Welcome Anna from western Canda. I use the mitred square pattern found on the KAS patterns pages and make a square that way when trying a new yarn. It automatically gives me the gauge of how many stitches for an 8 inch side - then I can make Plain Jane garter stitch squares by just knitting back and forth. It works every time! Happy Knitting!!!
Good on you, Anna...I know how frustrating it can be sometimes in getting it the right size. A quarter inch or so is still easily stitchable (I think) by those putting them together, but sometimes when people send odd shapes like 9" x 7" it can really slow down the sorting and sewing process for our volunteers in South Africa...thank you so much for caring. :))
Well that's a puzzle. Which pattern did you follow? I always measure my square after about an inch of knitting, because yarns can vary in thickness, even when you are knitting in the same ply....knitting tension can also vary from person to person. I knit mostly in 8 ply because you can get the greatest variety of colours and brands in that ply here in Oz....sometimes I will combine it with a thin acrylic mohair to thicken it up or I will find some 12 (or very rarely 14) ply yarn in a store. For me, I find 41 or 42 stitches on 4.5mm needles with an 8 ply budget acrylic yarn will make an 8" square and sometimes find I need to even make it 43 stitches. however, I have read some some KASfolk in the UK use quite a few less stitches, so maybe its tension or their 8 ply (DK) is thicker than ours. I have bought 100% 8 ply wool from China and Turkey and that is soooo much thicker and therefore require a lot less stitches....I'm afraid the only real advice that I can offer is that you may have to knit an inch or so and measure as I do....I even find there can be a difference in thickness of yarns from the same brand. ...Hope this all gives you some help. :))
Welcome to KAS...from over here in Western Australia. :))
Are you a knitter or a crocheter?...or perhaps both?
Plain Jane squares, as they are affectionately called, are the backbone of KAS and are ALWAYS our most needed item. This type of square being a garter stitch/single colour or striped square and I think it is single or double crochet if your preference is for crochet. By clicking on the KASpattern book tab at the top of the page you can also find lots of other patterns provided by our fellow KASers, if you are wanting to mix it up a bit and make other patterned squares as well.
If you click on the groups tab at the top of the page you will find all the different groups and you are free to join as many as you would like. :))
Please check out the 'Helpful Hints' tab at the top of the page as this may answer many initial questions you may have and will help you get started. Any other questions...just ask...we love to help. :))
If you'd like to see what other KASers have been making please click on the photo tab at the top of the page....and feel free to add photos of your own work...we would love to see them. Just click on 'add photos' and follow the prompts.
If you want to see the most active discussions at present, you may like to click on the 'main page' tab and they are listed in the centre of that page...just pick one and click on it. It is a large website, but with so much fun and info.
Comments
Welcome Anna from western Canda. I use the mitred square pattern found on the KAS patterns pages and make a square that way when trying a new yarn. It automatically gives me the gauge of how many stitches for an 8 inch side - then I can make Plain Jane garter stitch squares by just knitting back and forth. It works every time! Happy Knitting!!!
Welcome, Anna, from suburban Philadelphia. So glad you've joined us!
Good on you, Anna...I know how frustrating it can be sometimes in getting it the right size. A quarter inch or so is still easily stitchable (I think) by those putting them together, but sometimes when people send odd shapes like 9" x 7" it can really slow down the sorting and sewing process for our volunteers in South Africa...thank you so much for caring. :))
Hi Anna.
Well that's a puzzle. Which pattern did you follow? I always measure my square after about an inch of knitting, because yarns can vary in thickness, even when you are knitting in the same ply....knitting tension can also vary from person to person. I knit mostly in 8 ply because you can get the greatest variety of colours and brands in that ply here in Oz....sometimes I will combine it with a thin acrylic mohair to thicken it up or I will find some 12 (or very rarely 14) ply yarn in a store. For me, I find 41 or 42 stitches on 4.5mm needles with an 8 ply budget acrylic yarn will make an 8" square and sometimes find I need to even make it 43 stitches. however, I have read some some KASfolk in the UK use quite a few less stitches, so maybe its tension or their 8 ply (DK) is thicker than ours. I have bought 100% 8 ply wool from China and Turkey and that is soooo much thicker and therefore require a lot less stitches....I'm afraid the only real advice that I can offer is that you may have to knit an inch or so and measure as I do....I even find there can be a difference in thickness of yarns from the same brand. ...Hope this all gives you some help. :))
Hello Anna. A warm welcome to you from Nova Scotia, Canada. We are delighted that you have joined us.
Hi Anna
Welcome to KAS...from over here in Western Australia. :))
Are you a knitter or a crocheter?...or perhaps both?
Plain Jane squares, as they are affectionately called, are the backbone of KAS and are ALWAYS our most needed item. This type of square being a garter stitch/single colour or striped square and I think it is single or double crochet if your preference is for crochet. By clicking on the KASpattern book tab at the top of the page you can also find lots of other patterns provided by our fellow KASers, if you are wanting to mix it up a bit and make other patterned squares as well.
If you click on the groups tab at the top of the page you will find all the different groups and you are free to join as many as you would like. :))
Please check out the 'Helpful Hints' tab at the top of the page as this may answer many initial questions you may have and will help you get started. Any other questions...just ask...we love to help. :))
If you'd like to see what other KASers have been making please click on the photo tab at the top of the page....and feel free to add photos of your own work...we would love to see them. Just click on 'add photos' and follow the prompts.
If you want to see the most active discussions at present, you may like to click on the 'main page' tab and they are listed in the centre of that page...just pick one and click on it. It is a large website, but with so much fun and info.
We also have a theme for every month that you might like to view and participate in, but there is absolutely no pressure to do so. The theme for March can be found here: http://forum.knit-a-square.com/forum/topics/march-2014-challenge-ar...
Thank you so much for joining us. :))