Knitting Needles etc.

Here they are
http://www.chroniclebooks.com/index/main,book-info/store,books/products_id,5212/title,The-Knit-It-Kit-for-Kids/

http://www.weekendkits.com/gigi-kids-knitting-kit.html

It’s really difficult to say which one is better. They are very similar, but with some differences. I have not used either of these, so my opinions are based on kits in general, and what I can see about these.

You will notice that they all come with instructions, needles, yarn, and patterns. But one has bamboo straight needles, and the other has circular. I tend to prefer the circular anyway, and knitting is the same on either one. But it may confuse, or frighten, experienced knitters. Beginners don’t know the difference.

One has a sewing needle — not necessary, but nice to have. The prices vary.

The really important thing in this whole equation of which is better is the interest of the learner. If they want to learn, they will. If not, no kind of "best" kit will help.

I still feel that a live loving and caring person teaching a youngster is the best way to learn. You get personal attention (children need that) from an understanding adult that gives encouragement, even when they make mistakes. The children need some guidance, some goals to strive for, but mostly they need the sharing that comes from someone giving of themselves to them personally. We lack so much of that in this automated impersonal world. Those old-fashioned values are still important.

If you want to get a kit for your child (grand-child), any kit will do. Even a pair of your old needles, some of your "good" yarn, and your own personal guided instructions. Cast on for them, show them how to knit, and let them go at it! As time goes on, they will ask for other steps.. and you show them. Remember: someone had to teach you once long ago! Have patience.

I need to find either "Bryspun" or another brand of flexible knitting needles.
Any suggestions would be very helpful.
Thanks
I want straight needles. Not the circular ones.
Thanks, I found some "Susan Bates" flexible Crystalites. They work great & don’t strain my hands.

It depends on what you mean by flexible.

Bryspun are plastic straight needles and may bend slightly without breaking, but I wouldn’t call them flexible. Bamboo needles are about the same.

However, both kinds are produced in circular needle form which have firm points but a flexible cable in the middle that allow you to work in a circle.

Can you tell what kind of carpet is the kind that has about and inch and a half of little yarn strands hanging out? Please?

Shag or some other form called a frieze , which has a bit shorter yarn system . Friezes sometimes are a combo of loops and longer yarns or thick and thin yarns.
Any questions you can e mail me through my avatar. GL

I think it might be easier to crochet with this project, but there has to be a way to do this with knitting. Im trying to make a tam, or beanie hat. All the tutorials i’ve seen teach how to knit in the round to create the brim of the hat. I want to start from the center of that hat and work my way to the brim. how can i do this? I’m using circular needles.

My wife is a bit of a nit and she says it should be possible although doesn’t know why you would want to do that.

I want to knit a hat with straight needles but i’m confuse with how to fasten off the top of the hat. The instruction on the pattern just say cut yarn, thread sewing needle and sew or weave back seam. It doesn’t say anything about the top of the hat. Please help…

basically when you knit a hat on straight needles you are creating a modified triangle shape.

Then you sew up the side of the triangle to make the hat circular.

The easiest way to finish the top of the hat is to stop your decreases with 6 or 8 stitches left, then cut off your yarn leaving plenty of extra.

Take the extra yarn (which is connected to your first stitch on the needle) and weave it through the remaining stitches. Drop each stitch off the needle as you weave the yarn through it.

Then pull the yarn tight,forming the top stitches into a circular shape (kind of like flower petals), then use the rest of the yarn tail to sew up the side of the hat.

I want to wash my scarf, but last time I washed my hand-knitted sweater it became loose and lost its shape… why?

The tumbling of the dryer will cause knitted garments to stretch out of shape. Best to wash with Woolite and dry flat on a towel. Merry Christmas!

Someone gave me a bunch of leftover skeins of yarn, some of which have no labels. I’m not very experienced with knitting or crocheting, so I’d like to know how to tell the difference between worsted weight and sport weight yarn.

A very quick, very old standby to size any yarn is to wrap it around a knitting needle and then count the wraps per inch. Wrap a yarn that you know the size of as well so that you have a comparison. I have some very old European patterns that call for yarn by the wraps per inch instead of the weight.

I stepped on a sewing needle on my carpet 2 weeks ago. I went to a doctor recently and got a tetanus shoot and antibiotics. Is it normal for it to take this long to heal. My foot still hurts like hell and I can barely walk. It feels like my foot is broken almost, it hurts that bad at times. Doctor said the tissue will heal and i will be fine. Just want to know if anyone had a similar experience and if it took to this long to heal.

go to an urgent care.

I really don’t want my project to be confiscated or to lose any needles. I know the simplest answer is to take cheap needles or a self addressed envelope to send things back to myself in case they are taken. I’d like to know if the TSA is more likely to take metal needles as opposed to acrylic or bamboo ones, or if length, etc. matters. I’m OK with knitting straight on circular needles if they are more likely to let me keep those.

I’ve read the TSA guidelines which say that it’s OK to take any type of knitting materials on board, but I know that it’s up to the TSA officer. Anybody with personal experience that can share?

My impression is that they prefer non-metallic ones. Someplace, I seem to recall, though I cannot find the page any longer, that they do not like circular knitting needles over a certain length (like long enough to wrap around someone’s neck to strangle them …)

You can try contacting them directly to find out more:
E-mail – tsa-contactcenter@dhs.gov
Phone – 1-866-289-9673

I have a great old woolen Aran Sweater, made in Ireland. Had it for 20 years and it still fits well and shows little sign of wear. Funny thing is, I’ve never once cleaned it.

Is there a way to do this without harming or shrinking the sweater?

Use Woolite in cold water by hand or on gentle cycle in the washer.
Towel dry by laying it flat and strait should it !