I can knit, trollop, Whatcha need?

Me too

Oooh ta folks...Ive never followed a pattern before and I have to work to 39 cms before I reduce stitches to start the armhole  So far so good...but do you measure the 39 cms from the edge of the knitting or the main body (if that makes sense?)


Obviously its difficult to measure in the main body cos of the number of stitches and you cant pull it flat..but there seem to be a slight variance between the seam and the main body (probably because i CANT pull it flat!) Does that make sense?


Thank you.

Yeah it does

Firstly the pattern should specify if you are measuring from the cast on edge which is usual or from above the bottom ribbing which is not so usual but I recently knitted a jumper for the grandling which was like that.

I tend to measure straight down the centre of the work rather than the seam edge. If you are really worried about it, lay the knitting as flat as you can on a towel or on the bed and gently pin the corners of the work without stretching it and you will get a better idea.
If there are too many stitches on the needles to allow for that then what I tend to do is knit half a row so the stitches are spaced out more and then measure. I wouldn't worry too much though Trollop about exact measurements if you are making a jumper or such - just as long as the back matches the front then it won't matter if you are a cm out

Thanks Veggie  Have checked the pattern again and looked in the help sections but it doesnt say! There are a few patterns in the bliddy thing and on the one i'm doing it just states continue until the work measures 39cm from beg. ending in a purl row


Oh sod it whats a few cms between friends! Thanks Veggie i'll be back

Glad to help my love, good on you with the knitting, I knit loads for the grandlings

See how it says 'from the begining? That means from the cast on row. So it's from the very bottom, thus including the ribbing. I'm a dab-hand at knitting btw, I've been knitting since I was 4. I havent come across a pattern I can't knit. Even including the one that takes an hour and a half to knit the 'right side' row and three quarters of an hour to knit the reverse side.

Oooooo, what you knitting me lover? Hope it's not another smock.

39cm that's def not for you then, are you tripping over the knitted part all the time? It'll be the death of you this knitting. are you using tooth picks as knitting needles?

Knitting? KNITTING????  I would nevah 

Oh Cinds, we neglected to shield you from this trauma!

OH
MY
GOD

At which bit?

trollop......... knitting

Ahh, thought that might be iy.

Nowt fancy just a v-neck jumper type thing. Am a bit pissed off cos the woman in the shop said I'd be medium 'cos shes done this pattern before'. Half way through and it obvious the bliddy thing will be too big for me...fortunately it should fit Mrs T  So now its bloody slave labour and not the labour of love it started out as


And no Sarah Beany its not a smock  Although I have been comissioned to knit a wedding dress for another forum member


Thanks for your help guys...and just while i'm here when i've done the armholes I have to knit stitches onto them to knit a cuff! How do I knit 120 stitches into finished knitting?! Ive noticed its comming up although i have to do the front yet, but have never done that before?! HELP!

Trollop, you could try "www.eHow.co.uk/knitting" and go into the section on picking up stitches, to add on buttonbands etc.
I know how to do it but I don't think I could explain it.

I find the picking up and knitting for button bands and so on to be a real pain Trollop. You have to get it right or it will make the garment look crap and pull it out of shape.
It really is one of those cases where it is best to knit a square and have a practice first. Basically, you have the right side of the work facing you and you have an edge. You start at the right hand side of the work and work to the left like usual knitting and purling etc You have to put the left hand needle through one of the stitches on the top, then put the right hand needle into the same space (like you would for a normal knit stitch) put the yarn around the righthand needle (again like a normal knit stitch) and then pull it back through. You then work along the edge until you have the required number of stitches.
it can help if you have a lot of stitches to pick up to divide the area using pins as a guide. ie if you need to pick up 40 stitches then divide the picking up edge into 4 equal sections and try to aim for 10 stitches in each area. Otherwise you can get to the end and find you have far too few or too many stitches.
Sorry it's a bit long winded, I ain't great at explaining stuff but happy to help

Meant to say too that if the garment has knitted up too big and you and using the correct yarn and size of needle then you are probably a loose knitter ( I kid you not!!) like me.
You can rectify it by using the next size down needle to make the garment smaller

Veggie, I only use the left needle for that. You put yhe left needle through the edge of the existing garment put the loose thread round it and pull it through while holding the edge of the existing knitting between the thumb and forefinger of the right hand.Thus basically it's like  pulling a succession of loops through the existing knitting, but the loops are twisted. As you say though it is a good idea to make sure you pick up the required number of stiches in an even fashion.

That's why most patterns give you a tension guide and suggest you knit a small square to test first.

After I had my op I held it so tight that the tension was making things about half size, but now I have perfect tension and never need to test.

Trollop, are you using the right type of wool?

If you know your tension, then you can always knit an appropriate number of extra rows to lengthen the garment (or fewer rows if you want it shorter), but do this in the part of the garment that is not increasing of decreasing.

NB You would only want to do this if you want to change the LENGTH but not the WIDTH.
Also remember that if you are lengthening the garment then you might need to buy more wool than the pattern calls for.

I knitted a scarf last year <--- beaming with pride smiley

From 1/1/10 to 31/12/10? It must be absolutely miles long.

Fluff!

It has a special hole in it and everything (yes it was part of the pattern ) that you loop it through so it keeps you nice and snug

Well done Temps, gives you a real sense of achievement to make something doesn' it? My DIL loves the stuff I knit for my grandsons and her friends from playgroup are so envious


EFFT - that sounds like a good way of doing it too. I have a pattern I'm knitting for a traditional Cornish style jumper for my grandson and it has really strange ways of casting on etc. It's supposed to be knitted in the round too up until the armholes but you can do it on two needles which is what I'm doing.
I couldn't make head nor tail of the casting on instructions so just cast on normally. I'll put them up here and see what you make of them. Any advice gratefully received

These are the instructions for the cornish jumper cast on. I got into such a tangle with it that gave up. Any ideas?


Knotted Edge cast on
Cut 2 metres of yarn and fold in half. Wind double yarn towards you and twice around thumb. Using single strand of yarn, knit through all four strands of yarn together pulling double strands through carefully and knot will be formed. Bring forward and repeat.

Yes I did all the tension thing, and am using the right wool! The work measures what it should, I said I would be the smaller size but the woman was adamant I wouldnt be! It must have been the ripple of my manly chest through my shirt making me look bigger


That makes sense veggie but where do i secure the wool when knitting into it to start? Thanks Yogi will also check out that site...God can I not just send it to one of you when I get that far...its sounds complicated!  


EFFT you lost me at left needle!  *bangs head on wall*

You Hold the loose end of the wool il the left hand with the needle. Alternatively you could sew it in as you will sew all loose ends in.

You could always pull the loops through with a crochet hook and just slip them onto the left hand needle as you go. Remember to pick the stitches up evenly!

Ahhh right i get you now! Please do not make me purchase anymore instruments of torture! I wish I had just knitted sleeves...surely sleeves would have been easier!!

I love knitting - I've almost finished a shawl, using entrelac technique and multi-coloured Noro yarn. It's lovely.

I try to knit loose ends in as I go. I just wrap the end bit around the yarn I'm knitting with as I go until it gets to the end.

What's entrelac technique Demantoid? Sounds interesting.

Ah right. Is it a sleeveless jumper with a ribbed border round the armholes?
Sleeves would need more knitting and actual sewing onto the main body. I'm not sure if you'd consider that easier.

Also wanted to ask the really expert knitters if they have any patterns/websites/hints for knitting faces on dolls. I knit little footie players in club colours for the kids and I just embroider on a mouth and eyes but I would love to 'sculp' a face during the knitting of the head.
I would love to be able to take a real face - like my grandsons or my friends kids - and be able to make a little caricature of it for the dolls

Entrelac Knitted hat,

See Fluffy's post ^^ 

I knitted a pair of beautiful gloves in same technique, took them to London and lost one!
Luckily I still have enough yarn left to re-make the missing one, but I haven't got round to it yet.

Veggie, I like doing Russian joins to join ends.

Ahh I have seen those patterns before but not had a go at them. It is a great look though.