So who is learning to knit soakers?

[steelmagnolia4]

I just got a "Teach yourself to Knit" kit, some cheap acrylic yarn, and the LTK soaker pattern, all in the hopes that someday I can dye and knit my own soakers. I know several other mamas were looking into doing this too... are ya here yet?

PS If you're just starting, I promise that after only a couple of days, the word PURL won't make you think of a strand of them

[Mattia]

Yep... teaching myself to knit from a book also, in hopes of doing everything you've stated above.

[cassdarrow]

me, too

already know how to knit, but want to do a soaker (or ten). I don't have any wool, but I read acrylic works. and I have a bazillion skeins of that. I was a yarn junkie before I found cute diapers.


I will be starting soon. I am finishing a baby sweater (for someone else) tonight, and may start tomorrow.

[sparkeze]

I am on the last step of the LTK soaker and it wasn't hard at all! There were a few challenging steps, but it wasn't really that it was hard - I just didn't know how to do it. But Theresa was very available and prompt with all my questions so it didn't even take me as long as I thought it would!

I have the crotch seam to go now and it seems kind of intimidating so I've been procrastinating a bit, working on other stuff instead. : Also, my soaker is far from perfect but it will be fully functional! And after making one I think the next will be much better and faster so I'm excited to make another one as soon as I get this first one off my needles!

[Aurora]

Me, me, me!!!

I bought a book and am slowly learning. I plan on rewarding myself with the LTK pattern when I can actually knit. :

Good luck mamas!

[Mamaste]

Me, too!

I'm SOOOOOO glad this thread got started!



I am doing this at the speed of a snail. I have sooo many other things going in my life right now, but I have always wanted to take up knitting. I used to knit scarves and potholders when I was little, but I've not done anything since except buy a few knitting books (which inevitably get sold off when they get too dated).

But the prospect of combining knitting with my love of wool soakers -- that was just too much to pass up! I have searched out several good books, joined the yahoo wool soakers group, printed out several free flat patterns to practice stitches with, bought my materials, set up a knitting basket and a knitting bag ... And I've wound my ball of practice thread, and practiced knitting a few rows ... But that's all I've had time for yet. I'm moving sooo slow.

This week, I hope to finish practicing casting on, casting off, knitting and purling with my acrylic practice yarn. I'd like to say I'm going to learn increases and decreases, but I have a work deadline (WAHM writer/editor) and I think that's too ambitious.

I hope we can keep this thread active as our little support group!

[danaalex]

me too i bought the kit at walmart, along with some cheap acrylic yarn to start off with. i have been working on it off and on for about a week. i only have a couple more rows to do and then pull it all together. that's the part that i am not sure what to do with. i am using jenny adoptchina's pattern, it was really cute, and free to boot. i have found it really easy. i did have some difficulty at first with increasing but i fixed that.

anyone else?

[kate42]

I haven't been knitting, but I have been crocheting.

I keep messing up the legs, but I'm having fun anyway. No idea if the two that I've made will be functional, but I've only spent about $10 (including Kool-Aid for dying) so I don't feel too bad.

[AndreaBash]

I tried knitting while I was pregnant... taught myself from a book. I quickly learned that knitting anything larger than a hankie was not for me. I put it on hold and I treasure my single unfinished blanket square.

Now that I've seen all the cute knit soakers I am starting to change my mind. My mom has promised to help me so I am on the lookout for a good free pattern

[panda]

danaalex - is that free soaker pattern online somewhere? I'm considering the LTK pattern, but I'd rather not spend the money if there are good free patterns around. Espcially for my first try. I know how to knit, and I have 3 skeins of 100% wool from an old project, but I've never made or used a soaker before.

If anyone else has tried a free online pattern, I'd love to see the links!

[pamelamama]

*ah! my soaker-knitting newbies... come to the yahoo group!**

We have a wonderful wool soaker group at yahoo:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wool_soaker_group/

There you can find free patterns in the archives, plus support and pictures! I'm sure we'll get the same group here and there. (Including the wise and famous LTK mama Theresa.)

I'll tell you a secret... all the soakers I've made are from a free pattern there. I've made some adjustments (er, trade secrets you know) but it's right there for all to use! (Archived message #70 or check the files section.) It's very different from the LTK pattern. Bulkier. But it's free!

Happy knitting! (and purling, increasing, decreasing, casting on, etc)

[calla lily]

Me too. I kept trying to crochet a cover, but it doesn't stretch enough so I decided to teech myself to knit. I am also using the free flat pattern until I get some money to buy the LTK one. I used yarn that I got on clearance that is 80% acrylic, 20% wool to try. I just finished my first one and I'm pretty happy with the results. I only tried it on ds once because it's going to be a gift for a friend's ds first b-day. But it seemed to work. I even crochet a fish and hook and sewed it on the back. Although I had some problems with the ribbing and where I sewed it up doesn't look too smooth.

Now I am addicted to knitting and wish I had more time. Ds's first b-day is Saturday and I don't think I will have his done in time.

[Mamaste]

Yup yup, I'm on the Yahoo list too ... But I just lurk there for the time being, since winding wool (cough, cough) is my great accomplishment so far. I thought I might actually find more slowbies like me here. :

[pamelamama]

Originally posted by Mamaste
Yup yup, I'm on the Yahoo list too ... But I just lurk there for the time being, since winding wool (cough, cough) is my great accomplishment so far. I thought I might actually find more slowbies like me here. :

Oh, ho ho.. you should come over and see my new Ball Winder and Umbrella Swift. Fancy gadgets help me get all my yarn organized into neat little balls! I keep digging old yarn out of my stash and neatening it up into clever little balls.

I can't wait to hear more about how everyone's soakers are coming out! Please post photos.

xo pam

[Mamaste]

So please enlighten me ... What horrors will befall me if I don't wind my wool skeins into a ball?

[pamelamama]

Originally posted by Mamaste
So please enlighten me ... What horrors will befall me if I don't wind my wool skeins into a ball?

see here:
http://www.tradewindknits.com/tbctrbal.html

nothing really bad will happen. probably. bwa ha ha.

gotta go to bed! Too many forums to read, ack!

[danaalex]

Panda-- it's more like directions than anything else. i found it which looking and engineer mama's ( ?) website. it's jenny's soaker (jenny adoptchina). it's adorable and seemed to be the easiet to do. i just finished it and haven't decided if i am going to do a fancy little leg thing or not. i can't wait to try it on my daughter in the morning. i held it up next to our aristocrat and it seems to be the same size, so, hopefully it will work. i'll report back.

[Henry's Mom]

I'm so happy to see this thread!
I am knitting a guage for a soaker pattern a friend gave me that I think she may have gotten from a mama here. I am knitting it for our pediatrician who gave us a bunch of bumpy covers her son outgrew and I offered to knit her something as trade. She wanted a soaker and I am excited about trying it out so I can see how feasable it is and maybe make some for my 2 guys!
I am using a gorgeous hand spun wool she bought from a local organic farm, my plan is to knit loose and then felt it so she doesn't have to worry about felting it while using it. I am going to test how the yarn felts by making a soaker pad that I read about in another thread. It looks like any other soaker but you put it in between diaper layers (or I suppose between the diaper and the cover) in order to increase absorbtion. So basically I am knitting a long rectangle that I will felt and hopefully I will also have a useable soaker!
Best to all you knitting mamas!

[Mamaste]

Originally posted by pamelamama
nothing really bad will happen. probably. bwa ha ha.

Well then!

I will let you know if I hear something howling or panting outside my window later tonight. ag

[engineer_mama]

Hey everyone!

You're having a soaker knitting party! Woohoo!! Just wanted to make sure everyone knew about my soaker page:

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/kfegelman/soaker.html

It has all the soaker patterns I know of. Please PM me if you know of any others.

Have fun knitting! You'll love it