Winter knitting

[smallblueplanet]

Cool hats Flum, wish I could knit them, but I've neither patience nor co-ordination.

[Snadger]

They are from Samaritan's Purse which organises the distribution of gists for children who won't get any. (Usually war zones). Easy peasy.

Size 8 and 6 needles (that's UK - don't know the metric off hand)Double knitting wool

Cast on 80 sts.
Work 2.5 inches in K1 P1 rib with no. 8 needles - or you can do garter stitch - k every row.
Then change to no 6 and work the same in stocking stitch (K a row p a row)
- I did 8 rows in one colour then 8 in another - came to the right length)
To decrease, K8 then k2 together - continue thus to the end of the row.
P1 row.
K7 then k2 together - continue like this to end of row.
P a row.

Keep doing this until you have to k1, k2 tog etc and you'll end up with 16 sts. Thread the wool though them and pull. Stitch up.
You can do them in a singel colour or stripes to use up wool. For a small child, turn the ribbed cuff up but for an older child, they can use it with the rib pulled down.

Hope this helps.

Did you knit that 'Time Team' proffessors jumper then Flum? You know the guy I mean, the one with the flyaway grey hair!

[Winged one]

I picked up my needles again back in March. I was doing a lot of weekends alone finishing my thesis and wanted something to distract me rather than endless cups of coffee. So a few rows of a scarf and I could go back to writing/reading/tearing my hair out again.

I ended up deciding to make a scarf each for all my aunts and uncles for Christmas (8 of them who will all be opening their pressies together late on Christmas night). So far, I have 4 completely finished (apart from sewing in the ends), 3 completed and cast off but could be lengthened if I have time, and 1 still on the needles. I've also knit a lap blanket for a gran aunt in that period, which I must send down to her. And I have a hat for DH on the needles as well.

Once that lot is finished, I am going to allow myself a few weeks of just reading at nights, rather than knitting, as I am rather tired of it all at the moment. But I have a few more projects in my head - more scarves and hats for OH, the toddler and I, a jumper each for the toddler and I, facecloths for loads of people for next Christmas (my bro's and sis's) and a few toy mice and some doll's clothes.

I've actually (without seeing this thread at all) just signed up for a Ravelry invitation this morning (I'm not sure is it an Irish branch or if the Irish join the UK one). Lots of magicmummies are knitters too, and most of them are old hands on Ravelry so I kept meaning to join. But I am really enjoying the general feel of being back to knitting, even though I am very much a plain, purl gal (no lace, feathering, slipping sts over, cabling etc for me) - only learned the basics and very slowly getting confident enough to start thinking about getting adventurous. There is a knitting shop near to us that runs classes and I am thinking about doing some next winter (too busy this winter).

[Winged one]

Comfreyfan, I had to buy a lot of new needles this year (I only had one size in old metal ones) and a lot of my new ones are wood or bamboo which is much quieter to knit with and feels much nicer in the hand too. THat might be a solution for you on the clicking?

[Flummery]

Did you knit that 'Time Team' proffessors jumper then Flum? You know the guy I mean, the one with the flyaway grey hair!

Mick Aston? Nah. But I could have! I've got a few like that myself. I get bored knitting plain ones!

[yoanbob]

well I'm 7 squres in and just knit my first one with no dropped stitches or extras! yeah! bring on the pretty patterns!

[valmarg]

I love knitting in the winter, it's v.relaxing, but I never finish anything.
I've got about four jumpers knitted up - in boxes in my wardrobe. I hate sewing the pieces together.

I'm like you Two_Sheds - love knitting, but absolutely had sewing, so have jumper/cardigan pieces needing to be sown together.

valmarg

[valmarg]

I love knitting in the winter, it's v.relaxing, but I never finish anything.
I've got about four jumpers knitted up - in boxes in my wardrobe. I hate sewing the pieces together.

I'm like you Two_Sheds - love knitting, but absolutely hate sewing, so have jumper/cardigan pieces needing to be sown together.

valmarg

[Two_Sheds]

This is worth a look - knitting is the new yoga apparently (ie, trendy) Stitch n Bitch - Join the knitting revolution.

[Flummery]

Nah, Tai Chi's the new Yoga, Yoga's the Old Yoga, Knitting's still brilliant fun - but not really the new anything - except to people too young to cop it first time! (Gawd, I show me age a lot don't I?)

[Comfreyfan]

Sign up for Ravelry!

https://www.ravelry.com/account/login

It's a totally fabulous resource for patterns, help and inspiration!

Just wanted to say thanks for this Seahorse - it's a brilliant site and I've got loads of excellent patterns from it already. There seem to be a few knitters and potential knitters on the Vine at the moment so I'd definitely recommend Ravelry too!

I haven't knitted anything for years and I probably should have started with something easier than knitting in the round with a cable pattern - but hey, I like a challenge, and the results have been very popular!

As a bonus the tingling that I'd been getting in my right hand for the last 4 months from constant mouse work, has completely gone away, still doing just as much mouse work, but I'm wondering if when you knit you hold your hand/wrist/arm in a neutral position or something?

[tootles]

I haven't knitted since I was a Girl Guide. I really prefer sewing but as my machines are in storage and I have nowhere to sew anyway I am very tempted to take up knitting again. Not very sure about the technical terms and different stitches though.
I think wristwarmers might be a good place to start (followed by legwarmers - I love legwarmers, everyone here thinks I'm mad anyway)

[jackie j]

As a bonus the tingling that I'd been getting in my right hand for the last 4 months from constant mouse work, has completely gone away, still doing just as much mouse work, but I'm wondering if when you knit you hold your hand/wrist/arm in a neutral position or something?

That sounds a bit like carpel tunnel syndrome and knitting will make it worse you should get it checked out to make sure

[bramble]

I have always knitted. When my kids were small always did them aran jackets and knitted their school jumpers and cardigans.
When the grandkids came along i picked up the needles again.
OH is wearing a sweater today that I knitted for him last year.
Am now reduced to knitting dolls clothes as kids now don't want homeknits

[Comfreyfan]

I haven't knitted since I was a Girl Guide. I really prefer sewing but as my machines are in storage and I have nowhere to sew anyway I am very tempted to take up knitting again. Not very sure about the technical terms and different stitches though.
I think wristwarmers might be a good place to start (followed by legwarmers - I love legwarmers, everyone here thinks I'm mad anyway)

Snap - started with wristwarmers, just finished my first pair of leg warmers daughters and step daughter all very pleased!!

Most patterns will explain the different stitches and pattern bits. Knitting's very transportable too!