Another knitting one...

[tootles]

Have needles and yarn, will knit.

Could the reason the wool keeps separating and I end up going through only 2 or 3 threads of the 4 ply have anything to do with the very cheap yarn I have just bought???

[yoanbob]

dont know, that happens to me all the time, I just put it down to the fact that I'm really bad at knitting!

[tootles]

Blast, I wanted something else to blame!!

[yoanbob]

maybe its the knitting imp! lol.

[Birdie Wife]

Probably the yarn! That happens to me with some yarn and not with others so I don't think it's the knitting technique... you could try knitting more loosely.

[Two_Sheds]

Good yarn shouldn't separate ... perhaps your tension is too tight?

You have done a tension square haven't you ?

[tootles]

It is just a practice piece which may (or may not) end up as a wristwarmer.

I did a tension square, it has been appropriated by No.2 son as a codpiece for his teddy (!!!!!)

I went to the shop today and spent 2.15E and came out with a ball of yarn and a magazine (reduced mag - winter 07/08)
It is not good yarn!!

[where2start]

Hi tootles

Just a quick question, is your wool all acrylic or all natural wool?

Acrylic wool is processed to make it good to wash and wear, this is the stuff we use to make baby items etc.. If its a particularly cheap wool it can do that sometimes.

On the other hand very expensive natural wool, the stuff you cant wash and wear (if you do it felts itself) can also do this, because it isnt wound together too tight otherwise the threads will break.

Might pay to have a look on the band to see what its content it. at the moment i am using machine washable Sirdar Country Style (Double knitting, 45% acrylic, 40% nylon and 15% wool) and it split only when i was casting on as it twists in your hand as your casting on, after that it hasnt split.

Good luck

[shirlthegirl43]

Some yarns are made in a style which means the fibres are very loosely twisted, this makes it easier for you to split the stitches while knitting.

For easier 'beginner' knitting a tighter wound yarn is better - the old fashioned 'crepe' yarns were ideal.

[Two_Sheds]

Tootles, eBay is fairly good for yarn ... especially if you buy one on a cone (like for machine knitting).

[Birdie Wife]

Yeh! I've had loads of wool bargains there

[tootles]

Thank you O kind and wise knitting types.

The yarn is 1000% acrylic. I have loosened the tension a bit and it seems to be better. I had a go at ribbing, somehow my 40 stitches magically turned into 50 (!??!) and made a 'nice' lacey pattern (get very loose at this stage!). Have knitted a few stiches together and gone back to jersey (French term - is it the same in English??, knit row, purl row) and it almost looks deliberate.

Ooohh this is fun.

[jaykay]

Have knitted a few stiches together and gone back to jersey (French term - is it the same in English??, knit row, purl row) and it almost looks deliberate.

Knit one row followed by a purl row is called stocking stitch.

Glad to read that you're enjoying your knitting. I tend to only use yarn with a high percentage of wool and pay the extra for the better yarn. I think that as I'm putting in a lot of time and effort it's better to have a jumper/jacket etc made from quality yarn. At the moment I'm using a 100% merino yarn (dk), priced at £2.30 per 50g and it's lovely to work with.

[Two_Sheds]

The yarn is 1000% acrylic.

Wow. I bet that is staticky

[Two_Sheds]

I tend to only use yarn with a high percentage of wool and pay the extra for the better yarn.

Absolutely.
But when you're learning, you want to make holes & snags & runs with el-cheapo yarn