I know a Stitch 'n' bitch group has just been set up by someone on here, which sounds brilliant. I don't get much free time to go to meetings though (even if I was in Sheffield!), so I wondered if anyone would be interested in a Sheffield Forum 'virtual' Stitch 'n' Bitch group, using something like Yahoo Groups?

It would be great to be able to share tips, help each other out, learn new techniques, be directed to new shops and web sites and to perhaps share photos of whatever we happen to be working on.

If anyone is interested, post here or PM me :) .

Sounds good to me, I'm just picking up my knitting again and have never managed anything more than scarfs and simple hats. Trying the skully jumper from the stitch 'n' bitch book....will probably go horribly wrong especially the sleeves....count me in:nod:

Sounds good to me, I'm just picking up my knitting again and have never managed anything more than scarfs and simple hats. Trying the skully jumper from the stitch 'n' bitch book....will probably go horribly wrong especially the sleeves....count me in:nod:
Excellent, that's you and me then so far.

I've just been looking at that pattern actually. It doesn't look too bad for an attempt at using motif patterns. My first (and only!) one was a jumper for my partner's cousin with a fluffy white owl on the front. I had all sorts of trouble with that; blumin' big holes where the two colours joined. Managed to work it out eventually, but not until I'd had a few tussles with it.

Ooooo you may be able to help me as i forgot to ask my mum (the source of all knitting knowledge). The pattern says I should get Brown Sheep brand wool which I presume is a American brand....how do I know what to substitute it for. At least we'd be able to spot each other in a crowd :wink:

I want to have a good old bitch about an online knitting supplies store which offers the most appalling service I've ever come across, but now I've FINALLY found a way of getting in contact with them (over a month after placing an order and not receiving it) I'll give them a couple of days to sort it out before I name and shame :)

Ooooo you may be able to help me as i forgot to ask my mum (the source of all knitting knowledge). The pattern says I should get Brown Sheep brand wool which I presume is a American brand....how do I know what to substitute it for. At least we'd be able to spot each other in a crowd :wink:
Brown Sheep Company is American, though they might ship to the UK. If they do, and you do go down that route, beware of import duty and VAT, if you spend over £18 (at least I think it's over £18; it certainly used to be.)

I'll probably check out Rowan, to see if they have anything suitable.

The Lamb's Pride is 'bulky', which is American for 'chunky', so that's the catagory for a replacement. The important things to bear in mind are:

- make sure to match the gauge/tension of the yarn you choose with the specified yarn.

- make sure you match the fibre content, if at all possible, or as close as you can get it. The Lamb's Pride is 85%/15% mohair, but you might get away with 100% wool or a high wool mix. You'll forfeit some of the fluffiness though.

I haven't come across a wool/mohair mix before, though I must admit I haven't had a proper look yet.

I want to have a good old bitch about an online knitting supplies store which offers the most appalling service I've ever come across, but now I've FINALLY found a way of getting in contact with them (over a month after placing an order and not receiving it) I'll give them a couple of days to sort it out before I name and shame :)
I think I might know who you mean. At least, there's one company I know of who have been getting some bad press lately about the time taken to fulfil orders.

Can I recommend Get Knitted (http://www.getknitted.com/) and McA Direct (http://www.mcadirect.com/shop/index.php) (this one has free delivery over £5 order value)?. I use Get Knitted all the time; I've just had some Cherry Tree Hill yarn delivered; it's gorgeous. The parcels usually arrive within 48 hours. McA sometimes take a day or two longer, but they are good value.

I think I might know who you mean. At least, there's one company I know of who have been getting some bad press lately about the time taken to fulfil orders.

Can I recommend Get Knitted (http://www.getknitted.com/) and McA Direct (http://www.mcadirect.com/shop/index.php) (this one has free delivery over £5 order value)?. I use Get Knitted all the time; I've just had some Cherry Tree Hill yarn delivered; it's gorgeous. The parcels usually arrive within 48 hours. McA sometimes take a day or two longer, but they are good value.

Thanks for those I hadn't heard of them will give them a go. I'm sure you know who I mean. It wasn't that they didn't fulfil my order, they only sent part of it (and that took two weeks) with no indication of whether the other items had been sent, they were out of stock or when they would be sent. My main gripe was that I sent two e-mails a week apart, neither of which were answered. You cannot get through on the telephone lines, ever, and they say you can contact the owner of the site through their forum instead but oh, guess what, registration has been suspended due to 'spammers'. I have now had a reply since finding an alternative e-mail address on an unrelated forum but only to say my message had been passed on. No word yet whether my order will actually arrive or has been sent.

I could do with some help if you're offering :P i'm knitting a baby blanket and i've only been knitting a year - very on and off aswell, but i found a gorgeous knitting pattern for a baby blanket i wanted to do for when my ickle bro or sis is born and it seemed simple enough really (ive got 2 knitting books i rely on for help when i get stuck but there not really helping) but its got some lace work in it which ive not done before. The problem is when in the pattern on a new row its P1, *P11, K5, YFWD, S1, K1, PSSO, K4, rep from * to last 12 sts, P12. well theres 123 sts cast on my needle and as i do the yfwd,s1,k1,psso this process gives me 3 stitches well the thing is this doesn't add up! i end up with 11 left to purl instead of having 12 left to purl! Im at my wits end with it! i just dont know what im doing wrong because im sure im following the instructions properly for the yarn forward, slip1, knit1, pass slipped stich over! (which is obviously where im going wrong)I really need to get on with it aswell, babys due in july and ive got 4 rows done and one dodgy 5th row!!! Any help would be greatly appreciated though of course i understand if i get no replys as its really hard to explain knitting in writing.

I could do with some help if you're offering :P i'm knitting a baby blanket and i've only been knitting a year - very on and off aswell, but i found a gorgeous knitting pattern for a baby blanket i wanted to do for when my ickle bro or sis is born and it seemed simple enough really (ive got 2 knitting books i rely on for help when i get stuck but there not really helping) but its got some lace work in it which ive not done before. The problem is when in the pattern on a new row its P1, *P11, K5, YFWD, S1, K1, PSSO, K4, rep from * to last 12 sts, P12. well theres 123 sts cast on my needle and as i do the yfwd,s1,k1,psso this process gives me 3 stitches well the thing is this doesn't add up! i end up with 11 left to purl instead of having 12 left to purl! Im at my wits end with it! i just dont know what im doing wrong because im sure im following the instructions properly for the yarn forward, slip1, knit1, pass slipped stich over! (which is obviously where im going wrong)I really need to get on with it aswell, babys due in july and ive got 4 rows done and one dodgy 5th row!!! Any help would be greatly appreciated though of course i understand if i get no replys as its really hard to explain knitting in writing.

I'm by no means an expert; that's one of the reasons for wanting to start this group, so I can crib some ideas and advice from others! I'll have a look at this and see what I get though :).

Can I put you down for the Stitch n Bitch then?...

I'm by no means an expert; that's one of the reasons for wanting to start this group, so I can crib some ideas and advice from others! I'll have a look at this and see what I get though :).

Can I put you down for the Stitch n Bitch then?...

Thanx alot, its been a right pain for me! And yeah count me in! :thumbsup:

Thanx alot, its been a right pain for me! And yeah count me in! :thumbsup:
Right, I think I've sorted it out. I'm going to PM you an explanation. Be warned though, the PM is long so it's going to come to you in two parts!

I saw a load of people Knitting in the Devonshire Cat the other day, certainly was an odd sight :lol:

The problem is when in the pattern on a new row its P1, *P11, K5, YFWD, S1, K1, PSSO, K4, rep from * to last 12 sts, P12. well theres 123 sts cast on my needle and as i do the yfwd,s1,k1,psso this process gives me 3 stitches well the thing is this doesn't add up! i end up with 11 left to purl instead of having 12 left to purl!
I've worked out that the number of stitches between the asterisks is 22, and when you take the first P1 stitch and the last 12 stitches away from 123, you will repeat the P11 to K4, five times.

yfwd, s1, k1, psso should only make two stitches, not three!

I've worked out that the number of stitches between the asterisks is 22, and when you take the first P1 stitch and the last 12 stitches away from 123, you will repeat the P11 to K4, five times.

yfwd, s1, k1, psso should only make two stitches, not three!
Yay! That's exactly what I got too. So it looks like you might be near a solution, rooty.

Don't get me started on nitting again. :hihi:
Just kidding PPN, don't bite my head off ;)

Don't get me started on nitting again. :hihi:
Just kidding PPN, don't bite my head off ;)
Your skin is too thin Nate, if you thought that was biting your head off :hihi:

Would you like to join then?...

Your skin is too thin Nate, if you thought that was biting your head off :hihi:

Would you like to join then?...

I don't do bitching sadly (I know, apparently I don't know what I'm missing...) - I definately don't do knitting - partly because I can't do it, partly because something about it just winds me up... I'm genuinely weird. :loopy:

Edit - Oh, and yeah - I'm well touchy ;)

...I definately don't do knitting...
Some might ask why you're replying to this thread then... :P

Thanx ppn_2204 & Ann_x :thumbsup: I definitley knew there was something not right about that part of it and thats were it was all going to pot! thanx for the pm ppn_2204 i've just sent you one back!

Yay! That's exactly what I got too. So it looks like you might be near a solution, rooty.
I might be the Stich 'n' Bitch groups first success story! Yay! :)

Dunno if this helps Ladies but my Sister is an avid knitter and sometimes borrows my Laptop when I'm away.... She put this link into my favorites.

http://purl-drops.blog-city.com/

Dunno if this helps Ladies but my Sister is an avid knitter and sometimes borrows my Laptop when I'm away.... She put this link into my favorites.

http://purl-drops.blog-city.com/
Thanks for posting that. I've got quite a few knitting blogs in my Bookmarks. I've just added that one to the list :) .

I'd be on for this too. Am off to the stitch and bitch night tomorrow at wetherspoons but to be honest need all the help I can get!! :help:

I'd be on for this too. Am off to the stitch and bitch night tomorrow at wetherspoons but to be honest need all the help I can get!! :help:
Brilliant. Another name to add to the list.

Someone should take some photos of that Stitch 'n' Bitch meeting and post a link to them on here :).

I would definitely be interested. Most people think Im odd for wanting to knit:-o

LisaHxxx

I would definitely be interested. Most people think Im odd for wanting to knit:-o

LisaHxxx
Excellent; another one for the group!

Watch this space. There are interesting things afoot... :) :suspect: :)

Just thought i'd post and say thanx for your help ppn_2204 i am now past that pain of a row 5 and feel silly that i had such problems with it as now i know what im doing i realise how easy it is (its only easy when u know how i guess..) so am now on row 7!

Just thought i'd post and say thanx for your help ppn_2204 i am now past that pain of a row 5 and feel silly that i had such problems with it as now i know what im doing i realise how easy it is (its only easy when u know how i guess..) so am now on row 7!
No problem :). You'll have to take a photo when it's done and post a link to it on here.

To all those who have replied on this thread or who have PM'd me, could you let me know what sort of topics you would like to cover in an online knitting group? New techniques? A place to display pictures of finished projects? A Help section? What else?

PM me with any ideas you might have.