Fibermania

Knitting Q&A

Dear Melody,
You... have inspired me to want to learn to knit. A friend from my quilt guild knits, and is in a group that meets on Monday nights. After final exams this week, I'll go next week. I want to make the Baktus scarf. What weight yarn/size of knitting needles should I get? What is the advantage of using circular needles?

Kristin in SC

Dear Kristin,

Fabulous! I hope you find learning to knit a fun experience. My mother taught me to knit when I was 15 to distract me from being heartsick. I had fallen in love with a boy in Erie PA when I was visiting a school friend there and I moped around all summer because we couldn't be together.

Knitting really did the trick! Forgot all about him. When I knit today, I still forget I have a husband.

The Baktus Scarf is a perfect first knit to make. It is all knit, no purl, not that there's anything wrong with purl. I do it all the time. But to begin, it makes it easy to stick to the same motions. There will be increasing and decreasing every four rows, but hardly any casting on or casting off. Three stitches to start and end. I recommend a circular needle because you never lose the second one. And you will be building up the number of stitches and it is easier to hold them all on a circular.

Spend the money and get good needles. I love the Addi turbos I have and also the Clover bamboo circular needles. Don't waste your money on Boye's or Susan Bates. The cable part between the ends isn't flexible enough, IMHO.

The thing about the Baktus scarf is that it works with almost any yarn and any needles. To start I recommend a nice DK weight merino wool yarn and maybe size US6 needles. Merino wool is totally seductive, yummy, soft, not itchy, and dreamy to knit. DK is lighter weight than worsted but is not as light as fingering or sock weight. For this scarf to drape nicely it is better to use a light weight yarn. Nothing bulky. You'll need about 300-400 yards total.

Go to a real knitting shop and pick out two colors that coordinate. One might even be variegated. The reason I suggest two yarns is that it is easier to remember to increase on the fourth row if you are using two colors. It is easy, don't worry. Knit two rows with one yarn and then two more with the second color. When you start the second color you will increase one stitch on one edge (always the same edge). To make it even easier, I would slip the first stitch of every row and then make your increase.

That may be too much information for a beginner, but pass this on to your teacher and she will show you what I mean.

Good Luck!

Melody

Dear Melody,

When are you going to stop knitting and get back to quilting. I keep checking back to see if you are done with the yarn stuff and doing fabric stuff again.

Anon

Dear Anon,

I haven't put away the fabric, and still have patchwork sitting (collecting dust) on my work table. I meant to get back to quilting, but I had just one more thing I had to try with knitting, and then I ordered some yarn to dye, and after that I had to try out the dyed yarn, and then I got another idea of a way to do something and had to try that and then I had to make it again and again and again....

And boy, is my arm sore from all this knitting. So there's hope.

Melody

PS It snowed just as forecasted. About two inches. Pretty. I was planning to go on a Studio Walk in Sewanee today, but will have to wait until it melts...maybe by noon. I am not afraid of driving on snow, but slippery wet mountain roads are a whole 'nother story.