K3tog: ILx Knitting 3

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molly, pls describe your etsy experience. How much did you have to pay them? what did you charge for shipping? do you plan on doing it again.

I'm thinking of trying to sell some purses (sewn) there.

― Ms Misery, Wednesday, 4 April 2007 15:33 (nineteen years ago)

etsy is great! i've been on for less than a month, and sold 2 dishcloths. i also got really nice feedback from someone who bought a dishcloth. yay! crafting!

it's a 20 cent listing fee, and there's a small transaction fee when you do sell something (i can't remember the exact percentage, but it's 18 cents for a $5 item). you get billed once a month, and they send you an email before they do.

i charge a dollar for shipping (when it's only 87 cents). think of that extra 13 cents as going toward the listing fee.

also, make sure to give your purses good tags, otherwise people won't be able to find your stuff as easily.

― molly mummenschanz, Wednesday, 4 April 2007 17:19 (nineteen years ago)

OMG, I totally just knitted a sock! this one It only took about an hour and a half and it was surprisingly easy! I hope the other one goes just as well.

― Madchen, Saturday, 7 April 2007 20:58 (nineteen years ago)

Second sock done! And it is about a centimetre longer than the other one, whoops. I think I must have missed out a couple of rows somewhere in the first sock. Oh well, I'm sure little Esther upstairs will accept them graciously.

― Madchen, Monday, 9 April 2007 10:01 (nineteen years ago)

Am I the only moron who can't seem to measure properly? Should I just pin the garment and then measure it? But what about measuring something that's on the needles?!? I really am at a loss. Maybe Is houldn't worry so much as I think I only did 1 cm wrong (as far as I can tell) for something that measures about 27 cm. Harumph! But I'm advancing on the marine sweater: I am currently doing the sleeves. Then I only (hah! only!) need to do the collar which seems to be the hardest part of the whole thing and seam it together.

I still haven't gotten word from my Debbie Bliss yarn. :-(

― nathalie, Monday, 9 April 2007 11:29 (nineteen years ago)

maybe I should do a baby sock just to get the technique down right.

nath, pinning sounds good, to stretch it out a bit.

― Ms Misery, Monday, 9 April 2007 13:49 (nineteen years ago)

did I miss the matchups for the mad gifting?

― patita, Wednesday, 11 April 2007 03:15 (nineteen years ago)

I don't think they have happened unless I have also missed them. were they being emailed? (I'm pretty clueless these days)

― Ms Misery, Wednesday, 11 April 2007 13:27 (nineteen years ago)

I didn't receive anything. Mebbe we're not part of the clique. ;-)

― nathalie, Wednesday, 11 April 2007 14:07 (nineteen years ago)

I think we are the clique :)

― patita, Wednesday, 11 April 2007 14:28 (nineteen years ago)

Urgh, count me out. I almost finished seaming the marine sweater. I was right: the front is longer than the back. How stupid of me. I also feel completely bummed out and if I really did what I wanted: chuck everything out. I feel as though I'm not advancing at all and I will never be able to knit properly. :-((((((((

― nathalie, Monday, 16 April 2007 12:43 (nineteen years ago)

Try keeping a row count next time, it's more accurate than measuring, I find.

― tokyo rosemary, Monday, 16 April 2007 12:56 (nineteen years ago)

So you would count from the cast-on row? That'd make more sense (for me) as I'm sh#t at measuring. :-(

― nathalie, Monday, 16 April 2007 13:15 (nineteen years ago)

yeah get one of those little clickers and click every new row. Nath, you have been amazing at learning to knit.

― Ms Misery, Monday, 16 April 2007 13:44 (nineteen years ago)

Sorry, my fault, I haven't matched people yet, blame the holidays and subsequent back to work rush... THIS WEEK, I'll send them out, honestly!

My own knitting news = turned heel of second sock yesterday, am up the ankle ("up the ankle"!! sounds horrible!!) - this sock has been SO unpainful! I can't believe how awesome toe up socks are. I want to weep for my previous cuff down struggles!

― Sarah, Monday, 16 April 2007 14:31 (nineteen years ago)

Nath you could try one of those row pendant things, you stick it round your neck and click it at the end of each row (if you remember - I suspect personally I would feel a) silly and b) forget to click it ANYWAY) grr.

― Sarah, Monday, 16 April 2007 14:32 (nineteen years ago)

xpost :-( I really don't think so. Maybe I set my expectations way too high. I always feel abit of a post-knitting depression when I finish something.

Sarah, I'm very good at keeping row counts: I scribble more than I knit. heh

― nathalie, Monday, 16 April 2007 14:38 (nineteen years ago)

Nath here is my question. I went to Brussels. There was stuff in French. There was stuff in ANOTHER LANGUAGE. Was that Dutch or Flemish? A 'friend' thinks the opposite to I. Can you confirm?

Also I found no yarn shops in Bruxelles. Plenty of lace (PROPER lace) shops. However I don't give a fig for lace. I was disappointed, I wanted to come back and get you to translate incomprehensible instructions for me.

HOLIDAY YARN SHOPPING I HAVE DONE = a bunch of random market stall acrylic to make katamari prince with, erm... well I looked in ONE yarn shop in erm, Limoges?? maybe, it wasn't very good, and, er... hmm! I should try harder...

― Sarah, Monday, 16 April 2007 14:47 (nineteen years ago)

Nath, I think the post-project letdown is understandable. Sometimes it's hard to get started on something new. but this hardly means you're not a comptent knitter.

I've been having general project let-down all around not just with yarn. General malaise and ickiness. might be chemical/medicine related. *sigh* Whatever it is my sewing room is a mess of unfinished crap and balls of yarn languish throughout the house.

― Ms Misery, Monday, 16 April 2007 14:52 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.pacificwoolandfiber.com/images/Knitting%20Needles/rotally.jpg

I must have about ten of these.

I scribble more than I knit

Haha, me too!. My knitting notebooks is 95% lists of numbers.

― tokyo rosemary, Monday, 16 April 2007 14:55 (nineteen years ago)

this is the one I use, mostly b/c the click is rewarding:

http://www.angelyarns.com/images/access/clover-counter.jpg

― Ms Misery, Monday, 16 April 2007 14:56 (nineteen years ago)

Sarah, Flemish is a dialect, very similar to Dutch. Dutch is our official language. So if it's something you saw printed then it most probably was Dutch. (Only very few texts are in Flemish.)

I showed the marine sweater to my teacher. Everyone admired it... Except her. She said the finish was crap (not in so many words, actually in more words:"This shouldn't be done by someone who's taking a knitting course). I then asked her if the problem could be that the front was longer than the back and she said yes. Ah well. A pro will be able to tell the mistake but I doubt anyone else could (even if you're a bit more advanced).

I just need to persevere and get a row counter. :-)

― stevienixed, Monday, 16 April 2007 19:46 (nineteen years ago)

Oh yeah, that row counter for the needle is crap, btw. I have one but it's neglected. :-) I need a bigger one. Or just scribble like I'm used to. :-)

― stevienixed, Monday, 16 April 2007 19:46 (nineteen years ago)

:-( I did very well on a Lana Grossa cardigan until I had to knit the front and back together. :-((( I used a needle which was much too thin. I dropped one of the double stitches (it's made with a double thread) but I fixed that more or less. But it looks a bit off, I think. Also I think I did wrong when I cast off the back part of the collar. *sigh* Please tell me that you girls also had such setbacks. I really feel like giving up even though I realize I'm probably setting my standards way too high. It's just... When I listened to the teacher I felt as though I was a complete klutz and I am very ~~scared~~ nervous about showing it to her. She's really a great teacher but seems a bit strict. :-( LE FRIGGING SIGH.

That said, I ~~can't~~ give up since I received a massive amount of Debbie Bliss yarn. I think I'll need a talk with my teacher about how crap I am and if she's willing to guide me. :-) Then again the course is almost finished! Two months and it's finito (until september.... if I enroll in the second year, but I think I will). :-)

SEND ME SOME GOOD VIBES and tell me I'm being silly. :-(

― nathalie, Thursday, 19 April 2007 08:30 (nineteen years ago)

(man)It's probably your hormones luv(/man) :)

Nath, you are way more advanced than the rest of us and all your photos have seemed great! And you're ALWAYS going to pick your projects apart way more than anyone else does. I've made a cardigan where the left front and right from turned out to have about two inches difference, and the back was longer than the front, and the sleeves got twisted somehow... it's all part of the process innit.

― Sarah, Thursday, 19 April 2007 09:00 (nineteen years ago)

"This shouldn't be done by someone who's taking a knitting course

I think you need a teacher. Why in the hell is she discouraging you from trying to move and ahead and explore new things? Usually that kind of enthusiasim is something a teacher loves.

I've never finished a sweater. I suck. My knitting and sewing have ground to a halt the past couple of weeks.

― Ms Misery, Thursday, 19 April 2007 13:51 (nineteen years ago)

(pls note that my lack of sweateryness is mostly due to the very limited wear they get here vs. the effort they take. I'm still hoping to do a short-sleeved, cotton, Quidditch sweater by July. Hold me to it, ILX KnitWits)

― Ms Misery, Thursday, 19 April 2007 13:52 (nineteen years ago)

Oh no! She meant the way I had finished it! The way I seamed it together. I then told her that maybe it was due to the fact that the front and back were different in length. She's actually a good teacher, but in a way she's not always right for me as I'm much too sensitive when it comes to criticism. I take it all too seriously. :-) Ah fek, I think this is part and parcel of my upbringing: my mother always said she was crap at doing things and I more or less mirrored that. I still feel taht deep down I'm just not a craftsperson. But when that thought pops up in my head I tend to *slap myself* (figuratively speaking naturally!) and remind myself that this (and every other craft) has to be mastered.

I am finishing the sleeves on the cardigan and I'll bring it to her and show what I've done. I think I also need to learn to *unravel* or frog things. Usually when I have finished my knitting, I just want to get it over with.

God, I'm a nag. ;-)

― nathalie, Thursday, 19 April 2007 14:40 (nineteen years ago)

I've been knitting baby presents like a fiend for friend's upcoming shower. Thus far, I have one burp cloth, and one bib finished. Burp cloth #2 is almost done, as is BABY KIMONO which I whipped up yesterday, as a result of a bummer of a sinus headache and lack of energy. It's turning out pretty well. It's the pattern from the Mason Dixon book (which brings me lots of joy). When it's done, I'll post pictures. Devil baby pants are for a 6 month old, and both friend and her husband average around 5'2, so I figure I have time to get those bad boys finished.

― molly mummenschanz, Monday, 23 April 2007 15:55 (nineteen years ago)

Also, has anyone ever done any rag knitting? I have 3 pairs of jeans at my house, which have died a slow death and are beyond repair, and some old bedsheets given to me by various relatives where the corners have blown out, etc. I'm thinking bathroom rug here, folks.

― molly mummenschanz, Monday, 23 April 2007 18:52 (nineteen years ago)

I've got some sheets and old t-shirts set aside for a rag rug. I think it's easiest to do with crochet, but I was going to try for some bathmats too. Any new project will have to wait until I'm moved at this point!

― patita, Monday, 23 April 2007 20:14 (nineteen years ago)

Class was awesome. We did <a href="http://www.breienmetplezier.nl/images/ajour1.gif">Ajour</A> which noone was good at save a few. But I brought my cardigan and she unraveled it so I could redo it. It's PERFECT now. She said everything else (about the cardigan) was perfect. YAY! I did the stupid mistake of making a swatch and binding off without noticing which needle I had used. hahahahahahahah So now I have to guess which one and redo the gauge. hahahahahahahah Stupid? Me? Oh yeah. But I'm persevering. Oh HELL YEAH. :-)

― stevienixed, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 06:27 (nineteen years ago)

shit. Well, click the linky. :-)

― stevienixed, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 06:27 (nineteen years ago)

Would you all call that lace knitting? I don't think so. We tend to call lace knitting, kunstbreien. I'm not sure about Ajour. It's typically knitting which includes knitting together and doing an "omslag" (making an extra stitch by turning the thread around the needle). The latter I don't know exactly how to do. :-( I need to practice.

― nathalie, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 09:55 (nineteen years ago)

I don't think that's the same as lace making but I think it qualifies as lace knitting. That's kind of the stitch I've been using on these hats I've been making yarn over, K2together, repeat for the rest of the round. then next round just K.

― Ms Misery, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 13:43 (nineteen years ago)

I just had a knitting lesson with an 80 y/o librarian. It was fantastic. She brought in this BEAUTIFUL afghan she knitted ages ago, and showed me how to dissect what you're knitting with a crochet hook to fix a stitch that needed to be knit and not purled (in this case).

― molly mummenschanz, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 19:40 (nineteen years ago)

The crochet hook trick is so awesome. It's saved me many times, especially when I've realized 10 rows past where the bad stitch is!

― patita, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 21:03 (nineteen years ago)

I've used a bent bobby pin when lacking a crochet hook.

damn, I need to get a knitting project going.

― Ms Misery, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 21:03 (nineteen years ago)

I'm a complete dimwit. I started that Debbie Bliss sleeveless sweater but I mixed up needles! I noticed after the first time so it wasn't that bad, but god damn it I'm crap at being consistent and disciplined. BUT I have started to jot down every single row I'm doing. Hopefully that'll work. And now with every project I am taking my gauge (and everything else) to class: this way I can learn measuring (and everything else). I feel more positive about it. But I do need to finish that Lana Grossa cardigan and that Sublime marine sweater. I can't let it be ignored because it's not perfect. :-)

Going to Ghent so I'm hoping to visit a knitting shop or two. :-D

― stevienixed, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 07:07 (nineteen years ago)

Also, I think I finally realized how you need to make an extra stitch (not one by picking up the bar between sts, but when turning the yarn over the needle). :-D

― stevienixed, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 07:08 (nineteen years ago)

Ok, ladies, I've probably asked this a million times, but are knitting socks difficult? I need some encouragement. I don't know why I am afraid of trying more ambitious projects, and stick in my safety zone. However, knitting the baby kimono made me realize, "Hey! I actually *do* know how to do this!" Also, I mastered the buttonhole. So, with this boost in confidence, I shall try some socks.

What's your favorite yarn to use for socks? Preferred needle size? I have a great book at home, which I've never even used, and it's high time I learn, and force more handknit goods on my loved ones.

― molly mummenschanz, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 15:52 (nineteen years ago)

I've never gotten socks. :( I just need to try some that aren't on tiny dpns.

― Ms Misery, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 15:58 (nineteen years ago)

Molly, I took a socks class a few years ago and it was really cool; socks are fun to do because they are so small that you can finish them quickly. Of course, I've only made extremely basic socks. The one thing I would say is that it took me a while to really understand what I was doing wrt short-rowing while turning the heel. Apparently I need to really let simple stuff percolate into my brain.

I love the socks I made - much warmer than cotton socks from the store - and perfect for winter when my toes are cold.

― Sara R-C, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 16:04 (nineteen years ago)

Socks! You should definitely do socks! I was scared, and kept going "oooh should I should I", until I actually saw some my friend made, and it went home that - dude, this is TOTALLY possible! And then I just blazed ahead with the pattern.

I suggest find some awesome looking sock yarn first - there is SO much good sock yarn out there that you willbe utterly spoilt for choice. I also say go toe-up, this might be personal preference but gosh, I wish I'd STARTED toe-up, the principal angsts just WENT AWAY. You can't really knit socks on anything much bigger than 2 or 2.5mm needles I think - for everyday sort of use. If you want to make ooh, like spa socks, or snuggly at home socks, something a bit more EARTHY (even hiking socks) you could go up safely to DK weight I 'spect. I'm going to make some spa socks soon! They are well cute.

If you already have a smallish long circular needle you could try that magic loop method I spose. Me never tried it, but I don't have a long circ needle, and I DO have dpns so...

OH also, I would recommend getting something that is SUPERWASH! Socks will clearly have to be washed a lot, and you're a better person than me if you can bear to handwash each time!

You could always start with BOOTEES :)

― Sarah, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 16:10 (nineteen years ago)

Oh! Excellent suggestions all around! And thank you for the encouragement!

I wouldn't have even thought about SUPERWASH! I'm excited! I'm going to go to a new yarn shop this weekend and poke around.

The sock pattern book I have gives you the pattern for whatever type of needles you want to use (be it dpns or circs). The problem is, I'm not sure what to use!

There is a patter for baby bootie socks that they recommend doing first. My friend's child will be SHOWERED (ugh, pun) with knit gifts.

Also, I HATE saggy socks. Is this a common problem with handknit socks, or is there a yarn I should gravitate to, to avoid the SAG?

― molly mummenschanz, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 16:15 (nineteen years ago)

Awesomest thing EVAH! A knitted umbrella!

I started seaming the Lana Grossa cardigan last night. I casually mentioned to my mom that I had told the teacher it was for her. It was said half-jokingly. My mom laughed and then asked if the cardigan is meant to curl up at the bottom. Hah! Family being critical? Oh yes! They don't shy away from letting you/me know if they think it's wrong. I said I still needed to make a collar and *stuff* and that the bottom would, as a result, not curl up anymore. She said she'd LOVE to have it. I told her that if she didn't like the finished *product*, I wouldn't be offended if she didn't want it or wouldn't wear it. She said again she'd LOVE it. See, I don't like giving presents as it puts pressure on the recipient: they gotta wear it even if they don't like it. So I always make sure I tell'em that if they don't like it, I won't be offended. It reminded her of autumn in Japan (with all the different coloured leaves). So now I need to make sure it's done well. :-) I am a bit hesitant: The pattern said I had to crochet the edge but the teacher said that picking up the sts and knitting the edge would be better as it would avoid tiny holes. I'll probably need to get some more yarn or rip the bag I started making with the second ball of yarn. heh. My mom said: "You seem this with the right side facing up??????" Uh yes, mom. :-) I think I'll also measure her so if I want to knit some more for her, I can do this whenever I want without having to ask for her measurements.

― nathalie, Sunday, 29 April 2007 08:14 (nineteen years ago)

How can I not knit teddy bears for this?

― molly mummenschanz, Monday, 30 April 2007 19:23 (nineteen years ago)

Re THE SAG: I quite like them being a bit loose but if you want them tighter then I'd just suggest knitting some elastic in (just weave it in as you go along like you would in intarsia I guess) - or you could sew it in after the fact but I think that would be mroe faffy.

I've undone my 1st sock's too tight cast off and I'll be trying a stretchier one soon - there's a good link but I don't have it immediately to hand. Sewn cast off looks good too, but more complex and I don't want to ruin the socks. I might try it on the second sock after putting in the all important lifeline first (although this is SO much harder on small dpns than it is on 5mm straights).

― Sarah, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 08:19 (nineteen years ago)

There's a great bear knitting pattern in one of the Noro books that is made with Kureyon and looks SO FAB! I nearly spent the wedge on the book just for that pattern; then I thought, tbh it will probably look as good with any generic teddy pattern and saved myself the cash phew. Tho it was close.

I crocheted an elephant and finished him yesterday! However I mistakenly used a 4mm hook and DK weight so now you can totally see the stuffing inside, despite me running a length of thread round his insides a few times. It has helped a bit but not much. The plan is to now crochet him a jumper.

― Sarah, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 08:21 (nineteen years ago)

So, I'm taking a break from my spiral rag rug, as it's quite the workout for the arm, and giving the socks a go. OH ME. I must just sit and practice on the beginner's sock, as holding the needles IS A BITCH.

Please tell me it gets easier.

― molly mummenschanz, Sunday, 6 May 2007 15:24 (nineteen years ago)

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