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SpinDiva
Gabber Extraordinaire
552 Posts |
 Posted - 12/06/2005 : 11:40:52 AM
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Okay.... most aspects of basic and basic-intermediate knitting have come relatively easily.... except one
ENTRELAC!
My GOSH, I have tried over, and over, and over.... knit triangles, frog... knit triangles and first rectangle.... frog.... seems everytime I get to the "pick up stitches" part... I get messed up and can't get past it.
I pick it up again every couple of weeks, with a different set of instructions - hoping that the light bulb will light...
Alas - not yet. Does anyone know a step by step, PHOTO by PHOTO instruction that can help me get past this?
Is there anything like this that has gotten you hopelessly frustrated?
Andrea |
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GFTC
Permanent Resident
USA
6331 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2005 : 11:52:27 AM
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I always recommend Debbie Bliss How to Knit in conjunction with Katerina Buss The Big Book of Knitting. Open both books to the entrelac instructions and use practice wool in a smooth yarn, solid color, worsted or DK weight. Knit with blind faith and entrelac will appear like magic.
GFTC of NYC |
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pieheart
Permanent Resident
1872 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2005 : 11:53:27 AM
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Andrea, can't help you with the entrelac, haven't tried it yet.
My nemesis is toe-up socks. I have tried so many times, hopelessly tangle the yarn each and every time. I have no idea what I'm doing wrong. I have been making cuff down socks for years, lots of them.
The other thing I have not been able to master is 2 on 2 socks. This doesn't bother me because I prefer knitting socks on dpns, but it would be nice just to be able to manage the technique.
Oh well, not a really big deal after all! Anything else I have trouble with I post here and someone is almost always able to lead me in the right direction.
pieheart
"If your toast always lands butter-side down, plan ahead. Butter the
other side instead."
Check out my album:
http://photobucket.com/albums/a80/PieHeart/ |
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becka always
Permanent Resident
USA
1959 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2005 : 12:29:10 PM
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Andrea, my mail hasn't come today, but I'm hoping that 1 of my bday gift from my hubby is in it..it's Elizabeth Zimmermann's "A Glossary of Knitting" DVD and one of the things covered is entrelac...I'm so excited about that..I've not yet attempted entrelac, but love the look & seeing someone do it is much better than reading about it..u r so right about that! I believe he ordered mine from KnitPicks...u can check it out there or @ schoolhousepress.com Good Luck 
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y119/rebeccame/avatarknittingyoda.jpg[/IMG]
Addicted to the Knit
Becka Always
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Parrot Girl
Permanent Resident
2129 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2005 : 1:03:45 PM
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Unfortunately I am math challenged, so anything involving calculations much beyond 2 plus 2 can confuse me. I had a gorgeous lacey sock pattern that after the heel just had the pattern on top, and I swear it took me days and drawings and charts and complete bafflement before I figured out how to do it. Then I had to make a new chart for myself to finish it. I felt like a complete idiot. That's probably why lace is such a challenge for me.
"The past does not equal the future"
The other Fran in Kansas City |
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Kelly B
Permanent Resident
USA
2206 Posts |
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truly violet
Permanent Resident
6397 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2005 : 2:09:49 PM
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magic loop
for me it is murder loop
damn
I can't get the hang of that
maybe I am too used to my dp's
none of this will matter in 100 years.......
except I will finally be at my goal weight...vi
http://notashyviolet.blogspot.com/ ~now with chickens!
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Diva Ree
Gabber Extraordinaire
537 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2005 : 2:18:50 PM
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| I'm a Continental knitter, and my obstacle is learning to knit English. I've read several articles that mentioned there are some techinques that are easier with one style than the other, so it's good to know both. I can't get past holding the needles, let alone creating a stitch! |
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mokey
Permanent Resident
15375 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2005 : 3:32:34 PM
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Intarsia. I have taken 3 or 4 classes, tried various books and tutorials but it is just not for me. Seaming is a close second. As much as I dislike it, people have told me that it looks mighty fine when I actually set my mind to it.
"An injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Martin Luther King Jr.
www.femiknits.blog-city.com |
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adalton124
Seriously Hooked
659 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2005 : 3:42:44 PM
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The best entrelac instructions I have seen, and the ones that got me over the learning hump are from Erica Wilson. I have a copy of the "Dazzling Diamond Weave Sweater" instructions. It uses dpn's and has pictures of the orientation of the needles throughout the whole process - which seemed to be what was making picking up stitches so hard for me. Now I think I could follow the instructions for the Lady Eleanor stole on one big circ like it says to do in the book, but I'm almost done, so I'll finish it this way on the dpn's.
The other thing I found tricky about entrelac is how 16 rows and 8 stitches makes a square diamond shape?! This is where blind faith comes in handy, but it does work. (much to my amazement still!)
As for things I just can't learn? Well, I'm having a little trouble with toe up socks on 2 circs, but I haven't touched them in a couple weeks, so I hope my brain can wrap itself around the process when I get back to them. :)
Angela |
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Nadege
Chatty Knitter
USA
102 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2005 : 4:14:51 PM
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Sweater seaming. No matter how many times I've tried seaming sweaters, I 've always had to frog repeatedly and then abandon the project. I currently knit only circular/seamless sweaters but don't really like the fit. Sooo... New Years resolution - Learn sweater finishing!
Nadege |
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xanthia
Chatty Knitter
USA
125 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2005 : 4:22:37 PM
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| Cr*chet. Its the devil. I just cannot get the right grip on those darn hooks, and pull little loops through each other. *sigh* |
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VickiKK
Seriously Hooked
934 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2005 : 4:23:36 PM
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The Kitchner stitch!! Darn, it drives me crazy. Each sock toe takes at least 6 tries even when I write the instructions stitch by stitch. mental block with it
Vicki near Seattel |
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mkeson
Chatty Knitter
123 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2005 : 4:36:15 PM
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I had a lot of trouble learning to do seams, too, especially mattress stitch, and ripped out and started over many times until I saw a book that showed how to do slip stitch crochet seams, which was a lot easier for me. I still don't like to do seams, but it's not impossible anymore. I still haven't tried entrelac, out of fear. Someday I'll have to get brave and take the plunge, because I like the look of it, too.
Mary from VA
"Housework is like threading beads on a string with no knot at the end." |
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RobA
Permanent Resident
2373 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2005 : 5:20:03 PM
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A good stretchy bind-off for toe-up socks. I thought I had one, just finished a pair of socks and now have to rip out the bind-offs and try something else. I didn't want to use the sewn bindoff -- wanted to do something on the needles. Sigh. So now the new socks are tainted with frustration!
Rob http://roberta.typepad.com/robknits/ |
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Martheme
Sustaining Member
USA
1565 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2005 : 6:10:49 PM
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Believe it or not, holding the yarn "properly"!
I still pinch it between my thumb and index finger for each and every stitch. I've tried every set of directions I've found and I just can't get the hang of doing it any other way!
My MIL does this thing with her index finger which she tried to teach me when I started knitting . . . she can knit an adult sweater (for a guy even) in just a few days . . . not me. I just plug along . . .
Ah well.
The project I'm about to start (soon as the yarn arrives) is a Fair Isle Stocking for the baby. Looks like I'm in for some real fun!
Wish me luck!
Martheme
visit my sites:
http://www.inspirationsyarn.com
http://martheme.blogspot.com/ & the baby blog http://mimmot.blogspot.com |
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mljan
Warming Up
98 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2005 : 6:22:00 PM
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| Continental hold, and I'm left-handed, which should make it easier. I've managed two or three knit stitches in a row, but can't seem to be able to feed the yarn along, and I really foul up on purls. |
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rsimson
New Pal
USA
7 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2005 : 8:39:07 PM
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I can't seem to get a hang of simple embroidery, especially the french knot. I usually just omit it even though it is often very cute but for a particular baby blanket I just couldn't leave out the very pretty accents and they just don't look right!
Why should this be so difficult? Do you think it is because I am using yarn and adding to a knitted object instead of using emnroidery floss on fabric? |
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msgb
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
531 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2005 : 8:47:03 PM
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OK.It might sound dumb but I can't seem to grasp DPN.I will keep trying though. |
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lella
Permanent Resident
9701 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2005 : 8:50:36 PM
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The Kitchner stitch also gives me fits, Vicki. Since I don't do it everyday the little brain synapses don't mingle together and form a permanent bond. At least I've got the web sources printed out or bookmarked. sighs.....
lella[img]http://smilies.sofrayt.com/^/9971/omelet.gif[/img]
http://zippiknits.blogspot.com |
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The Irish Ewe
Permanent Resident
USA
1052 Posts |
Posted - 12/07/2005 : 05:20:32 AM
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Fair Isle when holding both yarns in one hand (I can wiz along with a yarn is each hand).
And I really need to realize that I CANNOT knit 40 things at once. Granted, I am the *queen* of note-taking (that new knity article on notes, mine puts hers to shame, I print mine out, color code with highlighters, and type out rows (1, 2, 3, etc) and increases/decreases) but I rely so much on the notes that I think I can come back months later and have my gauge be spot on. WRONG!
The Irish Ewe
Norway, Maine
http://www.TheIrishEwe.com |
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