my mums going through a tough time so i though i would cheer her up and send her something to keep her warm as shes always cold. i could easily go out and buy her a jumper or something but i know how much it would mean to her if i made it myself. it would make her month!!!

so i know nothing about knitting and would like to know where to start to make her something relatively easyish. any ideas and pointers about what to buy from where would be very welcome!

and i seen you have a meet planned, would i be able to come along and get some advice or are they for you experts to swap cross stitches and points of view for the reasons of dropping a stitch??
(that was all the jargon i know im afraid)


im in your hands so please be gentle :help:

If this is your first attempt at knitting then a scarf or a hat may be called for. Happy to help you if you call by:D

why thank you, a hat would be better i think, a scarf wouldnt really keep her warm unless its more of a blanket! actually, is a blanket hard? i dont even know how long it takes but i guess i could do it while watching a dvd or summit, not that i think it will be done in a few hours..

Good grief. I thought you were joking :lol: .

Knitting something for your mum is a lovely idea. Knitting is an acquired skill though, and it does take a bit of practice to get the hang of it. I'd certainly recommend the meeting (or even just popping in to see Jill at the Wool Baa one afternoon), because there's nothing better than getting someone to show you what to do first hand.

I'd go with Jill's idea and recommend a scarf. You can do a really simple pattern and make it special by using lovely yarn. I'm not sure about the hat, because that would involve some seaming or using DPNs/a circular needle. best to get the basic knitting down first.

Let us know if you like the idea of a scarf, and we'll come up with some suggestions.

Just to put my cynical hat on for a minute - If you're trolling my group, Preacher, bear in mind that I can cause some serious damage with a pointy stick :twisted: .

Welcome to the Knitting Group though ;) .

why thank you, a hat would be better i think, a scarf wouldnt really keep her warm unless its more of a blanket! actually, is a blanket hard? i dont even know how long it takes but i guess i could do it while watching a dvd or summit, not that i think it will be done in a few hours..
If you'd really like to make a hat, you can learn the techniques involved if you're feeling brave. You'd have to learn about decreasing stitches, as well as the basics, but you could always get someone else to do the seaming for you if you want to avoid the DPNs (double pointed needles) or circulars.

A blanket would be an idea (maybe a small throw type-thing), but it'd be expensive (possibly) and time-consuming (certainly).

i have never been so insulted by one so sweet :o

my intentions are to cheer my mum up not troll your knitting group. Hi to all by the way :)

A scarf would be grand, its best to start at the basics, besides i always sew my fingers together when i try and stitch a pocket or something :confused:

It looks like the wool baa is my first point of call. A couple of questions though. is it a bar where people knit? and where is it?

Thanks for the welcome me lady :D

nevermind, i work around the corner from hunters bar so all is good!

i have never been so insulted by one so sweet :o

my intentions are to cheer my mum up not troll your knitting group. Hi to all by the way :) ...
I take all comments at face value, and trust you wouldn't use your mum as an excuse for trolling.

Your first port of call is definitely the Wool Baa, especially as you're so close. You need to have a look at the yarn and see what you think your mum would like. Jill would be able to help with pattern recommendations. Click on the link in Jill's sig. The address of the Wool Baa is on there, along with photos of the shop (which, sadly, is bar free; though she does do excellent tea, I've heard).

i found the link in her sig, i will try and go on sat at some point, i only live in nether edge so its not far..

im loving this top (http://www.thewoolbaa.co.uk/images/noroknits.jpg)..

and the cuddly bear sounds good, guessing its out of my league...

i found the link in her sig, i will try and go on sat at some point, i only live in nether edge so its not far..
It's in writing now, so you can't back out now... Oh, and she does mail order too, so you've really no excuse :D .

im loving this top (http://www.thewoolbaa.co.uk/images/noroknits.jpg)..

and the cuddly bear sounds good, guessing its out of my league...
It's very nice. But stick with the basics. The bear will involve shaping and seaming, so it's more of a second or third project.

Beginners should stick to something with no or minimal shaping and preferably no seaming, unless you can persuade someone else to do it for you.

i know the top is out of my league, was just impressed to the quality of clothing you can make yourself!

when you say seaming do you mean sewing two bits together? i reckon i could do that with minimal blood on the teddy. but you right and its no point getting ahead of myself. i just know my mum would put it on the fireplace (not in it), if i made her a little teddy!

i know the top is out of my league, was just impressed to the quality of clothing you can make yourself!

when you say seaming do you mean sewing two bits together? i reckon i could do that with minimal blood on the teddy. but you right and its no point getting ahead of myself. i just know my mum would put it on the fireplace (not in it), if i made her a little teddy!
Yes seaming is joining the knitted pieces. It's not quite as straight forward as with sewing clothes made from non-knitted fabric on the sewing machine though, and there's certainly an art to it.

Have you thought about getting someone to knit something for your mum for you instead?

What about crocheting a small blanket? You could get one done in 10 days or so, and its fast and easy but looks good. Wouldn't cost a lot - need about 300-400g wool (double knit) and a 4 or 4.5mm crochet hook.

for the crocheters about: Ch 120, tr into 3rd from chain then tr all the way. Cont until long enough.

littleblue, did you just make all those words up :confused:


hecate, the point is i make it myself because that will mean so much more to my mum so i cant really get someone else to make it!

...hecate, the point is i make it myself because that will mean so much more to my mum so i cant really get someone else to make it!
I know, and I think it's a great idea, but you really are going to have to persevere and be prepared for it to take a lot longer than you think. Sorry to assume that you have a short attention span ;) .

Anyway, have a think about what your mum would like (colours, chunky or finer wool etc), then get yourself to The Wool Baa, as it's a good idea to see the yarn 'in person' (see how soft or scratchy it is etc).

How about something like this (http://www.straw.com/cpy/patterns/scarves/taos-ribbed-scarf.html)? It's perfect for a beginner. Ignore the yarn recommendations, because it's a simple pattern that can be adapted to whatever yarn you want to use.

Beginners should stick to something with no or minimal shaping and preferably no seaming, unless you can persuade someone else to do it for you.

I have to say I think that is totally wrong. Beginners should knit what they want to knit, not something just because it's easy. Yes, shaping and seaming takes a bit more effort and time, but the end result is far more satisfying than just a long strip of garter stitch. I don't believe that anyone should be told "you can't knit that because it's too hard for you".

Knit what you want, Preach dude, and if you get stuck then there are loads of people who will talk you through the problems and get you back on track :thumbsup:

I think that making things is always better than walking into a shop and handing over your credit card- it shows love and time and energy committed in doing something lovely for someone else.

I once knitted one of my colleagues a blanket for her baby, and took it everywhere with me whilst I was making it (it was 2 ply and 6' square, so it took a few months), including on a tour of Zimbabwe and Zambia.

At the time I wasn't aware of a tradition that they have out there of putting wishes on things that are being knitted for babies, so that the wish is carried to the baby. While I was out there, the blanket was blessed by several different religions, and wished with strength, health, wealth and luck by lots of different people. When it was finished I sent it off to my colleague with a little book full of photos of the people who had blessed it, and with the instructions that whatever else she did, she wasn't to wash it before it wrapped her baby (who turned out to be a gorgeous little girl named Chloe) in it, in case she washed the good wishes out.

Home made things are personal- far more personal than anything you can buy in a shop. Good luck on making your mum smile Preach.

I have to say I think that is totally wrong. Beginners should knit what they want to knit, not something just because it's easy. Yes, shaping and seaming takes a bit more effort and time, but the end result is far more satisfying than just a long strip of garter stitch. I don't believe that anyone should be told "you can't knit that because it's too hard for you".

Knit what you want, Preach dude, and if you get stuck then there are loads of people who will talk you through the problems and get you back on track :thumbsup:
Fair enough, and I agree to a certain extent. Though to be fair, I didn't say 'you can't knit that because it's too hard for you', and I did qualify my comment about beginners sticking to the basics by saying 'If you'd really like to make a hat, you can learn the techniques involved if you're feeling brave'. Given that Preacher admitted to having the potential to 'sew his fingers together' given the chance, I think the suggestion of mastering the basics before moving on was justified.

IMO, if a beginner starts off on something that is beyond the basics when you don't have the basics down - especially if it's to be a present which they really want to get right - then there's more chance of throwing in the towel.

I wouldn't suggest that he knit 'a strip of garter stitch' (though that isn't a bad idea for the first practice swatch, of course). My suggestion was a ribbed scarf, which would provide enough practice on the knit and purl basics to give him the confidence to move on to something else later.

I never mentioned you - I was referring to the general attitude towards new knitters that many people seem to have. I personally believe that a new knitter is more likely to abandon a dull project than a hard one. A scarf is a heck of a lot of knitting, and after the stitch has been learned then it is a very dull piece of knitting. By contrast, a project that requires a variety of techniques is more likely to hold interest through to completion.

I never mentioned you - I was referring to the general attitude towards new knitters that many people seem to have. ...
You quoted my post and said that 'I think that is totally wrong'. Given that, I assume that you thought that the attitude I expressed in my post was typical of what you think is wrong.
...I personally believe that a new knitter is more likely to abandon a dull project than a hard one. ...
I agree, though I maintain that some new knitters are perhaps just as likely to abandon a project that they find frustrating.
...A scarf is a heck of a lot of knitting, and after the stitch has been learned then it is a very dull piece of knitting. ...
A scarf needn't be a lot of knitting. Large-ish needles and a chunky-ish yarn would ensure that a scarf knitted up in a relatively short period of time. At least quick enough to ensure that the novelty of knitting for the first time, and the enjoyment of learning something new, doesn't wear off.
...By contrast, a project that requires a variety of techniques is more likely to hold interest through to completion.
I agree with that too, though I wouldn't necessarily suggest such a project for a brand new knitter who has yet to pick up the needles. This is particularly the case with Preach, who had intimated in a previous post that he's a bit of a klutz when it comes to sewing ;) .

littleblue, did you just make all those words up :confused:


hecate, the point is i make it myself because that will mean so much more to my mum so i cant really get someone else to make it!

Not at all!!

Right, this crochet lark is easy and the blanket will be quick - what about making a striped one that is more of a knee blanket for wrapping up in whilst watching tv or in the car?

If you would like some help with it I'd happily talk you through it. Although its only one stitch its really relaxing and looks fab when you finish it :D

It will look like this at the end (mebbe not the same colours though :D)

I agree littleblue- a crochet blanket with no shaping could be the fastest thing to do, with the least learning of new things- but your link doesn't work honey.

I agree littleblue- a crochet blanket with no shaping could be the fastest thing to do, with the least learning of new things- but your link doesn't work honey.


I was really hoping noone would see my desperate attempts at making it work....

How do you make it so you just click and word and it takes you there? I've tried and it just doesn't like me...

Click click (http://www.cathkidston.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=151-40-48-1&cid=BedspreadsThrows&pcidl=Homeware%2cBedroom%2cBedspreadsThrows&vid=160377&language=en-GB)

...How do you make it so you just click and word and it takes you there? I've tried and it just doesn't like me...
Have a look at the second post in this (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=98060) thread.

That link works now love- thank you.

Oh right. Most other formats use the [url]| format.

Sorted then.

That link works now love- thank you.


What can I say, I have fat fingers :hihi:

I do love that blanket. I've made 6 of them now :D

thansk for the advice guys and i didnt mean to start any arguments!

Go and see Jill at the Wool Baa - she will help you select some yarn, a pattern and probably help you get started:D

thats my job for saturday :D

I think that making things is always better than walking into a shop and handing over your credit card- it shows love and time and energy committed in doing something lovely for someone else.

I once knitted one of my colleagues a blanket for her baby, and took it everywhere with me whilst I was making it (it was 2 ply and 6' square, so it took a few months), including on a tour of Zimbabwe and Zambia.

At the time I wasn't aware of a tradition that they have out there of putting wishes on things that are being knitted for babies, so that the wish is carried to the baby. While I was out there, the blanket was blessed by several different religions, and wished with strength, health, wealth and luck by lots of different people. When it was finished I sent it off to my colleague with a little book full of photos of the people who had blessed it, and with the instructions that whatever else she did, she wasn't to wash it before it wrapped her baby (who turned out to be a gorgeous little girl named Chloe) in it, in case she washed the good wishes out.

Home made things are personal- far more personal than anything you can buy in a shop. Good luck on making your mum smile Preach.

Awww, how lovely. That is just so fantastic, I never thought of getting the blanket I made for my baby nephew "blessed", in that way.

I just put a lot of myself, and my love into it as I was making it.

I agree about the home made things being more "personal".

My first knitting project was a scarf for my mum for Mothers Day 2 years ago. I bought a How To Knit book, a few balls of acrylic DK in cream and a pair of 4mm needles. It was in simple garter stitch and being so new to knitting it took me a little while to master so I didn't find it too boring. If I was to do it again though I would recommend larger wool and larger needles.

I dropped stitches all over the place so bought some little jewels/patchy things to stock over the holes and it looked fabulous - although when I see it now I think it looks like a 3 year old knitted it!

In my opinion I agree with Hecate that a scarf would be a fantastic first project rather than a garment as you could seriously underestimate the time it would take you to make a garment and the challenges involved in it could be very off putting. However, if you're the kind of person that enjoys a challenge then I don't see why you couldn't try a hat.

Whatever you choose to do just have fun with it and do it how you want :)

thats my job for saturday :D

Hi Preach,

I will be here until 1 p.m. on Saturday so come before then and I'll have you knitting before you leave the shop!

before 1 on a saturday :huh:

She's a very forceful woman - take someone with you if you can :rolleyes:

before 1 on a saturday :huh:
Get your lazy arse (and the rest of you) out of bed before midday and off to the Wool Baa. Stop trying to weasel out of it :P .

In my opinion I agree with Hecate that a scarf would be a fantastic first project rather than a garment as you could seriously underestimate the time it would take you to make a garment and the challenges involved in it could be very off putting. However, if you're the kind of person that enjoys a challenge then I don't see why you couldn't try a hat.


I think a garment may well be too time consuming, but the bear would be a good first project. The benefit of knitting a toy is that it doesn't matter how wonky your sewing up is or if you drop the odd stitch here or there. This (http://www.knittingforums.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=7382) thread on another forum was from a guy who was knittng a bear as his first project, so shows that it can be done!

before 1 on a saturday :huh:

LOL - OK, if that's too much for you I am there from 1 - 6.30 Next Tuesday.
(Daughter visiting so not around from Sat lunch to Tues lunch).

Get your lazy arse (and the rest of you) out of bed before midday and off to the Wool Baa. Stop trying to weasel out of it :P .

ok saturday it is! but i only want a sleep in because im still getting over the monster of all virus' (ok maybe not considering hiv is a virus, but still i had a runny nose and everything :D ) and wanted to sleep.

JillM see you saturday and im not telling you who i am so you cant take a pic for hecate :P

...and im not telling you who i am so you cant take a pic for hecate :P
LOL She'll spot you a mile off :lol: .

Look forward to hearing about how you get on, and what you decide to go for :) .

yeah your right, im going to stand out like a sore thumb!
if i get up early enough i will even try out some of this fantastic tea jill serves!

do i didnt make it in today and im still in my pyjamas at 20 past 2 but hey, its saturday and i drank too much red wine last night..

so see you tuesday hopefully jill.

right, im coming to see you tomorrow after work mrs jill. please be gentle with me..

right, im coming to see you tomorrow after work mrs jill. please be gentle with me..


Well - after being stood up for a hangover already I will have to consider it....:)

right, im coming to see you tomorrow after work mrs jill. please be gentle with me..

Don't forget the WD40 for the door, it sticks. Don't tell Jill I told you, I want to keep on her good side, she has connections in the yarn trade you know. :suspect:

Well, did you go? Were you sorted? What are you crafting? :confused:

im still in work, will be there about 10 past 5..

im still in work, will be there about 10 past 5..
Excellent! Can you pick me up a couple of balls of Louisa Harding Kimono Angora, some Noro Kureyon and a couple of 2.5 mm Addi Turbos? Thanks :thumbsup: .

Only joking.

Let us know what you get :) .

:confused: so you want wool and needles! woman always over complicate things :hihi:


actually i retract that! im about to go and ask for help from a lovely lady who owns a shop the sells 10 inch needles!!!!

:confused: so you want wool and needles! ...
You have sooooo much to learn :hihi: .

im a willing pupil if you will be my mentor.

im a willing pupil if you will be my mentor.
I'm sure Jill will take you in hand this afternoon :D .

Have you made your mind up about what you'd like to do, or are you going to see if inspiration strikes once you see the yarn and kits at the Wool Baa?

im making her a cuddly duck!

jill was lovely, i pearled and done some other stitch things i cant remember the names of but basically means you increase and decrease.

can i come to the meet now :)

im making her a cuddly duck!

jill was lovely, i pearled and done some other stitch things i cant remember the names of but basically means you increase and decrease.

can i come to the meet now :)
:clap: Fantastic! When are you starting it? Can't wait to see the progress photos.

Post on here if you get stuck with anything.

Yes, you're more than welcome to come to the meeting :) .



PS. It's 'purl' not 'pearl' :P .

Excellent Preacherman:thumbsup:. Can we see piccies of your progress when you have some?

im sure im going to be asking you for help pretty soon...


im not not going to start straight away, im going to be sensible and practise the different stitches first because i want to do it well for her. but i will probably get bored so say friday? :hihi:

im sure im going to be asking you for help pretty soon...


im not not going to start straight away, im going to be sensible and practise the different stitches first because i want to do it well for her. but i will probably get bored so say friday? :hihi:
Yes, definitely practice the stitches with some spare yarn first. Do you have any spare yarn? Let me know if not and I'll send you some. What sort of yarn is the duck knit with?

yeah i got an extra ball for practice.

not a clue on the wool other than its white but jill will probably know?

yeah i got an extra ball for practice.

not a clue on the wool other than its white but jill will probably know?
It should say somewhere either on the kit, and/or on the ball band. I just wondered because if I sent you some, I'd match it roughly to what you'd got in the kit. No need to now though :).

i have stylecraft special double knit.

and thank you, the offer is greatly appreciated,

Preach needs nothing other than what he left the shop with! He has not bought a kit but a Jean Greenhowe book of knitted animals. He has done fantastically well and has actually practiced every stitch needed to complete the body of the duck! These included the incredibly complicated (for a first timer) inc in next st!!!!!! It must be the engineer in him that enabled him to pick everything up so quickly. Practice will make just about perfect. For the record he did:
thumb cast on, knit, purl, inc iby knitting into front and back of st, k2tog.

Preach - in case you are wondering (as I know you will have gone straight home and studied the pattern...) the bit we didn't cover is B&T. B&T is not short for bacardi and tonic but in this case means cut the yarn (about a foot) thread a needle with the yarn and take the needle through the stitches - pull tight (but not too much) and sew a couple of stitches to hold in place. See you next week for that bit :D
It was an absolute pleasure teaching you.

Way to go Preach! well done lad! :)

hey, hey! :clap: :clap::clap::clap:

well done! I hope it turns out ok, and your mum likes the finished product!

and to think you doubted me pt :rolleyes:


and jill, i dont know what half of those words mean but i have to say a big thank you for all your help! let me know what cake you want me to bring to he meet :)

and to think you doubted me pt :rolleyes:


and jill, i dont know what half of those words mean but i have to say a big thank you for all your help! let me know what cake you want me to bring to he meet :)

PT would never have doubted you! Those words will soon become second nature (bit like mnemonics...) now what cake...er.. coffee..or lemon .. or coconut .. or chocolate... or ... anything for me:D Not sure about anybody else..not sure I care about anybody else where cake is involved :hihi:

and to think you doubted me pt :rolleyes:


Doubt? Moi? Never said a word, preach...

Just don't make anything that requires "Kitchener Stitch" (eh, Jill?) that was <taggart voice mode>MURderrrr </ taggart voice>

out of interest, whats the difference between a kit and a pattern?

Doubt? Moi? Never said a word, preach...

Just don't make anything that requires "Kitchener Stitch" (eh, Jill?) that was <taggart voice mode>MURderrrr </ taggart voice>

PT - what do you mean? You make Kitchener Stitch look easy! It was just the first time that hurt - all that repeating of the mantra - "insert needle purlwise and leave on needle.....insert needle kintwise and slip off needle" etc etc.... worth it though:)

out of interest, whats the difference between a kit and a pattern?
With a kit, you get (sometimes) all the things necessary to complete the item; so you get the yarn, the pattern and (sometimes) the needles. Usually, you'll get the pattern and the wool.

A pattern, is just the pattern - the written instructions. You have to get everything else yourself (though the pattern will tell you what yarn and needles it recommends).

I like the sound of a knitted duck! Hold me back :D I have a pig to crochet, I will be coming for supplies this week...
Jill, do you have the Opal glove pattern? I plan to get some of that neon yarn that Hecate pointed us in the direction of a few weeks ago :)

I like the sound of a knitted duck! Hold me back :D I have a pig to crochet, I will be coming for supplies this week...
Jill, do you have the Opal glove pattern? I plan to get some of that neon yarn that Hecate pointed us in the direction of a few weeks ago :)

I can see a pig colour from my counter....:) I do have the glove pattern and the neon yarn...!

Do you still have the decapitated polar bear head? I'm not coming back in until that monstrosity is gone. It's scary!

Do you still have the decapitated polar bear head? I'm not coming back in until that monstrosity is gone. It's scary!

What about your window display too Jill, are you all Eastery now? Has the good looking bird in the window gone? :D

I can see a pig colour from my counter....:) I do have the glove pattern and the neon yarn...!

Splendid. I'll be in tomorrow then :)

What about your window display too Jill, are you all Eastery now? Has the good looking bird in the window gone? :D

She has indeed gone for a rest! I will get round to putting Easter in the window after red nose day - for that I'm thinking of just standing in the window myself - all this sherry is aiding development of a WC Fields nose.......

Do you still have the decapitated polar bear head? I'm not coming back in until that monstrosity is gone. It's scary!

Do you know - it seems to have disappeared:huh:

Oh..thats a shame....

Do you know - it seems to have disappeared:huh:

Thank God. It gave me nightmares :(

i never made it to the meet last night as i had to go back to liverpool but i managed to get the duck finished!

i havnt got internet at home at mo due to moving last week so i can text a pic of the finished article to someone?

i had to use a different hat from a baby duck because i never had the right needles but it worked well..

i never made it to the meet last night as i had to go back to liverpool but i managed to get the duck finished!

i havnt got internet at home at mo due to moving last week so i can text a pic of the finished article to someone?

i had to use a different hat from a baby duck because i never had the right needles but it worked well..
My phone's way too antiquated to accept pictures. Can you send it to an email address? I'll PM you the details if so.

How long did it take to do?

Look forward to seeing it :) .

not at the moment i cant. my pc at home is in a box because i moved house and theres no internet yet.

i used a pair of my housemates tights to stuff it with. it worked well :D

not at the moment i cant. my pc at home is in a box because i moved house and theres no internet yet.

i used a pair of my housemates tights to stuff it with. it worked well :D
Ah, I didn't know if phones can text pics to email addresses. What I know about phones could be written on the back of a (very small) stamp :hihi: .

i never made it to the meet last night as i had to go back to liverpool but i managed to get the duck finished!

i havnt got internet at home at mo due to moving last week so i can text a pic of the finished article to someone?

i had to use a different hat from a baby duck because i never had the right needles but it worked well..

I would really love to see this duck :) When are you giving this to your Mum - or has she got it already following your trip to Liverpool?

Here it is in all its glory.......Preacherduck (http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i221/lisahxxx/preacherduck.jpg) :D

Looks fab especially as a first attempt at knitting - well done!

Well done Preach! :thumbsup:

Looks fab, well done! Will you be taking on any more knitting projects?

yeah she got it last night and was very happy with it!!

it took me ages and that was duck v3. i had ballsed earlier attemps up and i did get help with the feet, very tricky they were!!!

i dont think i will try anything else at the moment, maybe in the future, but i have an incredible amount on at the moment and am going to do an electronics project!

but it was fun trying something new and all your help was appreciated :D

Ooooh that's fab for a first attempt! Well done you!

Nice one, Preach! You won't be able to resist the call of the needles for long...

:clap:

Very impressive!

Come along to a meet, and we can teach you all sorts of new stuff ;) .

yeah she got it last night and was very happy with it!!

I feel quite proud of you:) Your Mum must do too. Well done - and don't be put off trying something else. Ever thought about socks?:D

Don't let her start! She has enough victims already!

Don't let her start! She has enough victims already!

I think the sock knitter is becomming very much like the grey squirrel :bigsmile:

My mum has rang me everday since i gave it her to tell me how much she loves it, its getting annoying now :D

My mum has rang me everday since i gave it her to tell me how much she loves it, its getting annoying now :D

That's just one of the dangers of putting so much effort into a present for your Mum. We told you she'd love it!!