Lion Incredible ribbon yarn for sweater?

I'm sorry Melinda, I've obviously upset you and that was not my intention in any way. Please don't take what I say as criticism for asking questions - you are absolutely right to do so and this group is very helpful and wise.

What I've been trying to express (but have obviously not succeeded in doing so) is that even with the best laid plans things go wrong in knitting and I wouldn't want anyone to be too disapointed when that happens. In my mind (and this is just my opinion), if someone really enjoy the process of knitting and not just the outcome then it's a pastime they will find rewarding.

I really like experimenting with knitting and that's why I recommended the "the try it and see" approach. That doesn't mean that no questions would be asked (or that you are wrong to do so). I do recommend being ambitious and creative - I sincerely believe this to be a rewarding approach to knitting but again, it is my belief and as such may be disregarded.

My apologies for any offense I have caused.

VP

I make a sort of check-off sheet for a pattern. If it has 4 rows, I make 4 vertical boxes. I check off each box as I complete a row. I repeat the boxes horizontally so I can see how many times I've knitted the repeat. This is good with something like a sock if you want to duplicate it. A plain sock is great because I start at the toe; after doing the toe I can just knit plain about 6 inches or so; then do the heel; then knit plain again or rib or pattern up the leg.

I recommend the check-off sheet (I use either a table in MS Word or an Excel spreadsheet.)

Alison

Sorry all about the duplicate posts - Google Groups kept telling me it had failed to post but I guess it was just tricking. VP

Never believe what GG tells you about posting...

sue

Ooh, I could get into a check-off sheet -- I make lists for everything.

I need to get more experience reading *and following* patterns, etc., before I try socks -- I have extra-extra-wide calves and am going to have to tweak any sock pattern I have to fit them.

Melinda, who is SOOOOO dying to wear knee socks in the winter again

I was not offended, just totally puzzled as to why I would get that kind of response.

I think you and I are cut from different cloths, if you will pardon the sewing metaphor in a knitting group. I have sewn for 30-some-odd, almost 40-some-odd years, and my pleasure in sewing is the finished product. Yes, I make mistakes, but they are lessons to learn in the pursuit of the perfectly-fitting, perfect color, perfect fiber content, etc. garment, and the joy of that finished lasts a LOOOOOONG time. But the process of pinning, sewing, trimming edges, cutting out patterns? It's not the part I enjoy -- I enjoy the planning process and the finished garment, and the construction is just the long trip to get me from point A to point B. And the mistakes to learn something are part of the planning process as well.

You may not understand that, but honestly, it works for me. Or maybe it's just a matter of semantics.

I have about 80% Autumn and 20% Winter coloring, and it's incredibly difficult to find sweaters (or knee socks LOL) in my SSBBW size that are in the colors that I like that AREN'T white or black and that have relatively easy-care instructions.

I may go back to my knitting machine yet, but it needs to be fixed first and I need to find a place for it. In the meantime, it's easier for me to pick up knitting for a 10-15 minute break or to take with me when I have to go to a doctor's appointment or something than it is to take sewing, so I am hoping to be able to make lots of everyday sweaters, some nice sweaters, and lots of knee socks for winter as well as lots of slippers to wear around the house year-round.

Regards, Melinda

I have sewn for 30-some-odd,

You and me both, Melinda. Sorry for not answering sooner, but Teranews seems to have been sleeping at the switch the last few days, and I have only rec'd about a dozen messages a day total on all the boards I read. Anyway, I went over to Google to see what was going on, and this is what I think................. As you have been away from knitting for a while, I recommend you get some reasonable quality acrylic yarn - if it feels even slightly harsh or scratchy in the skein it will be even worse on - buy a traditional style pattern to go with it, do a gauge swatch, and get going. Either a worsted or a chunky weight yarn will do, although I prefer worsted in this climate. IMO, a "regular" style pattern, with a back, two sleeves and two fronts is easier to knit in odd minutes here and there, and you can measure progress more simply. As you are short and cuddly you may need to adjust both sleeve length and torso length unless you prefer your cardigans hip length and your sleeve cuffs turned up.

Feel free to e-mail me off-list if (when) you need more info.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

Actually, it's been my experience that asking those with more knowledge is a good thing. Even those of us with 30+ years of knitting experience don't know everything...yet

In that case I'd find a pattern for a simple pullover or open cardigan with little shaping, using larger needles, even. There's much to be said for instant gratification in one's first major project.

Not at all. We encourage and even enable people who are just starting out. I would have jumped in earlier, but I have not used the yarn in question and generally don't like using ribbon yarns so avoid them like the plague.

For someone just moving on from scarves I'd probably recommend something from The Yarn Girls' Guide to Simple Knits. This book is full of easy patterns using heavy worsted to ultra-chunky yarns and big-to-huge needles - the smallest size I saw was 9 - for that instant gratification I mentioned earlier.

Take that spare time and knit a few rows at a time. You'll see wonders appear :-)

Good to see you here.

The Other Kim kimagreenfieldatyahoodotcom

Hiya! I didn't realize that you knit as well.

It gets a tad chilly here in the winter when I turn the thermostat down low at night and am working, sitting still with my underactive thyroid that acts like a deep freeze, so I am looking for something that will be reasonably warm.

I supposed I could use a tweedy-looking yarn to avoid having a sweater in just one boring color. As you may already have figured, I am OCDing big-time over this one silly little project (which actually feels good given that I don't have space to set up my sewing machine right now with my daughter sitting out of college for a year using my usual sewing space for her personal living area space now that her former space has since been taken up with the guinea pig cage). And the more opinions the better, because when something clicks, I know I will be able to run with it instead of just have brain fibrillations.

Sure I knit, and embroider, and crochet. I'm from "over there" where girls were taught these things at a young age. At the age of six (first grade)I remember sitting in class - church school - doing a running stitch round three sides of a rectangle of tulle to make lavendar bags for the church bazaar. The following year I knit a scarf in school colors. So, I can help you with all of those things, just as you helped me with my computer.

If you start with chunky yarn and fat needles it will go fast.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.