Sorry I haven’t posted pictures yet. I am taking pictures this week.
In the meantime, earlier this year, my exhusbands’ mother has a friend who was a neighbor to a woman who knitted and crocheted that died. Her husband asked her if she knew anyone who does the same and would want the yarn. She in turn told my exmother-in-law who in turn called me. I said yes. Since I was teaching her great grands to sew, knit and crochet. There was a ton of yarn, Red Heart, Caron and baby yarns. Lots of it.
Well, I have now started afghans for the girls. One 9 and one 15. I am knitting in order to practice, because as it always is with me, I hunger to do something and right now its knitting. I watch “Knitty Gritty” on DIY and have been given knitting supplies over the last two years. I’ve also bought some supplies and books.
So, I am doing it in panels of Red Heart Super Saver. One skein per panel is the game plan now. The first panel is all a plain stockinet stitch and the second panel I’ve just started is a k10 p10 for seven rows than p10 k10 all over 50 stitches per panel. This is a pattern I found in an old knitting dictionary I was given. I want to do a panel in cables. But I thought I’d start fast and start the more detailed ones for last. I can knit and purl back and forth fast, but throw in a stitch pattern and I slow up. Maybe before my thirst is quenched, I will try something hard. Those are the best stitch patterns, but I have the attention span of a gnat! So we will see. ((giggle)
I will take some jacket pictures tonight.
Replies
My sympathy goes out to you, knitting with Red Heart Super Saver. It is really miserable to work with, but I understand your desire to knit with "free" yarn.Go into http://www.knitting.about.com and you will find lots of free patterns for your afghan. I guess you know that something knit in straight stocking stitch will curl at the edges, just be sure to put that strip somewhere in the middle of the afghan. Also, if you are making some of the strips in different patterns, be aware that the gauge will be different and they won't all be the same length even if they are each knit with one ball of yarn.
Edited 9/18/2007 3:05 pm ET by starzoe
Wow, I didn't know that the guage would change because of the pattern. I'm doing a seven row repeat of the k10 p10 and then reverse p10 k10 over 50 stitches and I have 47 rows done already. I better check the guage tonite. Good looking out. Thanks.
And yes, this Red Heart is boring and I noticed on the patterned one mentioned above that it stretches a lot while knitting. Yes, I've been on about.com and knitting central.com and many other links, but I was looking for sweater patterns. I also would probably do better looking for patterns using the red heart.
And doesn't blocking take care of the role? I planned to single crochet the edges together with contrasting yarn. The first panel is a deep purple and now I'm using pink. Those are her favorite colors now. I planned to crochet them together in a yellow or something. Haven't really decided. I have a few colors to choose from. This one is for the 9 year old. I know the older girl hates pink at age 15 and actually since she was 12 or so. I have some options for her also. I plan to call her before I start and ask her school colors.
Also, I was thinking of sewing fleece on the other side. What do you think? And I have slipper patterns in knit and crochet. Do you use anything for the bottoms for slip resistance? I saw some rubber shelving product at Aldi's this weekend, thought I could sew it to the bottom. What do you think? Any suggestions?
I have so much beautiful yarn here, but I have to use the free stuff because I took it, and I have to get it done. So, that's why I picked a big project to use as much as I could to get it over with. It's still fun to knit, and I want to experiment. Maybe I should do smaller squares. I was going to make it all out of stk st at first, but after that first long strip, I started getting bored.
About the blocking - Red Heart is 100% acrylic and if you block it, it will (1) melt, (2) lose its loft, and (3) not stay blocked. In short, you should not block acrylic. Blocking does not take the roll out of stocking stitch, with any yarn. You would need a wider edge than a few rows of crochet to stop the roll. Garter stitch is good, about 2 1/2" of garter stitch at each side of the centre stocking stitch would do it.I wouldn't line the afghan with fleece, it will heavy and warm enough as it is. As for non-slip on slippers or house socks, I understand that the puffy paint applied in dots works. I make fleece slippers and use ultrasuede on the soles. The shelving product you mentioned is not up to the wear of a pair of slippers, would shred in no time I think.Your idea of doing smaller squares is a good one, it doesn't get boring and it is a good time to practice knitting to gauge and size. If you don't have a knitting dictionary, borrow one from the library. You will find many, many pattern stitches to try. Keep your eye open for such a dictionary at thrift stores - even the old ones are a valuable addition to a knitting collection of your own.Good luck for your project.
After talking with you ladies, I have decided to just st st all of the panels in order to skip the guage worries. I have to use up this yarn and the best way I think now is to just get it over with. So, if I speed knit in st st and I can single crochet the seems closed and put a row of single crochet around the joined panels and ta da lots of red heart yarn out of the way, no guage worries and control the role. It doesn't actually matter anyway, it will feel as if the afghan is giving them a granny hug from me. Then I'll do the slippers and refer back to your suggestions for the bottoms. I've printed out your info for future reference.
Actually the flat surface with panels of solid color will be contemporary and sleek. This will be especially soothing and acceptable by the 15 yr old. I'll use navy blue or black for her seams and outer edges. Once I get this out of the way, I can do some more interesting things.
Thanks for your advice and guidance, I really appreciate having someone to talk to about these things.
Stockinette Stitch provides a wonderful opportunity and elegant background for a design in duplicate stitch (like counted crosstitch, added after finsh and blocking) in a contrasting colour.
For a 15 year old, a design of some special interest, initials, or even a private little message! AND you have the entire time of knitting to think up something FABULOUS!
Gail
Edited 9/19/2007 10:52 am ET by GailAnn
Thats an excellent idea. I saw how to do that on a segment of "Nitty Gritty" on a purse. The purse was st st in one long flat piece and the design was stitched on in that process you stated and then it was felted. It was one of the earlier episodes.
Any who, great idea and I'm inspired to finish now. I'm half-way through with the pink skein. Unraveled and started over and knitted on a neighbors porch for about three hours between talking and laughing. Got right out of the car and joined them on the porch and started knitting and socializing. It was a great weather day to be outside.
Isn't that the way our life on earth should be? May it ever be thus! Gail
About the slippers...
there is a product available for fixing sleeper feet; flannel with non-skid dots all over one side. Sorry I can't remember the name, might have a pkg in the box of interfacing upstairs.
Becky
Awesome! My niece (age 25) belongs to a similar knitting circle, meets at a coffee shop at certain regular intervals, otherwise very loosely organized. Gail
You lucky little girl!
I LOVE Chicago!
We grew up about 75 miles away, just follow the lake arround. to Dowagiac Mi.
We ALWAYS did our shopping (well, not food, but almost everything else) in Chicago. Our family went in twice a year stayed overnight, sometimes 2 nights! Twice we went to plays. Once to a movie theater, I still remember the movie, The Happiest Millionaire with Fred MacMurray. Good times! It was SOOOOO exciting!
Occasionally, during the Christmas season, my grandmother would take me to Chicago on the train! Magical!
Then, when I was a teen-ager, once in a great while, I was allowed to take the bus into Chicago, alone, with a friend, IF there was something I NEEDED to buy. Such intoxicating freedom! Once I spend all my lunch money on a shrimp salad at the lunch room at the Art Institute. (Why, would shrimp be in a salad, I wondered?)
Marshall Fields sold fabric in those days..........do they still? What about Fishmann's and Vogue Fabrics? Still there? Still wonderful? Worth a special trip?????
The August before my father died in September, 2003, my sister and I flew to Chicago and stayed at the Drake. We didn't shop much. Went up in the John Hancock, took the Grey Line Tour, ate at R.L., walked on the beach, watched the volley-ball players, the bicyclists, and the roller skaters, had our hair done, got mani-pedis, cried, then cried some more, etc. It had been a very long, hard, heart wrenching, exhausting Summer. The fine Lake Michigan air and the excellent Chicago water, allowed us to survive the following nasty month!
CHICAGO! Step off the plane, breath deep, and instantly feel 10 years younger, 5 inches taller, 20 pounds thinner, and richer by far! Gail
In the 1960's I went on the H.S. "Pep" Bus to Three Rivers for Football and Basketball games. Probably saw you at the concession stand! Graduated Class of 1969.
Sister, Daughter, Niece and I try to do our annual, bonding, "Girls Week-end" in a different city every year. This year we went to Denver. Sad, no delicious fabric or yarn shops to be found! We've talked about going to Chicago, still have a cousin or two scattered about the area. Our agenda is always talking, resting, eating, shopping, spa...... the 2 cousins take in a museum or gallery. Will let you know if we make it to Chicago next year.
I can't EVEN believe Marshall Fields is Macy's now! Sacrilege! Gail
Edited 9/19/2007 2:54 pm ET by GailAnn
What a beauty!
Did you marry Curtis Shaw? Just asking.......................
Miss Dowagiac 1969 was Miss Sally Zull. Perfect in everyway! Over these many long years, of course, I wished for her to grow fat, bald and frigid, but at our 20th class reunion she was just as lovely as I had remembered. Gail
Edited 9/19/2007 3:17 pm ET by GailAnn
I'm bigger too, like to think better, but oh well...............
Eager to hear all about the Color Purple. Enjoy your girl's week-end! Gail
Does anyone besides me machine knit? I don't know what possessed me to get into a hobby that utilizes 20 year old machines that are no longer made, but I do love it! I know how to hand knit, as I love the process, but it takes me forever to produce anything! With my machines, I can knit up the garment and add hand touches to personalize them.
Actually, I got into the hobby to make fabric! I wanted to sew knit garments, but couldn't see paying $26.00 a yard and choosing from three patterns at the fabric store.
Kath
I do machine knitting and my machine is not 20 years old. But it may not be as good as yours!! It is marketed as The Ultimate Sweater Machine (under $200. I have made several sweaters, a man's vest and lots of baby blankets, not to mention unnumbered hats!!! My next adventure with it will be some faux chainmaille for a children's play. The "wrong" side of the work looks remarkably like chainmaille. Watch a "B" grade movie about King Arthur or anything with Knights and see if you don't think their chainmaille was knitted!! I need to decide between gray yarn and string spray painted gray!(after completion)Happy knitting,
Becky
So nice to know others are machine knitting! I used to think fully fashioned knitware just fell off the machine...before I got one. It's true the main fabric is produced pretty easily, however all the "tweaks" and everything that makes a garment a garment or an item come together require "hand" knitting, or maneuvering the needles without mechanical assistance. It's a whole different skill set, I'm finding. I just learned how to transfer stitches from main bed to ribber to main bed using a tappan. Wow, the light dawned!
What a great idea! I would use gray yarn, but mostly because I'm so lazy. : )
Yes, the theatrical books all advise to garter stitch a tube with dark yarn and spray paint the outside with silver. It reflects light and the dark yarn gives it depth. Add felt spats, and a scapular over a turtleneck, and a paper mache helmet and you've got yourself a first rate knight in shining armor.
I found the Bond 'Incredible Knitting Machine' at the thrift store. I think the poor woman who owned it before must have passed on. It was complete with 2 extension tables, additional weights, intarsia keyplate, and a bag full of knitting needles. She obviously loved it to have aquired all that stuff. I've added a second carriage and claw weights. I think of her every time I use it.
I machine knit too, I have three machines, two Studios and one brother, two have ribbers, a garter carriage and all the other accessories. I belong to a Guild here in Oregon and we meet once a month. We learn together and exchange techniques and have show and tell. A great bunch of gals all in love with machine knitting. I have been machine knitting since the early 1980s. My husband is to blame, he bought me my first machine. I also hand knit and crochet but knitting on my machines is so gratifying. I get lots of comments from friends, they all want me to knit them something. I've also heard the comment, "Oh but you have a machine!!". Like sweaters, socks and hats fall off of them if you push a button. Glad there are others interested in this artform.
Ali Pye
I just love those comments about knitting machines/frames: "Oh, but you knitted that by machine." Have you ever heard: "Oh, but you sewed that dress/coat/curtains by machine." !!!
I only just found this thread and your question, the answer is yes.
I love machine knitting, I bought my first one in 1970 or 71, a knitmaster. Unfortunately during one of our frequent moves, my husband was in the British armed forces, it got badly damaged. When I first bought it, it was impossible to find coned wool, so that obliging Knitmaster knitted everything from superfine yarn up to heavy double knit hand knitting yarn. I could produce a mans jumper size 42 chest in a day. I didnt have a linker so I joined the seams using the machine itself. Now I have 8 machines, 2 Brothers 1 with a ribber, 2 Silver viscounts, a standard gauge and a fine gauge, both with ribbers. A Brother chunky , no ribber. A Pfaff duomatic 80 (it was the Passap machine sold under license by Pfaff)double bed machine, the Passap E600, and a very old Jones/Brother machine that still knits as well as the day it was first set up new. I use the cut and sew technique and a serger to sew up the larger items, and a Hague linker for the smaller things. I don't do "fulling,"well not deliberately anyway, but I do lengths of tuck stitch fabric and use it for making garments..
I have enough yarn to knit for England, problem is, I also love sewing and digitising embroidery designs. Try as I might, I cannot squeeze 25 hours out of a day.
I keep trying for the 9 day week. Gail
I love it - the 9 day week! Or Maggie's 25 hr day! There is never enough time, eh? :)
Gloria
LOL...you let me know if you manage to bend time. I could use some extra hours myself!Boy, you have quite a little textile mill there, don't you? I'm just having a grand time with mine. I just took on a project to single-handedly make lapghans for 100 residents of a nursing home in my community. BY CHRISTMAS!!!(Yes, I am crazy. Hence the name.)
My children keep telling me to hurry up and sew and knit my fabric and yarn stashes as they dont want them. Told em it's going with me, got to have something to do beside sit on a fluffy cloud.
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