Suggestions for new Knitalongs?

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Permalink Reply by Peggy Stuart on January 11, 2009 at 12:59pm: Hi, Maria! We used to live in Weybridge. We were there for a year in 1988-89. I loved it and spend a lot of time knitting. I used to go to Creativity in London a lot. Now we live in Utah, in a town where the nearest wool shop is 20 miles away. Because of that (and because I rarely need help anymore) I do a lot of ordering online. You can get color cards with samples of the yarn, but I've been happy with ordering just based on the way the color appears on the computer screen. I guess it's because I'm drawn to primaries and greyed-down primaries. You'll probably hear from KP admin on this, but I don't think there's any requirement that you use KP's materials for most of the KALs. An exception would be something like the Speed-knitting KAL, where it's stated that you MUST use KP yarn. I think it's because there is a prize involved that costs KP, and they probably will need to recoup at least some of the cost with sales of yarn to participants. I think that's fair enough. I would love a sweater KAL. I have some Palette, and would like to make a cardigan with steeks. Happy knitting. --Peggy; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mrs. K on January 12, 2009 at 1:34pm: Hi, Peggy, Thanks for replying. I'm ALWAYS in for a sweater KAL. Love to knit sweaters. The biggest problem is to find the right pattern. So far, I haven't done a top to bottom one all in one piece. I''ve got a pattern for that somewhere and was planning this for later this year. It looks really nice but I haven't got the wool for it (yet). So I've promised myself to first knit up most of my stash and then do that sweater pattern top to bottom. So excited!

Oh, I actually work in London, commuting 2 hours each day, a good hour non-stop on the train. Good knitting time!

Hugs, Maria; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Peggy Stuart on January 12, 2009 at 2:33pm: Maria: What weight yarn are you using? The Palette yarn I have would be equivalent to your four ply. The cardi I made from a cone of four ply from Creativity is just about worn out. I'll looking for top down, with raglan sleeves or steek, and an interesting pattern, like cables or something. --Peggy; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mrs. K on January 13, 2009 at 1:33pm: Peggy, I'm usually using double knit (i.e. use 4mm needles). It's thick enough to be snuggly and thin enough to be not too warm. But it depends very much on the yarn. In autumn I knit myself a thick cardigan on 8mm needles (when it was getting far colder here than usual) and really loved that. I've also knit a few things in aran weight (4.5 to 5mm needles).
Overall, it very much depends on the yarn. In general, I'll fall in love with the yarn, then I'll think about what would be nice to make of it. Socks are so much easier. Most yarns I've seen are gorgeous, so it's simply about finding the one I like best :)
Maria; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Peggy Stuart on January 13, 2009 at 1:46pm: I guess the main reason I like the finer yarn is because of my arthritic thumbs. I find I can knit faster and longer with small needles and fine yarn. I think the movements are smaller and there is less weight on the needles. Another consideration is that you get a lot more knitting out of 500 grams of 4-ply or fingering weight than you do out of an Aran-weight yarn. I do like a nice Aran, though. The last was what I brought back from Inish Mor the last time we were hiking in Ireland. I love that cardi, and it was fun to make. --Peggy; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mrs. K on January 13, 2009 at 2:00pm: You're right, Peggy, Whatever you knit should be practical at the same time. Both for the knitter as well as the garment. Aran sweaters are usually in thicker yarn, simply because they're originated from a colder climate. But there's no reason why they can't be done in thinner yarn, keeping in mind that most patterns will be in thicker yarns. On the other hand, it's usually easy enough to re-jig the pattern and re-calculate the stitches per inch / cm.
If you like, I'll have a look around for patterns in our 4-ply thickness, top to bottom.
Oh, what I forgot to ask, what is "steek"? I've never come across that term, but that's not surprising, seeing I'm talking / writing, knitting in a different language than my mother tongue, anyway :); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Peggy Stuart on January 13, 2009 at 2:08pm: A steek is where you cut the knitting after it's done, such as for armholes or the front of a cardigan. With some yarns it's best to stabilize the sts with a line or two of sewing, either by machine or by hand. Some people crochet an edge around where they're going to cut before they actually cut into the knitting. I confess, I haven't done it yet, but it's on my list of things to learn for 2009! --Peggy; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Renee on January 21, 2009 at 10:50am: I would love to see the directions for a group knit along. Quite a number of years ago I found directions for a group to knit a sweater or blanket together. The skein of yarn traveled among the knitters. The knitters sat in a circle and could complete a sweater in a very short amount of time. I do not remember exactly what it was called, but of course, looked very interesting. I have lost the directions, but it would be great for groups or families of knitters to try. The toe up two at once socks idea is also great! The beginnig is the hardest, but once you get started it is so much fun. I have even started two socks from two different colors. Yes, I do have to do it again, but then AI have TWO new pairs of socks!
Renee; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Knit Picks Admin on January 28, 2009 at 7:27am: Have you seen the book "Knit Along" by Larissa Brown? It has several projects designed to be knit by multiple people. http://knitalong.net/; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Elianastar on January 22, 2009 at 8:40pm: Three possible suggestions:

1. "Very Easy Circular Knits" by Betty Barnden... a step-by-step primer on circular knitting, workbook style; ten project sections, most with more than one pattern to work; great pictures throughout; a stitch library that could easily be worked as samplers to learn the patterns and techniques. Working through the book would help newer knitters with many techniques well demonstrated... or knitters new to circular knitting... would have an excellent opportunity to master all levels of circular knitting... teaches both circular needles and double points.

2. "Weekend Knitting" by Melanie Falick... although most projects probably couldn't be completed by most people in a single weekend, they are mostly smaller/quicker projects. Or a similar title of quicker, varied, projects.

3. (Possibly the best?) A KAL with the "One Skein Wonders" series [currently three titles]... small, quick, very varied, and many "giftable," projects... and a great way to try out a skein or two of a KP yarn you've been wanting to try but not commit a sweater to just yet. :-) Or use up left over yarns, for some projects.
~*~ Note: You DO have to pay attention to the yardage/gauge of the project... "one ball" means different things to different "balls"... but a hefty number of projects can be done with two balls or less.
(There are several other books like this series that could maybe be added later?); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Peggy Stuart on January 23, 2009 at 6:49am: I think a One Skein Wonders KAL is a good idea. The books from this series are probably the most popular books in my knitting group (and also my quilting minigroups!) :-} I gave the first one of the series, which I had spiral-bound at a copy place, to my DD and her niece, my 16-year-old GD. We each picked out some yarn to make a project from the book, so if they have issues, they can e-mail each other or me. My DD is doing her first felted project, and my GD is learning a new skill: YOs. I have finished my project from the book: David's Cap, which you can see on my page. It's on its way to Wisconsin as I write this, to keep David's head warm for the rest of the winter. I agree that you have to pay attention to the yardage for the project. Even with that, I ran out of yarn for David's cap because I made it slightly larger for his slightly larger head (he has a PhD), and because I make the border a tighter knit. It was a good thing he wanted some gray added as an accent. My GD needed three skeins of what she picked out for her scarf. The nice lady at the yarn shop helped us figure out the substitutions. --Peggy; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Elianastar on January 27, 2009 at 12:22pm: Well this isn't for a new KAL, but I've just finally paid attention to the two Sheldon KALs. I tried to click on the link to see the kit but only get error messages, so I've looked all through the regular ordering sections to find the original Sheldon or any of his component parts and find nothing other than a blanket pattern with a pocket for Sheldon... is that the first and original Sheldon project? And, if so, where and how do I find the other stuff related to the KAL for the animal Sheldon's? Do I have to join the KAL to order the other stuff?

I would prefer to be able to order Sheldon and the animal patterns first, then join the KAL once it arrives. I'm thinking this project could be a great Holiday gift for my GD, as we choose to celebrate Hanukkah instead of Christmas... just cuz of all the commercialization of Christmas and the fact He wasn't born in December anyway... and I could give her one of the animal outfits each night for Sheldon. :-) There wouldn't be a full 8 count, but I could fill out the remaining with some gloves or a hat or whatever...; ▶ Reply to This