Yarn Crafters

It has been mentioned in another thread that it is sometimes hard to keep track of threads that do not get much traffic.

 Have you considered consolidating posts pertaining to knitting and crocheting in one thread? (Yes, similar to scrapbooking and stamping)  Instead of 4 threads with 5 posts each, you will have 1 post of 20, thus keeping it closer to the top. You will likely make lots of new friends.

It will also keep answers that apply to yarn readily available to both crafts. Knitters can learn about crochet borders. Both can learn of sales, washing tips, storage, new patterns, books to read, and so forth.

Maybe I can check in to find out why I can not seem to maintain the same tension, regardless of whether I knit or crochet.

Does anyone here machine knit?

cookie

Dear Cookie:  I love most crafts & used to peruse this category until I realized the majority dealt with scrapbooking (which I don't do) and stamping ( I dabble a little).  Now I only peruse it once every so often.  I thought it would cover any & all crafts.  It does, but they are few & far between.  Too few to keep my interest.

I know I am a lurker & this opinion will, no doubt, get me in trouble, but I agree with you...consolidate posts dealing with "knitting & crocheting" or "cross stitch & needlepoint", etc.  Save me time when I'm browsing.  Of course, somebody needs to start that particular post weekly.  As it is I give lots of kudos to those stampers & scrapbookers who continue it weekly.  Maybe because it takes us knitter & stitchers so long to finish a project...

Knitting/crocheting tension:  I found I have to be at peace with the world to maintain my tension.  (man that sounds like an oxymoron if I ever heard one!!) If I am the least provoked with DH or the kids....tight tension.  Too much wine...loose tension!  I have found I need to breathe deep, concentrate of "letting go" before I resume knitting or crocheting.  Sort of decide this is MY time and relax!  Most of the time it works, and when it doesn't I just hang it up and start again another day/time!  Good Luck

Cathy

Sounds great to me! I knit and crochet, but am isolated from others in my community so would love to see a dedicated (weekly?) thread for yarn crafting.

Regarding tension, as the previous poster asaid, relaxation is key  , especially in regards to knitting which is a more recent skill for me. I've also found I tend to purl more loosely than I knit, which I have learned to compensate for by tugging lightly after each purl stitch.

I have received some excellent advice, and great tips from an online acquaintance who is a professional knitter and instructor. One of the things she recommends when knitting swatches is to keep those swatches, along with notes, including the usual stats (type of yarn etc.) and to also include what time of day, any mood altering "activities", or diversions (such as background music, TV shows you may be watching at the time,etc.) and even your mood at the time of knitting the swatch.

Thanks for your assistance on the tension. Now, if I can just follow it. My SIL does beautiful crochet, any pattern, and it is gorgeous, perfect tension. I crochet for me. Then I buy her stuff to give for presents.

Most of my knitting has been by machine. I think the last major hand knit afghan I made was 360 stitches on a circular needle. After it was about 18 inches long, my son brought me the empty needle and said, "Here Mom, this is for you." That day to this, I crochet, and only pick up one stitch, no matter how far he has unwound it. (He is 37....still not sure what convinced me to let him live)

I have my share of foul ups on the machine, but at least the mistakes are faster.

I like the idea. I am new to all these forums I tried the rose room everyone is very nice but its hard to jump in on the conversation when you don't know whats going on. I would love to make some new friends.

I currently crochet I make a lot of scarfs for shelters and shawls for women surviving cancer. I love to crochet it is very relaxing for me I am a bit high strung.OOps did I say that out loud ha!!

Sherri

Cathy, on Sunday, or whatever day you choose, the first one to get to the computer just starts a thread with the same title as the week prior. It does not have to be the same person. Once the thread is started, everyone gravitates to that thread.

So, next Sunday, if you see no one has started Yarn Crafters, Just start a new post, and invite others to post.

Do you prefer regular acrylic 4 ply, baby yarn, or do you use the fancy yarns, like in thoses scarfs? I know different yarns for different projects, but generally do you have a favorite project?

I notice photos on other threads that are very nice. Maybe in weeks to come, we can get together on just a couple threads.

Hi Sherri! Glad you stopped by. This post is just hours old, so we have no history. You are our history.

My SIL crochets lap robes for nursing homes, and baby blankets for organizations that distribute them to young mothers.

I am not currently doing a yarn project, but intend to start machine knitting again soon, though I may crochet some dish cloths first. I am a grandmother of 3, live in NW PA. I enjoy many crafts. About the only thing I never learned is tatting.

Tell us about yourself.

cookie

I am 39 I live in MN I have been married for 18 years to a wonderful man I have 2 children my son is 17 and dau is 14. I do enjoy crocheting I may take a knitting class this winter I would love to knit sweaters I also would like to try a knitting machine I think they sound very interesting.

I think this is good that yarn crafters are together. I love to crochet and try to knit but I am not a scrapbooking person. I am married for 27 years and have to daughters who married brothers. My daughters each had a baby last year a month a part so I am now a grandma. I have a machine knitter I bought years ago but it looks so complicated. I am excellent at crocheting. I like to knit but if I make a mistake I can not correct it. I live in Iowa in a small town in the north central part. Good to meet everyone. Jeanette

 Well, I am an everything crafter!  :)  But I think that crochet is my love.  I love to crochet for my grandchildren.  I will keep trying to update my pictures thread as I get pics taken of my projects. I am a wife, mom and grandma.   With 13 grandchildren aging from 13 to almost 2 and 2 more grandbabies on the way, I certainly have plenty to keep me busy!  I do work outside the home and wish that I could be at home!!! Desperately wish that!  Someday maybe!  lol  

 Along with crocheting, I sew and do scrapbooking and whatever other craft I can find that I like the looks of!  lol

Hi everyone.  Well, I'm glad to see there is someone on here who likes to knit, crochet, x-stitch, etc instead of just the quilting thread.  I check this chat often but don't quilt so never really get interested in it.   My first love is knitting.  I learned that right after I got married 44 yrs. ago.  Then my husbands aunt taught me how to crochet so I dabble in it, mostly doileys.  I've done several projects of x-stitching and am in the process of working on the San Xavier Mission outside of Tucson, AZ.  I have had to put that down momentarily so I can knit a baby blanket for my goddaughter who is expecting.  Now the blanket I make is a round one and very different.  I use the multicolor baby yarn.  I've made it for over 35 years, guess it's sort of my "signature" blanket for babies. 

gkids3, that really sounds like an interesting round blanket. Do you make it on straight needles, or does it have so many stitchest that you need round?  Do you do 4 ply, or baby yarn? Again, even tension is my problem. I would be afraid someone would ask why my baby was wrapped in a tulip. Blocking does not fix my interesting knitting. LOL

The blanket is done on 10 1/2 straight needles as I start out with a large # and each row drop off 2 stitches till I have 5 left, then pick up the dropped ones and start again.  I use 4 ply worsted weight, usually Red Heart.  Tension is no problem with this because of the way it's knit, I have used a different yarn a few times and find it stretches more than the Red Heart so stick with it.  I call the blanket a "circle of love".  It is a fairly large circle but have been told by many who've received it that it works really great in cribs and also for car seats as it has no corners.  I don't block this, usually just take a steam iron and let the steam(don't put iron on yarn) help flatten it out into a circle after I have sewn it together.

I will have to look. I think I have this pattern for machine knitting. I have had shoulder problems, and have avoided anything which may aggravate it. This spring I hope to relearn the machines enough to be able to show someone what they can do, then sell them.

I left work an hour early today due to  not much to do being that its still our month end. I went to joann fabrics and picked up some yarn that was on sale I love getting new yarn and thinking of the next project. People at my work do not get me at all they think I am a bit werid for crochet its a bit out of character for me since I am a little outspoken but I can't sit and watch tv I feel like I need to do something plus its relaxing and I make things for others.Sounds like everyone else is busy with grand kids since mine are still young I will have to wait I love babies. I miss those years. I think I am getting emty nest syndrome early.

Sherri