I just finished knitting this, anyone want to comment?

not that I can't take it, but please note that I taught myself from a book only a month ago, this is scarf number 6. Scarves # 1 and 3 were so hideous, I didn't need anyone else to tell me what they thought. but please be honest.

Of course, I'm not a knitter -- I don't even think I can sew on a button with much accuracy. If it were a scarf meant for me, I think I'd want it to be about twice as long -- so I could really wrap up my neck and mouth against the cold.

Keep up the good work! I'm impressed.

i did consider making it longer, but it turned out to be so wide that when you put it on it goes from collar bone to lips with no problem. I think I will just have to give it to someone who doesn't get much of a winter. :-) thanks for the input.

I had my grandma try and teach me how to knit before she passed away.

Let's just say it didn't turn out. HAHA!

Matt :)

Welcome to DU!

:hi:

I learned from a book! If you are willing to try again, I highly recommend it. It is the only thing keeping me sane these days, I think. Keeps the hands and mind busy.

i wonder if i coud do that.

And I had never knitted before. I had zero clue before I bought a kit at Michaels. 10 bucks and an hour later I was knitting. My first scarf was hideous, but my second was pretty cool. I have scarves # 7,8,9, & 10 on needles already. I love to have a few going so they all finish close to the same time and I feel so productive! It also keeps me from getting bored with the same thing over and over.

If I can do it, anyone can!

I'm a self taught knitter as well! Pick up a kit or the book "Stitch n Bitch". You can do it!!

Your tension was obviously even throughout because it doesn't pull in anywhere along the length, the yarn is attractive and I didn't spot any dropped stitches.

If you don't like the stripes formed by variegated yarn in larger projects (say, a sweater), you can prevent them by alternating balls of yarn while you're knitting. But, your stripes are way cool on this most excellent scarf!

Knit on! :party:

I am trying to learn continental style, but it confuses me so much! I've only been knitting a month and am so used to using my right to throw that it feels weird to switch to my left to kick (that is the right terminology, right?) It took me a while to do this, that's why no dropped stiches, plus this thread is so forgiving. I am working on a new project (no pattern, just making it up) and trying to work in different colors like you mention. It is interesting!

We need a knitters forum here at DU! I'd love a pattern for a scarf with 'democrat' on it! or something that wouldn't look stupid. :-)

But I see no earthly reason to ever stop. I'm self-taught as well and still throw with my right unless I'm knitting two handed for fair isle knitting. Continental is sooo chic. You go girl!

If you're ready to learn intarsia and charting, a 'democrat' scarf is a great project.

we so need a forum. I don't know what you are talking about, but I want to! :bounce:

I am addicted, for sure. Now that I knit, I don't understand why everyone doesn't do it! I went to a MeetUp meeting this week, that is where I saw Continental, it does look bad ass. soooo fast! hopefully I can hook up with someone who wants to mentor me, but it seems the people who know the most teach and won't really share or teach thoroughly without getting paid, which I guess is okay. I can understand, it's a skill.

it's not only addictive but it can get expensive once you start scoping out the luxurious yarns available on the Internet. Oh, and some of the new needles are pure art. For now stick with the yarn you can get locally. Lion has improved a lot over the past several years and it'll serve you well for most of your projects. Just stay away from temptation as long as possible!

dang that's great :)

I can't believe I'm not the only one who likes it! My husband is out of town, so I have had no feedback at all. I was thinking I might be delusional, but I guess it is okay! Thanks!

It looks well-made and warm. For functionality, I would say longer is always better. Then again that's really just a matter of personal choice (or depending on how cold it really is, I suppose.)

I like it!

I made it too wide to begin with, and didn't want to dip into the next skein(sp?) I bought for another scarf. I don't use a pattern for scarves, I just start knitting and see where the yarn takes me. Personally, I like scarves that hit the knee after being wound on the neck a few times (really freakin long, in other words) but don't have the patience to make them myself!

Looks like a variegated yarn -- nubby -- sort of handspun look to it.

nice edges. Should keep you warm.

It's a relatively cheap yarn, Red Heart- Lite and Lofty - Heather. It is very soft and snuggly though. I think it is going to be a gift this Christmas. I wish I had made it longer...

Since the yarn is so nubbly, you can just pick up stitches at the end of the scarf (pick up the same number of stitches you used for the rest of the scarf) and keep on knitting. The nubbly yarn will hide the join.

That is, if you don't want to unravel your binding off, go back a row, and pick up the real stitches. If you do that, it will be as if you never stopped knitting.

And by the way, it is a pretty scarf! Congratulations! As someone else said, knitting is hideously addictive. In fact, I had to have a cortisone shot in my elbow 2 days ago -- been doing too much knitting and crocheting as a meditative activity after that abortion of an election...

I am wary of trying to fix or add to it, I haven't had much luck with that as of late. I just mess it all up! Maybe if the thinner twin has some leftover yarn I will try it. thanks for the advice, we so need a forum!

thanks for the compliment, I love knitting so much now and the only people who understand are other knitters! My friends and husband call me 'the old lady'. Like being old is an insult in the first place, but I'm 31 and proud to knit! I do it everywhere and people invariably come up and ask about it.

over to your house and show you how to lengthen your scarf! Darn!

I keep telling the knitters I do meet here that I need a knitting mommy. No bites yet, but I am sure I will find someone who wants to pass on some knowledge. ;-)

I love the colors and the texture!

Thanks a lot for the feedback!

I've got a book, nice bamboo needles, nice yarn, I wanna make a scarf.

I tried in 1966, with my granny agreeing to teach me. I got some old-style metal needles, nice enough yarn (less variety available to select from back then) and I wanted to make a scarf.

My granny had had to give up knitting years earlier, due to glaucoma and cataracts, and she had trouble remembering all the ins and outs. She got on the phone with Auntie Ethel (her sister-in-law), who had also given up knitting long before. I was knitting but the scarf was becoming a circle! What was wrong? No one knew!

In 1967, I started teaching myself to weave, having lucked into being given several looms (table and floor models) and continued weaving for years, until I'd pretty much done what I wanted to do with weaving, and started branching out into other areas.

Today, I'm the only one in my quilt group who doesn't also knit. I don't mind that but look at it as an opportunity to learn from all these experienced knitters.

Yes, we need a knitting/quilting/sewing/embroidery group!!! A fiber arts group!!!

almost all of my supplies (I have lots) are thrift and garage sale finds. I did go to a specialty store for yarn once, it was soooooo expensive! But lovely stuff, I have to admit. I would love to learn how to weave, I have looked for small looms on craigslist and stuff, but haven't found a free or cheap one yet. I figure I can wait, since I am addicted to knitting now!

How do we ask for a 'fiber arts group'?

at Hancock's Fabrics, and a friend gave me a knitting kit (book, needles, etc.) for my birthday. I have worked on it a bit and I'm having trouble casting on. The knitting motion actually came back to me from the little bit I did in 1966! People say continental is so much better that I don't want to go too far w/o being sure I'm doing it continental style.

After waiting all these years, I'm not in a huge hurry, just think it would be cool to try knitting, actually make a scarf. Or make that three, I guess! I know I'd be pleased to have a scarf turn out as nicely as yours did and don't know if I'll want to progress to sweaters, considering global warming and mild winters here. My friend who gave me the knitting books makes beautiful sweaters for her grandchildren and children in NY state and, more interestingly to me, knits wonderful warm socks for herself.

:toast: to you for entering the knitting society!

FORUM: Go to the Religion & Theology Forum and see my thread asking Catholics and Orthodox to check in and you'll see how it's done. I just followed Skinner's posted instructions and checked out other groups. Feel free to extrapolate from Catholic/Orthodox to fiber artist.

I am also trying to learn continental, it looks so cool and is so fast!

:hug:

Is that for you or is it a gift?

Was it hard to learn how to knit? I've been thinking of picking up a beginner kit myself and giving it a try.

It was so easy to learn! The basics are just that, basic. Knit and purl, cast-on, bind-off. that's all you need to know for a scarf. It took me all of an hour to get started from scratch. Please try it! I have this strange affliction now that everyone should be knitting and talking about how great it is!

pick up a kit at any craft store!

I was looking at beginner kits at Michael's for knitting and crocheting a couple of weeks ago, and couldn't decide which one to try.

We inherited a bunch of yarn from my partner's mother who passed away earlier this year. She used to crochet, and left a lot of pretty yarn.

I'm going to give knitting a try. I could use something (other than DU :) to occupy my mind.

I got my knitting kit at Michael's, Learn to knit in one day. and look where it got me! Let us know how you do, please. At least let me know. :hug: I am ocd about the knitting!

I learned how to crochet years ago, but I've never been able to get it even. It's tight in some places, too loose in others.

That's a very pretty scarf. :-)

I can make sure my tension is very even. Kitting is great for perfectionists, it keeps my focus and occupies me.

I love that scarf.
How many skeins of yarn for one scarf?

A woman I work with brought in knitted dish cloths her Mom had made. They were about 12 x 12 square. She sold them for $2.00 each and they quickly disappeared.

Everyone said you can't beat a knitted dish cloth....

I think it would look even better if I had made it less wide and longer. I listed the name of the yarn somewhere earlier in the thread, it cost me about $4.00 for the yarn! It's really soft and fluffy. I might have to go back to the store and clean them out. :-)

I'll have to try the dish cloth, any idea what kind of yarn is best?

Great Job!!! :bounce: I'm also a self-taught knitter, and I've been knitting for a few years now. Right now, I'm working on my first sweater!

I have thought about attempting a sweater, but I think it's way above my skill level at this point. Maybe socks next, I'd like to try 'in the round' and see how that goes. I suck at getting the guage right, my two attempts at hats have been pitiful! The best part of knitting is all the practice nets you something new to keep or give away, and you only get better at it!

It turned out I just needed to hold the yarn differently. I knit everything on circs now, except for tiny stuff that needs dpns. I'm addicted to my Addi Turbos!

I will post when I finish, probably take a few days as my DH is back from out of town. I will look for that brand of circs, maybe my cheapie plastic ones from the 50's are the problem! (garage sale find)

often has to do with the needles themselves. I use Addi Turbos b/c the join where the needle and the cord meet is perfectly smooth, and the stitches just fly along the needle. I tried to use Inox circs, and teh joins were snaggy b/c the mold they used to create the needles left a ridge on the needle. Addis are expensive ($14/needle). I hear the Denise interchangeable set is good, and that the joins are pretty smooth overall.

Newborn size socks



Gloves



For the littlest. Can also be used for dolls.

I can't wait till I am at that skill level! Those are beautiful, congrats!

these are just as easy as your scarf and a pair of newborn socks can be turned out in less than 3 hours.

I haven't learned how to knit in the round yet, I thought casting on/off was different for that. I am very intrigued!

http://www.royea.net/sockdemo1.html

It's just that knitting in the round you only need to knit to get the same effect as knit 1 row, purl 1 row in flat knitting.

It's still a little intimidating, but I will do it!

:cry:

I think imageshack is down or is working on their site. I will check back and see if it comes up in a few mins. sorry!

I am pretty sure it was an imageshack problem, fixed now apparently.

I'm currently knitting preemie caps for the ICU unit. They are fun and quick to make. Knitting is so relaxing - I've fallen asleep while knitting! I haven't knitted much lately so when I went to buy yarn for the caps, I was just amazed by the beautiful yarns available now. I can't imagine learning to knit from a book - I think that would be pretty hard. My sister taught me to knit years ago. She gave it up and now can't remember how to knit.

there is a lot of beautiful yarn, it's part of why I always have more than one project going, I can't wait to get started with a new color or texture. I didn't know anyone that knitted, so I just went for it, it was pretty easy, but I bet it would have been even easier if someone had taught me. Your sis may be surprised what her hands remember if she picked it up again and refreshed by watching you!

Thanks!

I'm not an expert on these things, but that scarf looks like it would keep me nice and warm on the cold New England nights that are coming up shortly!

over two days. I tend to go very slowly and take lots of breaks for other projects. I will knit for an hour on one then pick up another. I hope to learn a new style and go a lot faster soon.

thanks!

the word "image" is. Has that just started happening to your posts.

I'm having the same problem, which is why I ask.
Anyone know what's up?

pnr has loaned me a server for my sig line picture, otherwise it was just showing the word "image".

Hmmmm?

P.S. My sister started knitting (taught herself, too) last year and has been doing shawls and the Ritz Hotel in Laguna Beach has been buying them from her, to sell in their shop. She's laughing all the way to the bank.

Keep working! You're doing FINE!

I use imageshack.us and at first the image showed up in my posts, now you have to click on 'image' to see it. But it sizes automatically for the window, which is better than resizing myself.

I have no idea why this started all the sudden.

I am hoping to get good enough to start selling mine too, just in small local shops, nothing big and corporate. That would freak me out a bit, I think! Kudos to the sis, considering the cost of yarn , I am sure she is doing great!

Thanks for the kudos to me, I hope to only improve!

Soon you'll be ready to do the infamous "Doctor Who Scarf"



The story is here:
http://www.brimelow.thinkhost.com/scarf/fs_main.html

Geez, 22 feet.....

I may just have to do that, I love long scarves and that one is anything but short!

that's awesome. I will bookmark that and hit it when I'm ready! Dr. Who is so underrated!

:)