Pictures of my very few knitting pieces

**YankeeMom** · 01-01-2006, 02:45 PM

I have been a crocheter for over 15yrs (omg) but this past year I have successfully taught myself to knit. I've been trying to teach myself for the last THREE years, but I finally caught on this summer after my college courses were over. I'm still very much a novice, esp when it comes to reading knitting patterns. I tried to make dh a hat this past week using circular needles for the first time. The circular needles were fine, as were the double pointed needles I need to move the hat to once I got to the top part. But I read the pattern wrong and instead of fitting dh, it will probably fit my 2yo nephew

Anyway, here they are:

My first scarf. This is mine and I love it!! It's that "fun fur" yarn, and it's not nearly as hard to work with as I thought it would be.

Here is the hat I tried to make for dh. It was a bunch of firsts for me. The first time I did more than 1 kind of stitch in the same row (for knitters who will understand, it's the first time I did a pattern like "K2P2" rather than Knit across the row or Purl across the row). It was also the first time I used circular needles as well as DPNs. It turned out really good, too bad it's too small

And here is the dishcloth I did last night. It's an "illusion" pattern. So when you look at it straight on (the first picture) it just looks like a blue & white knit dishcloth. It's only when you look at it from the side (the second picture) that you see that there's a pattern of a snowflake on it. Too cool! This was my first knitted dishcloth, first illusion anything!

Now I want to try making some socks for dh. I just need to learn how to knit faster because there are so many things I want to make now!!

**pita1213** · 01-01-2006, 03:07 PM

cool dishcloth! and i thought the hat would be cute even if it won't fit your dh.
great job!

**forestdale** · 01-01-2006, 03:08 PM

Well done, Heather, you did a great job! I love how that snowflakes shows up on an angle. Good luck with the socks.

**SewCrafty** · 01-02-2006, 10:27 PM

Great job Heather

and don't hesitate to ask us questions if you don't understand a pattern.

**kaykwilts** · 01-02-2006, 10:34 PM

I really love the scarf. I don't know if I would have the patience to do anything big. Are the dishcloths easy to do? Or is it easier to crochet dishcloths? Are there any sites on the internet that has instructions for knitting or crocheting dishcloths?

**Early Bird** · 01-02-2006, 11:32 PM

Heather,

* Is the dishcloth pattern on the internet? I'm interested in doing some too.

* Great job. I hate working with the fuzzy yarn, but it makes nice scarves, doesn't it!?

* Socks! I just finished my first one (not a pair. one sock). [Actually, I need to Kitchener the toe, but I'm waiting for a quiet, peaceful time to do that.] I can give you some web sites

This one is the absolutely best tutorial I've found. It's loaded with pictures:

http://www.cometosilver.com/socks/So..._Beginning.htm

The 2nd is a tip to go to yahoo groups and look at some of the sock knitting groups. There's First time sockknitters Knit ALong, where I found the tutorial above.

I'm also finding a lot of info on the Townsend Sock Knitters group.

Finally, I'm reading the patterns, articles, and message boards at www.knitty.com. (The coffeeshop is where the forums are).

Oh! Another thought! Knitty has a free pattern for 'fuzzy feet.' I think that you basically knit LARGE socks with big needles, then shrink them to make felt-like slippers. Here's the link:

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter02/PATTfuzzyfeet.html

Yet another thought. I'm enjoying reading knitting blogs. ONe of my favorites is the Yarn Harlot:

http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/

**Missy** · 01-03-2006, 12:11 AM

great job!!!

**YankeeMom** · 01-03-2006, 09:39 AM

The dishcloths are very easy, especially because they are so small. I joined a Yahoo group that does two knit-a-longs per month. Starting on the 1st and the 16th of each month they post 8-10 rows of the pattern per day until it's finished, then everyone shows what they made (if they want). That's where the snowflake pattern is, in their Files.
The group is:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/monthlydishcloths/

RE: Fun Fur yarn, I actually enjoy working with it. It's not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. The Bernat Disco stuff is a NIGHTMARE though. The fringes on it are easily 3 times as long as LionBrand Fun Fur or Patons Cha Cha. I'm working on another one right now for a friend

The Fuzzy Feet was recommended to me by another friend. I'd love to make myself some, but I'm having a hard time finding yarn with a high enough wool content. The most I've found is 20% wool and I don't think that's enough for felting

I'm having a really hard time finding sock yarn period. I ended up just getting some worsted weight acrylic to test out my first pair. And I FINALLY found some dpns at Joanns last night. I got 5 sets of 5 for $10 (just wish I had remembered my 40% off coupon...).

Thanks for the links, I'm going to explore them right now

**Early Bird** · 01-03-2006, 10:42 AM

First, sock yarn is

* hard to find in the big chains.
* expensive.

I paid around $6 for my first (100 gram) skein of sock yarn.

Hobby Lobby, Michaels, and such often carry Lion Brand self-striping sock yarn. That's what I bought first. Now, I'm not a fan of striped socks, but it was a good yarn for my beginner socks.

Second, if you start reading online sock knitting boards ... or talking to very proficient knitters, a lot of them love specific yarns. In general, I found those yarns to be pricey .... or weird.

Third, take a look at knit picks:

http://www.knitpicks.com/yarns/yarn_...MO&categories='005'&DGroups='Socks'&titleName=Sock+Yarn+Lines&titleType=sockyarns

REMEMBER, you generally need 100 grams (2 skeins) for a pair of socks!

I have bought yarn, but I haven't work with it yet. From what I hear/read, knitpicks yarn is nice stuff. I also bought bamboo dpns from knit picks. They don't seem to slide out as easily as the metal needles did.

If you're passionately interested in knitpicks, I think this free shipping code might still work: AdNoShp
You need to buy at least one skein of Simple Stripes for the code to kick in.

Finally, keep an eye out at yard sales and thrift stores!

**YankeeMom** · 01-03-2006, 11:52 AM

Thanks! I figured I'd probably have to buy the sock yarn online. We only have a Michaels (yucky), a Walmart (not even a SuperWM and it's even yuckier than Michaels) and Joanns...Joanns yarn was a joke! A couple of plastic bins in the back corner of the store

I really wanna try Moda Dea Sassy Stripes yarn for some socks for ME! I already told dh, when we do estate sales this spring/summer we need to look for knitting stuff