Which soaker pants pattern is the easiest?

[Ackray]

I just got my F&F pattern and I am finding it confusing since the directions are so vague. I can knit, but have never knit more than a hat and scarf. SO, I'm looking at this pattern and it is totally confusing me because I don't know anything about different yarns and what ever else they talk about. The LTK pattern actually tells you what size needles and what kind of yarn to use, so that sounds easier to me already.

Which pattern is the easiest to follow? What else is there beside the F&F and the LTK patterns? Thanks!

[CraftyMommaOf2]

If there's something you don't understand in Stell's pattern, I'm sure you could just email her and she'd be happy to help I haven't done the LTK pattern, but I know tons of ppl love it. I have done the Wooly Wonder pattern (Pamelamama's... http://www.woolywonder.com) and it's easy to understand and she has an actual class for it that you can sign up for. I don't know if that helped or not :LOL .
Good luck

[twouglyducks]

I just bought the F&F one so I haven't made any yet... but I have Pam's WonderPants/shorts pattern and have made a pair of shorts (ran out of yarn b4 they turned into pants :LOL). I love that pattern. Once you get the magic loop part down, it's awesome!!

[mom2kbeth]

I have the LTK, WW and HSY patterns, and the easiest one is the HSY pattern. Just ribbing, stockinette and ribbing. No crotch shaping or short rows. I've done a pair of LTK pants (which have the short rows and crotch shaping) and will start the WW pants tomorrow. I am currently doing the HSY and it's really straight forward.

[Perogi]

HSY pattern is definitely VERY straightforward!

[Stayseeliz]

What and where is HSY???

[Maeve]

Is HSY Holy Sheep Yarns?

And is that probably the best for beginners then?

[mom2kbeth]

HSY = Holy Sheep Yarns

I do think that one would be best for a beginner.

[rubidoux]

The fern&faerie flat knit longies are increadibly easy. I'd say if you can do ribbing and knit a rectangle in stockinette, you are set. There's nothing more complicated than that. You must be looking at the knit-in-the-round one. Of course, you have to do the swatch and take measurements and fill in the chart -- but you have to do a swatch for any other pattern, I'm sure.

For those who have hsy and f&f, is hsy really easier?

J.

[Ackray]

Originally Posted by rubidoux

For those who have hsy and f&f, is hsy really easier?

I want to know too!

[~Megan~]

Pam has a class starting tomorrow, you could still squeeze in.

www.woolywonder.com

[Lauira]

Originally Posted by rubidoux

For those who have hsy and f&f, is hsy really easier?

I have both. I have not knit the F&F pants, but I have looked them over. HSY was my first in the round pattern.

HSY is VERY easy and straightforward. This is a perfect pattern for a beginner (as I was). Their support rocks too (they answer Yahoo group emails REALLY fast). They tell you the needles and the yarn weight and you are off... Very, very easy, but the results are really good too. They give you directions for hot pants, shorts, capris, etc. Also cuff suggestions. The pattern is also emailed, so instant gratification.

The F&F pattern seems pretty simple as well. However, the measuerments thing can be intimidating. Many new knitters need/want to be told what needles to buy and what yarn. I know I did since I wasn't comfortable picking those myself. Of course, F&F is a great bang for the buck pattern since you get the soaker (my fav) in the round and flat, pants in the round and flat, and footie pants (these scare me because of the sock aspect!). The flat knit pants would be simple for a new knitter (after making sure you have the measurements right and plugged in correctly), but there are a bunch of seams to do. If not done correctly, this could discourage a new knitter because the finished product wouldn't be great (visually). I find circs to be easier than flat knit. I wish I had realized that from day one.

The round knit F&F pants and the HSY pants are pretty similar. I find the HSY easier to grasp just by the wording (plus they give ideas for variations, which I like). F&F gives and elastic waistband option, which is neat.

Overall, they are both great patterns. For a BRAND new knitter who wants to get up and go, I would go with HSY because you can buy the pattern, get the email, order/buy your stuff and you are off. Plus, this pattern was a HUGE confident booster for me since I "got" the pattern and the result was great. The F&F would have scared me off (and I still haven't use it...). Also, the F&F pattern is mailed - but does arrive fast and in a lovely booklet. The F&F soaker pattern is by far my fav, but I have yet to stray from the free version since it is so easy to customize.

Does that help at all? I am a firm believer that simpler is better to start out. So many people stall when learning to knit because things are overwhelming (I remember this feeling well!). The HSY pattern gave me the confidence to tackle bigger things faster, and that was great.

[Maeve]

Thank you so much for that post! You just helped me make up my mind. I was debating which pattern also and I think I'm going to go with the HSY one. Though once I get better, I'd love to try the F&F one too.

[rubidoux]

Laura,

That was great! Thanks!

When I got the F&F pattern, I thought it was great, but I was also happy that it was my second pattern. My first was ltk and I think Theresa is so clear and thoughtful about what new knitters need. But I think I have gotton something out of every pattern I've bought or used (the tiny bird soaker pattern is really great, too) . I only did two ltks because I learned that I don't like knitting in the round, but I use a lot of the style elements I learned from ltk on my other soakers. And from F&F, I learned to customize size. Actually, for some reason I wasn't intimidated at all by the F&F size thing. It just made a lot of sense to me immediately. Plus, it so nice to have so many options. I'd love to get all of the wooly wonder and the hsy patterns, too, as well as the ltk longies pattern, but poor milo is already drowning in soakers. lol

Jayne.