Replies

1. 
   solosmocker | Sep 24, 2007 03:53am | #1

   Very nice. Knitting is something I could never master. I am envious.

1. 
   fabricholic | Sep 24, 2007 05:33pm | #2

   I find that hard to believe. It is just knit, purl, knit, purl. You do so much more complicated things with your smocking.

2. 
   VKStitcher | Sep 24, 2007 06:51pm | #3

   You do nice work--they look so soft and warm!  I crochet, but sometimes I wish I knew how to knit.  Some things just are prettier when knitted--there's a beautiful, lacy shawl at the quilting/knitting store near me.  I'd never be able to make it, but I drool over it every time I go there.

1. 
   fabricholic | Sep 24, 2007 07:57pm | #6

   What I do is just knit and purl, so there is nothing hard about it. I need to learn other stitches. I have too many hobbies for the amount of time I have. Can you relate?

1. 
   VKStitcher | Sep 24, 2007 08:19pm | #7

   YES I can relate!  The quilting/knitting store has lots of gorgeous yarn and fun classes, but I don't need another hobby!  I'd love to have more time to do lots of crafty things, but this darned job gets in the way of my fun.  But I guess without the job, I wouldn't have the machines and supplies to make the fun.  :-)

   My mother-in-law thinks I can knit, and doesn't believe me when I say I can't.  Of course, some people think yarn=knitting and use it as a generic term.  I guess I could knit if I really tried, but crochet is so much faster for me.

   Vickie

   Edited 9/24/2007 1:19 pm ET by VKStitcher

1. 
   fabricholic | Sep 24, 2007 08:28pm | #8

   Definitely, crocheting is faster. I am just learning. Who came up with this 40 hour work week anyway?

1. 
   VKStitcher | Sep 24, 2007 10:05pm | #9

   Who came up with this 40 hour work week anyway?  Obviously, someone who didn't have fun hobbies!  :-)

   I am fortunate that I only work Monday-Thursday, but throw in commute time and it's a little over 40 hours a week.  I really miss living only 15 minutes away from the office, but living out in the country near my family has its benefits, too.

2. 
   fabricholic | Sep 24, 2007 10:27pm | #10

   I live 30 mins. away now. Next year our company will move even further away. I dread the drive.

3. 
   rodezzy | Sep 24, 2007 11:20pm | #12

   Hey guys, you can knit or crochet on the train or bus, if that's the way you get to work.  Otherwise, don't knit and drive!! (giggle)

4. 
   VKStitcher | Sep 24, 2007 11:54pm | #13

   Don't I wish!  I'd love to be able to ride to work--but alas, no mass transit in our area.  My commute is a little over 20 miles, but it takes 45-60 minutes.  Too many other cars on the road!  My husband has more flexible hours, so he can beat the rush-hour traffic.

5. 
   rodezzy | Sep 24, 2007 11:58pm | #14

   Bummer, I drive to work also.  But I crochet/knit at the laundry, guild meetings, etc.

6. 
   VKStitcher | Sep 25, 2007 12:10am | #15

   Don't tell my boss, but when it's really slow here and he's out of town, I bring in my crochet.  He's going out of town for two weeks, so when the cat's away....this little mouse will crochet away!  :-D

7. 
   rodezzy | Sep 25, 2007 12:16am | #16

   I won't tell, if you won't tell.....I knit here too.  I was coming in at 7:30 a.m. Chgo time and after a rigorous morning I check out you guys and then I knit with my hands in my lap.  I'm the only one on this floor (the main floor) and I have a BIG desk.  I get a few rows in most days.  Other days I can't....but it all helps.  I've crocheted here too during our slow days and when the boss is out of town too. (te he)

8. 
   fabricholic | Sep 25, 2007 12:49am | #18

   Wouldn't that be great if you could knit while you drive? Then you wouldn't feel like you are wasting time. I can't wait to take my crochet to the doctor's office this Wed., when I get my neck checked out. I always wanted to be like those ladies that sat there calmly, working on some project.

9. 
   rodezzy | Oct 16, 2007 11:24pm | #19

   Just a note, remember the sweater in my pictures with the white front?  I weaved the yellow in vertical rows, put on the buttons and weaved the ends.  Wore it last Satuday, but it needs to be colder, there's a little wool in it and that makes it ichy for me if its not cold out.

    

3. 
   happycatuk | Sep 24, 2007 06:57pm | #4

   Apologies for a very daft question, but I haven't knitted for years, and your scarf reminds me of some beautiful yarn in my local sewing shop .. do I need at least 100g of a double-knit/regular yarn to make a decent-sized scarf, or would I probably need more? Sorry for the vagueness, but I can't work it out! Thanks :D

1. 
   fabricholic | Sep 24, 2007 07:56pm | #5

   It took me 2 skeins for a long scarf, but I don't remember off hand how much was on it. The small light yellow scarf used 2, but they were small skeins.

4. 
   rodezzy | Sep 24, 2007 11:16pm | #11

   You knit better than I do, I've never made a knitted hat.  Crochet is what I've created everything outside of scarves with.  You knit great.  Yummy yarns too!

   Thanks for sharing.

1. 
   fabricholic | Sep 25, 2007 12:46am | #17

   Thank you.

5. 
   Josefly | Oct 17, 2007 03:02am | #20

   I like your hats - I just saw them, and they make me want to try knitting.Have you seen the cable knit vest in the j jill catalog? It's another thing that makes me want to try knitting, but I realize that's probably way beyond my capabilities. Check it out, though - it looks like its knitted sideways:http://www.jjill.com/shopJJillDetail.asp?AreaID=OL&ColorToUse=271&SizeID=1&txtProductID=626312&offerid=IU&seldept=12&EAquest=cable+knit+vest&srch=direct&EAST=keywordI think I'll also post this link under the knitting topic - I wonder if anybody's seen a similar pattern?

1. 
   fabricholic | Oct 17, 2007 06:58pm | #21

   I can't see the detail enough to tell what the stitches look like. Look at the website I posted about knitting help. If you are like me, you will get fired up about it.Marcy

1. 
   Josefly | Oct 17, 2007 09:12pm | #22

   Yes, I checked out the site, and it does show some appealing projects. If I stick to hats and don't let myself get too carried away, maybe I can do some of them. It's too tempting - beautiful yarns, maybe felting purses and hats, etc., - I'm trying to put the brakes on! Thanks so much, Marcy, it IS inspiring.

1. 
   fabricholic | Oct 17, 2007 10:14pm | #23

   She makes things look so simple. Some people just have that ability.

1. 
   Josefly | Oct 18, 2007 03:22am | #24

   Since I think I'm going to try knitting something, which of the two methods demonstrated do you use - continental or English? I watched a little of one of the continental videos, and thought that looked less awkward.

2. 
   user-217847 | Oct 18, 2007 05:59pm | #25

   please excuse the intrusion Josefly, if down the track you want to try some fancy stitches I would personally learn the english way of knitting, forming the pattern seems easier. Also I have a pommy friend who can knit both ways but the english way suits her better. I guess it will boil down to which suits you better, personal choice in the end.

   warm regards, wombat

3. 
   Teaf5 | Oct 19, 2007 04:07am | #27

   The continental method is good for those of us who use our right hands so much in other activities that we need to "balance the load" a bit while knitting.  It's also much easier for someone who is primarily a crocheter; for some reason, it's much more similar movement.

4. 
   rodezzy | Oct 19, 2007 06:09pm | #28

   My sentiments exactly.  I was going to comment on the fact that I crocheted wayyyy more that I even attempted to knit and when I do knit I found that I could not carry the yarn in my right hand, ta da!  a continental knitter.  It's faster too.

5. 
   Josefly | Oct 20, 2007 03:02am | #29

   No intrusion at all, wombat. Your suggestion is welcome. I'm quite an inexperienced knitter - only having tried to teach myself with basic written beginners' instructions - so I'll have to experiment with both methods, especially as I get into something more than knit and purl. I didn't realize it, but as Teaf5 has pointed out, the continental method of holding the work is similar to crochet, and I have done a little crochet, so that's probably why it looks more natural to me. On the video, it also looks like a smoother motion - when I've tried knitting, throwing the yarn with the right hand as in the English method seems to require an extra, less fluid movement. But you know what? I'm so awkward with knitting, it may be that an expert makes it ALL look more fluid.

   Edited 10/19/2007 8:05 pm ET by Josefly

6. 
   katina | Oct 20, 2007 10:23am | #30

   Josefly and Wally Wombat - it's not a bad idea to be able to knit both ways, though you'll probably find you prefer one method over the other. It's a great advantage when knitting stranded colour work (Fair Isle) as you can hold one color in each hand and so knit much faster. Here's a link to a short video.

   http://www.philosopherswool.com/Pages/Streamingvideo.htm

   It looks rather intimidating to knit like this but it isn't really once you get the hang of it. To think that women would carry wood and peat on their backs, and maybe an infant as well, and walk in all kinds of weather, knitting as they went. A hard, harsh life.

   http://shetland-knitwear.com/history.html

   The method of construction is interesting to us here at Gatherings as sewing is involved in this traditional method. Very simply put, the knitting is worked in a tube, which is then cut and stitched to join in the sleeves. This involves the use of steeks which was mentioned by Starzoe in the Cable Knit vest discussion.

   Katina

    

7. 
   user-217847 | Oct 21, 2007 09:43am | #31

   Hi Katina,

   thank you for the links very interesting, I do like your reasons for knitting both ways as I enjoy knitting Fair Isle.

   Warm regards,

   wombat

8. 
   katina | Oct 21, 2007 10:11am | #32

   Hi there

   There's something so soothing about the rhythm of Fair Isle knitting, plus it's portable.

   Katina

    

9. 
   fabricholic | Oct 18, 2007 08:05pm | #26

   I thought I was using continental because I would hold my knitting in my left hand, but I have the yarn wrapped on my right index finger. Weird hun?Marcy