| 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 |
| LittleBerry |
Pink Lemon TwistI don't know if any of you have seen this but Pink Lemon Twist the lady who wrote the Hanami Shawl has opened up her 3rd Mystery Shawl. The first two shawls resulted in Leda's Dream & Scheherazade. Click here to see the details.Aparantly she had over 700 members with her first one and over 1000 with the 2nd. This only started yesterday and already there are 528 members 
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| YarnAddict |
I've signed up. | ||
| LittleBerry |
 needless to say I did!!!
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| terri |
How does it work??? | ||
| LittleBerry |
Once you've joined up you get a 'clue'; more like a set of instructions each week to do part of the stole... it doesn't matter if you can't keep up there's no pressure to finish it at the end of the clues....
Once you've joined you'll be able to access the document with all the instructions in stating what sort of yarn and beads shes using with needle size and detailed instruvtions how to do a swatch to make sure you like the effect of the yarn and needle size etc.... HTH |
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| franney |
Hmmmm, i have joined too, i just hope i am a proficient enough knitter to keep up with it!
Terri, you join the yahoo group and once a week she posts a set of directions for a new section of the stole in chart form for you to follow. You don't see a finished picture of the stole so it's mystery as to what it looks like until you've knit it 
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| carolinne |
how intriging (sp?) i am not sure whether to sign up or not......not sure i would eb clever enough to get the clues
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| LittleBerry |
they aren't clues as such Caroline, as Franney says just sections of charts to work from (this is aparantly chart only instructions) each week.... |
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| Binty |
Well Ive signed up for this but Ive never used/had yahoo before so Im really not sure if I will be able to work out where the clues are!!
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| LittleBerry |
once you've been accepted into the group, there's a list down the LHS, Messages, Files & Photos etc.... the introductory file is in there Binty and thats the place where the clues will be posted too....
It's worth reading the messages so you can see what yarns & beads people are thinking about using.... Melanie (PLT) answers the questions too which is good... HTH |
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| terri |
Ahhhh  I thought I had to decipher something So you basically get the pattern a bit a t a time, with no piccie, so the finished reslut is a surprise
Ok, off to join 
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| LittleBerry |
yes that's right Terri.... we can help each other out as well as posting in the group. You can post photos in the group, blogs forums etc as long as you don't disclose the pattern etc which is fair enough....
I'm either going to use my Elderberry Zephyr or I have some white Zephyr that I may dye..... then will choose the beads.... |
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| Nevisknitter |
I signed up yesterday, jusy got to get yarn for it now. If we get the pattern bit by bit, wonder if it will be like a sampler stole. Just hope the kids give me peace in the school holidays so I can knit. | ||
| chrissy |
I have joined wether it will get finished is another story but hopefully after woolfest things won't be so manic. | ||
| terri |
I'm not sure what to do about yarn either  I have two balls of the jaggerspun, but its in red so won't fit in with the theme. I do have some laceweight cashmere, but theres about 2500yards, so loads over, and I had planned to make a cropped cardi with it which I saw at harrogate and was gorgoeous!!!! I've some purple borghesia stuff, but I'm worried about the theme thing now after reading the intro............. Maybe I should buy some on my day off at the end of the month!!!! What colours are everyone else going to use.
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| LittleBerry |
I have some Zephyr in my stash - two elderberry (diff dyelots) from 2 SSS's and also some white which I may kettle dye shades of apricoty am too tired to make decsion today!!!! | ||
| franney |
I hadn't even thoght about yarn Terri
I'll have a look through the loft stash tomorrow when i'm on my own and see if i have enough length of anything, otherwise i may be forced (oh, the shame) into buying some
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| chrissy |
I have a load of undyed BFL laceweight that is perfect if you want to do the white thing, just give me a yell. I am going to start with that and if at the end I feel like it I will over dye it. I am not going to use beads as I am not too sure about wearing them
Chrissy |
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| LittleBerry |
in the cold light of day I think I'm going to dye my white Zephyr shades of apricot and if the colour works right I quite fancy either TCR 95, 134 , 166 or 168 from e-beads. Click on Toho seed beads and then select the Toho Beads 3mm, 8. I may get a couple just to see which is best against the yarn.... and the postage is £1.95 regardless of order.... | ||
| terri |
I think I will try beads, and then rethink if I find it too fiddly!!!!!
Do you think it matters then about using the colour she suggests because of the theme.................. I would love a black stole, but not sure my eyes are up to the task
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| LittleBerry |
what about a grey Terri... the Charcoal is nice and the steel which is a bit paler is also nice | ||
| terri |
Yeah, I think i would like a grey I think I'll go with the jaggerspun yarn, just need to pick a colour, but charcoal is probably a good option, not quite as hard on the eyes as black either Off to look at the site you posted for beads too
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| Dawn |
I've signed up for this but not sure whether I am up to it or not. I have plenty of experience with lacy patterns but struggled dismally last week with laceweight yarns. I'm going to have a go anyway. Not sure what colour to get though. Wooly Workshop have the best price for the Jaggerspun, I like the look of the Indigo. | ||
| terri |
The jaggerspun is lovely and soft too!!!!! | ||
| Wildpurl |
I've signed up, it looks fascinating. Whether or not I will actually keep up I don't know, but I'll give it a go.
I have some rather gorgeous Fyberspates laceweight called Martian sunrise which I bought from Anni quite a while ago, I think that might be a perfect colour actually, it is a kind of pink and gold colour. Or of course I could just buy some (ROFL). No I think I'll try and use some from stash. I need some beads for her Hanami stole too, so I could take this opportunity to buy several lots. I also have an addi lace needle to try out, woohoo! |
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| Alice |
I've been convinced by all your enthusiam and I've joined too!!
So its *just* the yarn colour now ....... |
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| LittleBerry |
apparantly shes aiming for 50 rows a week (25 RS rows and 25 Ws - purl) at least not like a triangle where the rows take longer and longer.... but there's no pressure to keep up.... | ||
| Dawn |
So that would work out at 10 rows a night and two nights off. That sounds like a do-able goal for me. I think the reason I failed with Kiri is I wanted it finished NOW. I have such a list of things I want to do I get stressed out over it. If we only get 50 rows of pattern a week I can't do any more and might be more relaxed about knitting it. | ||
| Woollywarbler |
I watched the last stole materialize wishing I'd joined, so after seeing this thread, I signed up too. I've not done masses of lace but I can do it if I set my mind to it and rows a week sounds perfect. I've ordered my beads and my Jaggerspun and hunted out the appropriate needles so I can do a swatch when it arrives. Must make sure I'm not in the middle of some other project so I can devote it all the attention it needs
(which really means so I have plenty of time to frog my inevitable mistakes  !!)
Tracy |
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| franney |
I'm dithering over what yarn to use for this stole 
I've found some random stuff up in the loft but it's 46 wpi which i think is too fine - bearing in mind the thinnest i have knitted so far is 4 ply, i don't want to put myself off knitting the stole before i've even started and i think that's what i'm likely to do if i use a laceweight. Sooooooooo, i'm going to do mine in 4 ply
It's either that or i wind off half the cone of random stuff, then wind two strands together and to be honest i don't know if i can be bothered
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| GrannySmith |
I have joined Just so glad it is not a race 
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| gilraen |
Me too, but I will be relying on help
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| LittleBerry |
this is my choice hand dyed zwphyr and my beads from e-beads, tension swatch is next when I get a crochet hook small enough..... |
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| Binty |
 stupid question time here
What do you need a crochet hook for?? Have I missed something critical here? |
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| LittleBerry |
the crochet hook is to put the beads on, rather than stringing them on the yarn first. There is a link to a tutorial on how to do this, other people have suggested different ways of getting the beads in situ.... | ||
| Woollywarbler |
Crikey LittleBerry, seeing your 2 packets of beads, I just had to count mine out as I only had 1 packet I seem to remember reading amongst the hundreds of emails that keep appearing that we will need about 300....I've just counted 388. Tell me, you saw the same email and I'm not just hoping  I can't believe I just sat there and did that!
I'm between colours, there's the gorgeous copper with the african sunset beads or the white with clear rainbow. Dare I say I even have a very pale blue variegated one with some irridescent black pearl coloured beads too...decisions, decisions. Tracy |
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| LittleBerry |
nope I did see that after I'd ordered my beads she said 1oz and my packets were 10g so thought I'd better get 3!!!
I have the white loony boony but only to dye at some future point.... I love the copper and would have no hesitation in using that 
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| Woollywarbler |
Phew, I can breathe easy, mind you Ebeads were very quick, so I'm sure I would have had time to get more anyway.
Yes, my first choice is the copper too, (with confirmation from Gill at the Woolly Workshop when I couldn't decide between the sable and copper, it's the Libra in me hehe) I bought the white as an afterthought when Melanie was making colour suggestions. Mystery stole 4 anyone
I can eat my lunch without getting indigestion now, thanks again!! Tracy |
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| sjl1974 |
I just signed up for this as well, I am thinking of using my Loony Boony yarn for it, or should i get some zephyr, not sure!!!!! hmmmm! | ||
| Wildpurl |
I've nearly finished a swatch in my Fyberspates and I'm liking how it looks, I think it is going to be very pretty. I ordered several packs of beads from e-beads and I have decided to go with coppper lined crystal, which are sparkly and subtle. As soon as I've finished my swatch I'll post a piccie.
I must say it's all rather exciting! I love the copper colour btw, and your lovely hand dyed one as well Littleberry. I have looked at the Jaggerspun, and the Vanilla does attract me, and so does the grey, but I think I'm going to stick with what I've got for the KAL, if I like the stole I could knit another one in a different colour later. |
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| franney |
Having seen that label on the white yarn, the cone i found up in the loft said "lane borgos... something or other" on it, could it be the same yarn?
What am i looking for in WPI for this? I'll nip back up there and have another look at it tomorrow and see if it's the same, it might be suitable after all
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| Wildpurl |
OMG Franney that's loony boony in your loft *faints*
Someone else is doing this in loony boony, I think it should be fine, you just need to swatch to check you are happy with your needle size. I wish my loft had that sort of thing in it.... |
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| franney |
Ooooh, is it a good thing then, having Loony Boony in one's loft? I've always been scared that there's a Loon in the loft, especially after watching The Grudge
I took a picture of the label, i don't understand all the jargon, what's a "nm/count"
I was going to take picture of the yarn but the battery has just died in the camera - it always happens when i want to use it!! 
I'm not sure if you can see the thickness of the yarn on that one? What would be the recommended needle size to use, can anyone offer advice? |
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| n |
Try this
http://www.yarnforward.com/ca/yarncount.html Clear as mud? The metric and imperial systems are different. My new laceweight is 2/28. (In the shop by Monday.) 2 ply It will give about 970m in 60g. Compare with 330m in 100g for my merino sock yarn (which you've seen). Remember that merino "blooms" which other yarns don't always do, and this makes it softer to knit with than some other lace yarns around....but also that blocking will take some of the bouffant effect away again, so you can see the pattern. She's suggesting 1200 yards. 2 x 60g skeins will give you enough to make it, frog it, make it, frog it, make it frog it, make it, frog it.... a good few tries without having to keep the frogged bits and be frugal with them. Sorry this wasn't meant to be an advert, I'm just trying to put it in context. n |
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| CJ |
I've joined as well, but the only yarn I have is variagated, will that do? It's my own hand-dyed stuff, unless my yarn from knit picks gets a move on, then I can dye it a solid colour.
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| Nevisknitter |
I got the ebony zephyr for this but dithering with beads, I have grey AB (think oil spilled on water) or silver, I used the grey AB on a black odessa and they looked good so may use them if its an all over bead and silver if it just looks like edging. | ||
| LittleBerry |
Sarah's blog from Sarah's yarns has a good explanation of the nm system and what it means.... but I'm still not sure how fine your yarn is.... | ||
| franney |
Well, the nm/count number on my yarn is 3000 which doesn't really relate to either of the articles you kind ladies have pointed me towards. I don't even know how much of this yarn i have, unless anyone knows how much the cone weigh ?:
I think i will wait a while and have a cogitate, i'm beginning to wonder if i can actually knit a Mystery Stole anyway
CJ, Melanie doesn't recommend variegated yarns for lacework because it can obscure the pattern, i guess it depends on the length of the colour repeat, if it's too busy it will detract from the lacework i think
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| LittleBerry |
course you can do it Franney, we're here to help....
I noticed your yarn is waxed/oiled.... perhaps try pulling some off and washing to see how it blooms...... If you have some good scales you could weight everything.... pull some yarn off and re-weigh... and measure how long it is that would give us a better idea of the weight..... |
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| Binty |
Franney of course you can - Im a beginner too but Im sure with all the help on here we can do it
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| Woollywarbler |
I've never done one either Franney, we'll make spaghetti together
We've got to get some of the holes in the right places haven't we
Tracy |
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| CJ |
Oh well, perhaps I won't be doing the stole then, cos can't afford any yarn this month. 
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| Catknit |
I've signed up for this and am thinking of using some laceweight pure Bamboo from Habu which has been in the stash since Ally Pally 2005 The yarn is white so I could go for any colour beads really but will see whats upstairs before I decide
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| LittleBerry |
CJ there is no rule taht says you can't use variegated she just suggests that it won't go with the theme.... the other thing you could try doing is overdying your yarn or even bleaching it first before overdying it....
HTH |
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| YarnAddict |
I remember that yarn Carol. It's a gorgeous colour but the thinness of the yarn terrified me at the time. Now I've done more in laceweight I might have been brave enough to knit with it.
I was thinking about using the Merino Lace Igot from Piglottie today but it's variegated. If I get some more Merino Lace to hand dye before the stole starts I may dye some especially. Got asample of merino lace from South America this week and it's gorgeous .Have dyed one skein (900 yards) and it's sosoft and it's single ply which is quite unusual. Is there anywhere we can get more details of what we need to get ready for this? I'm not doing beads btw. Just don't fancy beads. |
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| KnittingLadybird |
CJ all i've used is varigated for all my lacey stuff lately...I think your colourways would look lovely. If you're not sure...try a little square with a lace pattern on it, that will give you a better idea. I'd be well stuffed if i took everyones advice
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| LittleBerry |
I finally got chance to do my swatch yesterday,as I finally remembered to look through mum's crochet hooks to find one small enough......
Am quite happy with this swatch... the colour is a bit pale on this photo, there's a better one on my blog.... |
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| chrissy |
that looks beautiful, what size needle did you use?
Chrissy |
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| LittleBerry |
3.5mm Lace Addi's I wouldn't like to use bigger even 3.75mm but that's my personal preference.... | ||
| Nevisknitter |
It's looking good Little berry, does anyone know where I can buy small crochet hooks online, My LYS doesn't have any in the smallest sizes. | ||
| Dawn |
I got mine from here http://www.stitch1knit1.com/acata...d_crochet_inox_crochet_hooks.html they were very quick, next day I think. |
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| Binty |
Thats a great link - thanks
How do you know what size hook you need? This is proably as really stupid question but the beads I have are really small (I think they are # and I cant imagine finding a hook small enough
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| LittleBerry |
I think the smallest hook I've seen advertised (in the above link) is a 0.6mm I've not come across anything smaller than this. I'm using a 0.75mm with my size 8 beads...
HTH |
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| Nevisknitter |
Thanks for the link Littleberry, I have size 8 Toho beads, so hoping the 0.75mm will do, but may get 0.6mm too. | ||
| Woollywarbler |
Personally I'd stick to the .75, I'm using a .60 on my stole with some teeny crystal beads and it's quite an experience I'm collecting a .75 tomorrow from Hobbycraft. It was the only size I didn't have, the 1mm wouldn't go through so I know somewhere in the middle would be perfect.
Tracy |
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| n |
I take it this is not an activity for those of us who are trying to remain oblivious to the fact that we really need to organise going to the optician to get reading glasses because we're getting past it..... ooops did I say that?
n (who succumbed to reading glasses a couple of years ago and now has about 6 pairs scattered around the place and REFUSES to buy one of those cord thingies to go round her neck!!!!) |
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| Nevisknitter |
My glasses are on permanently . Just ordered the crochet hook and Jean Greenhows topsyturvy doll pattern slipped in too
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| Woollywarbler |
I'm sat here typing right this minute with blurry eyes, knowing full well that I should have mine on and that's after a trip to the optician when I found out that books are so much more fun when you can actually read them I don't usually wear them for knitting but these diddy rocailles are smaller than the toho beads I'll be using on the Mystery Stole. I wear my reading glasses on the end of my nose just like I thought I never ever would so I can watch tv but see where I'm sticking my lethal weapon.
Funny it was onlly the other day I thought I should get a chain thingy so I always had them to hand. It was a passing moment Anyway, it's not my eyes, they keep making the print smaller to save on ink don't they? DON'T THEY  
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| franney |
Thanks for the encouragement girls *hugs*
I'm going to try and find time to have a fiddle with this lana borgiwotsit, see if i can work out how much i have and also try a swatch and see if i think i can work with it and blahdeblah. If not then it may well end up in the craft market!
I'm sure i can do it, i just get fed up sometimes and say silly things
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| Wildpurl |
I've completed my swatch with the Fyberspates, and it is very pretty:
However, I have now found some Cherry Tree Hill laceweight in Wild Cherry, it is also variegated, but with less contrast, and it is not fuzzy, and it is a little thicker. Here is the skein,  .
I've wound it into a ball now and I really love the colours, so I'm going to swatch with it later. I think I might change my mind! I'll need different beads as well...
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| Woollywarbler |
ooh I like them both....I forgot I've got some CTH in Indian Summer upstairs, it's all flooding back, nobody tell my DH!
Tracy |
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| Jazzyp |
Carola, that Fyberspates is gorgeous!  But I think you're right it might not be quite right for this project.
The Cherry Tree Hill is a fantastic colour
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| CJ |
how many size 8 beads do I need? I've been looking on beads direct and they come in 13g tubes, so I have no idea how many tubes to order.
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| Woollywarbler |
About 300 apparently. I bought a packet from Ebeads and there were 382 in there...yes I'm sad like that and sat and counted them out
Tracy |
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| LittleBerry |
I bought 3 packs seeing they were 10g each and she's got 1oz (28g in 1oz) but as WW said there's more than enough in a pack from e-beads. | ||
| LittleBerry |
I like your swatch in the mohair, but I have to agree I think the slight fuzziness ay detract formt he pattern (am not really a fuzzy yarn person) but I look forward to seeing the CTH I imagine it's going to look quite good.... | ||
| CJ |
thanks. Just ordered a packet or two in different colours, it's quite cheap at ebeads.
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| terri |
I've ordered some of the "stainless" grey laceweight from n. its only 1000yards though and the yahoo group says 1200, so I might have to make mine slightly shorter
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| Wildpurl |
Well what a week, I'm exhausted! I have swatched with the CTH, and it's gorgeous, and it is just right for the stole I think, not too variegated and not fuzzy. I ordered three more lots of beads from e-beads - jet black, rainbow and amethyst with silver inserts. The amethyst are absolutely gorgeous with the yarn, so that's what I am going for. I have taken a photo but I'm too exhausted to put it up right now, I'll post it tomorrow. Anyway, I'm ready! | ||
| n |
You are all very organised.
I'm not going to think about this until AW. I'm signed up, but not swatched or beaded or even coloured... n |
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| Binty |
Can I ask a silly question here
You are all talking about using a hook to thread your beads as you go, could it still be done with threading all the beads on before hand and knitting them in as you go? |
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| LittleBerry |
Not sure how ppractical it would be Binty.... if the beads are dotted here and there then you'd have to thread them all on your yarn before starting so adding wear and tare to the yarn so to speak... the hook method is very easy, you are literally just using the hook tohold the stitch then slip the bead over the loop, pop it back on the needle.... | ||
| Binty |
hmmm ok thanks for that, Im not sure I can get a hook, I thought I had one small enough but it will not go through the beads
I really like the idea of using beads but this might be turning out just a bit to difficult at the moment
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| LittleBerry |
there are posts somewhere in all the posts about using dental floss, it really is easy Binty to add the beads the tutorial link is very good.... | ||
| Woollywarbler |
They're quite easy to find, I got mine in my local Hobbycraft. I bought 2, a .60 and a .75mm metal one. The hooks are so small but this way of beading is really easy, I wish I'd done it before. Go on have a little visit even if you have to shut your eyes to walk past the yarn display If you can't find any locally then this place http://www.stitch1knit1.com/shop/...d_crochet_inox_crochet_hooks.html is really quick, next day in fact for me when I ordered from them recently.
Tracy |
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| gilraen |
My Zephyr arrived this morning, thanks Gill.
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| Binty |
So did mine!! (Even the postie is commenting on the amount of squiggle packs arriving! But he now understands if I dont appear at the door within a nano second - not to knock and to just leave it somewhere for me find when OH is not looking) |
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| chrissy |
swatch done and dusted, using my laceweight and 3.25mm addi lace needles from a swap with CJ, the needles are fab and the best I have ever used for lace. I frogged a couple of swatches due to the size but I am really happy with this attempt. I have 1200metres or 1300yards per skein so should have plenty. |
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| gilraen |
That is lovely Chrissy.
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| CJ |
I love that Chrissy. Glad you like the addis I'm hoping to dye the lovely yarn I got from you maybe even today, if DH lets me.
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| Wildpurl |
That's beautiful Chrissy. I am using the same size needles, also addi lace, and I love them I must say. Here's my swatch:
The beads are the silver lined amethyst ones. They are more subtle and beautiful than they look here. |
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| gilraen |
That's lovely Carola.
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| chrissy |
carola that is really lovely, I love the colours
Chrissy |
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| CJ |
that's lovely Carola.
I've just dyed my lovely BFL laceweight I got in a swap with Chrissy, and it's on the line drying now. I went for lime green - it's bright. At least I'll be able to see the stitches in the evening though. Not sure what beads to use, will have to see what it looks like knit up.
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| Wildpurl |
Lime green sounds gorgeous CJ. Maybe bronze or copper beads would be nice? | ||
| Woollywarbler |
I can't wait to see all these wonderful combinations. Everyones stoles are going to be so individual and beautiful. I had to have a nosey through all the swatches on the MS3 site earlier. I did my swatch last night and added a couple of beads for good measure. If I may so so myself, I'm really pleased with it! I think it may become a bookmark for a while
Roll on Friday! Tracy |
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| YarnAddict |
I suppose I should get around to doing a swatch some time. Can't decide what yarn to use though. Got lots of lace in my stash or shall I dye some of my new Merino Lace. Decisions, decisions. I printed out all the swatch details etc the other day and I've lost it now. And I can't find the link for it again. Help.
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| gilraen |
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mysterystole3/ | ||
| CJ |
well, I've got a choice of 3 colours!! One is an apple green matt colour, but it's a bit darker. the second is a lime green, but that's darker too, but a closer match, or clear with silver inside. I still can't choose. I'll have to decide soon, but never one for making my mind up!!!
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| gilraen |
Want help? CJ? | ||