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Stitching & Crafting Room:  knitting???????  |
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gramadinah
True Blue Farmgirl
3557 Posts
Diana
Orofino
ID
USA
3557 Posts |
 Posted - Nov 25 2008 : 08:12:20 AM
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I am a self teaching knitter and was wondering if anybody could give me advice about the edges turning in and the bottom turning up?
Also the edges seem to be very sloppy and lose and was wondering how to drape yarn through fingers or how to control tension.
I have made 6 dishclothes and have started practicing k1 p1 have even riped out and gotten it back on the needles. I haven't figured out the increase and decrease. My goal is mittens and hats and scarves. Any advice would be great.
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Nov 25 2008 : 08:33:24 AM
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Are you working in stockinette (row of knit, row of purl, nice even "v's" on the right side of your fabric?) If that's the case, it will curl up. You can press it, but it really doesn't matter. It's the nature of the stitch, and great for say, rolled collars and sleeves.
For tighter stitches on the end of your rows, after knitting or purling the first stitch of each row, before "completing" the second stitch, I pull the working yarn rather tight (forcing your needles together) and it makes very nice, tight edges. Not loopy at all. It was in the Stitch and B**** book and it surely works, as simple as it is.
Actually, I started out on the Stitch and B**** book and it very simply describes increasing and decreasing, and I am a self taught knitter as well. There are several different stitches you can use in both situations, and this books covers them nicely.
Scarves are easy--no need to increase or decrease there, just straight forward, with some variation on pattern to make it interesting. I actually started knitting scarves and burnt myself out rather quickly on just going "forward". I moved on to hats, both in circular needles and regular and LOVE making hats! Haven't given mittens or socks a shot--maybe that's next. Currently working on a sweater for my little one, due in February. Better get hoppin!!
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Nancy Gartenman
True Blue Farmgirl
9092 Posts
Nancy
West Seneca
New York
USA
9092 Posts |
Posted - Nov 25 2008 : 08:40:50 AM
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For an easy scarf, just knit all the rows, it won't curl up. If you get some fuzzy yarn, it will work up real nice too, fuzzy yarn is also good for hiding mistakes. ha.
www.Nancy-Jo.blogspot.com |
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BarefootGoatGirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1495 Posts
Corrine
North Carolina
USA
1495 Posts |
Posted - Nov 25 2008 : 09:01:04 AM
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I am a self taught knitter and used Amy R. Singer's book "knit whit" to learn increasing and decreasing. She explains the procedures very clearly and has complied many interesting and easy projects (beyond the basic scarf). The projects in the book are rated for difficulty on a scale of 1-4 with one being the easiest, so it is easy to choose an interesting knit that you can successfuly complete. At this point, I've been knitting for 3 years and am confident I could knit anything... self taught does work!
What we write today slipped into our souls some other day when we were alone and doing nothing.
-Brenda Ueland
http://quilandneedle.blogspot.com/
http://musingandmuttering.blogspot.com |
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oldfashioned girl
True Blue Farmgirl
2391 Posts
monica
oatman
az
USA
2391 Posts |
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Beverley
True Blue Farmgirl
2707 Posts
Beverley
atlanta
Michigan
USA
2707 Posts |
Posted - Nov 25 2008 : 10:17:29 AM
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If you don't want the edges to roll up like the edge of a sleeve or bottom of a sweater always do a ribbing there for a few rows. That usually helps to keep it from rolling. or on a dishcloth when you do the first few rows do some ribbing and then when you go to the just knitting part first do lets say four pearls at the beginning and end of each row. it makes a nice look and it stops the rolling. ribbing is knit one pearl one or knit two pearl two.
Folks will know how large your soul is by the way you treat a dog....Charles F. Doran
beverley baggett Beverley with an extra E...
http://bevsdoggies.googlepages.com/ |
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OregonGal
True Blue Farmgirl
511 Posts
Chris
No. IL
USA
511 Posts |
Posted - Nov 26 2008 : 6:35:30 PM
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Diana, it just takes alot of practice with getting the tension right too. The twist of the yarn makes it curl and roll.
My first scarves I'm still using, they roll from side to side so I wear it like a tube around my neck. I made a flat
hat and it turned out pretty flat, but I did four stitches of knit, then four of purl, and alternated that for like four
times each across, then the next four rows I would do opposite of the previous four rows....hope that makes a little
sense. I went from holding my yarn in my right hand and throwing it to holding it in my left hand and just looping
it over the needle. I now absolutely hold it in my left hand because it is so much faster knitting that way, the yarn
is always there waiting for the needle to pick up a stitch....I think I have better control this way too (just speaking
for myself here) and I think my knitting tension has improved (hah, maybe its just come with practice). I just
think that practice helps in anything you do. Keep at it, it will be very rewarding in the end. And I too, taught
myself to knit.....I have read alot of on line tutorials! |
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dutchy
True Blue Farmgirl
4427 Posts
4427 Posts |
Posted - Nov 26 2008 : 11:52:28 PM
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My mom taught me a "trick" that I use till this day!
Knit (or whatever stitch you use) till the last but one. The last stitch just slide it off the needle, do NOT knit.
Then the next row: KNIT the first stitch, slipping the needle in the BACK of the stitch. That way the stitch is turned and stays tighter.
Easy, but that way the stitch won't wobble or are loose, just nice and tight.
Like I said, my momma taught me this and I do it always.
Enjoy your knitting!!
Hugs from Marian/Dutchy, a farmgirl from the Netherlands :)
My personal blog:
http://just-me-a-dutch-girl.blogspot.com/
Again new creations added, too cute lol. Come and check it out!!
http://princess-of-pink-creations.blogspot.com/
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Stitching & Crafting Room: knitting??????? |
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knitting???????
