Christmas is on the way!

We’ve another fabulous idea worked out on the machine by Dianne Bunyan and you’ll find her pattern for a scarf and hat on page 24. Diane has produced a fascinating stitch design that shows on the right side and is completely hidden on the reverse. This means that the beanie can be pulled down and worn as a plain navy hat, or have the brim turned back to show the intricate eyelet holes with a navy backing. Any small pattern repeat of six rows can be used and it really is a new technique to try. Our packed issue has meant we’ve had to hold over news from Anne Reid about Undy YarnCrafts’ move to a country park outside Lydney. We’ve also had to postpone Norman Whitfield’s return to our pages, but they’re both waiting in the wings.

Our cover design this time is from Clair Crowston and knitted in a gorgeous DK acrylic yarn from James C Brett. Marble is 100% acrylic in 15 marled and variegated colourways. Texere is selling it online, so it’s sure to be a website winner as well. At just £1.75 per 100g ball, you’ll just go into the third ball and there can be no grumbles at looking as good as our cover girl for £5.25!

Finally, don’t miss Carl Boyd’s easy-to-make clutch bag on page 16. You need just 100 grams of yarn plus a few bits and bobs to be bang on trend. There’s still time to check if there are any vacancies for Carl’s Hands On week at Metropolitan. The date is Monday 23rd to Friday 27th November, from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm each day, at a fee of only £175. Call Carol Hocknell now on 01270-628414 to see if she can fit you in. Carl will be with them for the whole week as a tutor. It’s a unique opportunity to absorb and put into practice his innovative ideas. If you wish you can make this bag or any of his designs, with his special finishing touches and expert guidance.

Sponge bar

The silly thing is when I took the old one out the hard part was on top and the sponge underneath. But the sponge part had all the needle marking on it, so should I put the new one in the same way with the hard bit on top. The other problem is that I thought the sponge bar would solve is that when I put my needles to the D position they all raise up at the back and I can’t knit with them like it. Any suggestions?

Hello
The retaining bar goes in with the sponge facing down on top of the needles to hold them flat to the needle bed.
Hope this helps
AndeeKnits
Andee Knits
2009-08-13 14:33:04
Yes you are correct the sponge bar should be metal up and sponge down. You are probably having the problem of the needles rising at the back because you have not held the needles down when putting the sponge bar in. I usually use a small rule and gradually push the sponge bar along pressing down on the needles at the same time. I hope this solves your problem. Kind regards. Linda
Linda Collins
2009-08-13 14:33:04
Hi this may sound silly too but are you putting the sponge bar under the needles or on top. I ask as you seem surprised that the needle markings are on the sponge they should be as the sponge bar goes over the top of them. You need to press them down with one hand passing the sponge bar through the gap and on top of the needles. As you go along you need to keep pressing the needles down or the bar will not go any further unless they are. This may be the reason that they are essentially trying to come out when you put them in D. Not sure if this is the solution to your problem but hope it helps.
Best wishes
Carole
Carole
2009-08-13 14:33:04
Hello
The retaining bar goes in with the sponge facing down on top of the needles to hold them flat to the needle bed.
Hope this helps
AndeeKnits
Andee Knits
2009-08-13 14:33:04
Yes you are correct the sponge bar should be metal up and sponge down. You are probably having the problem of the needles rising at the back because you have not held the needles down when putting the sponge bar in. I usually use a small rule and gradually push the sponge bar along pressing down on the needles at the same time. I hope this solves your problem. Kind regards. Linda
Linda Collins
2009-08-13 14:33:04
Hi this may sound silly too but are you putting the sponge bar under the needles or on top. I ask as you seem surprised that the needle markings are on the sponge they should be as the sponge bar goes over the top of them. You need to press them down with one hand passing the sponge bar through the gap and on top of the needles. As you go along you need to keep pressing the needles down or the bar will not go any further unless they are. This may be the reason that they are essentially trying to come out when you put them in D. Not sure if this is the solution to your problem but hope it helps.
Best wishes
Carole
Carole
2009-08-13 14:33:04

i am just getting started

I have been asked if i can knit single blankets for charity , i am a complete novice and wandered if anyone can point me in the right direction i thought this would be good to begin with. any help would be welcome as i am not sure where to start from cast on to casting off! lol

Hello
I would suggest that you try and find a local club where you will get lots of inspiration and help from knitters of all levels.
If not contact me and I will point you in the right direction!
AndeeKnits
Andee Knits
2009-08-13 14:33:04
Hello
I would suggest that you try and find a local club where you will get lots of inspiration and help from knitters of all levels.
If not contact me and I will point you in the right direction!
AndeeKnits
Andee Knits
2009-08-13 14:33:04

Substitute Yarn for Bramwell Artistic?

My pattern calls for Bramwell’s Artistic. I have various types of other yarns e.g. Hush Knit, sable crepe, Cascade, etc and am not sure if any of these can be used please advise or recommend.

You can normally find some on ebay if you keep an eye or Yeoman are currently making there own version called Aurora which is very similar to it.
hgvpilot
2009-08-13 14:33:04
Hello
The main thing is to knit a tension swatch! As long as your yarn can match the tension of the pattern any yarn will do!
Yarns do vary in the way they hang etc. though so if it is for a skirt you may want to find a yarn that hangs well!
AndeeKnits
Andee Knits
2009-08-13 14:33:04
You can normally find some on ebay if you keep an eye or Yeoman are currently making there own version called Aurora which is very similar to it.
hgvpilot
2009-08-13 14:33:04
Hello
The main thing is to knit a tension swatch! As long as your yarn can match the tension of the pattern any yarn will do!
Yarns do vary in the way they hang etc. though so if it is for a skirt you may want to find a yarn that hangs well!
AndeeKnits
Andee Knits
2009-08-13 14:33:04

Getting it right

I read all of your articles, and especially look forward to Joan Lafferty each month – she makes me laugh a lot and even my husband asks what she is up to this month. Could you publish a picture of her please? It feels like having a conversation with an old friend reading one of her articles with good humour and some important tips. I enclose my subscriptions for the next 14 months and look forward to more ideas, techniques and articles.

Many thanks
Sue Frost
Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

Eye catching

One problem I have is tinnitus and I discovered that the noise of the carriage made it much worse, so I shall now have to save up for an electronic. Having done very little knitting since Christmas, the workroom has been empty. However, I did manage to finish something I’d virtually completed last year. I’d promised myself a wall-hanging and it was in four panels – two in the centre with Siamese cats (still, after 40-odd years!) and two end panels with single and double ‘ladders’, into which I threaded multi-coloured lightweight chunky. I trimmed the fringe and my son put up a long pole. I made four hangers and then we put it up on the rear wall of the living room so it draws the eye as you enter the door.

Perhaps the recession will persuade people to get ‘doing’, as we did during the war. I remember getting cards of sock darning wool from Woolworths and wherever else, when I couldn’t spare clothes coupons for ‘real wool’. We used it to make the ankle socks we all wore to save wear on the heels and toes of our very precious (and very scarce!) stockings. I also used up all the oddments of 3-ply I could find to make a stripy front for a jumper when I could only get enough wool for the back and sleeves – and very dashing it looked, too. I’m knitting very simple socks at present, because I have chronically cold feet. Cast on sixty stitches on one needle, divide on to three needles as you knit the first round; 6ounds in rib, 20 in pattern (often double moss stitch) then another 6 rounds rib and knit a fold line – purl one, knit one, instead of knit one, purl one. Naturally, if you were a purist you turned the sock! After that there’s 20 rows rib followed by 20 rows stocking stitch (what else), then divide for the heel of your choice. Finally, stocking stitch for the length of the foot and turn the sock through before decreasing for the toe. You were then on the wrong (purl) side, which made the toe grafting easier.

The trouble came when you lost a needle, because it was impossible to buy steel sock needles during the war, all the metal had gone to the war effort! To do your sock on two needles, you planned the seam for the centre back, knitted as far as the heel, then left 15 stitches each end for the heel. You continued the front foot to the toe and then did a ‘short row’ toe; as you continued back up the foot, you picked up and ‘knitted in’ a stitch on each side as far as the heel – where you knitted another ‘short row’ toe and grafted the stitches to your 15+15 stitches and sewed up the back leg seam – just like socks on the machine! It helps to look back and have a laugh!

Best wishes
Edna Cahill
Isle of Wight

Festival of Quilts

From 20th to 23rd August 2009 at the NEC Birmingham, over 250 companies will be selling masses of hard-to-find patchwork and quilting supplies. The Quilt Academy programme includes over 75 Masterclasses, workshops and lectures and the Quick & Easy workshops provide another 160 sessions for beginners. With over 1,000 quilts on display, The Festival of Quilts is a stunning visual feast. Book now and save money on advance tickets and here are contact details for more information.
The Festival of Quilts, Creative Exhibitions Ltd, 8 Greenwich Quay, London SE8 3EY.
Tel 020 8692 2299
Website www.twistedthread.com

Back on track

I would recommend anyone who has not done so to obtain the reinforced extension rails if using either KG88 model, especially if trying out garter stitch and lace. It’s tedious when you have to keep removing and replacing the back rail, as the garter carriage and the lace carriage both lock into the drive belt. I recently tried a small sample of this and it looked super, well worth the hassle on a small area but not worth doing for the whole garment. However, I haven’t got the reinforced extension rails and the garter carriage looked a bit precarious when sitting on the normal rail! I think that later Brother machines came with these fitted as standard.

If the small magnets on the back rail sections come off, they can be glued back on with a small dot of superglue – and yes, this has happened to me! The point about the sponge bar cannot be emphasised enough. If it is completely dead then the garter carriage will stop at the first needle in WP as the needle is too high for the carriage to move over. The main carriage is more forgiving, so you may not notice the problem until you come to use the garter carriage. A simple test is if there is any vertical movement in the needles at the business end (that is, the hook) when in WP then the sponge bar needs checking.

Also a good idea is if you are resting the machine for any significant time is to remove the sponge bar from the machine until you go to knit with that machine again. No need to do this with the Passap and Pfaff of course, but here any damaged needles must have their hooks broken off before being removed or serious and expensive damage happens to the retaining spring. I wouldn’t be surprised if machine knitting sees something of a resurgence in the recession, making a one-off garment for a fraction of the cost of buying a designer label item is a strong incentive. Keep up the good work!

Katharine Humphries
Poole, Dorset

Missing link

So I now have a Brother linker all due to MKM. I have two Brother machines and hadn’t thought about accessories at all.

Thank you for the article.
Best wishes from Ronda Green

I have had knitting machines since 1957.

I took a break for 5 years (back probs – eased by cortisone jabs into spine) and have now returned to my Brother kh970; my Knitmaster 321. All seemed to be o.k. (i ordered new sponge bars) until I started up the kg95 garter carriage. There was a grinding noise which turned out to be a long silver metal object which slots into a metal rectangle (called a foot??) a full installation is quite expensive and as the gizmo only fits into 2 slots.

Is it possible to obtain one and fit it myself? Any advice is welcome please.

Wendy (down-under)

wendy
2009-11-20 07:56:18