Comments on: Too loose? http://desiknitter.com/2006/11/too-loose/ An academic juggles knitting, sewing, and other crafts in Kolkata Sat, 05 May 2012 23:58:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: spudsayshi http://desiknitter.com/2006/11/too-loose/comment-page-1/#comment-463 spudsayshi Sat, 04 Nov 2006 10:38:46 +0000 http://desiknitter.com/?p=82#comment-463 I still love the rib and the color, I have to say. And if the holes aren't too big there's a way in which a looser stitch can actually be warmer, I think, what with the trapping of air, or something. I bought a ton of alpaca from Laura when she was packing up in CO, mostly in plain black and greys, and this discussion is making me think very hard about what to do with it. Hmmm. I still love the rib and the color, I have to say. And if the holes aren’t too big there’s a way in which a looser stitch can actually be warmer, I think, what with the trapping of air, or something.

I bought a ton of alpaca from Laura when she was packing up in CO, mostly in plain black and greys, and this discussion is making me think very hard about what to do with it. Hmmm.

]]> By: quill http://desiknitter.com/2006/11/too-loose/comment-page-1/#comment-462 quill Fri, 03 Nov 2006 21:14:03 +0000 http://desiknitter.com/?p=82#comment-462 Hmmm, I like the double stranding idea... but that will probably make a VERY warm sweater. Also, what I hear about alpaca is that it's important, when blocking it, to be very careful not to stretch it, because it will not bounce back at all. Hmmm, I like the double stranding idea… but that will probably make a VERY warm sweater. Also, what I hear about alpaca is that it’s important, when blocking it, to be very careful not to stretch it, because it will not bounce back at all.

]]> By: Sangeeta Darji http://desiknitter.com/2006/11/too-loose/comment-page-1/#comment-461 Sangeeta Darji Fri, 03 Nov 2006 19:12:00 +0000 http://desiknitter.com/?p=82#comment-461 Plus that alpaca is really going to loosen up when you block it. It's heavy as it is, but when it's wet...watch out...it might grow another 3 inches. That's what happened to my blue vest. Pretty color you've chosen. Plus that alpaca is really going to loosen up when you block it. It’s heavy as it is, but when it’s wet…watch out…it might grow another 3 inches. That’s what happened to my blue vest. Pretty color you’ve chosen.

]]> By: Sneaksleep http://desiknitter.com/2006/11/too-loose/comment-page-1/#comment-460 Sneaksleep Fri, 03 Nov 2006 13:10:51 +0000 http://desiknitter.com/?p=82#comment-460 Painful as it was, I think you did the right thing in frogging it. Alpaca just has no spring to it. I like the idea of starting with sleeves--I always lose momentum by the time I get to the sleeves if I do the body first. Painful as it was, I think you did the right thing in frogging it. Alpaca just has no spring to it. I like the idea of starting with sleeves–I always lose momentum by the time I get to the sleeves if I do the body first.

]]> By: stacey http://desiknitter.com/2006/11/too-loose/comment-page-1/#comment-459 stacey Fri, 03 Nov 2006 10:41:29 +0000 http://desiknitter.com/?p=82#comment-459 I usually start with a sleeve as my gauge swatch...that is strange that it is so open even going down a few needle sizes! Hopefully the 3's will do the trick! I usually start with a sleeve as my gauge swatch…that is strange that it is so open even going down a few needle sizes! Hopefully the 3’s will do the trick!

]]> By: desiknitter http://desiknitter.com/2006/11/too-loose/comment-page-1/#comment-458 desiknitter Fri, 03 Nov 2006 10:24:26 +0000 http://desiknitter.com/?p=82#comment-458 yes, a little web crawling has revealed that i'm not the only one with these gauge issues with 100% alpaca. Apparently the cheaper ones like Elann and Knitpicks are loosely plied, hence stretch more than commercial brands like Blue Sky. But now I'm not sure what to do: my options are double-stranding it and still sticking to size 5s (that will make it go fast and tighter) or doing it in stockinette on 3s or, good grief, 2s. What do you think? Either way, I hope they have more of this yarn and dye-lot left... yes, a little web crawling has revealed that i’m not the only one with these gauge issues with 100% alpaca. Apparently the cheaper ones like Elann and Knitpicks are loosely plied, hence stretch more than commercial brands like Blue Sky. But now I’m not sure what to do: my options are double-stranding it and still sticking to size 5s (that will make it go fast and tighter) or doing it in stockinette on 3s or, good grief, 2s. What do you think? Either way, I hope they have more of this yarn and dye-lot left…

]]> By: quill http://desiknitter.com/2006/11/too-loose/comment-page-1/#comment-457 quill Fri, 03 Nov 2006 06:23:25 +0000 http://desiknitter.com/?p=82#comment-457 I think it's the alpaca. I find that it has to be knitted pretty tightly. Among other things, it stretches, and it has no memory. I think it’s the alpaca. I find that it has to be knitted pretty tightly. Among other things, it stretches, and it has no memory.

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