UK Amazon Kindle Forum discussion

Katy wrote: "They're fab, Harry!

I love crafts. I make jewelry, cards, candles and I engrave glass! No where near as good as the group though!"

Thanks everyone. There are many 'international' enamels (including jewellery) to be viewed here:
http://grainsofglass.ning.com/

I've been working at this craft for 20 years. I use a large kiln because I fire picture-panels. Craft jewellers can use a much, much smaller kiln and workspace, without need of heavy paraphenalia.

Glass engraving! Now, I doubt if I've the hand and eye for that.

Harry wrote: "Katy wrote: "They're fab, Harry!

I love crafts. I make jewelry, cards, candles and I engrave glass! No where near as good as the group though!"

Thanks everyone. There are many 'international' en..."

I was going through my grandma's cupboard one day (as you do) and I found a small black box at the very top of the cupboard covered in dust. It instantly grabbed my attention and I demanded to see it. I got it down, and my grandma told me it was a glass engraver. I got it out straight away. I've engraved lots of glasses with people's names at her house, and engraved a beautiful vase for my uncle's wedding anniversary (:

Jud (Disney Diva) wrote: "Does anyone have any tips for casting on? I seem to be rubbish at it and I have 420 stitches to do"

I'm not much of a knitter Jud But I always cast on using my thumb then knit into the back of the stitch on the first row.

Do you have any photos of your work Katy?

I have a few enamel pendants MIL made at a night class many years ago.

Philip (sarah) wrote: "Do you have any photos of your work Katy?

I have a few enamel pendants MIL made at a night class many years ago."

No, sorry Sarah! I can try and get some

I would love to see them Katy!

Philip (sarah) wrote: "Jud (Disney Diva) wrote: "Does anyone have any tips for casting on? I seem to be rubbish at it and I have 420 stitches to do"

I'm not much of a knitter Jud But I always cast on using my thumb the..."

My thumb isn't big enough for 420 stitches!! I finally got cast on now I'm on the 2nd row, it's taking forever, I hope I get quicker the more I do. Think I cast on a little too tight so hopefully the next row will be easier.

Do you knit your stitches on then? Knitting twice into each stitch!

No (I don't think so) I kinda loop them on just by hand, I'm only a beginner and don't know any lingo

Jud (Disney Diva) wrote: "Philip (sarah) wrote: "Jud (Disney Diva) wrote: "Does anyone have any tips for casting on? I seem to be rubbish at it and I have 420 stitches to do"

I'm not much of a knitter Jud But I always cas..."

I know you've cast on now but if you feel you cast on too tight you can try just casting on with a bigger needle.Then change to the correct size for the actual knitting. It's a lot of stitches.

Jud on Utube there are some really good videos showing you the thumb method or the 2 needle method of casting on ,would link you to them but can't do links ,they say the 2 needle version casts on looser than the thumb method

Lynne that's quite a clever idea, I'll definitely take a look at youtube before attempting to cast on next time Kay :o)

Thanks guys

My needle just broke!!!!

I don't know how many stitches I lost or how to cast them back on again

I want to cry

Jud (Disney Diva) wrote: "My needle just broke!!!!

I don't know how many stitches I lost or how to cast them back on again

I want to cry"

Oh no, that's awful! I hate it when something goes wrong afer you've spent ages working on something!!

Karen (Kew) wrote: "FREE kindle crochet book!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/So-Simple-Cro...

:0)"

I've just finished making this scarf from the pattern that was in this kindle book (which is no longer free)

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...

:0)

That's gorgeous Karen!

Thanks Jud, and it's really easy to do!

:0)

Karen (Kew) wrote: "Thanks Jud, and it's really easy to do!

:0)"

That's easily said Karen!

I'm about back where I was when my knitting all went wrong last time so I feel better now, looking forward to finally finishing the 2nd row...

Hope all goes well this time, Jud. If it's any consolation - I often do lots of unpicking the first time I try out a pattern...

That's what my mum said too, she told me it took her about 6 tries to get started on the dress she knit for me.

Jud what are you knitting with 420 sts on - its not the cardigan which you sent me the pattern of is it???

Nice scarf Karen saw on facebook and the blanket you are making for grandson ,pity the letters don't show up well but is it just the photo that doesn't show them .I got the same pattern for scarf on kindle but have not attempted it yet as I only recently made lots of scarves (possible xmas pressies),made the twisty ones that you only have about 8 stitches on needle and use special wool ,got carried away and made far too many

Kay (Golden Girl) wrote: " I only recently made lots of scarves (possible xmas pressies),made the twisty ones that you only have about 8 stitches on needle and use special wool ,got carried away and made far too many "

Thanks Kay.

Oh well - at least you have this year and next sorted for pressies!!

;0)

Lynne (Tigger's Mum) wrote: "Jud what are you knitting with 420 sts on - its not the cardigan which you sent me the pattern of is it???"

No, no that was only 91 at it's widest, I've started a wee baby dress hoping to have it done for my pal as a Christmas pressi for her wee girl. It's got pleats at the bottom which is why there are so many stitches, plus its on 2.5mm needles

Hi Jud, thats a relief, it sounds ambitious - get cracking then ;0) (I should be knitting my pal's shrug, instead of messing about on here.)

Lynne (Tigger's Mum) wrote: "Hi Jud, thats a relief, it sounds ambitious - get cracking then ;0) (I should be knitting my pal's shrug, instead of messing about on here.)"

Yea I didn't really think it through before deciding to start it. Ah well, nothing like a good challenge. We'll be driving from Aberdeen to Stranraer in December so I'll hopefully get a good bit done then since I'll not be able to do much else

Love the scarf Karen. I love knitting scarves during winter months just about everyone I know has been gifted at least one.I use all different sorts of wool then embelish them with ribbons,buttons and odd pieces of jewellery.
Jud,you are so brave tackling something so complicated.
I picked up a pattern last week that was full of small projects to use up odd balls of wool and promptly set it aside again when most of the objects required the use of circular and third needles.

My mum makes it look so easy so I thought I could tackle it too. Turns out she is just really good at knitting

thanks Karen for re-inspiring me. I joined the free patterns .com and got a few pattterns Tried out one for a shawl also got the free book you made your scarf from. Still cracking on with my bedspread, but that has become two singles now and not a double. Good job I hadn't sewn too many squares together.
Good luck with your baby dress Jud, (glad someone asked as I was wondering).

Sorry, I should have said really...

I was wondering how your bedspread was coming on, Pat. Please share a photo of it later if you don't mind. It's lovely to be able to chat about what we are doing!

I've been busy working on brother-in-law's blanket this evening. I can't share any photos on facebook or he will see them and my sister has commissioned this as a surprise for him. I've nearly finished the middle so I will post a photo on here when I've done that.

:0)

I finally successfully finished row 2. 5 cm To go a then I hope I can decrease some stitches

Yay! for row 3, way to go Jud

I will post a photo when I get one finished. I've just upset myself. I thought I had two and a half squares left to finish a single, but then realised it was nine and a half. Poo! (It takes me two days to do a square).

Pat (Scorpio) wrote: "Yay! for row 3, way to go Jud

I will post a photo when I get one finished. I've just upset myself. I thought I had two and a half squares left to finish a single, but then realised it was nine and..."

I hate when that happens.

I'll be starting row 3 tonight, I hope it goes as well as row 2!

http://photo.goodreads.com/photos/135...

Photo of a cross-stitch done in 2003

Pat (Scorpio) wrote: "http://photo.goodreads.com/photos/135...

Photo of a cross-stitch done in 2003"

Wow. That's so beautiful.

I bet the back is perfect too.

That's lovely Pat,got any more to show us ,please,I used to do cross stitch but find am not very good now with doing small stiches(old age has caught up )

Brilliant Pat,so neat.

Kay I use a craft lamp with magnifier now. I find it really helpful though I admit I don't do the very intricate patterns anymore.

I used to have a couple of cross stitch kits that people had bought for me, but have never started them as when I tried it my efforts wouldn't even have been useful as dishcloths.
I used to knit a lot, but came to a standstill when the things needed sewing together - mum used to finish them all off for me. I can also crochet, not as well as my grandma who used to crochet with a fine hook and sewing cotton.

When my sister first announced she was pregnant I started knitting baby cardigans and jackets etc and presented her with a chest full for Hamish. (the footstool type of chest) When my nephew arrived early he was too small for the stuff I had knitted for him for quite a few months. And they didn't call him Hamish as I had suggested. (but his teddy bear is Hamish instead)

Just found this - make your own kindle cover!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0095ZR98C...

:0)

I'm unsticking this thread now. I think it has had good publicity and can keep itself popular now.

Pat (Scorpio) wrote: "http://photo.goodreads.com/photos/135...

Photo of a cross-stitch done in 2003"

Oh! When I get the cross stitch I finished (finally! It only took me 10 years) I'll have to put up a photo. It's a Winnie the Pooh calendar and I'm going to give it to my cousins wee baby once they are born. I'm gonna stitch their name and d.o.b. into it first and then frame it. You'll have to wait till it's all done. And you reminded me that I need to put my name on it too.

Jud (Disney Diva) wrote: "Does anyone have any tips for casting on? I seem to be rubbish at it and I have 420 stitches to do"

Hi Jud, I know this is a little late, but this video shows you how to cast on:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Iv03n...

If anyone is interested in black & white drawings, I have some pen & ink drawings/brass rubbings on FineArt America that I've pinned onto Pinterest. You can see them here: http://pinterest.com/shelaghwatkins/a...

Aw man I just realised I didn't use the tail to cast on.... it dosen't matter though, right?

Jud (Disney Diva) wrote: "Aw man I just realised I didn't use the tail to cast on.... it dosen't matter though, right?"

No, it doesn't matter. The tail method is supposed to be more elastic, but if done too tightly, there is no real advantage. Sarah's method of using a bigger needle to cast on will produce more give.

Few more photos uploaded including ones of bedspread.
http://photo.goodreads.com/photos/135...

Oh, look, this isn't fair! I'm trying to read and write! How can I be expected to resist a thread like this?!

But here's a link to a really good wool shop in Newburgh, Fife - they do classes and mail order and free patterns and good advice on the phone. The felting and weaving classes are particularly brilliant ...

http://www.twistfibrecraft.co.uk/

Jud (Disney Diva) wrote: "Does anyone have any tips for casting on? I seem to be rubbish at it and I have 420 stitches to do"

Which method are you trying? Is it the knit-a-stitch and put it back on the lefthand needle, or is it the 'thumb' method where you make a loop round your thumb and slip it on to the needle? 420 is huge - hope you have long needles!

Lexie wrote: "But here's a link to a really good wool shop in Newburgh, Fife - they do classes and mail order and free patterns and good advice on the phone. The felting and weaving classes are particularly brilliant"

Ooh, thanks Lexie.

I've been buying wool today, one of my new favourite occupations, and whilst I was looking around another customer overheard me talking about crochet and recommended an online site where she finds free patterns. She said that they also do mail order wool.

http://www.lionbrand.com/content-croc...

I popped into Lidl today as part of my shopping expedition and found some yarn in there!! Never thought they did stuff like that. Bought some nice stuff to make scarves with.

:0)

I love Kemps woolshop.

http://www.kempswoolshop.com/
Had some really good bargains from them. And it usually arrives the next day