I am going to work with Bernat Softee Chunky yarn. I can’t find a pattern that I want in their choices. So I am looking at Lion Brand patterns. Do you think Lion Brand’s Wool Ease Chunky or Wool Ease Thick and Quick would be better to use for a substitute?
Here’s some links to help:
http://www.lionbrand.com/cgi-bin/yarnInfo.cgi?yarnPageIndex=1&start=60&pageLength=20
http://www.yarnspirations.com/catalogsearch/result/?cat=&q=Softee+Chunky
Thick and Quick is heavier than Softee Chunky. It’s more the size of Homespun, if not the heavy Homespun.
Wool Ease Chunky might be about right. Check the gauge on the labels, even if it’s not the gauge you get–if they’re about the same, they’ll work up about the same as well.
I don’t know if this is exactly your yarn so check the gauge. Here’s a link to Ravelry for the yarn. On the tabs you can see one for patterns and those are patterns people did with this yarn.
http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/bernat-softee-chunky-solids-new
Look at the gauge to substitute. You can use any pattern that works with the gauge. Always keep in mind though that if the yarn is a different texture (even if the same gauge) then it could look different. May still work though.
What do you want to make?
I was looking at these. But if you think it would work better with Wool Ease Chunky, I’ll go back to the drawing board. 
http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L30073.html
I think one of the reasons I get confused about gauge is because they all have different ways of describing it. [COLOR=“Red”]My Bernat Softee says 9 st= 4 in. [/COLOR]and [COLOR=“SeaGreen”]Thick and Quick says 9 stitches x 12 rows = 4" [/COLOR] [COLOR=“DarkOrchid”]The Wool ease Chunky says 14 stitches x 18 rows = 4 inches .[/COLOR] They have no pity on new knitters. 
Hm. In theory, then, the Thick and Quick should be the same gauge as the Softee Chunky. It wouldn’t work up like that for me. (The row gauge isn’t as important anyhow.) I’d just get what you want to use.
Those are both simple patterns, and the hat is stretchy either way, so in this case I’d start with the scarf and see what the gauge looks like. (Usually I make the hat and use the yarn that’s left for the scarf because the length isn’t that important; this time, your scarf is like a giant swatch.) If it’s way off one way or the other, you can adjust the hat pattern to the size you want.
I’m not even sure I’m going to do the scarf. I have 3 or 4 colors of Bernat Softee Chunky and was going to experiment with changing colors, making stripes. I think I’ll go ahead with it, especially since I can’t find any patterns using the Lion brand regular Chunky. I’ll play around with it first and see what it looks like. How is it? Make a 4 X 4 swatch and count the stitches? Is that it?
Thanks!
Pauline
Update: I checked the Bernat patterns again and found this: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/scarf-and-hat-4081-archive I think this will be a good one. yea! :yay:
That is a good one! It’s done on the long side. No harder or easier that way, but it looks cool. 
Good I get to try something new. :cheering:
About this pattern: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/scarf-and-hat-4081-archive
I’ve not been able to find a video for this: I’m hoping I can figure it out but do you have any suggestions? The “then purl first st again” has got me confused and I’m lost without a video…hope I can pull this off. :mrgreen:
P2tog, then purl first
st again slipping both sts off
needle tog.
This looks like the stitch. See if it helps. I believe it’s last row of the pattern so you may have to watch until it gets to the correct row.https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eSfa3kqEOUg
This is great, salmonmac! The video is very clear and easy to follow. Thank you!
Same pattern, different problem.
What does this mean?
[COLOR=“Blue”]inc 12 sts evenly across last WS row.[/COLOR]
I can’t tell how many times to increase by reading this.
I start with a 102 cast on, and after that I end up with 114
It seems strange to do an increase on a hat when it’s just getting started?
Thanks!
Hat?! I thought you were making the scarf!
Anyway… That’s not uncommon to increase after the brim/edge. Having the edge a little tighter helps the hat stay where it should and it helps with shaping.
If I’m doing the math correctly (102 divided by 12) comes to 8.5. Well you can’t increase on half stitches so just increase about ever 8 and if it’s not perfect it’s fine. What I’ve done in this situation is increase some 8 and some 9. As long as you end up with the correct number at the end it’s fine.
Unless the pattern says otherwise I’d use a M1 to increase. That’s where you pick up the thread in between the stitches with your left needle from the front and then knit through the back loop to tighten it. If you find it easier to pick the stitch up through the back then do that and knit the stitch through the front like normal.
Nah, I’m still doing hats. I just finished the French trapper’s hat and now it’s too warm to wear it! :doh:
Thanks for explaining that to me, Jan. The pattern writers seem to forget some of us are beginners.
Pauline
BTW You can see the mistakes in the hat, but it’s still wearable! :mrgreen:
Yeah, most patterns assume some knowledge of knitting. But, that’s how you learn.
That’s a nice hat! Is that the one you’re on now or a previous one?
Thanks, I just finished it this week. Have about 4 rows done on this new one. Don’t know what I’d do without you guys on this forum!
I’ve been here since 2005 and I learned here, too! And I’m not a kid I’m 63 so late bloomer. Haha :teehee:
I love the hat! It looks like a real Canadian tuque to me. Very nicely worked.
Thanks! Here’s the pattern in case you missed it when I posted it here earlier.