Holding Position in tuck rib

Has anyone got a diagram of this please? I am not sure how to cope with the tuck stitches when the needles are in holding position. This is for a lovely Nina Miklin cardigan. Many thanks Gilly

Hi Gill

There are a couple of things you can do.

On the row before you put the needles in holding position bring those needles which will be put to hold to upper working position so that they will knit their stitches. Then you will not be putting needles with multiple loops into holding position.

Alternatively you can transfer the stitches to the bed which is knitting stocking stitch and put those needles in holding position.

I hope this helps solve your problem

Regards
Sue.

Sue P
2010-05-22 11:30:53
Hi Gill

There are a couple of things you can do.

On the row before you put the needles in holding position bring those needles which will be put to hold to upper working position so that they will knit their stitches. Then you will not be putting needles with multiple loops into holding position.

Alternatively you can transfer the stitches to the bed which is knitting stocking stitch and put those needles in holding position.

I hope this helps solve your problem

Regards
Sue.

Sue P
2010-05-22 11:30:53

Which Machine?

Hi Bracken
Most people start knitting on a ‘standard gauge” machine; they are very versatile and can knit a very good range of yarns.
There are three main makes Brother Toyota and Silver Reed/Knitmaster. The only new ones being sold at the moment are Silver Reed. There are many second-hand machines available but rather than suggesting a particular make I would advise you to look for one that is in really good condition preferably one that has been serviced and has a new Needle-retaining Bar. The last thing you want to do is buy a machine that does not work properly and gives you problems before you begin. Make sure you get the Instruction Manual and check that all the original tools are present. There is a page or two in the manual which details what came with the machine when new. Whether you choose a punchcard model or an electronic is up to you; the basic techniques are the same on both. If possible have some lessons or do a correspondence course. Metropolitan Machine Knitting do a really good one for Japanese standard gauge machines.
Hope this helps a bit
Sue.
Sue P
2010-04-24 08:21:09

Bramwell 4 ply and tension square!

Hi Sue
Don’t waste time trying to match tensions exactly I don’t think it can be done! I have never been able to!.
Knit a sample using different stitch sizes and choose the one which feels right and looks right.
Using this stitch size knit your tension swatch remove from machine roll it up and gently stretch it lengthways and allow it to rest preferably overnight.
Now measure 40 sts and 60 rows. The Green Ruler is very useful here. Say you feel T 7 is right with 30s/35r to 10 cm.
From the measurements given on the pattern diagram you can work out how many sts to cast on and how many rows to knit how many sts to decrease etc. If you need to cast on for a width of say 44cm you would multiply 22 by 3 for the number of sts – 132. Say the length is 45cm you multiply 45 by 3.5 for the number of rows – this comes to 157.5 so you round it up to 158.
You may well find the numbers closely correspond to some of those written in the pattern in which case you can use the ones that match even if they are from different sizes.
Hope this helps you
Sue too.
Sue P
2010-04-16 08:31:12
Many thanks Sue will give this a try!
Susie
2010-04-22 19:41:16

Knitmaster Lace Carriage

Before I came to Australia (1992) it was brilliant but since 1992 I haven’t used it, it has remained tucked up in it’s little box, until recently when I got quite excited about it and decided to give it a go. (A granddaughter on the way!) I will attach two photos of just two of my many attempts with it to show the extra holes! I have a new needle retaining bar so that isn’t the problem. No matter how careful I am, checking and re-checking all the settings etc., the results are the same and extra stitches get thrown off resulting in an unwanted hole. The yarn I used was just a soft 4-ply acrylic. The extra holes aren’t usually in the same spot either, so I can’t blame a dodgy needle. If anyone out there can come up with a reason I will be eternally grateful.

New Carl Boyd patterns

The first is a Flower Trimmed Sweater in Yeoman Sport to fit bust sizes from 82 to 112 cm, 32 to 44 in with 10 cm, 4 in ease. The trim is made in next-to-no-time with full instructions included and it’s also detachable for easy after care.

The Scarf Trimmed Sweater is in Metropolitan’s Metro 4-ply crêpe in the same size range. The lovely neckline is knitted in two sections and is easy to assemble during making up. For more information about Carl’s designs, please visit http://www.carlboyd.com/

Dragon’s Den

I suppose it was not altogether mine but I did draw it for the Mylar sheet. I do hope Mary is well, she did so much for machine knitting. I enclose a couple of photos and a copy of the Mylar sheet. As you can see from the photos I just could not part with the dressing gown and it’s now being modelled by my grandson Sean. The garment was made with Argyll Ferndale 4-ply and knitted using my Knit Radar. It’s just a long length V-neck cardi with stocking stitch gold edged bands. My son is now 39 this year. Gosh was it really that long ago, seems like yesterday. Thank you so much for keeping the magazine going I look forward to it each month and will put the binders on my present list. Best wishes for your future health and happiness.
Yours sincerely, Carol Cochran

Board Games

Thank you for all your efforts in keeping the magazine going. Every month gives me fresh inspiration – after a break for a year or two whilst having two cataracts removed, a knee joint replacement, a carpal tunnel operation and more recently major abdominal surgery, I am now back in full swing and coping with keeping ten grand children in knits! Keep up the good work!
Yours sincerely, Jean Herbert

Knit A Donkey

donkey.jpgThe knitted donkeys, which are individually made by supporters of the sanctuary, are sold in the visitors centre in Sidmouth and online at www.donkeyworld.org.uk. They’ve been selling them for about a year, but this is the first time they’ve promoted them outside of their newsletter. More knitters are needed just to keep up with the demand. For anyone wanting to test out their knitting skills, the sanctuary provides a knitting pattern, which originally came from a 1954 edition of Women’s Weekly magazine, and additional instructions. For further information about the Donkey Sanctuary, visit www.thedonkeysanctuary.org. To receive a free copy of the knitting pattern, contact Ruth in the community fundraising department on 01395-578222. You could also ask if a machine knitted donkey would be acceptable and we published a pattern on page 48 of the August 2008 magazine (Issue 127).