Your Favorite Knitting Book

[Jemm]

@claireweber

@Jemm - The floral treeskirt is so pretty

I had my eye on that one as well. Like you I got a great bargain on the holidays book including shipping

[claireweber]

@Jemm

What made me put it down immediately was her method for joining yarn… She says that the only way to really do socks or mittens well is with dpns. I believe that to be true in the past. This is something she said close to 30 or 40 years ago! I believe this comment has more to do with circular needle construction and the cords, not sure :shrug: I’ve seen some pretty great looking gloves made with magic loop and they knit up quickly. I learned both ways myself.!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            I'd love it if you could elaborate on that joining method.  I do like the  method that you had referred to with the 100% wool. 

I’ve used dpn’s for hats and then learned how to do the ‘Magic Loop’. Recently I found myself becoming annoyed with having to stop mid row to adjust the cord, so I’m now trying out using two circulars; I seem to be liking it but need to get a few more projects under my belt to say for sure.

[Jemm]

@claireweber

I’d love it if you could elaborate on that joining method. I do like the method that you had referred to with the 100% wool.

I’ve used dpn’s for hats and then learned how to do the ‘Magic Loop’. Recently I found myself becoming annoyed with having to stop mid row to adjust the cord, so I’m now trying out using two circulars; I seem to be liking it but need to get a few more projects under my belt to say for sure.

I particularly love magic loop since I get to use my metal circulars and the yarn just glides. Even though I have to stop, as you indicated halfway through each row, the time to get the rest done more than compensates. I like DPN’s probably just as much - however the wooden needles slow me down quite a bit. It does get less fiddly with practice and this method hardly bothers me in that respect, but if I have a choice between the two I’d probably gravitate towards the circulars. The added benefit to knowing both ways is being able to just pick up a pattern and go without feeling restricted in knowing only one technique.

“Spit and splice” is the method I learned for joining wool, and if anyone asks me what is THE most valuable thing I’ve learned in knitting so far, this would be it. Quick, no waste, and no ends to weave in. Only works with animal fiber but was successful with one or 2 wools having just a bot of acrylic or other plant fiber. When it’s mixed it depends - you have to test it out and make sure it’s strong.

From “Knitting Without Tears”:
[COLOR=“Blue”]Mrs. Zimmermann, how do you join in a new ball of yarn? Do you always join at a seam?[/COLOR]
My dear, my sweaters usually have no seams, and besides, as a knitter with reverence for her material, I hate to waste an inch of wool.
[COLOR=“Blue”]Do you split the yarn and twist half the plies of one piece with half the lies of another?[/COLOR]
No; too lazy. And this is troublesome to do perfectly anyway.
[COLOR=“Blue”]Do you tie in your yarn?[/COLOR]
Heavens, a KNOT? Let me put an end to this catechism and tell you that I join in a new ball of wool, always, by working just one stitch with both wools together, the old and the new, leaving 3" tails hanging down on the wrong side. These are later darned in lightly for about an inch, with a large sharp needle, and snipped off. And I defy you to tell from the right side where this was accomplished.

@Knitluck - just wanted to let you know that I bought some chenille to make those flowery washcloths.:woot: