reason to go to a yarn shop!

1. 
   rjf | Oct 24, 2002 02:22pm | #18

   Shetlands in the round!! I haven't done that for a while.  I can do it all in the round but not all at once.  Each sleeve is separate and then joined in for the yoke.  Do you know the Alice Starmore patterns?  She's a great designer and "how-to" writer.  And a really involved pattern is a great excuse to buy LOTS of yarn!      rjf

2. 
   ElonaM | Oct 23, 2002 08:19pm | #8

   Is the problem you're having with the very edge stitches of the selvedge itself? If so, you might be able to neaten them up by knitting the first and last stitches (1 or 2) in each row. This will give you a neat little garter stitch edge to work with there.

1. 
   ehBeth | Oct 24, 2002 03:29am | #14

   nice solution, Elona. I usually knit the 1st 2 stitches in a row together and then add a stitch in the next stitch. It looks nice and smooth, but your solution sounds faster.

3. 
   ehBeth | Oct 24, 2002 03:20am | #12

   Zoyia - one side is knit on big needles? or the whole project?

3. 
   lin327 | Oct 23, 2002 09:09pm | #9

   Hi!  I got some yarn called Fizz, and I'm knitting some cold weather accesories with it.  It's totally hairy and fizzy looking.  I have some hand painted wool yarn by colinette, colourway venezia, and I'm making a cropped jacket with it.  After I knit the jacket I'm going to felt it down to make it warmer and to make the colours blend together a bit more!  Finally I got "Grace" cotton yarn from Paton's and I'm making a spring dress and matching coat.  That project I'm doing on the knitting machine and it will still take all winter.

1. 
   carolfresia | Oct 23, 2002 10:55pm | #10

   I've never used a knitting machine, but a couple of weeks ago I saw the designer on "Changing Rooms" (the BBC predecessor to "Trading Spaces") make two knitted throws in, supposedly, 48 hours. In addition to repainting the room and all the other shenanigans, of course. Is this possible?! I felt somewhat dubious, but when I saw her do it, I thought maybe I'd better, in fact, pull out the old inherited machine in my basement and have a go. I'd love to sew with knitted yardage.

   Carol

1. 
   lin327 | Oct 24, 2002 05:05am | #16

   I dunno...it would take me about forty eight hours to set up the machine, knit a few tension swatches, draw out a pattern, change my mind about everything, make new swatches, redraw pattern based on a cool dress I saw in a store, try a new stitch combination, make new swatches.... And so on and so on and...

1. 
   BEECHSUN | Oct 24, 2002 08:18pm | #19

   You got it, the prep time and finishing is what take the most time in machine knitting. I would definity think of it as yardage, otherwise you will drive your self crazy trying to compare it to hand knitting. Looking forward for your picture of your project. This thread has made me want to knit something for my granddaughter. Check out this website for machine knitters if you still want to machine knit after your project. Olga

   http://www.listhost.com/ARCHIVES/MACHKNIT.HTML

2. 
   ehBeth | Oct 24, 2002 03:38am | #15

   katzRkrazee - hand-painted yarn!?!

   thud

   do post pix when you're done. 

   I'm still gasping at the thought of hand-painted, felted knitting. Wow!

1. 
   lin327 | Oct 24, 2002 05:07am | #17

   I'll snap a picture with my new digital camera and post it in the morning! After I learn how to use it, of course!

2. 
   lin327 | Oct 25, 2002 05:50pm | #20

   Attempt one at transferring picture from website to here!

   Darn!  Here's a link to the picture.  (Do I leave in WYSIWYG or do I check source fro HTML links? Can anyone help on that?)

   http://lincatz.tripod.ca/knitting.JPG

1. 
   ehBeth | Oct 26, 2002 12:51am | #21

   Thanks, Kat - nice colour variations goin' on.