The Big Lit Knit Thread (and crochet too)

[PurpleTiara]

Sharing some of my FPs too:


http://images4cf.ravelry.com/uploads/meredithp/4803317/2envwxt_medium.jpg

My favorite! Both for the lovely purplosity of the afghan and the gorgeous pussy cat.

 

[Etoile]

My favorite! Both for the lovely purplosity of the afghan and the gorgeous pussy cat.

Why thank you! It actually turned out to be a lot more purple than I planned; I gave it to a friend who hasn't taken it out of the package I gave it to him in, LOL.

Princess YumYum appreciates your compliment!

 

[PurpleTiara]

You might have figured out that I really like purple... And Princess YumYum is so pretty. I have a calico too.

 

[Yasashii_Kaze]

Wow, what a cool thread! I just recently started crocheting again after more than ten years. I'd like to learn knitting as well once I get better at crocheting. Right now my projects are several skinny scarves for friends and trying to find an easy dog sweater for a baby chihuahua who hates having stuff pulled over his head.

 

[Sir_Winston54]

.... trying to find an easy dog sweater for a baby chihuahua who hates having stuff pulled over his head.

Maybe you'll have to find a chihuahua cardigan pattern, along the lines of Mr. Rogers' fav.

 

[00Syd]

My new embroidery is coming along. Maybe I'll post a photo tomorrow if I remember.

 

[annayarnkitten]

me too

Hey I knit, crochet, weave, and spin. I am pretty much self taught, lots of books. Everyone always asks about my name, they think Im a cat person. I prefer knitting, now I'm into socks. I crochet but I am so slow I get frustrated. I weave rugs from recycled clothes. and I spin wool. I have just worked on my spinning enough so that I can ply the singles and make real yarn. I am in a slump though for my knitting insiration, I like to write patterns. I am playing with lace, but I know myself enough to know I won't finish a shawl like I want, so I am lookimg for one simple enough that I can go fast and not get bored.

KNIT ON!!!
A

 

[00Syd]

My new embroidery : http://twitpic.com/308xu

(Of this: http://twitpic.com/2xian)

 

[Etoile]

Hey I knit, crochet, weave, and spin. I am pretty much self taught, lots of books. Everyone always asks about my name, they think Im a cat person. I prefer knitting, now I'm into socks. I crochet but I am so slow I get frustrated. I weave rugs from recycled clothes. and I spin wool. I have just worked on my spinning enough so that I can ply the singles and make real yarn. I am in a slump though for my knitting insiration, I like to write patterns. I am playing with lace, but I know myself enough to know I won't finish a shawl like I want, so I am lookimg for one simple enough that I can go fast and not get bored.

KNIT ON!!!
A

I am the opposite of you: I can barely knit because I am so slow that I get frustrated! I usually switch back to crochet pretty quickly because then I can PRODUCE stuff rather than just fumbling through and ripping out over and over again.

 

[Etoile]

My new embroidery : http://twitpic.com/308xu

(Of this: http://twitpic.com/2xian)

I'm confused, how do you maintain tension on the fabric as you embroider, thereby shifting the pull on the fabric? I'm only used to Aida cloth which is used for cross-stitch, it seems like regular fabric would pull all over the place! Or do you keep it REALLY tight on that hoop?

 

[the captians wench]

Hey I knit, crochet, weave, and spin. I am pretty much self taught, lots of books. Everyone always asks about my name, they think Im a cat person. I prefer knitting, now I'm into socks. I crochet but I am so slow I get frustrated. I weave rugs from recycled clothes. and I spin wool. I have just worked on my spinning enough so that I can ply the singles and make real yarn. I am in a slump though for my knitting insiration, I like to write patterns. I am playing with lace, but I know myself enough to know I won't finish a shawl like I want, so I am lookimg for one simple enough that I can go fast and not get bored.

KNIT ON!!!
A

I've always wanted to try spinning. Especially on one of those huge spinning wheels But I have never been sure where to get the wool. I don't think I'm allowd sheep as pets in my apt!

I am the opposite of you: I can barely knit because I am so slow that I get frustrated! I usually switch back to crochet pretty quickly because then I can PRODUCE stuff rather than just fumbling through and ripping out over and over again.

I'm the same way. I can crochet up a storm, and actually finish projects. Kitting. takes. for-eva!

I'm confused, how do you maintain tension on the fabric as you embroider, thereby shifting the pull on the fabric? I'm only used to Aida cloth which is used for cross-stitch, it seems like regular fabric would pull all over the place! Or do you keep it REALLY tight on that hoop?

In my (admitedly limited) embroydery experience it hasn't been much different than hooping cross stitch. You do have to keep it extreamly taught. But then I've always prefered stretcher bars to hoops when I've done either, and my mom had a spare one. Usually all her stretchers are in use.

 

[00Syd]

I'm confused, how do you maintain tension on the fabric as you embroider, thereby shifting the pull on the fabric? I'm only used to Aida cloth which is used for cross-stitch, it seems like regular fabric would pull all over the place! Or do you keep it REALLY tight on that hoop?

You have to keep it tight on the hoop, which is the point of having a hoop at all, to pull the fabric tight. But I know people who don't use a hoop. My mother doesn't use a hoop. It's possible. It's more difficult because you have to sort of pull the fabric tight with your fingers, but its doable.

 

[PurpleTiara]

I've always wanted to try spinning. Especially on one of those huge spinning wheels But I have never been sure where to get the wool. I don't think I'm allowd sheep as pets in my apt!

I do not have a wheel, but I do spin with a hand spindle. A lot of fiber shops in bigger cities have unspun fiber, or can get it to you, or you can Google. Ravelry has a lot of hand dyers and fiber farm people. I get my wool (merino) and llama from a close friend's family, I can get silk and cotton batts from a local shop, and bronntanas is sending me some mohair from his goat. (I have to share it with D's mariposa, who has a wheel as well as a spindle and spins on both.). As a last resort, if you have a university near you with a farming extension program, they usually have various herds. Call them in the spring and ask them what they do with their fleece and stuff. A lot of times, they will give it to you. If you go that route, you will need to do more prep work. You will need to clean, and card the wool first.

Some craft shops in the us like Michael's and JoAnne's have small packages of wool designed for needle felting. It can be spun, but it is really not prepped or designed for spinning so it can be a real exercise in frustration! It is not carded as well, and tends to be short staple fibers which are hard to spin.

 

[the captians wench]

I do not have a wheel, but I do spin with a hand spindle. A lot of fiber shops in bigger cities have unspun fiber, or can get it to you, or you can Google. Ravelry has a lot of hand dyers and fiber farm people. I get my wool (merino) and llama from a close friend's family, I can get silk and cotton batts from a local shop, and bronntanas is sending me some mohair from his goat. (I have to share it with D's mariposa, who has a wheel as well as a spindle and spins on both.). As a last resort, if you have a university near you with a farming extension program, they usually have various herds. Call them in the spring and ask them what they do with their fleece and stuff. A lot of times, they will give it to you. If you go that route, you will need to do more prep work. You will need to clean, and card the wool first.

Some craft shops in the us like Michael's and JoAnne's have small packages of wool designed for needle felting. It can be spun, but it is really not prepped or designed for spinning so it can be a real exercise in frustration! It is not carded as well, and tends to be short staple fibers which are hard to spin.

Thanks for the tips.

I think I'll wait a bit before I atempt to learn yet another fiber craft. *giggles* The last thing I need is another hobby!

 

[PurpleTiara]

Thanks for the tips.

I think I'll wait a bit before I atempt to learn yet another fiber craft. *giggles* The last thing I need is another hobby!

I suppose it would be evil of me to point out that it is really really easy to make a spindle for less than $5.... And that fiber is actually relatively inexpensive....

 

[Etoile]

Just finished my homework. I should work on my lamb so maybe he'll be ready for Easter! Body is done, head is half done, arms, legs, and ears still pending.

 

[the captians wench]

I suppose it would be evil of me to point out that it is really really easy to make a spindle for less than $5.... And that fiber is actually relatively inexpensive....

*shrug* it's not really the money that's the issue, it's the time.

I have so many hobbies that I love to do right now that there just isn't enough time in the day for all of them. Especially with the way I work (tho I am working less hours now, it is a longer drive and if traffic is bad then it tends to be almost equal to where I was.)

my current project is a size 8 girl's Elizabethan style costume. I'm working on my own pattern to incorporate the bodice and the farthingale since it has an over skirt that has an attached underskirt and then a jacket. And I'm creating a bumroll for it as well. It's very complex but the result should be less bulk. We'll see how it ends up.

 

[ultramarineblue]

*shrug* it's not really the money that's the issue, it's the time.

I have so many hobbies that I love to do right now that there just isn't enough time in the day for all of them. Especially with the way I work (tho I am working less hours now, it is a longer drive and if traffic is bad then it tends to be almost equal to where I was.)

my current project is a size 8 girl's Elizabethan style costume. I'm working on my own pattern to incorporate the bodice and the farthingale since it has an over skirt that has an attached underskirt and then a jacket. And I'm creating a bumroll for it as well. It's very complex but the result should be less bulk. We'll see how it ends up.

I would love to see some pics of your sewing projects. They sound so interesting.

 

[the captians wench]

I would love to see some pics of your sewing projects. They sound so interesting.

I'll have to do some resizing but I'll get some posted soon.

 

[eastern sun]

I've always wanted to try spinning. Especially on one of those huge spinning wheels But I have never been sure where to get the wool. I don't think I'm allowd sheep as pets in my apt!

I just wanted to add that here in NYC, our local yarn shop has contact with upstate farmers, and a number of spinners have gone in as a group to buy the wool from a small herd. There may be similar opportunities where you are.

 

[WriterDom]

I'll plant some cotten if yall will come pick it.

 

[00Syd]

So little did I know that the scrap fabric I picked up for embroidery was COMPLETE CRAP and now its is FALLING APART as I embroider FUCKKKKKKERRRRSSSssjncwjdkcnkwd

ETA: Attempting to salvage now.

 

[the captians wench]

So little did I know that the scrap fabric I picked up for embroidery was COMPLETE CRAP and now its is FALLING APART as I embroider FUCKKKKKKERRRRSSSssjncwjdkcnkwd

ETA: Attempting to salvage now.

try a water solible stableizer. You can even disolve the stableizer in a baby jar of water and then paint it onto the fabric.

 

[00Syd]

try a water solible stableizer. You can even disolve the stableizer in a baby jar of water and then paint it onto the fabric.

Thank you, I'll look into it. Currently I'm trying to be as delicate with the fabric as possible, stay as far away from the little rip as possible, and then hope that as I fill in more and more of the fabric, the thread will be able to stitch to itself and cover the rip.

 

[Yasashii_Kaze]

Maybe you'll have to find a chihuahua cardigan pattern, along the lines of Mr. Rogers' fav.

Not a bad idea, actually. I always thought Mr. Rogers had good fashion sense.