[amydidit]

My mom is going to try and knit a couple wool soakers (more if she can get the hang of it)... but I have a couple questions before she starts.

1. Should the yarn be 100% wool, or is a little nylon mixed in okay?

2. Looks like there are different *weights* of yarn... what is used for soakers?

3. How many skeins are needed (usually) to knit a small soaker?

4. Are there any patterns you'd recommend over others? (Free if possible please)

Also, any other tips would be appreciated! She's a fabulous knitter, but has never tried anything like this before.

 

[amey]

I think this pattern meets your needs

http://www.fernandfaerie.com/freesoakerpattern.html

and it should answer most questions!

~amey (also in phoenix)

edited to add: I can get a medium LTK soaker (16-22 pounds) out of less than 4 ounces of wool. So I'd say start with that? Many skeins are either 4 or 8 ounces. I've used the Lion Brand Fisherman's wool (dyed with koolaid) with great success.

 

[*Devon*]

Hi Amy! Congrats on your impending new arrival, hope everything is going well! There are a ton of tutorials on the net, but here's what I know:

1. Should the yarn be 100% wool, or is a little nylon mixed in okay?
It's fine! You can even do 100% acrylic, but it's not nearly as absorbent and you have to wash it every time.

2. Looks like there are different *weights* of yarn... what is used for soakers?
Usually Worsted for daytime, heavy worsted for night, it depends on the pattern.

3. How many skeins are needed (usually) to knit a small soaker?
Less than 1! I got two smalls out of one skein of Little Turtle Knits farm wool.

4. Are there any patterns you'd recommend over others? (Free if possible please)

I love www.littleturtleknits.com for patterns and wool, but they're not free. IMO, soakers knit in the round on circular needles are super easy and there's hardly any finishing. I have heard good things about the Tiny Birds free pattern (www.tinybirds.com I think), and there are several others, I am sure the other ladies will be helpful on that one.

Also, any other tips would be appreciated! She's a fabulous knitter, but has never tried anything like this before.

It was my first knitting project! Tell her to think of it as a hat with leg holes LOL. Seriously, it is a very easy project once you get the pattern, don't be intimidated!!

HTH!
~Devon

 

[*Devon*]

I thought the Tiny Birds was knit in the round but it's not... I'm sure someone else knows of a good free one though (although LTK is really worth the investment...)

 

[amydidit]

Thanks for the help! I've noticed on the patterns it says which needle size to use, but on some yarns it says you have to use a certain needle size as well... which should be followed? Does it make a difference?

 

[*Devon*]

If your mom is a knitter she'll know the answers

It's actually based on your "gauge"... the pattern will tell you how many stitches per inch and a suggested needle size, and you see if you get the gauge on that needle, or else you use a different one. The suggested needle size on yarns is just what would be good-- you wouldn't want to knit a thin yarn on a big needle or vice versa.

HTH!
~Devon

 

[amydidit]

Ahh, that makes sense... guess I should give her the info I have and see what questions *she* has before I keep going on ~laughs~

Thanks!

 

[ZeldasMom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by amydidit Thanks for the help! I've noticed on the patterns it says which needle size to use, but on some yarns it says you have to use a certain needle size as well... which should be followed? Does it make a difference?

Disclaimer: I am a newbie knitter!

Needle size matters because if it's not right you can end up with a soaker that is not the size you want.

When there is a needle size written on the skein of yarn they are just giving it to give you an idea of how many stitches you can expect to get per inch given how bulky the yarn is. They give you a needle size just to give you a reference point. You can get a lot more stitches into an inch with smaller needles than with larger needles. So I would pay attention to the needle size the pattern gives, and not what it says on the skein (as long as you are using yarn that is the same bulkiness as what the pattern calls for--sport weight, worsted, bulky, etc.) One thing that can complicate this a little is not all yarns of the same weight necessarily knit up exactly the same.

That said, not everyone knits the same. So don't view the needle size given in the pattern as something that is carved on a stone tablet. The pattern usually gives you a guage (# of stitches per inch) you need to try to achieve. So it could happen that one knitter needs size 7s to get that guage with the same yarn as someone who uses 8s.

So anyway, this is a long-winded way of saying I wouldn't go out and buy all the needles mentioned in the pattern. I see which needle size is used first and just get that one to start. Since she knits there's a good chance your mom already has the needles she'll need, plus, after she's tested her guage with the yarn you get she may find that she needs to size up or down.

 

[DomesticOverlord]

Quote:

Originally Posted by amydidit 1. Should the yarn be 100% wool, or is a little nylon mixed in okay? 2. Looks like there are different *weights* of yarn... what is used for soakers? 3. How many skeins are needed (usually) to knit a small soaker? 4. Are there any patterns you'd recommend over others?

You want as much wool in the blend as possible, at least 75%.

Worsted weight yarn is usually what I've found is called for in a soaker pattern.

How many skeins is needed is totally dependant on the yarn and the pattern, the pattern will tell you what you need.

I like this pattern for a simple knit in the round pattern: http://www.livejournal.com/community...rs/110889.html