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Hey Knitters!!!

gardengirl | Posted in Knitting and Crochet on

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Anyone out there who likes to knit? I do a little. Mostly afgahns and childrens sweaters so far. I’m planning on tackling one for myself soon. I read one of Elizabeth Zimmerman’s books and it took nearly all the fear of failure away.

Replies

  1. Jean_ | | #1

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    I've given up hand knitting for machine knitting, but I've knit for 50 years. I really miss the knitting articles in Threads!!

    1. gardengirl | | #2

      *I've never knitted by machine. Is it easy? How do you know what to buy?

      1. Jean_ | | #3

        *Easy? Yes, once you know how. :-) Was learning to use a computer easy? You have to learn the language first, right? I learned by reading about it and experimenting. There are lots of instruction books and videos available and you buy what your wallet can afford. It really goes fast and that is what I was looking for when I bought my machines. I have one that handles a worsted weight and one that uses a finer gauge yarn. They are both fun to use. There are wonderful computerized machines now that all but do the knitting for you. It helps to have a flair for the mechanical side of things and also having a basic knowledge of how knitted garments are assembled is helpful. I just got a new serger for Christmas so I'm hoping I'll be able to do more "cut and sew" knitting in the future. That should make it all go even quicker. (Hand assembly is time consuming. If you are a knitter you already know that) If you are interested in learning more there are quite a few sites on the web that would be helpul. Do a search, and if you have any questions I'd be glad to help you via email if I can.

        1. Mona_L._Freedman | | #4

          *I am both a hand and machine knitter, both have their advantages and disadvantages. I am also a quilter and garment sewer. Are these adjectives correct? I just found this discussion list, but I have been a subscriber to threads for about 6 years. I also miss the knitting articles. I do some cut and sew. I have made several garments from my machine knitted yardage. I like machines and machine knitting seems to fit with that.

          1. Hannah_Senitt | | #5

            *I to am a machine knitter (well new to machine knitting and having loads of fun). I took a course to learn the basics and from there have been learn on my own. It's not that difficult. I am new to the maqazine Threads and would love to see some knitting in it OR even a Fine Knitting magazi

          2. lin_hendrix | | #6

            *Hi Hannah, A long time ago Threads included all of the fiberarts; weaving, knitting, spinning, as well as sewing. About 7-8 years ago they decided to focus (much to the chagrin of many crafters) exclusively on sewing topics.--lin

          3. rachel_jones | | #7

            *HI!I only know how to cast on/off, knit & purl...but to follow directions for anything I cannot get past the casting on and knit the row up to...###...then the next direction throws me off, then I am wondering how to keep track of what I did and so on and so on...no classes around here! The only thing I ever knit, that I do use when it's cold, is a "hood", with circular needles!Any direction would be great! Maybe a first oh, so easy, brain dead project!!!??? thank you!

          4. lin_hendrix | | #8

            *Hi Rachel, You should probably start monitoring the XRX discussion group http://www.knittinguniverse.com. You'll have better luck on a forum devoted to knitting.--lin

          5. Eileen_Marie | | #9

            *Rachel--My best advice for not losing track of where you are on the directions is this:1. Make a copy of the directions so that you can write on them w/out ruining the original.2. Only stop the project at the END of the row (never in the middle).3. Write on the directions--I put a checkmark on each section that I finish. If an instruction says knit * to * the times, I write 1,2,3 on the instructions somewhere and check it off as I go.4. Use as many stitch markers as necessary.Hope this helps.

          6. Gail_McElheny | | #10

            *I just bought a used KnitKing knitting machine, KH-891, made in Japan, with ribber, early 80's vintage, I believe. I paid $275 at a garage sale. It has all kinds of attachments, and two workbooks: she also gave me all her leftover yarn. I've been wanting to learn for 20 years, and have no local classes available. Can anyone suggest a good book or video to learn from? Did I get a good deal on this older clean machine?Gail

          7. Jean_ | | #11

            *Gail, is your machine a punch card machine? If it is in good shape and the needles aren't rusty it sounds like a good deal to me. Are the workbooks the original operating instructions for the machine? There are certain basics that you have to learn before you knit a garment. Are you a hand knitter? Have you made sweaters so that y ou have some knowledge of garment construction? Your machine manual will tell you how to set up the machine and knit, but garment patterns will have to come from other sources. There are a lot of patterns on the web that are free, and a lot of patterns available for a price. If you want to email me and talk further, feel free to do so. I have a Brother 910 (standard gauge) and a Brother punch card bulky.(And a room full of yarn that is begging me to get back at it!)

          8. Bonnijean_Marley | | #12

            *Rachael,Go to the library and check out i Knitting in Plain English by Maggie Righetti. Use inter-library loan if you have to. This book has simple projects and clear, easy-to-understand instructions. It's a great reference for a beginning knitter.

          9. Jim_Reed | | #13

            *I use a machine to knit,I have made fourjumpers a hat and a scarf.The measuring and sizing of jumpers is quite tricky and there have been a few adjustments. I keep sheep and will shear eight this year,I hope to have the wool carded and spun,would any of you knitters be intersted in wool that you could dye.What sort of specifications would you ask for.I am used to number of ply,weight of yarn per length and number of turns per inch (wraaping wool round a ruler).

          10. Lynn_Thomas | | #14

            *Hi Jean,I am responding to a message you left last August. I, too have a Brother 910. Due to a major move and family responsiblities, I have not used this machine for about 5 years. I am dying to get back at it and it is nice to know someone is out there to get some help from, if you are still willing to do that. I am so braindead when it comes to this machine, that I will definitely have to consult all my manuals just to cast on. I, too have a roomful of yarn that has gone past the wispering at me stage to the yelling stage. Is there a point when the yarn is not useable? I have lived in very dry climates for the past 5 years. I have had all the cones of yarn in their own plastic covers all this time. Thanks for any help you can give me........Lynn

          11. Jean_ | | #15

            *Lynn, I sure hope that my yarn is still usable, some of it must be pushing 10 years old. I suppose if it had been exposed to the sun it might be affected, but assuming it runs through the machine without breaking I think it should be OK.I'd be glad to help you out in any way I can. Feel free to email me any time. :) Just click on the blue name for my address.

          12. Del_Motte | | #16

            *I started knitting when I was six years old. I often knit like a fiend, get sick of it, then quilt like a fiend, get sick of that, then sew garments like a fiend (hopefully for a client), and then start the whole thing over again.I, too was disappointed when THREADS removed the knitting and other needle arts articles from their publication. I loved the variety...it got my imagination juices flowing.If you love to knit cabled garments but are tired of the same old Aran designs? Elsebeth Lavold reinvented cable knitting. Her book "Viking Patterns for Knitting" is absolutely fascinating! It has sample motifs, sugestions on how to use them, and a couple of garment patterns to boot. I always knew there was a way to start cabling in the middle of knitted fabric. I found the book through Crafters Choice Book Club.If you have this book, please sent me your critiques.I found that if you use thin needles and thin yarn using an adults pattern that requires thick yarn, you'll generally produce a child's size 5 garment. I used the pattern on page 78 in the above mentioned book.ENJOY!

          13. Jean_ | | #17

            *Looks like an interesting book...I'm hoping that their graphs will be usable for machine knitting too.

          14. karen_morris_ | | #18

            *Hello, knitters. I have been a hand and machine knitter for many years, and also was an associate editor at Threads. I edited many of the knitting articles, since that was my background, and was there when the decision was made to focus more on sewing. So I can answer your questions about that, if you like. These days I do more sewing, and especially love beading, but I have a lot of yarn carefully stored in my attic, along with a Passap knitting machine, sitting idle for quite a long time.

          15. Jeanne_Acerni | | #19

            *Anybody have an easy, but good pattern for adult mittens? I've tried a couple, but wasn't satisfied! thanks! jeta

          16. karen_morris_ | | #20

            *It's fall, so I find myself knitting again. I just finished a beautiful lace scarf for my 15 y.o. daughter in the palest aqua mohair/silk yarn. The yarn is about the size of sewing thread, but with all the yarn overs, it went pretty quickly. Looks great when all blocked out.Now I'm working on a sweater for my 13 y.o. son in black cotton chenille; just started it last night. I'm knitting it really tightly, so the fabric almost feels like a carpet, but really soft and silky too. Lily doesn't make this yarn anymore; it's been in my stash for YEARS, and yes, it seems fine, strength-wise. But I'm worried that I don't have enough skeins to complete this sweater. He loves it so far.Anybody have any of this Lily cotton chenille that they want to sell? I could use a skein or two of another color, to work in as stripes in the raglan area....

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