| Archive for Crafty Threads 'n' Yarns The Friendly UK Board that invites Knitters, Crocheters, Dressmakers, Quilters, Patchworkers, Jewellery makers and Paper Crafters to join in our chat about Craft |
| pictish |
June Yarn ForwardIt's a lovely issue!! I like quite a lot of the patterns esp Anni's gorgeous Siena cardi There's a lovely cardi in Rowan Calmer too and some Bohus mittens and some gorgeous socks.
Definitely worth getting!! |
||||
| janice |
I have already added the Siena cardie to my Rav queue 
|
||||
| Anna |
I picked up a copy today and there is a lot of lovely patterns this time round | ||||
| dreamcatcher |
Ooh yes definitely some great patterns in there - must go and add them to my queue 
|
||||
| Jobo |
Pictish can you tell me if the Morning Echo cardi is knitted straight up or top down in the round?
Anni's cardi looks lovely
|
||||
| pictish |
It seems to be bottom up all in one piece with the bands/lace panel all part of that piece to the armholes then you continue separately - so would be casting on about 240 st for the 36-38" size. It would really just be that bottom bit on circulars Jo but knitted back and forth. The top halves of the fronts are manageable on ordinary needles and the top half of the back. The sleeves are flat too.
It's a beautiful pattern!!! I really like Magda as well in the Malabrigo Silk Merino
I really must subscribe to this mag cos I do like it - it just gets better and better I think. |
||||
| Jobo |
Thank you Ali - I think I would convert it to knit in separate pieces as I would rather sew up the side seams than have 240 stitches on the needle
It is a lovely cardi - I like the lace bands up the front, very understated but stylish I think
|
||||
| pictish |
It is very pretty!! You could adjust it easily I think
|
||||
| Nevisknitter |
I really like Morning echo and the top on the front cover too (even if it is modelled back to front) | ||||
| Fi |
Yes it is a good issue this time.
I do like Anni's cardigan. |
||||
| Aknita |
This is now the only magazine to which I subscribe. | ||||
| melody yarns |
Yep - I love this too!! I have some Rooster DK in a gorgeous strawberry shade and I have never known what to knit with it... so this could be the answer
I like Anni's cardigan too... except I've noticed that on Rav the tension for it is 19sts for DB aran so I'd have to substitute yarn for either a Wendy or Patons aran 
|
||||
| pictish |
It's 19st in the pattern on 5mm which is a bit odd given it's 18st on the ballband and I've always got 18st - I think if you knit it on 4.5mm it will be ok. But as you say Debs, 19st opens up other possibilities.
I might do the small tho on 18st to get a slightly larger version as I'm between sizes. |
||||
| Jobo |
Just bought the mag this morning in Smiths, so I am looking forward to having a read this afternoon.
I see on Ravelry the Morning Echo cardi is done at 26 sts in Rowan Calmer - which is very tight tension for Calmer isnt it? Hmmm |
||||
| dreamcatcher |
Must admit I thought so too. I get 20 or 21 sts on 4.5mm needles with Calmer, will have to do some more swatching. 26sts is heading into 4ply/sock-weight yarn though, isn't it? and Calmer is definitely a substantial DK. |
||||
| pictish |
Hadn't noticed that Normally Calmer is 21st but you knit on 5mm don't you?? I haven't ever used Calmer before.
So Debs will have to be careful with the Rooster too
|
||||
| dreamcatcher |
Yes Calmer is recommended on 5mm on the ball-band, I've found I get gauge on 4.5mm though. I never ever get the rec. row gauge of 30 though! | ||||
| pictish |
I just did that off the top of my head lol!! I've only sampled - I've got 3 lots in my stash tho and I must use some - was just thinking yesterday I might use some deep cerise I have as there was loads of that colour in the shops yesterday - saw a fantastic top which was a mix of cerise, bright orange and dusky lilac With a dusky lilac linen skirt to go with - very tempting 
|
||||
| melody yarns |
Hmmmm... okay.... well with that news this is another issue I won't be buying either...
|
||||
| Jobo |
You know I think Rowan Wool Cotton might be a good sub for this. It knits on 4mm needles at 24 sts, so I reckon if you went down to 3.75mm you would probably get 26.....
And having used wool cotton before I prefer how it knits on 3.75mm
|
||||
| melody yarns |
I think Wool cotton knits to 22sts on 4mm needles doesn't it Jo? I always thought it was a 'standard' DK y'see?
This is what I hate about magazine patterns - the tension is determined by the designer and if they knit either tightly or too loosely then we have to try to match that and it's not always possible with the recommended yarn, leaving us poor unsuspecting knitters to try to substitute yarns  
|
||||
| pictish |
I know!! So both the patterns I really wanted to do are at different guages - hmmm.
Jo I prefer Wool Cotton on 3.75mm - I thought it was 23st tho but I might be wrong. It's definitely 22st on 4mm but it does have the option on the ballband Debs. KH usually knits it on a tighter guage in a lot of her patterns. In fact Ali from Breeze is knit on 3.25mm needles at a guage of 26st!! |
||||
| melody yarns |
 I just looked at Cheer from Rowan 32 and it's in Wool cotton knitted on 4mm needles and gives 22sts. Although I've often wondered how designs in Felted Tweed can be knitted in Wool Cotton and not need any tweaking so now I know!
It's a bit of a pain that both designs that you like are not knitted at standard tension Ali, I know exactly how you feel and life's too short to go mucking about getting the right tension when there are lots of other patterns around. I guess this is where Pattern Wizard comes into its own; I'm thinking of getting a copy to test it out cos I can use it in conjunction with the knitting machine as well. I've just been looking at Scoop de Jour on Rav (by Bonne Marie Burns) and I quite fancy casting on for that today
|
||||
| Jobo |
Me too!! I am piddled off because I really like this cardi - I am considering trying to replicate it in Sweater Wizard
|
||||
| Jobo |
Gosh, I really dont think I would like wool cotton on 3.25mm needles - it would be like cardboard
|
||||
| Jobo |
I think I might have the answer - knit it in 4 ply on 3.5mm needles
Honestly what we go through
|
||||
| pictish |
I thought the same Jo about knitting Wool Cotton at that guage but it is absolutely fine so far - KH does know her stuff. But it is in a basketweave pattern which is probably quite stretchy!!!
Debs I would def recommend SW for you!! Just bear in mind that it's not super hi-tech - in fact pretty basic as far as software goes these days but it does the job. It does all the maths for you so you could definitely use for the machine too. You really like classic styles and that's what I'd say it does best. And you can add a stitch pattern if you fancy, do top down, waist shaping if you want, add a collar, change the depth/width of necks, sleeves etc. There's a bit of a demo on the site. I'm going to try Calmer at that guage as I have some in stash but I'm going to knit Capri first and then see how much I have left. |
||||
| pictish |
PS Scoop du Jour is lovely too - I love scoopnecks atm
|
||||
| melody yarns |
There's another designing software package that I downloaded the trial version of but I've lost it on my lappie!! And I can't remember the name of it - doh! | ||||
| pictish |
If you find it let us know what is is 
|
||||
| Jobo |
Is it KnittingFool? |
||||
| FatCat |
Bought the mag yesterday and I really want to make Morning Echo as well! I was thinking of purchasing some King Cole Bamboo Cotton for it - seems to be summery and machine-washable and and not expensive. Anyone tried that yet btw? But then I read up what you knowledgable peeps been saying about gauge! I hadn't noticed, so thank you! But what a bummer 
So now I don't know what to do. Buy the yarn anyway and hope it'll work out? I suppose I could fudge it, and I'm not so fussed about it being very fitted so it might not matter if it's a bit larger than intended Just so long as it drapes nicely. Or just not bother (and yes, I'm having yet another of my indecisive days  ) Any help or thoughts appreciated
|
||||
| pictish |
Just remember the stretchiness of bamboo yarns and factor that in FC!!! I haven't tried this particular one - but I suppose if it's knitted at a tight guage that should minimise the stretching out of shape problem. | ||||
| Jobo |
I have decided what I am going to do about this I just bought some DIC Smooshy from Socktopus and I am going to make a Baby cardi in it using sweater wizard and use the lace pattern from Morning Echo to run up the sides of the button bands.
So I will get my Morning Echo fix
|
||||
| pictish |
Good thinking!!! I still haven't tried to get Calmer at that guage yet - haven't really felt like summer knitting yet
|
||||
| Jobo |
The thought of knitting Calmer at that gauge really puts me off I can't get excited about it any more
|
||||
| pictish |
I know!! I think it will spoil the whole feel of the yarn tbh
|
||||
| Jobo |
Having said that, have you seen the gorgeous new shade of Calmer Janette has in her shop - its called Tree
http://www.jannettesrareyarns.co.uk/index.asp |
||||
| FatCat |
Yet another nugget of usefulness! I've not tried bamboo before, didn't know about the stretchiness - thanks Ali I think I'll leave this one until a few people have actually made it and then see how I feel about it. That might be the best option, and it's not as if I've got nothing else OTN I can be getting on with, not to mention a queue the size of a small planet
glad you've got a plan for it Jobo, what colour is your Smooshy? (LOL, that does sound a bit of a rude question )
|
||||
| pictish |
@ FC - I swear you find double entendres everywhere
Yes there is a whole thread about using bamboo here
ETA it *is* a gorgeous colour that isn't it Jo!!! I saw it earlier actually
|
||||
| FatCat |
I do my best But I do censor myself, there are times when I don't post up what I'm thinking because it's too rude, so be grateful for that! Thank you for that link, I'd missed that thread completely - cheers!
|
||||
| Jobo |
The shade I've got is called Wisterious - all pinky and purply - very girly
|
||||
| FatCat |
Cor, it sounds lovely!
|
||||
| dreamcatcher |
Ooh the Tree shade in Calmer is lovely! Just checked my shade card, being very unobservant when I originally received it, hadn't noticed it then
Have to say I am put off the Morning Echo cardi, unless maybe using something like DB Baby Cashmerino, a sportweight yarn, might work? Not sure I can be bothered to worry about it though! I have wanted to make Capri for a long time so maybe that will be my next knit in Calmer. |
||||
| pictish |
That's what I'm planning on doing DC!! | ||||
| Jobo |
It crossed my mind too DC that Baby Cashmerino would be a good sub! Maybe this is the way to go
|
||||
| Jobo |
The Capri cardi is lovely - I wear mine a lot
|
||||
| pictish |
Yours was gorgeous Jo!! | ||||
| YarnAddict |
Just a quick answer to the tension question. I always use my own tension when I write patterns and to be honest I don't even check the official yarn ball band tension. I just do my own tension swatch and work it out and go from there. That's why the tension from the pattern is different from the ball band. Maybe I should aim to get the official yarn tension.... |
||||
| pictish |
Hmmm don't know the answer to that Anni - it's certainly easier if you match the recommended tension but it also makes sense for you to go with what you get
Thanks for getting back on this tho!!! It's a lovely pattern
|
||||
| Sprite64 |
I seem to remember reading / hearing somewhere that usually designers will just work to their tension and that's what you need to match - ignore the ball band. Might have been on the Debbie Abrahams course I did a while ago - or maybe it was Cookie A. Can't remember Seems to make sense to me though! The tension on ball bands is only what someone has decided anyway I guess - depends what effect you are after I suppose?
|
||||
| YarnAddict |
You're right Sharon. The tension on the ball band is only a guide and designers may choose to use a different tension an a completely different needle size to that suggested on teh ball band depending on the look you're after. I don't even look at ballband when I design. I pick a needle size I think will work, swatch and if I like the look of the fabric I measure and go from there. If I don't like the look of the fabric I change needle size and do it again.
Designing has made me do a lot more swatching . Inever, ever used to swatch before.
|
||||