Comments on: Stuff on a Monday http://www.amyalamode.com/blog/2010/02/08/stuff-on-a-monday/ Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:50:51 +0000 hourly 1 By: Erin D. http://www.amyalamode.com/blog/2010/02/08/stuff-on-a-monday/#comment-2899 Erin D. Sun, 14 Feb 2010 01:17:33 +0000 http://www.amyalamode.com/blog/?p=2394#comment-2899 I took a knitting class recently, and they also started us out with dishcloths in that same awful cotton. It's so unpleasant to work with! My cloth was 50% smaller than anyone else's, because I knit the stinking thing so tightly - so I relate. :) I couldn't get a good feel for the "right" tension, but it does come with practice. When I first started out, it seemed like unless I had everything all yanked down tightly, how could I possibly know if it was "right?" I gradually loosened up as I went along on the next project (a much more pleasant scarf project, in a wonderful, soft, stretchy giant wool.) It's still not perfect, but I'm getting much better at leaving enough room for the needles to get through. Additionally, my left ring and pinky fingers don't work correctly due to a tendon injury, so I found I had to wedge the left needle into the crook of my leg or my waistband to stabilize it. I do kind of a combination of picking and throwing (Continental and English, I guess,) that I just developed as the easiest way for my gimpy hand to work with the process. Don't give up hope! I almost did, too, but I'm glad I stuck it out (thus far.) Try with yarns you are drawn to, both in color and texture. I've found the larger needles are more instant-gratification-oriented, and make the movements more obvious and easy. Plus, the projects knit up so quickly. I found metal needles unpleasant and too slippery - I love bamboo and hardwoods, because they stick a bit more to the yarn, which means fewer dropped stitches. :) Good luck! I took a knitting class recently, and they also started us out with dishcloths in that same awful cotton. It’s so unpleasant to work with! My cloth was 50% smaller than anyone else’s, because I knit the stinking thing so tightly – so I relate. :) I couldn’t get a good feel for the “right” tension, but it does come with practice.

When I first started out, it seemed like unless I had everything all yanked down tightly, how could I possibly know if it was “right?” I gradually loosened up as I went along on the next project (a much more pleasant scarf project, in a wonderful, soft, stretchy giant wool.) It’s still not perfect, but I’m getting much better at leaving enough room for the needles to get through.

Additionally, my left ring and pinky fingers don’t work correctly due to a tendon injury, so I found I had to wedge the left needle into the crook of my leg or my waistband to stabilize it. I do kind of a combination of picking and throwing (Continental and English, I guess,) that I just developed as the easiest way for my gimpy hand to work with the process.

Don’t give up hope! I almost did, too, but I’m glad I stuck it out (thus far.) Try with yarns you are drawn to, both in color and texture. I’ve found the larger needles are more instant-gratification-oriented, and make the movements more obvious and easy. Plus, the projects knit up so quickly.

I found metal needles unpleasant and too slippery – I love bamboo and hardwoods, because they stick a bit more to the yarn, which means fewer dropped stitches. :)

Good luck!

]]> By: Rebekah http://www.amyalamode.com/blog/2010/02/08/stuff-on-a-monday/#comment-2877 Rebekah Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:09:20 +0000 http://www.amyalamode.com/blog/?p=2394#comment-2877 Knitting is so relaxing after you get the muscle memory for it (usually takes about one scarf to pick it up), but especially with your rheumatoid arthritis, it might not be worth it. Maybe a different hobby is in order :) Knitting is so relaxing after you get the muscle memory for it (usually takes about one scarf to pick it up), but especially with your rheumatoid arthritis, it might not be worth it. Maybe a different hobby is in order :)

]]> By: Lee http://www.amyalamode.com/blog/2010/02/08/stuff-on-a-monday/#comment-2875 Lee Thu, 11 Feb 2010 14:04:51 +0000 http://www.amyalamode.com/blog/?p=2394#comment-2875 I would also suggest using metal needles, especially with cotton. They don't feel as nice in your hands, but wood needles can be quite grippy. Cotton is pretty unforgiving, it will slide a little more easily on metal. Wool is altogether more pleasant to knit, though not exactly great for a washcloth! I would also suggest using metal needles, especially with cotton. They don’t feel as nice in your hands, but wood needles can be quite grippy. Cotton is pretty unforgiving, it will slide a little more easily on metal. Wool is altogether more pleasant to knit, though not exactly great for a washcloth!

]]> By: Leah http://www.amyalamode.com/blog/2010/02/08/stuff-on-a-monday/#comment-2859 Leah Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:53:51 +0000 http://www.amyalamode.com/blog/?p=2394#comment-2859 my advice, finish what you are making. then if you have any holes, sew a button. Next project get some MAJOR needles...big ole needles and then just knit stitch! make a bunch of scarves and sew them together, it will look like a quilt! my advice, finish what you are making. then if you have any holes, sew a button. Next project get some MAJOR needles…big ole needles and then just knit stitch! make a bunch of scarves and sew them together, it will look like a quilt!

]]> By: Terri http://www.amyalamode.com/blog/2010/02/08/stuff-on-a-monday/#comment-2858 Terri Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:18:10 +0000 http://www.amyalamode.com/blog/?p=2394#comment-2858 I can't believe you were knitting! Maybe someone in your shop can show you a few helpful hints? I can just hear the change in enthusiasm when you move on to fabric talk in your post! Love your newest quilt project. How fun with all those different solids and blocks. And even more fun that you like your job and get to work on a shop sample when customer traffic slows. Sounds like a cool place to be! I can’t believe you were knitting! Maybe someone in your shop can show you a few helpful hints? I can just hear the change in enthusiasm when you move on to fabric talk in your post! Love your newest quilt project. How fun with all those different solids and blocks. And even more fun that you like your job and get to work on a shop sample when customer traffic slows. Sounds like a cool place to be!

]]> By: Linnea http://www.amyalamode.com/blog/2010/02/08/stuff-on-a-monday/#comment-2857 Linnea Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:10:57 +0000 http://www.amyalamode.com/blog/?p=2394#comment-2857 I don't think I can effectively explain how to "loosen stitches" but I'll explain a little further...ideally you want it to be a comfortable tension for you to work with. Things shouldn't be so loose that you have a hard time keeping stitches under control but also shouldn't be so tight as to make it hard to get your needle in for subsequent stitches. It took a little bit of time for me to get a rhythm going when making an adjustment after every stitch but eventually it just becomes habit and you figure out what works for you. I mostly use a combination of a quick hand jerk to loosen the stitch followed by a corrective tug on my yarn if I over loosen. Yikes...that was a whole lot of random blabber. I hope it helps somewhat. I don’t think I can effectively explain how to “loosen stitches” but I’ll explain a little further…ideally you want it to be a comfortable tension for you to work with. Things shouldn’t be so loose that you have a hard time keeping stitches under control but also shouldn’t be so tight as to make it hard to get your needle in for subsequent stitches. It took a little bit of time for me to get a rhythm going when making an adjustment after every stitch but eventually it just becomes habit and you figure out what works for you. I mostly use a combination of a quick hand jerk to loosen the stitch followed by a corrective tug on my yarn if I over loosen. Yikes…that was a whole lot of random blabber. I hope it helps somewhat.

]]> By: Linnea http://www.amyalamode.com/blog/2010/02/08/stuff-on-a-monday/#comment-2856 Linnea Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:48:37 +0000 http://www.amyalamode.com/blog/?p=2394#comment-2856 To be honest...I get a hell of a lot more satisfaction pulling out my knitting than I do actually knitting. My advice, if this is really about using up some yarn and making a dish cloth, learn to crochet. It's simpler and faster and when it comes down to dish rags-the exact same finished product. If however, you are trying to improve your knitting skills, I suggest using a medium to large needle and paying extra close attention to how tightly you are casting on and knitting/purling thereafter. Once I got that under control it was smooth(er) sailing. Most of the time I have to intentionally loosen stitches... Good luck~ To be honest…I get a hell of a lot more satisfaction pulling out my knitting than I do actually knitting. My advice, if this is really about using up some yarn and making a dish cloth, learn to crochet. It’s simpler and faster and when it comes down to dish rags-the exact same finished product. If however, you are trying to improve your knitting skills, I suggest using a medium to large needle and paying extra close attention to how tightly you are casting on and knitting/purling thereafter. Once I got that under control it was smooth(er) sailing. Most of the time I have to intentionally loosen stitches…
Good luck~

]]> By: Ana http://www.amyalamode.com/blog/2010/02/08/stuff-on-a-monday/#comment-2853 Ana Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:39:50 +0000 http://www.amyalamode.com/blog/?p=2394#comment-2853 Amy, don't give up! Knitting can become your best friend, it can be SO soothing! I remember when I was learning and it felt like I had paws instead of hands and my dad looking at me quizzically and saying: "You really don't look all that relaxed". I would go for all knit and no purl, that should make it easier. And maybe less stitches? I guess you know this webpage, but just in case: www.knittinghelp.com. It really is helpful. Amy, don’t give up! Knitting can become your best friend, it can be SO soothing! I remember when I was learning and it felt like I had paws instead of hands and my dad looking at me quizzically and saying: “You really don’t look all that relaxed”.

I would go for all knit and no purl, that should make it easier. And maybe less stitches? I guess you know this webpage, but just in case: http://www.knittinghelp.com. It really is helpful.

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