Stitch and bitch knitting circle

Ah, but if you count the two knitters we stole, we had a total of nine people joining in the creative insanity! The knitters cannot help but feel the draw of 1000 blank white cards, and after we hook them on the game we will hook them on writing too. Bwahahahaha.

yes,yes blank white cards is FUN to the square root of boredom is not welcome here!

Ok, ok, if you explain how I can write with my crochet hook in my hand ?? Guess I could embroider a few words of wisdom? Actually the writers' workshop looks fun, but I can't get myself there early enough.

My first ever Stitch & Bitch was a blast! It's a good get-together, and would be even better with a few more people. I can't wait to finish my practice scarf so I can get started on a 'real project.'

Looky here!

[img]http://static.flickr.com/42/75359139_5f83608923.jpg[/img]

I finished it last night!!! Starting on a new scarf for myself today!

wow, very nice for a beginner!

that scarf looks mighty fine - hope I too will get there before all the snow's melted.

how about stitch n bitch and stammtisch merge - schöpf AND bitch, could anything be better? (i, for one, can think of nothing)

Hey People,

I am a beginner and with that I mean I don't know even the abcd of knitting. Am I welcome as well?

werewolf, I too am a beginer. I will pick up yarn and needles, make a big mess and then throw them down and pretend to be busy doing something else.

Lol, can you get the needles and yarn at Woolworth?

Not sure, Werewolf. Why not go to one of the department stores, like Hertie or Karstadt? You are, of course, welcome. Bring a ball of yarn and a pair of needles and we'll get you going. You'll have your first scarf in no time. Remember, TB is closed the next two Sundays. Anyone who wants to meet beforehand should pm me and we can arrange a location.

Werewolf, I, too, am a beginner. I've been knitting for two weeks and that scarf above is what I've achieved in five days. So, if you can make it this Sunday, in spite of its being Christmas day, pm Nicky and we could try organise a Stitch N Bitch session.

If you want to find a good supply, go to Ludwig Beck's Geknöpft & Zugenäht (Burgstrasse - picture below)...they've a good selection...and BTW Uta (sorry, don't know your TT name), if you're reading this, I went and compared the prices of yarns and accessories at Geknöpft & Zugenäht with Wollkorb and Hertie...and they're just the same. If you're getting the same kind of yarns, they'll be at the same price.

[img]http://static.flickr.com/6/75854369_24b3a7ca93.jpg[/img]

I like the yarn there, but it was MOBBED on Monday afternoon. Monday afternoon! Another lady (who I didn't know) stepped in, looked at each other and laughed, turned and walked out.

smart idea for a gift though - here let me get you some yarn and needles so you can knit me something. brilliant.

I went and did yarn shopping on Monday late afternoon (got enough yarns for two scarves that should be keeping me busy over the holidays)...and yes, it was mobbed. The ladies who work there were pretty stressful. One of them barked at me because I tried to ask her something while she whisked past me.

[img]http://static.flickr.com/39/75518084_d2388a3f22_m.jpg[/img]

The new expanded Karstadt nearer Karlplatz seemed to have a huge yarn selection downstairs. This is the new back building, not the building straight on the pedestrian zone, though you can access it from there.

did not know that. and I thought there were 2 buildings on the pedestrian zone? which one or where's the main entrance to the new one?

Showem, I didn't know that the back building's opened already. I went on Monday to the Haus Oberpollinger, but got frustrated trying to find yarns there...I might go and have a look again today (prolly won't be able to hold myself back and will buy another lot of yarns *LOL*)

I think you are ready, grasshopper:

Beginner Easy Knit Hat

Materials - Worsted weight yarn, approximately 3.5 ounces, or about 200 yards.
1 Pr. US size # 10 ½ needles

Gauge - 7 sts = 2 inches

Beginning at bottom brim of hat, cast on 72 sts.

Knit across each row until length from beginning is 10 ½ inches.

Top decrease - Work * knit 2 together * across row, repeating between *'s across. ( 36 sts )
Knit across next row.
Last row - * K 1, K next 2 sts together *, repeating between *'s across row. ( 24 sts).

Cut yarn, leaving about 25 inch length. Thread sewing needle with the end of this length, and draw through remaining sts. Pull to close top of hat, then fasten on inside of hat.

Sew down back seam , leaving last 2 ½ inches unsewn. Turn up cuff of hat, then sew seam on inside of this remaining 2 ½ inches. This way, you will not see the seam of the cuff, the seam will be on the inside of cuff, when cuff is turned upwards. Fasten off.

I'm talking about the Karstadt next to the Karstadt Sports. Go in the main entrance and keep walking to the back. Walk past the first set of escalators and you'll come to a second set on your right. Down there I saw lots of yarn.

Looks like we are three for this Sunday, stitch and bitch plus wine. Anyone else interested?

I'm interested, but of course I can't make it.

You can be sure I'll be knitting away on my flight to Oz tonight, though.

Abra, naimless, werewolf - are you joining Emmelcitur and me over wool and wine this Sunday? If so, pm to arrange.

Here's what's on my needles:

[img]http://static.flickr.com/38/79069585_e7c0c7bc53.jpg[/img]

So, that's the next scarf I'm making for myself. The colour of the stripes is from left to right, i.e. charcoal, mocca, white. I'm doing it in Fisherman's Rib, which makes the scarf extremely soft! The only downside is that the Fisherman's Rib is a yarn-eater! I'm not even finished with my first stripe and my first ball of yarn had been knitted more than half already! O.o I've for each colour only two balls, I think I'll need to get one more ball for each colour.

Material:

- approx. three 50 g balls each of 'Lana Grossa Bingo' in the following colours: Charcoal (# 04), Mocca (# 68) and White (# 23)
- 4.5 mm/US 7 circular needles (60 cm in length)

Here's the pattern (no gauge, as this is a scarf):

- Cast on 40 stitches (I used a double/long tail/continental cast-on - whatever you call it).
- Row 1: Purl
- Row 2: *P1, knit next st in the row below, allowing old stitch to drop from needle; rep from *, end p2
- Repeat Row 2 only

Change the colour when you find the block at your desired length.

Great work, Elemmaciltur! If anyone has any energy left after New Year's Eve they should pm me to arrange alternative location next Sunday (1st Jan.), as TB will be closed. There have already been a couple of suggested locations. I also have three new balls of yarn and a circular knitting needle waiting for my next project.

@ Elemmaciltur Hey, that looks great, I like the colours. And yes, those fisherman´s rib ( in german we call it Patent) is a yarn eater.

If you have to buy more yarn make sure that you will get also the same serial number (inside the colour number) There are different serial numbers in one colour number (comes from the dyeing process) and even if you don’t see the difference at the yarn balls you will recognise it when scarf will be finished and you will not like it. Best, take a label from each colour with you for buying more yarn.

I look forward to see the scarf in the new year, maybe you will have finished it by then.

I think my new project will be a sweater, also in fisherman´s rib.

@Rubber Duck: Thanks about the dying lot number thing...but I'm actually aware of that already. I'm learning extremely fast.
'Patentmuster'? I always thought that it was a k1xp1 ribbing. That's another thing I have to learn: German knitting terms (Krausrecht, glatt links, glatt rechts - they confuse me)

Yesterday evening I learned how to do cables. The scarf didn't get too far last night because I doodled with cables. And I'm now also working on a new iPod sock in black with plaid cables on it!

Hurray Hurray for the very first day!

Dear Bitch & Stitchers, If you would like to meet at the Twisted on the first day of January in the Year of Our Lord 2006, simply let me know. I think it is a fine way to continue the tradition into the New Year.

I for one would like to meet at TB on 1st. Who's joining me? Elemmaciltur? Rubber Duck? Abra? Knitting is very soothing for hangovers. How about 4.30 pm? Will you be open then, TexasTornado? If so, I think you should maybe make sure the coffee machine's working! Coffee and knitting is the perfect antidote to New Year's Eve symptoms. Followed by a bowl of nachos maybe?

Nicky, I don't know for sure yet about this Sunday, but I PMed you about it.

Anyhow: the new scarf is being put on hold...now I'm working on my new iPod-Sock with cables! After I've done two lots of cables and found the middle patch of garter stitches too boring, I started to twist the stitches in the middle into a cross right twisted stitch! What do you guys think?

[img]http://static.flickr.com/42/79504696_53799ed5dc.jpg[/img]

See you later! Plus any other stitchers and bitchers who are already up!

Nicky,

We are not open. I posted if you wanted to meet here, to PM for instructions on how to get in the building due the the front door being locked. You would have to know the secret knock, which door to perform said knock upon, location of the lift for the purpose of exiting the building due to your being locked in and blah, blah, blah. So sorry we missed you. First drink on me next Sunday.

next week you can leave your needles at home and bitch about this week.

@TexasTornado Yeah, we stood outside the door and were really disappointed! Finally we wandered down into the Leopoldstraße for coffee. Is next week for definite? If so, maybe you could post a reminder for everyone. Happy New Year

@Grinner We're much too nice to bitch.

@TexasTornado, I don't know about the secret passage...but yeah, I was really looking forward to showing you what I've done and my OWN scarf that I was sporting today! So, I hope that next week's a definite one and I'll be counting on that drink! *LOL* Happy New Year!

@Grinner, we don't bitch about TB, we have other things to bitch about...I, especially, for one do have other things to btich about.

Hi all. I gave up on my first two scarves, because I didn't like the yarn I was using. I started with another one with some nicer (and brighter - for my mom) yarn, and now it's done! It looks lovely. Last night I made a hat to go along with it, and now I'm working on some gloves. Perhaps when I get back home I'll post a photo.

Happy New Year, everyone!

I think you guys missed Grinner's joke, so I shall explain. Please note, I am typing very slow so everyone will understand. Next week you can leave your needles at home while you bitch about my being in bed sleeping while you guys stood outside in the snow. get it? Haaaaaa!!!...

It was a communication thing. We were not going to open, but if the usual Sunday crew wanted to meet up, I would show them in through the secret door and go back to sleep. I trust Nicky enough to make sure everyobdy wrote down what they drank and to leave the money on the bar. Theses are people who have been sitting in our bar EVERY Sunday for 14 months... I love you guys!

IPJ, We miss you! Plus, your Sunday following did that exit stage left thing after you jumped the pond. Will you ask Kateness contact me?

E, You are a knitting God!

Happy New Year! May you crank out your very own line of clothing at the Twisted. We could have a fashion show with models, catwalk a DJ and all the fixins. Woo! hoo! or would Hoohah! be more appropriate?

@TexasTornado We're much too nice to bitch about you sleeping while we were freezing to death outside, gasping for coffee and wine and starving for taco salads and quesidillas, our knitting was frozen to our needles and our feet soaking wet. But we'll forgive you and be along for our free drink next week . I'll bring my finished cushion along.

Yay! TB's staying open! So, it's going to be that free drink in the SnB this coming Sunday!

The scarf's coming on nicely, although I have to think about how I'm going to join the yarn colours the next time. Up to this point, I've been knitting a row with the two different colours together, but the yarns kept twisting and it doesn't look tidy (I can live with my 'artistical freedom' *LOL*)...I'll see:

[img]http://static.flickr.com/39/81489805_2c45e0729d.jpg[/img]

why do you knit the different colours in the same row?
surely you can just start the new row off with the new colour
that way it doesn't look messy or anything

@Topsy, I was afraid that the yarn will become undone. But well, I'll try that the next time I change colours. Thanks for the tip!

it shouldn't come undone
just leave yourself enough yarn so that you can tie the two loose ends at each join together in a knot
then you'll be fine

Well, that's the thing, isn't it...I don't want to have any knots...and I mean, I weave in the ends on the side, but still, I'm afaid that it'll become undone.

you don't have to make it a big ugly knot
just tie them together once - i dunno what the knots are called, but just a dead simple knot - and then weave the ends in

Okay, I'll try that at the next join...if I make the knot small enough, I could perhaps prod and tuck it into the side, too.

Normal method as far as I know is to knot the two colours together at the outer edge and then use a sewing needle to weave them through, maybe a couple of inches or so, before cutting off the yarn, but as you correctly point out, the knot can be a bit bulky with thick yarn. An alternative might be to start the new yarn about 12 stitches or so before the end of the previous row - this would not give a perfect stripe, but would avoid the knot and not be as messy as trying to knit an entire row with two thickness of thick yarn. A third method, normally used with narrow stripes, is to 'carry' the yarn not in use up the sides by interlocking it with the yarn in use until you need it again instead of cutting it off. Good luck!

I've read about carrying up the yarns in my 'knitting for dummies', but couldn't quite grasp how to actually do it. Besides, that would mean, every time I go around with my knitting, I'd have three balls of yarns hanging along all the way.

Yes, you have to carry all the yarn! It's easy to carry it up - you just twist unused yarn around the yarn in use at the end of each alternate row.

it wouldn't work for stripes as big as you have on this one, though...

im doing a similar scarf (3 colors, patent) but i think i do it a little different (the stitch i mean)

anyway, i would be interested in coming to a meeting.

Is this an on-line stitching and bitching thread??