Hi

I am wanting to knit this: http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/na_knitting/article/0,2025,DIY_14141_5655813,00.html , but am stumped as to what yarn to use (I am in the UK). I tried knitting with a strand of laceweight mohair and a  strand of lacewight merino held together but I think I need to knit with smoother yarn as I just drove me crazy! It surely can't be bulky yarn becasue that would be heavy, wouldn't it? But then it is knit on 8mm needles. very confused 

It confused me when I read it, too, but I think I've figured it out. The mohair in the pattern is rose pink and is only used for the crochet edging (skip way down to the end of the pattern). So the veil is knit in the ivory colour only. The 8mm needles are to give the openness that the lace needs.

So, 1 strand of the merino for the veil, 1 strand of the mohair for the edging, and you should be good to go.

Actually, combine it with a black or navy yarn and you've got the perfect combination for a "stained glass" effect.

Check these out:

http://www.knitting-and.com/knitting/patterns/scarves/stained-glass.html - entrelac scarf
http://www.greatballsofyarn.com/freepatterns.htm -kids pullover in easy mosaic stitch
http://www.geocities.com/blossomknitwear/stainedglasshat.html - colourwork hat
http://bunsofstrudel.blogspot.com/2006/05/knit-stuff-stained-glass-hat.html - another hat

There are lots of slipped stitch (mosaic) patterns that are great for this.

a cowl

Or a dickey or a wimple. Dickeys tend to be neck/shoulders only, while wimples are designed to be pulled up over the hair.

http://www.knitpicks.com/Military+Jacket+Pattern_PD30994220.html

This is similar - if the collar was a bit wider and the buttons were a bit fewer, you'd be on track.

When I presented it to the acquaintance, he told me how "nice" it was. He asked how much he owed me, and I smiled and shrugged it off, and downplayed the cost of the materials. I didn't even mention how much time I spent on it. He said, "Okay, thanks! I'll send you a little something."

You can't really blame the recipient, though - most people have no idea of the cost of materials alone. If you couldn't be upfront enough to say "Well, the materials cost me $X, and it took me a lot of time, so I think $Y would be fair", then you're setting the scene for disappointment. The sad truth is that you're probably lucky that he felt obliged to give you anything - the number of people who expect freebies is astonishing.

I won't knit for other people at all without giving them a ballpark figure first, unless it's going to be a gift. Usually, the cost of materials alone is enough to make them decide against the idea. 

Jackie

It's going to vary widely; we all have our quirks. I'm particularly fond of slippery, metal, sharp-pointed needles - I have others, but I keep going back.

For socks, I prefer dpns - with two circulars or Magic Loop, I find I have to keep adjusting the work. With dpns, it's just the quarter turn at the end of each needle, which I find a lot faster.

My least favourite are bamboo needles - my tension tends to be a bit on the tight side, so I find them just a bit too "grabby".

Jackie

I've blocked and starched cotton lace to open things up.

Picot can be awkward. I find the easiest way for me is to use a separate needle to pick up the stitches from the cast on edge, then knit off both needles at the same time.

So, if I have ten stitches on my first needle, I use the spare needle to pick up ten stitches on the cast on row, starting at the join if knitting in the round. I then hold spare needle next to first needle, and knit through both stitches - in other words, I put the right hand needle through the first stitch on needle one, then through the stitch on the spare, then wrap the yarn and pull the new stitch through both. It's like doing a three needle bind-off...

I just find that goes faster than trying to pick up the cast on stitches one at a time, but it's only a preference.

Jackie

There's some info online that you might find useful:

http://www.canadiana.org/ECO/PageView/08942/0238?id=dc55bf8b3c3284ba - this is from the 1890s and is mostly stitch patterns, but it gives a good idea of some of the work of the time.

http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/20776 - all types of needlework, including knitting

http://knittinghistory.typepad.com/historic_knitting_pattern/ - historic patterns

More here: http://www.uvm.edu/~hag/godey/fashion/work.html

http://www.librarycompany.org/HookBook/VirtualTour.htm - shows the work of the time.

That should get you started. 

Jackie

You're absolutely right - I blame it on my current afghan project, which is endless amounts of seed stitch and is driving me slightly mad. 

Knit it all for garter - and actually, garter is very nice for fuzzy or boucle yarns. Stocking stitch does give a flatter effect, but - if you value your sanity - I don't recommend seed stitch. It makes for very slow going with all that swtiching back and forth (same goes for ribbing).

Jackie