Does anyone know of any good sources (online or book) that give information about spinning in the 18th century?  I've been asked to do spinning demos at a local historical site, but I'm not having much luck finding information.  I would like to be well-versed in the history as I demonstrate the spinning, as I know historical questions will be unavoidable.  Thank you!

I need some advice deciphering a pattern.  Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!  The pattern is for a knitted cap.  It's bottom to top contruction and these are the decreases to the close up the top of the hat and finish.  It reads:

From now on, count the row where you’ve joined the brim as Row 1
R 30: K2tog after each marker.
R 35: K13 sts after each marker, k2tog, knit to end.
R 40: K2tog after each marker.
R 45: K12 sts after each marker, k2tog, knit to end.
R 46: Knit.
R 47: K4, k2tog; repeat to end of round.
R 48: Knit.
R 49, 51, 53: K3, k2tog; repeat to end of round.
R 50, 52, 54: K2, k2tog; repeat to end of round.
R55 – all other rows: K2, k2tog, repeat; repeat to end of round.

I'm kind of stumped because the pattern jumps from Row 30 to Row 35 (the same for Rows 40-45).  What happened to Rows 31, 32, 33 & 34? Do you knit those rows the same as Row 55? This may seem like an incredibly obvious answer, but I just want to make sure so I don't make a mistake.  All of the hats that I've made don't decrease for the crown in this manner and it just seemed odd to me.  Thanks!

Does anyone know of any place online (or otherwise) where you can buy bulky sized wool yarn in natural colors at around $3.00 to $5.00 a skein?  I'm working on a project with a local non-profit that could possibly be a source of revenue for them, but I need the yarn to cost to be as little as possible.  If anyone knows if bulky-sized wool yarn is available at these prices, please share.  Thank you!

Hello all,

I'm going to be doing some 18th century knitting projects for a local historical site and need some advice from the yarn gurus on this board.  Any help that you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

I'm going to be knitting a few monmouth caps and the pattern that I have recommends using Brown Sheep bulky weight  yarn in 100% wool.  The caps are knit and then felted to the size that you want. 

However, my problem is that Brown Sheep bulky yarn is $7.00 + in price for a skein.  Because the site I am knitting for is a non-profit, I would like to find a less expensive substitute to save on money. 

Can anyone recommend a good substitute?  I need about 6 skeins for the hats I am making in natural colors.  I tried Knitpicks, but they don't have the colors I need.  Thank you in advance!

I am in desperate need of a skien of knitpicks panache in the moss  green color, does anyone know where I can find one?  I was using up 2 skiens that I had in my stash on a project and to finish I need a third.  I went to the Knitpicks website to order more, only to find out it was discontinued.  I'm really disappointed, this was my favorite yarn to work with. 

To anyone is the western PA area, there will be a Pittsburgh Knitting Festival the weekend of February 10 & 11. 

http://www.pghknitandcrochet.com/

Anyone in the area planning on going?  I'll be there Saturday afternoon for the sock knitting class and to check out the vendors.  I'm always looking for like-minded knitters to meet up with in the Pittsburgh area.  Our numbers are slowly growing!  

I would like to make a lace shawl, but have not knitted lace or a shawl before.  Can anyone recommend a good beginner pattern?

Thank you!

Craftsters, I need to pick your brains again to translate another hat pattern.  I'm working on the brim of a hat and the pattern says:

*k3, t1* repeat to end of row.

Does t1 mean take 1?  And how would I take 1?  I can't find instructions online.  I think it means to take a stitch underneath from the row of knitting below the row you are currently working on and placing the stitch on your needle.  Do you place it on the right or left needle?

Thanks in advance!

Craftsters, I need your help deciphering an abbreviation that is in a hat pattern that I'm working on.  The row in question is:

S1, K2, p to last 3 sts, K3.

Does s1 mean to slip a stitch?

Would you slip 1 stitch, knit 2, purl to last 3 stitches, and knit 3?

I'm not sure what s1 means and I've never seen a slip stitch abbreviated this way before, so I wanted to make sure.

Also, I've never slipped a stitch before.  Would I just pass the stitch from my left needle to my right needle without stitching it?

I would really appreciate any advice that you would have. Thank you, o' great craft gurus!

I live in a 100 year-old house and for Halloween, I'd like to decorate the house in a spooky Victorian fashion for my Halloween party. 

Does anyone have any ideas for Victorian-themed decorations? 

For the living room, I'm going to cover my furniture with white sheets, so it looks like an old abandoned house, and cover everything with cobwebs.  For the dining room, I have a black spiderweb lace tablecloth.  For the table centerpiece, I'm going to use a really large antique paper mache skull bucket.  I'm going to make a flower arrangement to put in the bucket of dead branches.  I'll also scatter autumn leaves on the table. 

I'm also going to put green lightbulbs in all my lights.  But, I need some odds and ends to fill out the decorations and to put in the other rooms.  Does anyone have any suggestions?  And as always, the more inexpensive they are, the better!