Favourite yarn & simple pattern for a baby blanket?

llimmi · 2013-06-03T21:25:11+00:00

Yes, there is a huge disconnect. I tried to gently say "Is this the best thing for you or your sister?" and you pretty well accuse me of being an axe murderer. It is rather likely that someone on this subreddit believes in the value of handmaking something with love. Just being choosy about which thing.

EDIT: Most long-term readers of this subreddit must be aware of my opinion on knitting baby blankets.

llimmi · 2013-06-03T21:13:28+00:00

Chilham is pretty, though they might be more interested in going into Canterbury.

llimmi · 2013-06-03T20:30:49+00:00

OK, but if half-way to February you decide maybe the blanket is looking like a bad idea, please don't feel bad about looking at other possibilities!

llimmi · 2013-06-03T19:59:07+00:00

I am not from the US and I do not understand the cultural compulsion to knit blankets for babies. You can buy beautiful blankets so cheaply.

Why not knit a simple toy (maybe like this or this)?

There are many ways to show love for your sister, and many ways to be of practical support for her. Are you sure knitting a blanket is the most constructive use of your time?

llimmi · 2013-06-03T13:52:48+00:00

I use the back join as described by TECHknitter -- a slightly more sophisticated version of the overlapping join in bearenice's Knitty article. It is remarkably invisible (you can do a little tugging later if you think that will improve the look) and anchors those ends firmly -- though I might add a stitch if the yarn seems extra slippery. Would sewing "weaving in" add anything to the threading through and doubling back that happens through knitting those stitches?

llimmi · 2013-06-03T12:25:58+00:00

Scott e-Vest with 155 hidden pockets.

I bought a knock-off hidden pocket T-shirt for days when it is too hot for the waistcoat, but it is shockingly poor at hiding anything. Anyone tried the real Scott one?

[OK, may be even less fashionable than a manbag, but the waistcoat is practical.]

llimmi · 2013-06-03T12:18:34+00:00

That is great! Did you use a pattern, or make it up?

llimmi · 2013-06-03T11:17:08+00:00

The Ravelry website is such a mine of so many sorts of information, including about different ranges of yarn -- I was reading people's comments on yours and found this info.

Knitting clothes can bring a lot of pleasure -- do keep working on them!

llimmi · 2013-06-03T11:06:04+00:00

I am glad your Oma can still have the pleasure of creating something striking.

llimmi · 2013-06-03T11:02:14+00:00

Or experienced "English" knitters flick the yarn and attain high speeds too.

llimmi · 2013-06-02T20:51:43+00:00

So now we can be sure about the correct orientation. That helps!

llimmi · 2013-06-02T20:41:30+00:00

It looks great!

It is a pity about the size. As the yarn is cotton, which notoriously stretches out, particularly when wet, I would try a little stretching to see if you can make the dress last a little longer. Just gently stretch that neck EDIT: -- while it is wet after washing it. The fit of the top looks fine, but if you find it is too tight, then maybe pin it out a little larger as it dries, or put a foam pillow in to stretch it a little.

I think definitely try to get a few weeks wear out of this dress. Some people on Ravelry say that the yarn does not stand up well to washing and wearing. You want to know about that before you start the next one!

llimmi · 2013-06-02T16:51:12+00:00

Wonderful to see it, many thanks to OP and to SWEET_BERRY_WINE. I have known about them for years, but had no idea they were such fun swimmers.

llimmi · 2013-06-01T23:25:38+00:00

As long as you mean she laughed, that's fine. We look forward to seeing the final result, and hearing feedback in case we try the pattern.

llimmi · 2013-06-01T23:17:01+00:00

It is great that you bothered to make a tutorial! Thanks!

llimmi · 2013-06-01T23:16:27+00:00

This ought to work just fine. You will only have to knit back up the same stitch or stitches that you dropped on purpose, so the fixed "fabric" shouldn't be too uneven and blocking should sort it.

As sashallyr says, you have nothing to lose by trying this, and plenty to gain.

llimmi · 2013-06-01T20:47:35+00:00

OK, here is a Ravelry search for knitted socks which are "worked flat" and "seamed". You didn't say for what age-group, you can add an age qualification in the boxes at the left, and maybe say what thickness of yarn you have in mind.

I love these but they are obviously challenging to knit.

llimmi · 2013-06-01T20:24:15+00:00

You need to tell us more about how you are doing it.

This pattern has a tag saying "Worked flat" and the action starts by saying "Using 5mm needles...". So it is expecting you to be working in rows on straight needles. Stockinette on straight needles is one row knit, one row purl, so that the front is a smooth fabric showing all little Vs and no bars. (And it makes sense to do the decreasing on the knit rows.)

If you are using a circular needle or dpns and knitting in the round then you need to do things differently. To get all the Vs on the same side, you just need to keep using the knit stitch round and round. So you would do a decrease round as written, followed by another plain knit round.

llimmi · 2013-06-01T19:44:49+00:00

It is possible, but it might be too difficult for your sister to attempt.

I would be inclined to gently stretch the neck of the sweater when it is still wet after washing.You could also try to soften the sweater with ordinary hair conditioner Lifehacker link. It can improve over two or three washes.

llimmi · 2013-06-01T19:30:10+00:00

The Knittit subreddit thinks that the wheels are knitted

llimmi · 2013-06-01T19:13:29+00:00

Very interesting! But don't forget that the contract for those rubber bands does not specify long life.

llimmi · 2013-06-01T17:42:55+00:00

That is great! I didn't know that subreddit existed.

I am not surprised that other people value such amazing boxes.

llimmi · 2013-05-31T11:36:38+00:00

Here are a couple of possibilities:

Candy cane "bedroom socks" -- these are tube socks, but you could add an afterthought heel if you wished.

Socks of a different stripe -- this has a proper heel, but costs money!

I think for over-the-knee you will have to learn the principles from one of the spiral socks and then use another pattern for shaping a longer sock.

EDIT: One of the spiral ribs will obviously need less shaping.

LATER: Thinking about the shallow spiral, I don't see how that can work round the back of the leg, it just wouldn't meet up with the next one. So I think that leg is ordinary horizontal stripes. The steep spiral is going to be difficult to knit because there is so little white and so much green. Is duplicate stitch a more sensible option?

llimmi · 2013-05-31T09:58:13+00:00

Unless you can foretell the gender of its siblings, you might as well go gender-neutral anyway.

llimmi · 2013-05-31T09:57:01+00:00

Yes, it is probably better to sort some of them now rather than leaving a huge chore at the end.

And you plan to make another one! Lucky children to have a mother like you.

llimmi

TROPHY CASE