Oh dear, i do knit loosely!

franney · Oh dear, i do knit loosely!

I've been playing with a Forest Canopy this afternoon and cast on and knit for a while and then realised that the 5mm was way too big, so i've got out my new Addi lace needle which is a 3.75mm and i'm not sure if that's now too small... so...
What sort of dimensions should i be getting pre-blocking? I'm going to go and take some pics now and measure how "tall" one repeat is which i'll post back with. If anyone can offer assistance i would appreciate it.
Other than tension it's going rather well, i am even perservering with the chart, although i do find the written instructions a lot easier to follow Wink

*hugs*
Fran

Nevisknitter

I stretched the pattern when knitting it to see what it would look like blocked and see if it is too holey or dense. I used 4.5mm needles and sock yarn for my FC if thats any help

franney

Thanks Nevisknitter, having pinned it out, the 5mm is definitely too big for sock yarn, i shall stick with the 3.75mm i think as it looks "about right". I could use a 4mm bamboo but i knida like the Addi Very Happy

I'm using YarnYard club yarn from April Confused

and as it's for a Forest i've called it SpringGreens Smile

The piece on the left is 2" from the long edge to the bit of the leaf where it joins the centre line, and on the right the measurement in the same place comes in at 1½"
I am amazed at how easy it is so far, mind you i don't have that many repeats per row, i won't be saying the same thing when i get along a bit Laughing

Cathie

Hi,

I did my first one on 5mm and I think it looked okay, but the latest one which I must get blocked I did on 4.5mm and it looks much better. THe one on the smaller needles looks better to me as well

Cathie

LittleBerry

persist with the charts Franney they are worth it in the long run.... I can't follow a written lace pattern, I get lost in all the words & forget the combinations of K2tog, YO, K2togtbl, Knits, SK2P's etc I find it so much easier to glance at a chart....

I do use a magnetic board and put my strips above the line I am working on. I find if I put them under I can't follow the chart properly Shocked

Charts do mean that more complicated lace patterns are easier to work and you can get an idea of where you are in the pattern when knitting it....

they do say a picture says a 1000 words and it's same for charts as opposed to written instructions...

Glynis

I have avoided lace charts like the plague up till now, but you've convinced me Littleberry. I will learn to read them.
I WILL learn to read them.
I'll try to learn to read them....

Piglottie

Franney - I've knitted one FCS in 4.5mm and one in 5mm, but would consider going down to 4mm when I knit another one Smile

Maybe do an extra pattern repeat (but make sure you have enough yarn!)? And don't worry, the pattern doesn't get any harder - the rows just get longer! Smile

LittleBerry - I'm knitting Shoalwater at the moment and am using the charts for the first time. I'm actually finding it much easier and they are easier to get the hang of than I first thought. I was thinking today that I need a magnetic board or something with a ruler (you know like typist used), and was just wondering where you got your board from. Thanks Smile

Auntie Noo

Nevisknitter

Its looking really good so far, i found it a lovely pattern to knit, have worn mine the last 2 days at work as a shoulder shawl.

franney

Thanks everyone, and thanks especially to LittleBerry Smile

I've got another repeat done and am sticking with the 3.75s, i just knit SO loosely with circs Rolling Eyes

I'm hoping to have it finished by Tuesday as that's when Mum goes away for a fortnight but i think that's a bit unrealistic Laughing

I'll definitely have it finished by the time she comes back though Smile

I've been trying to find a magnetic clipboard for ages, or at least a metal one but i can't find one! I'll join Noo and PL with my hand up Very Happy

Piglottie

I've just bought this off ebay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DMC-Magneti...hZ017QQcategoryZ953QQcmdZViewItem (and it will be useful for my cross stitch too) It also has a magnetic ruler to keep your place. Plus, the money from the sale is for charity fundraising Smile

and I think its quite a good price. Smile

franney

Looks like the sort of thing i'm after. I'll wait til my LYS is open again and see if she has them, i know she stocks DMC Smile

Cheers Bob Smile

Auntie Noo

Thanks Piglottie

LittleBerry

I've had my magnetic board a long time, but it looks more or less like the one above.... I would think any shop that deals with needlework supplies may have them.....

Knitpicks have a chart keeper if any of you have easy access to someone to send stuff on....

franney

I love the Knitpicks one, i wonder if i can make something similar myself Confused

LittleBerry

I so nearly bought one, wish I had now but I did spend quite enough Embarassed

FatCat

Your FC looks good Franney, glad you got the needle size sorted. I love the colours! Very Happy

Also wanting a magnetic board-y thing for charts! I shall have to keep my eyes peeled for that DMC one. If anyone decides to go into production with this kinda product then please let me know! Very Happy

LittleBerry

I've just looked in my Prym catalogue and I can get hold of some magnetic boards if anyone interested.... RRP is £8.35 and they are 29.9cm x 21cm (A4) - just a flat board with magnetic strips....

they also do a stand but at £6.50 it seems a bit pricey as it's not somthing you could balance on your knee.....

if anyone interested pm me.... postage would be cost + 50p packaging

FatCat

Ethknits also have some, scroll down here , quite reasonably priced too.

franney

Found the LoRan 12x18" board and stand on sewandso, combined price inc p&p is £17 (£25.25 at Ethknits) BUt don't look at anything else, they have way too many scrummy cross stitch kits at half price so you won't end up with so much of a bargain Laughing

I am behaving so far but i am very tempted to have a splurge Rolling Eyes

FatCat

G'wan, splurge. You know you want to ..... Wink

franney

I do, i do, but i am stashalonging and i'm not sure i can justify it, i've managed this long without it after all Confused

ClaireUK

I have the LoRan one - well, several actually (blush) and they are great.

I dont have the stand cos I have one of those lambs which hold a chart too.

Claire UK

franney

ClaireUK

ROFLOL

I meant a LAMP not a lamb......I also notice I have spelt 'possum' as 'poosum' on my blog!!!!

And the Shrug and Parrot doesnt even seem to be open tonight!!

Claire UK

franney

A lamP!!

I thought you had some snazzy spring loaded sheep that you slipped the chart into!! Shocked

That's really made me giggle, thanks luv *hugs*

Progress - I've finshed the recommended amount of repeats and am up to 195 stitches!!! I can't believe it! It looks SO tiny though. I'm just off to the Club blog to check out how many more repeats i can squeeze from my skein, i think it's another two, then the edge is in the toning yarn Confused

I wonder if'd get another three Confused

I'll weight the leftovers, do another repeat, weigh the leftovers again and go from there i think. This has been such a quick knit, i can't believe i've actually done it!! blobl4

franney

Well, i've weighed my yarn and i have approx 52g left and i've got 11 full leaves down the centre, i'll do another repeat and weigh again but i reckon i will get at least another three repeats with plenty left over Smile

It's measuring about 15" down the centre and 30" across the top, but that's just as it's hanging from the needles and done quickly cos i want to get back to knitting it Laughing

Piglottie

Sounds like you've nearly finished Franney! Its such a great pattern, I've knitted two now and still love it as much. Look forward to seeing pics - but be careful with the edging, it always takes more than you think Smile

franney

Well, the edging is going to be done in the toning mini-skein so i am hoping that there's enough there for the edging, i'll see how much a repeat takes in weight.

I can't remember who it is on the club blog Embarassed

but they knitted it on size 5mm and used 17g of the mini-skein with the shawl having two extra repeats, so seeing as i am working on smaller needles i figured that the smaller overall size would be balanced by the larger needle. Or doesn't it work like that??

I'll be putting alifeline in, in any case when i start the edging Very Happy

Jobo

Really looking forward to seeing it finished Franney Very Happy

franney