Hello knitting peeps :D

Final-year-PhD stress means that I'm finding myself awake during the early hours with nothing to do! I can't be bothered to drag all my cross stitch stuff out at that time and inspired by em3978's thread about returning to knitting I thought I'd have a go at knitting something instead (it looks so relaxing! :D).

I spent a few hours early this morning going through the free patterns available online but I find being faced with pages of patterns a bit overwhelming. I do already have the Stitch and Bitch book and I thought I might try one of the easy scarves in that book. However, I really don't like the go-go garter scarf pattern, although as the first pattern in the book that seems to be the obvious choice for a beginner :( It looks very big and chunky to me and I know I'd never wear it - I much prefer the 'windy city scarf' on page 159. Could I tackle this pattern instead, or as a knitting newbie is that being too ambitious?

Maybe the garter scarf would appeal to me more if I were to make with a different yarn? If I were to just choose a more delicate yarn though, I guess I'd have to use different needles from those recommended in Debbie Stoller's book? All advice gratefully received! :help:

The garter stitch scarf: you don't have to follow the pattern in the S&B book, or any pattern really. All you need to do is choose a yarn you like, look on the ball band for the recommended needle size, and off you go, knitting each row til you get the required length.

Do a test swatch first though, to see how many stitches you'd need in order to give the width of scarf you want. Don't just cast-on, say, 40 stitches and look how they appear on the needle though. Knit about two or three inches of garter stitch, because the fabric will be wider than what it looks like from just the cast on row of stitches.

Yes, I reckon a beginner could easily do the Windy City scarf. The ribbing is easy, and the only vaguely tricky bit would be doing the opening, and that will be straight forward once you're actually knitting it.

I don't think you'll get the Classic Elite wool over here though, so you'll probably have to substitute if you decide to go for that pattern. Let us know if you do, and I'll try to find a suitable alternative.

Thanks for that Hecate - I didn't realise it would be as easy as just picking a yarn that I like and getting knitting! I did have a wander around John Lewis yesterday and I saw a couple of lovely soft yarns, but I didn't want to buy something on impulse that wouldn't be suitable for the scarf patterns or that would be a nightmare for a beginner to try and knit with.

I would definitely like to try the Windy City pattern - I really like the finished item and I can see myself using it rather than shoved at the back of a wardrobe and promptly forgotten! :)

If you're not following a pattern, and have a good idea of what you want the item to look like, then it can be as simple as going for the yarn that takes your fancy, with the usual common-sense provisos of matching it to the intended function.

For example, the cashmere/angora blend RYC yarns are beautifully soft, but they do tend to shed all over the place, so if you use it for a scarf, all your clothes might end up looking a bit fluffy. A yarn that's too chunky might give a scarf that's a bit too inflexible, with little drape; plus it'll look like you're wearing a boa constrictor around your neck :hihi: .

I'll have a hunt for a yarn which will do for the Windy City scarf then, and report back :) .

There's also a hot water bottle cover pattern at John Lewis which is free if you buy the yarn. Here (http://alison.knitsmiths.us/blueroom_fips/hotties.html) it is finished. It's a bit more complex than a scarf, but only because you have to decrease, and if you're stuck you can go in on Tuesday Wednesday or Saturday and the Rowan girls will help you. :) (They do classes too)

I've just made a garter stitch scarf - actually I made it several times. 1st time I cast on 30 stitches - WAY too many, so I unravelled (after using half the wool), then tried again with 20 stitches - still too many, so unravelled yet again and third time lucky used 11. I used the 'softie' wool from Hobbycraft, knitting two balls at once to give a lovely thick feel. Its taken me two nights to complete the final article.

.... I haven't knitted for probaby 20 years and got on OK, but have forgotten how to cast off ! shall have to read the advice posts.

I've just made a garter stitch scarf - actually I made it several times. 1st time I cast on 30 stitches - WAY too many, so I unravelled (after using half the wool), then tried again with 20 stitches - still too many, so unravelled yet again and third time lucky used 11. I used the 'softie' wool from Hobbycraft, knitting two balls at once to give a lovely thick feel. Its taken me two nights to complete the final article.

.... I haven't knitted for probaby 20 years and got on OK, but have forgotten how to cast off ! shall have to read the advice posts.
Forgive me if I haven't welcomed you to the Knittiing Group, mc55. I've been running around doing about ten different things at once and am now trying to catch up with knitty stuff :) . So anyway, welcome to the Knitting Group :wave: .

As for casting off the scarf, the main thing to remember is to do it loosely. If you pull the yarn too tightly, you'll end up with the ends of the scarf being a little more narrow than the main bit.

As ever, the wonderful KnittingHelp (http://www.knittinghelp.com/knitting/basic_techniques/bind-off.php) is what you need for how to do a cast-off (called bind-off in America).

...I'll have a hunt for a yarn which will do for the Windy City scarf then, and report back :) .
I haven't forgotten, honest. It's on the list of stuff to do :lol: .

Ahh, no rush - I've only just got back to Sheffield from a conference in London anyway, so I don't have any plans to start knitting immediately :D (I have far too many other things to catch up on first :( )

I have had a 'first attempt' at knitting though, using a combination of the S&B book, some 4mm needles I had from a previous, random desire to 'knit something' and some horrible, string like wool. I'n pleased to report that I can just about manage knit and purl, although I really do need to work on keeping the tension even... ;)

...although I really do need to work on keeping the tension even... ;)
Have your tried the 'wrap the yarn around your little finger' method described in S&B? My tension was all over the place til I started to use that.

Tension's just a function of practice- you'll know how to keep it even when it feels right. I've tried lots of different yarn holding techniques, and got to a stage of being able to produce predictable tension with them all.

Your tension will also get more even as you speed up with your knitting and get more practised at knitting runs without stopping.

If you can knit and purl you're now officially a knitter BTW.

Suggestions for yarn substitutions for the Windy City scarf - finally! Sorry for the delay :) .

The Classic Elite Bazic wool is quite a tricky yarn to substitute for, actually. It's a heavy worsted weight, so not quite aran and not quite chunky; somewhere inbetween, infact. Consequently, I can't find anything that will be an absolutely perfect replacement for it.

A possibility is the Jaeger Extrafine Merino Chunky (http://www.kangaroo.uk.com/catalogue/yarn_detail.php?tId=6&stId=988), which is on the fine side for a chunky wool.

Another is Cascade 220 (http://www.getknitted.com/acatalog/Cascade_220.html), although it's a little finer than the Classic Elite.

If you want a fluffier effect, rather than the clear stitch definition of the scarf in the picture, then Begere de France Mousson (http://www.getknitted.com/acatalog/Yarns_and_Kits.html) is a possibility (scroll down the page).


Remember that if you want your scarf to look exactly like the one in the book, you'll need to do one or more gauge swatches with different sized-needles until you get the gauge specified in the pattern.

Also, the yarn length per ball of the Classic Elite is 65 yards. You'll need to take that into account (probably by converting it into metres) when you work out how much of the substitute yarn to buy. Don't go on the weight (eg 50g, 100g etc), as it's the length which is important when you want to ensure that you don't run out of wool mid scarf knitting.

Sorry to have taken a bit longer than usual in getting back to you.

I can't get the 'wrap the yarn round my finger' method at all, once i've got it all awkwardly positioned, I thien find there is no way I can get my index finger to move the yarn over the end of the needle when P & K, it just falls of my finger.

Shame because i'd love to be able to knit faster :lol:

Something that I would like to point out, being a new knitter not so long ago myself, is all this cheap 'fun' yarn that is everywhere at the moment.

It's very pretty to look at and cheap, but, to put it bluntly, it's crap.

It's difficult to work with compared to 'proper' yarn and looks cheap once you've completed your hard work, two things that could easily put any new knitter off trying again, or spending a bit more money.

Buy some good yarn, I'm in love with Twilleys Freedom Spirit at the moment, very soft and easy to knit with, and only £2.80ish for a 50g ball.

The cheap stuff is ok to work small areas or to work alongside other yarns to add texture, i've found.

Thanks for all of your comments, help and advice :D

I'm not a big fan of fluffy knits, so I think I'm going to go with the Jaeger wool. I've fallen in love with the 'Juniper' colour :love:

I do already have some needles at home (4mm? possibly) but I shall endeavour to get hold of some more so that I can try and few and get the gauge right :thumbsup:

Hopefully, I'll be posting up pictures of my work in the not too distant future... ;)

V excited for you Tracie. My 21 year old daughter has just finished her frist mitten. Might have to wait a while for the 2nd one! She insists it looks like a big oven glove, but is thrilled to bits with it. If I ever sort out how to post a photo (I have read your post about it Hecate, but I'm a bit slow) you can see what you think.

V excited for you Tracie. My 21 year old daughter has just finished her frist mitten. Might have to wait a while for the 2nd one! She insists it looks like a big oven glove, but is thrilled to bits with it. If I ever sort out how to post a photo (I have read your post about it Hecate, but I'm a bit slow) you can see what you think.
Give posting a photo a go :) . The recent upgrades to Photobucket have made it much easier. Just take it step by step, and if you have any problems post on here and we should be able to sort it out.

The first mittens I made were really quite tragic. They looked lovely, apart from the fact that the cuff was really, really tight and so wouldn't go over my hand. If it had done, it would have definitely cut the blood supply off :hihi: .

...I do already have some needles at home (4mm? possibly) but I shall endeavour to get hold of some more so that I can try and few and get the gauge right :thumbsup:

Just a quick note to say that I reckon the 4 mm needles will be a bit too small for the Jaeger yarn.

I bought a huge job lot of needles from Ebay a little while ago, in a mad frenzy of newbie Ebaying. I'm not entirely sure what I have, but I'll have a look to see if I have any suitable, if you'd like me to send you a couple of pairs to try?

Just a quick note to say that I reckon the 4 mm needles will be a bit too small for the Jaeger yarn.

I bought a huge job lot of needles from Ebay a little while ago, in a mad frenzy of newbie Ebaying. I'm not entirely sure what I have, but I'll have a look to see if I have any suitable, if you'd like me to send you a couple of pairs to try?

I have a job lot of needles too, haven't I Hecate?

If the box got moved temporarily between mine and Tracie's then she'd have every gauge under the sun to try. What do you reckon?

I have a job lot of needles too, haven't I Hecate?

If the box got moved temporarily between mine and Tracie's then she'd have every gauge under the sun to try. What do you reckon?
You have indeed :D .

Excellent idea!

:) Hello, new to forum, and returning to attempt a knitted scarf having not knitted for more years thanh I can honestly remember :| Oh, and I don;t live in Sheffield, but please don't hold that against me.
Okay, so I went to the shop today (in France) and bought some lovely yarn, whcih I think is known as Eyelash? I bought 4 50gm balls, and some 9mm needles. I really haven't knitted for years and years, but think I will manage casting on and off and very basic knitting and pearling. I want to knit a scarf, but make it look better than my knitting :help:
I look forward to ideas, meanwhile, I'm off to attempt some casting on :o

Thanks,
Kathy

I've not done much with eyelash but from what I remember, it's hard to tell the difference between a knit and a purl anyway so it really doesn't need anything fancy. It's very hard to see if/when/where you've dropped a stitch too, I was knitting on double pointed needles so I had lots of chances to drop stitches here there and everywhere. It will look lovely when you're done, I'm sure of that, and I'm sure that you;ll be back for more yarn next week.

Nice to see you, it means that I'm not the new girl anymore!

HI and welcome Kathy,

What brand/name yarn did you buy? I imagine on 9mm needles you'll have your scarf knitted up in no time at all - and of course we will want pics! :)

There are a vast amount of links to patterns in the Recommended Links section at the top of the group, have a nosey around in there and see if you find anything you fancy.

I'm sure we will all be more than happy to help if you get a little unstuck

Oh thanks, I'll have good look round soon.
Yes, easy to drop stitches, and not so easy to see the mess :D
This suits me currently. I'm enjoying it though, and already have an order from Daughter in law for Christmas :)
My husband has had to cut the needles down in length though, they were too long, and catching under my arms. So, will be restricted to scarves, as the needles are not long enough for anything else.
:rolleyes:

The brand is: Ourson which may be a French brand.

:) Hello, new to forum, and returning to attempt a knitted scarf having not knitted for more years thanh I can honestly remember :| Oh, and I don;t live in Sheffield, but please don't hold that against me.
Okay, so I went to the shop today (in France) and bought some lovely yarn, whcih I think is known as Eyelash? I bought 4 50gm balls, and some 9mm needles. I really haven't knitted for years and years, but think I will manage casting on and off and very basic knitting and pearling. I want to knit a scarf, but make it look better than my knitting :help:
I look forward to ideas, meanwhile, I'm off to attempt some casting on :o

Thanks,
Kathy
Hi Kathy, and welcome to the knitting group :wave: . I don't live in Sheffield either, so don't worry about that. You do need to pass a written test on Sheffield general knowledge though ;) . Only joking.

The thing about eyelash yarn is it can be a bit difficult to work with, especially if you're jut getting back into knitting after a long break. I find that the fluffy bits tend to get in the way of the stitches, and I end up putting the needle in the wrong place and dropping stitches.

What I'd probably do is use a standard aran/worsted weight wool or wool/mix yarn for most of the scarf (maybe in a k2p2 rib), and use the eyelash yarn for a decorative few rows at either end. The plain yarn will be much easier to work with until you get back into the knitting habit.

Also with eyelash yarn, any stitch pattern you do will be completely lost in the final fabric due to its fluffiness, ie. garter stitch (k all rows) will be the only appropriate stitch pattern. Even a basic rib will be lost under the texture of the eyelash yarn.

If you get stuck on the cast on or any of the stitches, I highly recommend that you visit KnittingHelp (http://www.knittinghelp.com/). The videos are really useful.

One last tip. Make sure that you make the cast-on and cast-off edges fairly loose. If you do them too tightly, you'll distort the ends of the scarf as the stitches will be pulled inwards.

Good luck :) .

Wow, I'd missed all the new posts on here! :blush: Firstly, a very warm welcome to SF, NannyP :wave:

I've been terribly slack and still haven't actually brought my wool yet - I did have a wander into John Lewis on Friday and tried to find the Merino Extrafine Chunky, but although there was plenty of Jaeger wool there I couldn't spot that particular yarn. I think I'm going to buy it from the site you linked to originally, Hecate. In fact, I will go and grab the Stitch and Bitch book now and get them ordered, then I'll have no excuse :P

Thank you both Hecate and Medusa for the offers of loans of different size needles. If I could borrow some different gauge needles from you, Meds, that would be fab :D I'll let you know when my yarn arrives!

...I did have a wander into John Lewis on Friday and tried to find the Merino Extrafine Chunky, but although there was plenty of Jaeger wool there I couldn't spot that particular yarn. ...
Most places I've seen tend to have a rather restricted supply of Jaeger yarn, possibly because it's a bit on the expensive side. Then again, Rowan is not exactly cheap, and everywhere is overflowing with that particular brand. Maybe the Rowan agents are more pushy :hihi: .
Thank you both Hecate and Medusa for the offers of loans of different size needles. If I could borrow some different gauge needles from you, Meds, that would be fab :D I'll let you know when my yarn arrives!
Medusa's needles are ultimately coming to me (when I finally manage to get myself up to Sheffield :roll:) . I had a vague idea of having a source of needles for beginners in the knitting group to try out and keep if they get into knitting anyway, so feel free to help yourself to any that will be useful for the swatching.

Thanks for the welcomes. I have already statred the scartf, and agree, the wool and size of needles hides all mistakes. I think I dropped a stitch early on, and it hardly shows. It is weird to be knitting again.