Knitting

[Simon E]

OK, I must be going through 'The change' but I was watching T.V last night and they had one of these programs on that they use as a filler for about 10 mins between the excreable shows. Anyway, this was on wool and its role in fashion blah blah. I dont know why, but I got this sudden urge to learn how to knit and make myself a scarf or hat.

Does anyone do this?

 

[James_m246]

I know how to do basic knitting and have tried it a few times but never finished anything.
Aparently knitting your own hats and stuff is all the rage if your a snowboarder.

 

[BorderReiver]

Used to.Sort of lost it over the years.

It's a very useful skill to have.Even more satisfying if you card and spin your own yarn.

 

[Simon E]

Thanks guys, turns out my wife can knit (who knew? )

She didn't even bat an eyelid when I said I wanted to learn, must be wearing her down lol.

I think I will go for a nice thick hat for my first project, being a baldy the old noggin gets cold in the winter time

 

[BorderReiver]

Thanks guys, turns out my wife can knit (who knew? )

She didn't even bat an eyelid when I said I wanted to learn, must be wearing her down lol.

I think I will go for a nice thick hat for my first project, being a baldy the old noggin gets cold in the winter time

Good choice.

If you knit it too big and use real wool,you can felt it once it's made. It would make it almost windproof.

 

[big_swede]

I tried knitting a couple of times, usually get very very angry before any real achiviements are made. So if you have any kind of temperament, you maybe should let the missus do the knitting

But knitted wool wear is great. High weight-warmth ratio, fire retardent, silent and keeps you warm when moist/wet. A thick knitted sweater is my all time wilderness garnment (well, after my anorak), would always choose it before a fleece jacket. Knitted mittens as liners for windproof mittens are great! And socks are chapter for themselves. A knitted hat is hard to beat as well, and easy to make. Another thing a started using a couple of years ago, and actually made myself, and which I can recommend as a beginners project, is wristwarmers. It's lika a tube with half a glove-finger for the thumb. Lovely in the autumn.

 

[TallMikeM]

the mrs knits and has knittted me some fantastic stuff. SHe has sworn that she's never gonna knit me another jumper tho, apparently I'm too large and tall and it takes too long

Still, I've just scored some fleeces for her to try her hand at spinning so maybe I can wear her down. I quite fancy a gansey.

 

[nickg]

Good choice.

If you knit it too big and use real wool,you can felt it once it's made. It would make it almost windproof.

30 (O God) years ago on a army mountaineering course in Norway I bought some wool mitts and socks that were made that way. Apparently they were made twice as big or something and then boiled to death or something and they come out like the most tightly laid felt you can imagine. Not totally waterproof but damn close and warm even when completly soaked wading through snowmelt streams etc. Not worn out either.
The technique might be worth investigating by a knitter.

Nick

 

[Simon E]

Thanks for the replies guys, looks like I will have to give it a bash!