Pixie 162 Posted January 4, 2013 Report Share Posted January 4, 2013 Iv been knitting for a couple of years now, but iv only ever knitted blankets and im currently working on a patchwork one for my daughter. My partners mum bought her a teddy from a craft fair that someone knitted and it looked lovely. Earlier this week i was thinking of something i could do this year to raise money for a charity, after seeing this and my enjoyment of knitting im thinking about learning how to knit little bears and such, sell them and give a % of what they sell for to a charity, Possibley the salvation army as i love what they do for the homeless and vulnerable or a childrens charity so at least my hobbie isnt gathering dust and i have something to aim for. Im off to buy some more wool tomorrow and look online for some free patterns so i can get practising! Do we have any other knitters on the forum? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
banjo48 928 Posted January 5, 2013 Report Share Posted January 5, 2013 Strangely enough and rarely admitted, but I've been able to knit since I was around 9 or 10 ! mum was a seamstress but did heaps of knitting, including professionally for a designer, in mohair, in Intarsia style, which items were then sold in Japan for extortionate silly money ! (my mum got a fixed fee per item) I also used to watch gran, who was a lace worker and made beautiful items from lots of balls of thread, all by hand. Must be in my blood as I have always loved making things, and being a practical person can pick up skills pretty quick. I get a lot of self satisfaction from turning raw materials into beautiful things or objects. I have made jumpers socks cardigans you name it ! even taught my wife to knit ! I also sew with a machine, another skill I learnt early on from my mum, as i used to play on her old singer and then her fancy pro machines. I still have a H Duty sewing machine with me now and do canvas and awning repairs, or make small bags and other bits and pieces. I have never been able to crochet well though ! strange. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pixie 162 Posted January 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2013 iv been asked to join in this knitting jumpers and hats for children and babies in Africa, can't wait to give it a go. iv only ever knitted blankets as I said in my OP so this should be interesting. how difficult is it to make cardis, jumpers etc? I can't wait to start on other projects. I find knitting really relaxing and rewarding once youv finished a project. I get laughed at a lot being only 22 and finding nothing more enjoyable than a pot of tea (or a cup of coffee) and abit of knitting. well... it's the simple things to keep you happy when your at home Sith a toddler all day every day lol! I love abit of sewing too, I dusted off my sewing machine to take up my coils because they were too long for the window, last thing I used it for was a patchwork blanket and some cushion covered a made long before I moved house Quote Link to post Share on other sites
banjo48 928 Posted January 5, 2013 Report Share Posted January 5, 2013 My last knitting project will make you laugh. I have 4 daughters, two of which are midwifes. Whilst doing their upgrade course from registered nurse to midwifery at university, the course required the girls to knit, or aquire an atificial boob ! yes a breast complete with nipple ! this was to use a s a teaching aid to new young mums, in the art of breastfeeding. The boob is sewn up and then stuffed with dacron to represent the real thing ! My youngest having no knitting skills asked me to knit one for her, anyway I got the pattern off the net (yes there is pattern for same) When she went back to uni her friend wanted one, then another so ended up doing 20 of them at $8 each ! (my youngest has no practical skills but a business head) A year later my second daughter took the same course and the teacher remembering the name asked if she was related to the other daughter, yes she says, " Oh is it your dad that knits the Boobs " lecturer asks. Well I got another order for 40 of them as the course now supplies them to the students! They said they will ring me when they require more ! Lol Almost a mans dream project isn't it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted January 5, 2013 Report Share Posted January 5, 2013 I have been knitting too since I was around 8, I never got taught how to cast off. Anybody have need of a 2000 foot long scarf............................ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
piggy and babs 544 Posted January 5, 2013 Report Share Posted January 5, 2013 funny thing banjo i have never been able to knit but i do crochet it grows much quicker for me and i am always making baby blankets at onetime i could do two a week but know the artharitis in my hands means it takes me three to four weeks to make one used to sell quite a lot at onetime but wont take orders any more just do a bit if i feel like it to relax me,then when i finish one i put it in a plastic bag ready to start another then if someone asks me for one and i have got one i will sell it to them use money to buy more wool. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jackson 301 Posted January 5, 2013 Report Share Posted January 5, 2013 I love knitting when I have the time: I like to mix wools to create a tweedy effect. I've made patchwork quilts with knitted sections and rugs and cushions in the same way. I play a game with myself when knitting: I like to see how many rows of knitting I can achieve in a certain amount of time. My mum was an expert knitter; she could make anything: gloves, socks, jumpers, twin sets, skirts, not forgetting toys - dolls and teddy bears - and their clothes. I remember her making my sister and I beautiful, identical jumpers with pom poms, except that my jumper was turquoise (with me being fair haired) and my sister's cherry red (her being brunette). Love sewing machines too. My grandma used a spare bedroom as her sewing room; I can still recall the clean smell of that room when I stole in there, to have a secret go on the fascinating treddle of her beautiful Singer Sewing Machine. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gibbo 04 188 Posted January 5, 2013 Report Share Posted January 5, 2013 You lot are just a loada knits!!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
StephenFord 866 Posted January 5, 2013 Report Share Posted January 5, 2013 Yeah - me too. I can knit also (I even know how to cast on using one knitting needle and a thumb, and cast off - my mum taught me at about seven!) It used to be said the many lighthouse keepers would knit during their off-duty hours. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 Those that didn't know how to fish that is ..... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
radfordred 6,284 Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 if you get stuck go see eleanor she lovely http://www.knitnottingham.co.uk/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LizzieM 9,510 Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 I did knit a dress (with cable pattern!) as a young teenager and then made some cardies for my two babies 30 odd years ago. Never attempted any knitting since then though, not sure I remember how to do it. My granny was brilliant and used to knit Arran sweaters for a company in Scotland. They paid her peanuts for each garment but she didn't care. All the men in the family got an Arran sweater at some stage too!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jackson 301 Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 Hi Stephen @ #9, did your mum teach you always to knit into the back of each stitch after the casting on row, in order to create a perfect foundation for the knitting that was to follow? I also used to knit with one knitting needle. Anyone remember French knitting?: I used to make my own base to knit on by using an empty cotton reel and 4 nails; I'd drive either my mum or grandma crazy by continually asking for used cotton reels, then I'd drive either my dad or granddad crazy by asking them to knock the 4 nails into the cotton reel! It was all worth it, just to see the amazing rainbow wool I was knitting with, grow and grow and grow. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paulus 541 Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 Was it like the other french games..............Toastin', skippin' & kissin' ?....................... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
StephenFord 866 Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 Hi Jackson. Yes she did, and yes I do! i.e. yes, she taught me to knit into the back of the stitches for the first row. And yes I also remember French knitting - but didn't it also have some fancy name - possibly for the bobbin with 4 nails? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
banjo48 928 Posted January 7, 2013 Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 Grans lace thread used to come on wooden bobbins and she used to make me the French knitting thing with the four nails. We made lengths of the tube thingy and sewed it into coasters. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jackson 301 Posted January 7, 2013 Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 Hi Stephen and Banjo, sounds like you two are a couple of expert knits. PS: Banjo, I used to get real carried away on my French bobbin and once made enough knitting to roll into circles, sew them together and make a rug. PPS: John Lewis sell rainbow wool if any of you fellas are thinking of taking up your pins again but if you want some reasonably priced try: 'Poundstretchers' - £3 (something) for a great, big ball. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paulus 541 Posted January 7, 2013 Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 Wow!!...............................you guys/gals really knew how to live it up.................................did you also Crochet, or was that too exciting........ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
StephenFord 866 Posted January 7, 2013 Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 Hi Stephen and Banjo, sounds like you two are a couple of expert knits. That's one of the kinder things people have said about me! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
littlebro 234 Posted January 7, 2013 Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 I hope this thread is not going wolley Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trevor S 2,003 Posted January 7, 2013 Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 But you may still pick up the odd purl of wisdom. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pixie 162 Posted January 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 7 squares into my patchwork blanket, its looking good already. I might try the french knitting thing! I want to learn how to crochet, iiv fallen inlove with the 'granny square' patchwork blankets/throws Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mick2me 3,033 Posted January 7, 2013 Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 I can't knit... Is there summat wrong with me! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted January 7, 2013 Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 The distinct lack of knitting skills is nowt to do with it ! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trevor S 2,003 Posted January 8, 2013 Report Share Posted January 8, 2013 They're needling you again, Mick Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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