| Archive for The Potting Shed A forum to discuss Crafts, Cooking, Gardening, Countryside, Livestock and Pets |
| Haize |
JumpersAnyone have a suggestion for a pattern for a hand knit jumper for a complete beginner (me )? I'd like to do something quite shaped, but I guess that makes it more difficult.
Embarrassingly, I can't remember who it was, but someone posted a pic of a jumper with and odd neckline, straight across the chest and narrowing up to the shoulders, that was quite nice: would that be suitable for a beginner? Is it possible to alternate between two completely different types of wool, e.g. one of these extra long fluffy ones people often use for scarves, to make a fluffy band on the jumper, but other parts of it normal wool? Hohum, sorry for the Spanish Inquisition 
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| Kathy |
It's not really difficult to do shaping if you can understand what the knitting terms mean. What sort of wool do you have? |
| Haize |
I don't have the wool yet, was going to go get it once I had a pattern in mind.
I've never done any knitting to a pattern before  Maybe someone could post a sticky thread here with the commonly used terms explained?
Ok, or I could go to one of the probably thousands of websites out there that have the info, and stop being so lazy  
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| Lizzie |
There's some really good and clear video clips here
http://www.knittinghelp.com/ that show you how to increase and decrease - I just typed a long post explaining k2tog and s1psso but it's a whole lot easier to watch it being done for real! |
| mrutty |
Wool is long stringy stuff
Needles are the stick things Hope this helps
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| Haize |
Will let you know when I have perfected my long-distance needle-throwing skills, mrutty  
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| Haize |
Jellycat, I've watched a couple of the videos from that site, they are lovely and clear 
As I'm not exactly set in a routine way of doing my knitting yet, I thought I'd give the "continental" way a go, if it is supposed to be quicker. I've always considered myself to be fairly dextrous: I love running coins across my knuckles, and winding pens through my fingers when I am thinking, but I bet the faces I was pulling whilst trying to get wool, two sticks, and the stitches to behave were ridiculous! 
I thought I'd figured it, but as I got towards the end of the row, the remaining stitches started sliding around all over the place... I need to watch the video again, I know there was mention of holding them still with a finger! Hohum, will be back after more practice...
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| Lizzie |
You'll soon get the hang of it Haize, and the joy of it is that it doesn't matter what method you use - just whatever's most comfortable for you
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| Kathy |
Thats a great site, I used it to learn how to do circular knitting.
There are thousands of free patterns available on the net plus, I've quite a stash here which I'd be happy to scan and post. What sort of jumper are you visualising, long/sleeve, type of neckline, that sort of thing. And I'm assuming you want a fairly chunky yarn so it knits up quickly? |
| Haize |
I was thinking maybe a v neck, short sleeves, and I know it is a bad idea as it will be slow to make, but I'd quite like it to be fairly light, and fitted to the waist 
Probably not the best decision for a beginner, but I'm such a cold weather person I rarely get the opportunity to wear chunky jumpers without overheating
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| Kathy |
I'll have a look today Haize, unless you've found anything meantime.
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| Haize |
Thankyou Kathy, that would be very kind.
Just thought - when I said short sleves, I actually meant as in sort of elbow length or just over. |
| Aqui |
Ooh - that site looks good. My work computer won't let me watch videos, but once I'm set up at home, I shall be watching and learning! |
| Svea |
check www.knitty.com for lots of free, well explained patterns.
i loves knitty i do! |
| Kathy |
This looks a bit complicated but is it this sort of shape you want?
http://elann.com/ShowFreePattern.asp?Id=153024 |
| Haize |
I like the neckline, it's not too low, but I was thinking of something a little, er, tighter
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| Kathy |
Sorry Haize, I got a little side tracked!
Have you managed to locate a pattern? I don't have any that fit your description, not shaped anyway. Perhaps just a plain v neck but in a variegated yarn. I'm assuming you have a decent figure so if you knitted it a smaller size it would "stretch" onto you and look shaped, if you know what I mean. |
| Haize |
That's fine Kathy, I'm still arguing with 6" squares!
Plain would definitely be a good idea. If the body of a jumper is just a straight tube, how much can it be stretched out and look ok? That probably seems like a really silly question, sorry! |
| Kathy |
If you use wool with a bit of stretch or knit in rib, that would work.
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| Haize |
Aha, whilst doing a search for fingerless gloves, which I remembered there were various threads about (I could have done with some whilst putting washing out this morning!), I found Svea's blog link, and realised that was where I had seen quite a nice (and apparently simple to do) pattern.
It is this one, from knitty: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter05/PATTtubey.html I shall give that a go as soon as possible
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| agapanthus |
I love the neckline of this jumper...really flattering
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