A Question of Yarn ...

"Bernadette" wrote in message
news
On Wed, 26 Mar 2008 02:29:54 +0000, Murielle wrote:


"Bernadette" wrote in message
news
On Tue, 25 Mar 2008 23:46:06 +0000, Murielle wrote:

Hi,

I have chosen a very simple pattern for a child's pullover. It's from
Pattons "Happy Days" #684. On page 12, called Up, Up, and Away. It
calls
for Patons Astra, which I don't have and can't get, but I do have Wendy
Peter Pan four ply.

Will this work?

Sorry if it's a silly question. My knitting confidence isn't what it
used
to be as there has been such a long break since my real knitting days.
I've started a few different things but have had problems and put them
aside, etc.

I've learned my lesson about ball winding and am going to pull the yarn
from the center of the skein and not stretch the it.

I can't believe how nervous I am.

Thanks,
Murielle

Well done for deciding to have another go Murielle.

This link is for a Patons Astra stockist where it gives full information
about the yarn itself - weight category and how many yards/metres you
should be able to knit from a 50 gram ball of Astra. You could either
order from them or, better still, use the information on that page to
compare the details of Astra's thickness and yardage to the thickness
and yardage of the yarn you are thinking of using.
http://store.knitting-warehouse.com/...stra-yarn.html

Probably the easiest way to test would be to use the needle size
recommended for the pattern and knit a swatch with the yarn you want to
use. You will then be able to tell if it will knit up to the correct
gauge given in your pattern.

Good luck with this and do let us know how you get on. :-)

--
Blessed are the cracked for they let in the light

I will make a swatch, asap. That way I'll know right away if it will
work.

Thank you!
Murielle
(Love your sigline!)

That is the easiest way.

And it worked out all right. I'm so happy about that. Really didn't want
to have to buy more yarn.

sigline - LOL. As soon as I saw it I knew it was meant for me! It
describes the way I see life. :-D

Mine too! ;-))
--
Blessed are the cracked for they let in the light

On Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:16:30 +0000, Murielle wrote:


"The Other Kim" wrote in message
...

Murielle wrote:

Well, I did *two* swatches. The pattern calls for 3 1/4mm and 4mm
needles. So I did a swatch for each size. The 3 1/4mm needles didn't
produce the correct gauge, but the 4mm needles were just a tiny titch
off. So, I decided to go for it.

I'm thinking that the smaller needles are used for ribbing or edging, in
which case the larger needles would be used for the body, and it looks
like you've gotten the gauge you want with the larger ones.

That's it! It's such a simple stocking stitch sweater. But believe me,
if I could knit with my fingers crosssed, I would.

I've chosen to make the sweater a little larger than the baby ... what
am I saying she's almost two! ... might normally wear so that it will
be wearable a little longer. I'm hoping that will give me a little
wiggle room.

Oh, definitely make it bigger. Give the little darling more time to
wear it out before she outgrows it.

I hope she enjoys it. It would be a warm sweater because the yarn is so
light, but it will be nice for cool spring, summer evenings.

Cheapskate that I am, I made my swatches without breaking the wool. I
need every stitch of it. ;-))

Heh, I'll often do the same, even though I know I should save the swatch
for future reference. I've been pretty lucky so far. Of course, now
that I've said that my next major project will go horribly awry...

I know that feeling very well too Kim, LOL. I'd started a lovely cable and
fisherman's rib sweater for my son, using a pattern he loved, when I
decided it would be far too warm for the part of Texas he is in. He
tells me that he needs a couple of medium weight sweaters because in the
winter there are a few quite chilly weeks (by his standards) - he
wants to come and try out Scotland! ;-) I unpicked all the back of it and
made it up again using a plainer design.


I'm so glad I'm not the only one who does that. But, I didn't realize
you had to keep the swatches. It's a good idea, I'm sure. Though, to
be honest, I'm not sure why. ;-)

I think the idea is that if you keep them you will have a ready made one
if you use the same yarn again Murielle.

I must admit I never keep them either as I'm sure my tension varies
depending on the time of day, what mood I'm in and whether I'm relaxed
or belting it through to get it finished. I find it easier to make a
swatch just before I start the garment and that seems to work for me.

I know I'll be writing again for advice. (Times like this, I miss my
mom a lot. I used to just be able to call her and she always knew ...
you know? Moms are the best!) And, while I don't have a digital
camera I'm hoping that I'll be able to get a picture when it's
finished and share it with all of you.

You know you can always pop in here and ask for help. We're friendly
:-)

You sure are!

Thanks,
Murielle
The Other Kim
kimmeratsoylentgreenfielddotcom

Bernadette
--
Blessed are the cracked for they let in the light

Murielle wrote:

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who does that. But, I didn't realize you
had to keep the swatches. It's a good idea, I'm sure. Though, to be
honest, I'm not sure why. ;-)

You don't *have* to of course - I don't either. It's to refer to that
yarn and gauge again someday, but some people keep a notebook with that
information.

sue

On Mar 27, 3:13*am, suzee wrote:
Murielle wrote:
I'm so glad I'm not the only one who does that. *But, I didn't realize you
had to keep the swatches. *It's a good idea, I'm sure. *Though, to be
honest, I'm not sure why. *;-)

You don't *have* to of course - I don't either. It's to refer to that
yarn and gauge again someday, but some people keep a notebook with that
information.

sue

If i can i keep my swatches and use them later in all kinds of ways,
as pockets as parts of a bigger work. Murieele , there are NO RULES
NORE LAWS , and i never heard that one HAD TO KEEP the swatches, it is
ENOUGH to keep the records that say wool named XXXXX [ add number of
color bath if you want] worked on needle size X , 20 st= X cm [or
inches] ,,, i also write down any problems i mmet in the working and
my patterning thoughts.
I found out that i Have to make a new swatch over the years anyway ,
my working ways changed , Threads were differently spun , many things
changed.
mirjam

wrote:
On Mar 27, 3:13 am, suzee wrote:
Murielle wrote:
I'm so glad I'm not the only one who does that. But, I didn't realize you
had to keep the swatches. It's a good idea, I'm sure. Though, to be
honest, I'm not sure why. ;-)
You don't *have* to of course - I don't either. It's to refer to that
yarn and gauge again someday, but some people keep a notebook with that
information.

sue

If i can i keep my swatches and use them later in all kinds of ways,
as pockets as parts of a bigger work. Murieele , there are NO RULES
NORE LAWS , and i never heard that one HAD TO KEEP the swatches, it is
ENOUGH to keep the records that say wool named XXXXX [ add number of
color bath if you want] worked on needle size X , 20 st= X cm [or
inches] ,,, i also write down any problems i mmet in the working and
my patterning thoughts.
I found out that i Have to make a new swatch over the years anyway ,
my working ways changed , Threads were differently spun , many things
changed.
mirjam

Our tension at different times of the same day can change, for that matter.

sue

On Mar 27, 7:00*pm, suzee wrote:
wrote:
On Mar 27, 3:13 am, suzee wrote:
Murielle wrote:
I'm so glad I'm not the only one who does that. *But, I didn't realize you
had to keep the swatches. *It's a good idea, I'm sure. *Though, to be
honest, I'm not sure why. *;-)
You don't *have* to of course - I don't either. It's to refer to that
yarn and gauge again someday, but some people keep a notebook with that
information.

sue

If i can i keep my swatches and use them later in all kinds of ways,
as pockets as parts of a bigger work. Murieele , there are NO RULES
NORE LAWS , and i never heard that one HAD TO KEEP the swatches, it is
ENOUGH to keep the records that say wool named XXXXX [ add number of
color bath if you want] worked on needle size X , 20 st= X cm [or
inches] ,,, i also write down any problems i mmet in the working and
my patterning thoughts.
I found out that i Have to make a new swatch over the years anyway ,
my *working ways changed , Threads were differently spun , many things
changed.
mirjam

Our tension at different times of the same day can change, for that matter..

sue- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

And that is whay we like to say SWATCH SWATCH ,,,,,, mirjam

"Bernadette" wrote in message
news
On Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:16:30 +0000, Murielle wrote:


"The Other Kim" wrote in message
...

Murielle wrote:

Well, I did *two* swatches. The pattern calls for 3 1/4mm and 4mm
needles. So I did a swatch for each size. The 3 1/4mm needles didn't
produce the correct gauge, but the 4mm needles were just a tiny titch
off. So, I decided to go for it.

I'm thinking that the smaller needles are used for ribbing or edging, in
which case the larger needles would be used for the body, and it looks
like you've gotten the gauge you want with the larger ones.

That's it! It's such a simple stocking stitch sweater. But believe me,
if I could knit with my fingers crosssed, I would.

I've chosen to make the sweater a little larger than the baby ... what
am I saying she's almost two! ... might normally wear so that it will
be wearable a little longer. I'm hoping that will give me a little
wiggle room.

Oh, definitely make it bigger. Give the little darling more time to
wear it out before she outgrows it.

I hope she enjoys it. It would be a warm sweater because the yarn is so
light, but it will be nice for cool spring, summer evenings.

Cheapskate that I am, I made my swatches without breaking the wool. I
need every stitch of it. ;-))

Heh, I'll often do the same, even though I know I should save the swatch
for future reference. I've been pretty lucky so far. Of course, now
that I've said that my next major project will go horribly awry...

I know that feeling very well too Kim, LOL. I'd started a lovely cable and
fisherman's rib sweater for my son, using a pattern he loved, when I
decided it would be far too warm for the part of Texas he is in. He
tells me that he needs a couple of medium weight sweaters because in the
winter there are a few quite chilly weeks (by his standards) - he
wants to come and try out Scotland! ;-) I unpicked all the back of it and
made it up again using a plainer design.


I'm so glad I'm not the only one who does that. But, I didn't realize
you had to keep the swatches. It's a good idea, I'm sure. Though, to
be honest, I'm not sure why. ;-)

I think the idea is that if you keep them you will have a ready made one
if you use the same yarn again Murielle.

I must admit I never keep them either as I'm sure my tension varies
depending on the time of day, what mood I'm in and whether I'm relaxed
or belting it through to get it finished. I find it easier to make a
swatch just before I start the garment and that seems to work for me.

I know I'll be writing again for advice. (Times like this, I miss my
mom a lot. I used to just be able to call her and she always knew ...
you know? Moms are the best!) And, while I don't have a digital
camera I'm hoping that I'll be able to get a picture when it's
finished and share it with all of you.

You know you can always pop in here and ask for help. We're friendly
:-)

You sure are!

Thanks,
Murielle
The Other Kim
kimmeratsoylentgreenfielddotcom

Bernadette

I know my tension changes, depending on the type of yarn I'm using, the size
of the needles. These needles are quite small so I tend to knit a little
tighter. Also, I'm getting older, my fingers aren't as nimble as they used
to be so changed there too.

I actually meant to write that the sweater wouldn't be too warm because of
the lightness of the wool. Because of that it would be perfect for cool
summer nights and spring and fall--if it fits. ;-))

Murielle

Blessed are the cracked for they let in the light

"suzee" wrote in message ...
Murielle wrote:

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who does that. But, I didn't realize
you had to keep the swatches. It's a good idea, I'm sure. Though, to be
honest, I'm not sure why. ;-)

You don't *have* to of course - I don't either. It's to refer to that yarn
and gauge again someday, but some people keep a notebook with that
information.

sue

I've seen that here before, the idea of keeping a crafting journal. What a
wonderful idea! I'd love to do something like that. I used to take
pictures of finished items, but didn't keep them all in one place--there's a
project for next winter. ;-)

Murielle

wrote in message
...
On Mar 27, 3:13 am, suzee wrote:
Murielle wrote:
I'm so glad I'm not the only one who does that. But, I didn't realize
you
had to keep the swatches. It's a good idea, I'm sure. Though, to be
honest, I'm not sure why. ;-)

You don't *have* to of course - I don't either. It's to refer to that
yarn and gauge again someday, but some people keep a notebook with that
information.

sue

If i can i keep my swatches and use them later in all kinds of ways,
as pockets as parts of a bigger work. Murieele , there are NO RULES
NORE LAWS , and i never heard that one HAD TO KEEP the swatches, it is
ENOUGH to keep the records that say wool named XXXXX [ add number of
color bath if you want] worked on needle size X , 20 st= X cm [or
inches] ,,, i also write down any problems i mmet in the working and
my patterning thoughts.
I found out that i Have to make a new swatch over the years anyway ,
my working ways changed , Threads were differently spun , many things
changed.
mirjam

This is such a terrifc idea! I'm going to have to start keeping a journal.
I've made little notes to myself on patterns, but of course by the time I
come around to that pattern again I've forgotten what the notes are about.
So, keeping a journal would be ideal.

I don't know if I'd go as far as keeping swatches. I'm a little bit to
tight with the purse strings to do that, but I used to take pictures of
finished projects and I could certainly do that again.

Such a great idea!

Murielle

"suzee" wrote in message ...
wrote:
On Mar 27, 3:13 am, suzee wrote:
Murielle wrote:
I'm so glad I'm not the only one who does that. But, I didn't realize
you
had to keep the swatches. It's a good idea, I'm sure. Though, to be
honest, I'm not sure why. ;-)
You don't *have* to of course - I don't either. It's to refer to that
yarn and gauge again someday, but some people keep a notebook with that
information.

sue

If i can i keep my swatches and use them later in all kinds of ways,
as pockets as parts of a bigger work. Murieele , there are NO RULES
NORE LAWS , and i never heard that one HAD TO KEEP the swatches, it is
ENOUGH to keep the records that say wool named XXXXX [ add number of
color bath if you want] worked on needle size X , 20 st= X cm [or
inches] ,,, i also write down any problems i mmet in the working and
my patterning thoughts.
I found out that i Have to make a new swatch over the years anyway ,
my working ways changed , Threads were differently spun , many things
changed.
mirjam

Our tension at different times of the same day can change, for that
matter.

sue

I haven't noticed that, but I'll watch for it. I can certainly tell you
that the number of mistakes I make are directly related to what's on TV.
;-))

Murielle