Knitting Needles etc.

I joined a knitting class and the supplies list said to get a kit that had knitting needles included but on the bottom of the list says 'blunt knitting needle' what is the difference between the #15 needles in the kit and a 'blunt' needle?
I reread the paper and it actually says a blunt yarn needle….

It's a tapestry needle used to sew up the seams of your knitting. the blunt end is where the sharp end of a sewing needle would normally be. It is blunt so that it doesn't split the yarn as you are sewing. Make sure the eye is large enough to accomodate the yarn you are using. You should be able to find them in the knitting section of the store.

I knitted myself a scarf a couple of days ago and today a girl at college asked me whether I could knit her an exactly the same one. She’s willing to pay but I don’t know what price to sell it for… Anyone got any suggestions?

This can be a very thorny subject.
Two common approaches for pricing. If your materials are expensive but it doesn’t take a long time to make, you can charge 3 times the cost of the materials. If your materials aren’t expensive but the project is time-consuming, charge a reasonable hourly rate plus the cost of materials. Whichever way you decide to go, discuss the estimated cost with your friend before you commit – it can avoid a lot of bad feelings later.
If people balk at these prices, just tell them it’s not worth it to you to do it for less than that (except as gifts for people you REALLY like), and STICK WITH IT. Don’t let people guilt you into doing this cheap – they won’t value it and you’ll always be angry – either do it as a gift or forget about it.

I would like to use 2 different colors to get a tweed effect and the yarn I have is 22 sts to 10 cm. What gauge am I likely to get when I double the yarn?

It will probably be almost double depending on your needle size and tension. The only way to really accurately determine your gauge is to make a swatch. Start the pattern or make a small square and measure.

I've been looking for a good pattern, and I was just curious if I could get some input from others. I like knitting fun things like toys, and things that are different. Any tips would be great!

I have a book called World of Knitted Toys, by Kath Dalmeny. Most of the toys are knitted with sport-weight yarn over size 3 needles. It includes patterns for gorillas, kangaroos, snakes, koalas, wolves, and pigs, among others. The chapters are arranged by themes and they also include a doll (like a Canadian mountie) that goes with each one. Most of them are beginner or intermediate level patterns.

knittingpatterncentral.com also has some free patterns for toys and other things.

Enjoy!

This swift was created custom by Paradise Fibers here in Spokane, WA by “Dad” here at the shop! We believe it to be the best swift on the market with excellent tension and smooth action. This yarn swift also features fully adjustable arms to fit small to large skeins of yarn. Even the largest skeins in our shop were a breeze to wind. Take a peek at the video to see the this awesome swift in action! We use the Royal Ball Winder in the video if you were wondering. Call or email the shop anytime 1-888-320-7746.

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ATASHIn’CHI 257th episode 2nd story
Mikan, Knits
Broadcasted on February 9, 2008

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halloween 07 i got the bright idea to peirce my eyebrow….but noo i couldnt go to the tattoo parlor, i had to make meghan do it with a sewing needle then force a 16g ring into the tiny hole….yeah enjoy my pain

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www.iocob.nl The historical fpoundation of Traditional Chinese Acupuncture, presented by Professor Jan M. Keppel Hesselink, MD, president Foundation IOCOB in the Netherlands.
Acupuncture can be tranced back as far as the Stone Age in China, when stone knives and pointed rocks were used to relieve pain and diseases. These instruments were known by the ancients as “bian.” In the Han Dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD) an Analytical Dictionary of Characters “Shuo Wen Jie Zi” describes the character “bian” as meaning a stone to treat disease. Later these stones were replaced by needles made of bamboo and slivers of animal bone, then finally in the Shang Dynasty bronze casting techniques made metal needles possible, which conducted electricity (and qi). This led to the mapping of the meridian system or “channels” of energy within the body.
A summary of medical knowledge, the “Huangdi Nei Jing” or “Yellow Emperer’s Classic of Medicine” compiled in 475-221 BC, describes the use of acupuncture and moxibustion, pathology of the meridians and viscera, acupuncture points, indications, contraindications and the application of nine kinds of needles. In fact, acupuncture was a large part of the entire compilation of medical knowledge at that time. m The famous Chinese surgeon, Hua Tuo, was an expert in acupuncture, and it was during his time period (Han Dynasty) that the “tsun”, a measurement system that uses the width of a joint of the patient’s own finger was developed to help locate the acu-points more accurately.
Acupuncture developed rapidly and was systematically researched during the Western dynasties. A book appeared around 400 AD called “Zhen Jiu Jia Yi Jing” “A Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion”, which described the names and number of points for each channel, their exact locations, indications, and methods of manipulation. Although medical advances and modern technology has helped to refine the art, his text describes the basic point locations that are still used in modern Acupuncture and Acupressure.
In the Sung, Kin and Yuan dynasties (960-1368 AD) the text “Tong Jen Shu Xue Zhen Jiu Tu Jing” or “Illustrated Manual on the Points for Acupuncture and Moxibustion as Found on the Bronze Figure) written by Wang Wei-yi, made detailed studies and observations of 657 points on the human body. Wang also sponsored the casting of two life-size, hollow bronze figures with the surface marked with channels and exact point locations. With these models, the teaching of acupuncture flourished and spread through the country, and the established practice of herbal medicine began to adopt the channel and meridian theories into their practice. With this common theory between the two leading health disciplines, the medicine of China was quickly transformed as both schools contributed to the extensive library of data being collected and recorded.

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Nina talks us through her design decisions and process for the new Little Bubbles Baby Kits for Knit Picks. You can purchase the kits here: http://www.knitpicks.com/cfpromo/Little_Bubbles_Kit.cfm

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Knit Issue 7 is a hand knitting book published by Jo Sharp who is a knitwear designer with her own range of luxury hand knitting yarns in the international market. Visit www.josharp.com to view other hand knitting collections.

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