Does anyone 'resue' yarn?

Yeah, that's what I said too! But Matthew said that she said she had never heard it before, and he was surprised too, because everyone else he knows have said it at one point in time.

By the way... your "Get out!" made me laugh. Apparently my Dad had a habit of saying that a lot when he and my Mom were first married. Her neice (who was only a year or so younger than her) came to visit one day and said something to which my Dad said "Get out!". She said quietly "Okay, I'm sorry if I said something to offend you!" and got up to leave. My Mom asked where she was going... it all came out and my Mom said "Margaret, you're such a take! He didn't mean for you to actually get out, he just meant 'Come off it!, or Really!' Now sit down and have your tea." LOL Eventually my Dad stopped saying it... I guess he might have come across a few more "takes" who took him literally. hehehe

Gem

Cool, thank you, Tamar! :o)

Gemini

Shirley, it would be a matter of amound of twist per inch. Also, when you knit on you machine from cones, you can see extra twist going in the yarn when it comes off the tip of the cone. It is indeed regular spinning that happens between the cone and and the machine, adding more twist. Since the distance is much further away between yarn source and the actual knitting, more twist will happen than when you have the same yarn in a ball close by your hand knitting.

Els

Thanks for your explanation, however it does not matter to me anymore.

I had a heart bypass operation 8 years ago, after the surgery I found I was in tremendous pain in my back if I tried to use the KM. It is same with ironing, the same arm movement. Ironing takes days. About 3 things and the pain kicks in. Four years ago I was very ill again with heart probs. Could not walk for angina, climbing the stairs was like facing Mount Everest for me. One brave doctor took the plunge even though the cardiac Professor said it was too dangerous. He put 6 stents in my heart and I was awake all the time. He saved my life, however radio active tests last year shown I had yet further blocks in my heart. I decided that I did not want anymore investigations unless I got worse. Another Professor agreed with me but put me on an open appointment were I can ring the hospital if things get worse without going through all the hoops so to speak.

I live every day as it comes and try to do what I want to. I have too many hobbies to dwell on my health.

Before I retired I had collected cone upon cone of yarn knowing that I would only get a small pension. Alas the day after I retired I was put on the list for my heart bypass. Over a £1000 worth of yarn lined my workroom walls, mocking me every time I went in. So this last summer I dismantled the KM and put it in the back of the lobby hole out of sight. In its place I put a work bench where I make my cards etc.

Then I bagged nearly all of the yarn up and gave it to the WI so that they can knit more things for the under privilege children. They got wool and cashmere, pure botany wool, cottons. I kept some that I could use in my tassels. I shall never use the KM again but if they become popular again maybe one of my grand daughters will like it.

Shirley

In message , Els van Dam writes

I'm not sure I've ever used a Z-twist yarn. I think with my knitting style it would tend to un-ply itself. However, if the Z-twist unplied, then the S-twist of the plies might dominate and cause the biasing. So I think I agree with you, Els - it's the S-twist in the plies that is causing the biasing - because it is no longer balanced by the Z-twist that put them together.

But if it's wool yarn, it ought to be possible to block it. It might take very fierce blocking, the kind that is used to shape felt hats, but wool can be amazingly shaped with enough steam and pressure.

The difference in effect between S and Z ply yarns has been noted by spinners. I forget which website I read it on (possibly Wiseneedle) but even some fibers look different according to which way they are spun. I know some ancient fabrics were woven with S and Z spun fibers alternating to emphasize the effect of a herringbone weave. Now that took some planning.

I wonder whether mixing S and Z spun yarns in a knitted garment would help balance out a bias problem. Maybe it would if they were held together and knitted as one.

=Tamar

What astonishes me is that she couldn't understand what it meant. It's simple enough. Maybe she has trouble with "understood" words and needs the complete sentence fully stated - "Give to each his own choice of materials, for there's no rational way to choose among individual preferences, since logically all the available choices are equally good."

Gosh, that's hard to expand easily. I think I'm a little more sympathetic to her now than I was before.

I've met people who had never heard most of the nursery rhymes I grew up with, and that surprised me, though it shouldn't have. I wouldn't have recognized her nursery rhymes either. I was a little more surprised by the person I met who had never heard of Robinson Crusoe and therefore hadn't understood any of the "man Friday" jokes.

=Tamar

This may be what happened with my problem yarn as I often get some kinking as I knit because it tends to twist in the \ direction. It has been too long since I knitted this yarn to remember if i noticed any twisting or untwisting. It is difficult to see the yarn twist in the knitted pieces but there does still seem to be some Z-twist.

I agree but this yarn is mostly cotton with a small amount of alpaca. It's from Classic Elite and is called Mistral. Someday I may unknit some of it and try crocheting with it. I appreciate everyone's comments.

Shirley, I am sorry to hear about your heart condition. It must be hard to live with. I admire you for your guts to deal with this on a daily basis.

Hope things will look up for you in the future

Els

oh my goodness! You are all making me quite dizzy! All this twisting and spinning and skewing... I have a terrible lot to learn!

Sandra Rose

"The Jonathan Lady" wrote in message news:m17lf.231053$ snipped-for-privacy@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net... OK, I understand S and Z-twists. Almost all yarns I have bought are plied with an S twist and have never been a problem. But the one that gave me so much trouble is a 4-ply with a Z-twist with an S-twist in each of the plies . As I was knitting, I noticed the piece was skewed to the right (/) but I kept going thinking I would be able to block them into shape. Only after I had knitted the whole sweater did I discover that no amount of blocking would straighten them out. Would you agree that the S-twist is what caused the problem?

LOL I love the expansion! I seriously doubt that she really didn't understand it... she puts a lot of stuff on. I've known a few people like her throughout my life, but this is Matthew's first encounter with someone like her and so he believes what she says.

Gemini

- taking a deep breath and just not even going there. ;o)

LOL Maybe the person Matthew was referring to was just completely in his/her own little world!

Higs, Kather> Yeah, that's what I said too! But Matthew said that she said she had

That was very interesting to read, Shirley. I am sorry to read that your health does not permit you to use your knitting machine. I assume that you are still able to knit by hand? I find that this is very helpful to me in reducing stress, which I am sure you must be feeling with your condition. I hope that your doctors can help you.

Katherine

Thank you for your kind words. Yes I can knit by hand but my love has gone to beadwork at the present time. I do sometime crochet as well. I like dressing the Fibre craft dolls. Shirley

Yes, I like beadwork, too, but find that I am not as comfortable with it as with knitting.

Higs, Kather> Thank you for your kind words.

Hi Shirley,

Prayers going out to you for your continued good health on a day by day basis. At least you aren't sitting around and not doing anything at all. The beadwork you do is lovely and yes, maybe one of the grandchildren will do the knitting machine.

Hugs,

Nora

My prayers and good wishes are going out to you too, Shirley!

Gemini

me three... Noreen

Thank you all for your prayers and good wishes. I am having to pace myself now for the run up to Christmas. Getting things done and food shopping organised. I have the whole family for Christmas dinner a total of nine. Both sons are home from sea this week. I am the only one with a large table to get us all round it. I keep saying it will be the last year I will do it. However DG says she will come and help me prepare it and cook it.

I must admit I am beginning to feel the stress of it all and feel tired tonight so I must have a rest day tomorrow and recharge the batteries. Shirley

In message , The YarnWright writes

Shirley, if you have the offer of someone to come and help with the preparations of the meal and cooking as well... do accept the offer so that you will not be overly stressed. It is a well known fact that the Christmas season is the most stressful time of the year. Happiest once all the rushing and doing are over with and you can just enjoy your visitors, but majorly stressful in preparing for it all. Please take it easy and allow others to help! I'm sure they would rather help than to have you end up in the hospital. :o/