Greekchat Knitter's Circle - Page 3

kddani · #1 03-07-2005, 04:14 PM

bumping. One of the paralegals at work has been knitting and one of my friends does, so i'm sorta inticed to join the trend.

The paralegal is bringing in her Knitting for Dummies book for me. I need to pick up some needles and yarn. There's a knitting store right by my office, but they're SUPER expensive, so I may hit up Joann Fabrics.

What size needles are good for newbies?

VandalSquirrel · #2 03-28-2009, 07:21 PM

Bumping this up...

Anyone working on an exciting project? Decided to start knitting or picking it up again?

I finished an afghan last weekend, finishing another french press cozy today, and I've got some other random projects (socks especially) to work on.

Is anyone here on ravelry.com? I have the same username over there, we could have a group for greeks who knit, since there's a group for everything.

aephi alum · #3 03-07-2005, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kddani
What size needles are good for newbies?

Depends on what you want to make and what type of yarn you want to use. The bigger the needles, the bigger the stitches, and the quicker you'll be done. Everyone's tension is different, so you will have to play around with different sizes a bit, knit some swatches and see what works.

I would not advise using very small needles. Your project will take forever and you'll end up frustrated.

Your local yarn store may have knitting classes or workshops. A book only gets you so far, especially when you are trying to hold the book open when your hands are full of needles and yarn

An instructor can help you with things like how best to hold the needles, how to form the stitches properly (especially the trickier ones), etc.

Good luck and have fun!

kddani · #4 03-07-2005, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by aephi alum
Depends on what you want to make and what type of yarn you want to use. The bigger the needles, the bigger the stitches, and the quicker you'll be done. Everyone's tension is different, so you will have to play around with different sizes a bit, knit some swatches and see what works.

I would not advise using very small needles. Your project will take forever and you'll end up frustrated.

Your local yarn store may have knitting classes or workshops. A book only gets you so far, especially when you are trying to hold the book open when your hands are full of needles and yarn An instructor can help you with things like how best to hold the needles, how to form the stitches properly (especially the trickier ones), etc.

Good luck and have fun!

Thank you! I'm starting out with #8s b/c the woman I work with has 9's and I like the way her scarf is looking (the store I went to only had 9's in plastic... my friend told me that the yarn slides better on the metal, so I got the metal). They had some absolutely HUGE plastic ones, but I've got small hands and would have issues managing them... plus I like how a smaller knit looks much better.

There's a yarn store about a block away from my office that has classes. Once I learn a little bit from my friends I may go to a few. Their yarn is ridiculously expensive and you're supposed to buy their yarn for class... so I may look into somewhere else.

Does anyone know of any good websites for very beginners?

sageofages · #5 03-07-2005, 09:04 PM

Oh my favorite hobbies!!!!!

I do counted cross stitch, quilting, crochet and I just recently mastered knitting (it took me 30 years to conquer that!!! and then it suddenly dawned on me what was I doing wrong..

I am completely self taught and won some ribbons at local fairs.

I love to share tips, sites and just chat about all I do.

Works in progress:

Cross Stitch
Teresa Wentzeler Winter Carousel Horse
BHG - Stuffed nativity

Quilt
Heritage baby quilt
noahs ark "cheater" quilt (a great way for a beginner to learn)

Crochet
a second filet crochet of the last supper
numerous baby booties (2 new grandsons arriving!)
and a christening outfit for grandsons.

I have THOUSANDS of patterns and charts, if you are looking for something...ask, I will see if I can find it in my "stash"

bruinaphi · #6 03-08-2005, 05:43 AM

#8 is small for a beginner. If you get frustrated I would put the project you are doing on size 8s aside and try something a little bigger as your first project. Quite honesly you will likely never wear/use your first project b/c you are learning and you will be able to see mistakes. I usually advise people to start with something more along size 13+ short needles. I LOVE short needles and use them unless I have to use long or circulars.

kddani · #7 03-08-2005, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bruinaphi
#8 is small for a beginner. If you get frustrated I would put the project you are doing on size 8s aside and try something a little bigger as your first project. Quite honesly you will likely never wear/use your first project b/c you are learning and you will be able to see mistakes. I usually advise people to start with something more along size 13+ short needles. I LOVE short needles and use them unless I have to use long or circulars.

I dont' know that the store had size 13. I know they had up to size 10, then some huge plastic things that I would not have been able to handle- don't know what size they were. They looked like big fat super long crayons and not at all comfortable to hold.

I played around with my needles last night, trying to follow directions on a website with good pictures. They felt comfortable and I could manuever them well. Just learning from pictures does suck! But i'll learn from a real person today

bruinaphi · #8 03-08-2005, 03:15 PM

Those sound like size 34 needles. I call them my rocketships. You can use them to make blankets and stuff and they are awesome.

Glad to hear your needles are working for you. It's just harder on smaller needles b/c you have smaller stiches and it's more difficult to see what you are doing.

Knitting for Dummies is a GREAT book. I highly endorse it. There are also some great websites that teach you how to knit and pearl. I taught myself how to pearl off of one of them.

SapphireSphinx9 · #9 03-08-2005, 03:38 PM

i don't know how to knit, but i love crochetting! my grandma taught me when i was really young how to crochet, do needle point and sew - i'm an all around martha stewart! haha

my roommate and one of my chapter sisters know how to knit, so i'll have to get one of them to teach me.

i'm currently making a baby blanket for my grand lil, she's due at the end of the month! since she doesn't know what it is, i did it in light blue, pale yellow and white - so if it's a girl, she's all ready for phi sig! and if it's a boy, then the colors work out.

kddani · #10 03-08-2005, 03:41 PM

yay, today at work i've learned how to cast on and how to knit. Purling will come eventually

wrigley · #11 09-01-2005, 01:27 PM

I didn't know where I should post this information. The email came to me from my stitch n bitch group.If this needs to be moved to Hurricane Katrina thread, mods do as you wish.

--- Webs - America's Yarn Store <webs@yarn.com> wrote:

Dear Customers, over the past couple of days, all of
here at WEBS have been moved by the devastation that
Hurricane Katrina has brought the Gulf Coast. The
magnitude of this tragedy is overwhelming. We met
with our team here and we all agree that we need to do
something. So, starting today, for the next 10 days,
we will donate 10% of all purchases to the American
Red Cross. If you order on-line, over the phone or
shop in our Northampton store, 10% of your purchase,
through September 10th, will be given to the hurricane
relief efforts of the Red Cross. There is nothing
special you have to do, just shop.

We hope you will join with us in supporting this very
worthwhile cause for the people who have lost so much
across the Gulf Coast States.

www.yarn.com

Sincerely,

The Elkins Family and the Webs Team

wrigley · #12 12-21-2006, 08:57 PM

I stopped by the yarn shop and bought size 6 circular and wool yarn for a hat. I haven't used circular ones before, I hope it goes smoothly.

aephi alum · #13 12-21-2006, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrigley

I stopped by the yarn shop and bought size 6 circular and wool yarn for a hat. I haven't used circular ones before, I hope it goes smoothly.

Do you have a counter? Record your rows on your counter, or at least on paper, otherwise you will get lost.

stagebear · #14 12-22-2006, 01:57 AM

wow - how did i miss this thread?

i taught myself how to knit a year ago and have been at it ever since. after several scarves, i'm finishing up a baby blanket now. i also just made fingerless mittens for 3 people (for xmas) and for myself. after i'm done with the blanket, i have another one to knit up quickly as my friend is due in march. plus i want to make a felted bag for myself.

i love circular needles and dont really use straights any more. so if anyone has questions, feel free to ask.

for those of you with scrap yarn, please consider joining in this effort: http://www.savethechildren.org/publi...orts/kit11.pdf

ragtimerose · #15 12-22-2006, 10:05 AM

I knit, and crochet, but my first love is tatting. You may have known your grandmothers or aunts or other older relatives who tat, but I can assure you that tatting is not a lost art! It's a nice, portable craft and it makes lovely lace.

I also do bobbin lace and have tried some needle lace, but I always come back to my shuttles.