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Sarah
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| Posted: Dec 16 2006 at 1:12pm | IP Logged
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Elizabeth wrote:
Sarah wrote:
I sent dh to the craft store for needles yesterday since I'm still not up to going anywhere (recovering from preg. sickness-long bout) and he came back with needles that were like 4" long.  Oh dear, I didn't think it would that hard for him.
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Isn't it funny how a guy can get through medical school but be confounded by a craft store? I can't send the men in this family to the craft store either... |
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Funny!  I can laugh today. Yesterday I was so annoyed . Poor guy he tried. Sure he can run a code blue and pump someone's heart by hand, but he can't figure out the needle thing. The funny thing too was that I was on the phone telling him that they are like 12" or more. He just got so overwhelmed. I am so grateful he tried. Today he took the receipt and I think he might be trying to redeem himself. He's out running errands now and that may be one of them. 
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Six boys ages 16, 14, 11, 7, 5, 2 and one girl age 9
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marihalojen
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| Posted: Dec 16 2006 at 1:22pm | IP Logged
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Order Chinese tonight and tell them to send extra chopsticks. They're my all time favorite needles. Just run them through your kids' pencil sharpener if they aren't quite pointy enough. Then rub them together to smooth. Probably unorthodox, but I've been pretty desperate on this island before...
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~Jennifer
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The Mari Hal-O-Jen
SSR = Sailing, Snorkling, Reading
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Sarah
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| Posted: Dec 16 2006 at 4:01pm | IP Logged
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He came back from errands and didn't say anything about the needles. I don't think he got them. I didn't want to press the issue since I was pretty hard on him. He really is good and helpful.
My Mom also said to try English at first. Whenever I get those needles I'll get going. . .
Maybe I'll try Chinese tonight since the chicken breasts are still frozen and I have no idea what I'll do with them  .
I'm throughly enjoying this thread. I'm starting to get strange after being housebound so long.  Which is why I thought about this knitting thing in the first place. . . 
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Six boys ages 16, 14, 11, 7, 5, 2 and one girl age 9
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alicegunther
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| Posted: Dec 18 2006 at 8:53pm | IP Logged
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marihalojen wrote:
| Order Chinese tonight and tell them to send extra chopsticks. They're my all time favorite needles. Just run them through your kids' pencil sharpener if they aren't quite pointy enough. Then rub them together to smooth. Probably unorthodox, but I've been pretty desperate on this island before... |
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Now that is brilliant! I can see the book now: Knitting with Robinson Crusoe: A Mariner's Guide to Needle Arts.
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Love, Alice
mother of seven!
     
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Brew yourself a cup of tea, and come for a visit!
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hylabrook1
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| Posted: Dec 19 2006 at 7:36am | IP Logged
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I use English and prefer bamboo needles. They are certainly smooth enough to slide very smoothly, but they seem to stay in place better; my rate of dropped stitches/dropped work is much lower with the bamboo. Also, each time I take a stitch I don't hear an annoying little *clink* that the metal needles make. It is much more soothing.
Sarah - maybe you'll find longer needles in your Christmas stocking?
Peace,
Nancy
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marihalojen
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| Posted: Dec 19 2006 at 7:59am | IP Logged
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alicegunther wrote:
| Now that is brilliant! I can see the book now: Knitting with Robinson Crusoe: A Mariner's Guide to Needle Arts. |
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~Jennifer
Mother to Mariannna, age 13
The Mari Hal-O-Jen
SSR = Sailing, Snorkling, Reading
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~Rachel~
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| Posted: Dec 19 2006 at 11:20am | IP Logged
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I knit both continental and English, depending on which of my hands is tired
I love the book Knitting Without Tears by Elizabeth Zimmerman.
I also know there are sites online with 'how to videos'
Try http://www.knittinghelp.com/
This site helped me to learn to purl in contintental style... something I have problems with because English is faster
Continental is actually a little easier to learn... but the bamboo needles are MUCH MUCH better than the metal ones. Clover needles are my favourites... and I prefer using the circulars over the straight needles anyway
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~Rachel~
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Lighting a Fire
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MicheleQ
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| Posted: Dec 19 2006 at 1:42pm | IP Logged
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I can knit continental but really prefer English (must be my English blood ) I like metal needles and am loving my Knit Picks Options set. Some people don't like interchangeables. I do. Especially these (I have the Denise set too - they are OK but plastic).
Of course I haven't used bamboo needles yet - I would probably like them too!
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Michele Quigley
wife to my prince charming and mom of 10 in Lancaster County, PA USA
http://michelequigley.com
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marihalojen
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| Posted: Dec 20 2006 at 7:20am | IP Logged
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Michelle - love the new avatar! 
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~Jennifer
Mother to Mariannna, age 13
The Mari Hal-O-Jen
SSR = Sailing, Snorkling, Reading
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Sarah
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| Posted: Dec 20 2006 at 10:25am | IP Logged
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marihalojen wrote:
| Michelle - love the new avatar! |
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Yes. . .love it!
Haven't had much success yet. I'm going to put my knitting on hold until after Christmas. My first attempt wasn't too successful, but I won't give up.
Thanks so much for all the suggestions!!!!
Now I'm (kind of) looking forward to January with something fun to tackle. . .at home by the fire.
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~Rachel~
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| Posted: Dec 21 2006 at 11:37am | IP Logged
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SARAH: Yes, do not give up! I highly recommend the videos for enlightening purposes
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~Rachel~
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lilac hill
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| Posted: Dec 21 2006 at 2:11pm | IP Logged
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I have been knitting with Addi turbo's for magic loop patterns and regular, circular knitting. The cable/needle join is very smooth.
A favorite book for beginning knitting is Knitting in Plain English.
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Viv
Wife to Rick (7/83), Mom to dd#1(6/87), dd#2(1/90), and dd#3(6/94) in central PA.
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Kim F
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| Posted: Jan 07 2007 at 8:44am | IP Logged
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I learned to knit with the English style and was trying in vain to learn continental on my own. (Or is that the other way around lol??) My stitches were twisted too. After the knittinghelps video I saw I was doing just what was mentioned here - wrapping the yarn the wrong way when I had switched to the other hand. It was a quick fix once I saw the video.
Kim
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Sarah
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| Posted: Jan 07 2007 at 4:09pm | IP Logged
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Kim, waht does that look like? I'm doing the exact same thing when I switch. Do I wrap one way, then switch needles and then wrap another way?
I'm knitting a kids'scarf and only knitting ( not purling). This is my first thing and no one but I have seen it. What should just knitting look like? Mine is bumpy. . .like one row goes down, the next row sticks up, etc. . .Does this sound right everyone???? Am I twisting too??? (I'm a little self conscious, can you tell?) I'm doing the English throwing type.
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Kim F
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| Posted: Jan 07 2007 at 5:56pm | IP Logged
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I used to do the throwing thing with the right hand and kept the needle tucked under that arm. when I switched to the left hand the stitches looked funny when the knitting got transferred to the other side. Those videos fixed it all! Really take a look at those. I could NOT figure it out from my book.
Kim
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Mary G
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| Posted: Jan 07 2007 at 8:18pm | IP Logged
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Sarah,
I'm not Kim, but if you could post a picture (or email it to me) of your knitting, that would be great. When you're just knitting, you should have bumps on alternating rows -- that's called "garter stitch" -- so it SOUNDS like you're doing it right.
What Kim is talking about is when you knit one row, purl another, and the Vs are not clear Vs (the bottom is twisted). And I haven't forgotten about shipping you some knitting stuff -- it's been hectic trying to et out with the snow that doesn't seem to want to stop in this part of Colorado!
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MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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Mary G
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| Posted: Jan 08 2007 at 7:16am | IP Logged
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Sarah, to add to the post last night -- your knit stitch (look at the row you're on now, not below) should have a V that comes together at the bottom and is not twisted. When you turn your work, do the same thing, checking to ensure that the V is not twisted -- as long as the stitches don't twist you're doing it right.
There are as many ways to knit as there are people -- I don't hold my yarn the same as someone else, but the end result looks the same -- that's what you're striving for. The end result to look right.....
And it can be helpful to learn both Continental (or German) and English so when you graduate to two-color knitting you can carry a yarn in each hand -- it definitely makes it quicker and more even....
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MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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Karen E.
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| Posted: Jan 08 2007 at 9:26am | IP Logged
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I'm trying to teach myself to knit, too, and can't wait to get some time to check out these online resources.
Thank you!
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God bless,
Karen E.
mom to three on earth, and several souls in God's care
Visit my blog, with its shockingly clever title, "Karen Edmisten."
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Sarah
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| Posted: Jan 08 2007 at 12:46pm | IP Logged
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I'll try to get a picture up on my blog today. There are some mistakes. . .like a hole.
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BrendaPeter
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| Posted: Jan 08 2007 at 3:35pm | IP Logged
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MicheleQ wrote:
| I like metal needles and am loving my Knit Picks Options set. Some people don't like interchangeables. I do. Especially these (I have the Denise set too - they are OK but plastic). |
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Hi Michele,
I'm not familiar with these knitting needles. They are interchangeable - how does that work?
Thank you!
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Blessings,
Brenda (mom to 6)
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: Teach myself to knit?
