Stitchboard Admin message #152
Re: Tunisian gauge
December 4, 2013 at 6:07:43 PM  (in response to BetwixtTheStitch message #1)
 
Sherry,

I never knew that some of the SS yarns are lighter than others!    It should never be that inconsistent.  It should at least conform to a certain gauge with a particular yarn...every time!  Especially since, even if they're using the "newer" ratings, the ones we've agreed are horribly inaccurate, they still have to classify them, and somewhat accurately at that. 

Oh, yeah, if they're that bad, there's no way you can combine them unless you're looking to produce a certain effect!

I've never bought the One Pounder, but now that I know, would only use it for projects that call for a thicker yarn.  Problem is, it sounds like it's not quite bulky weight, either. 

Argh, I wonder if I should tear out what I'm doing...I don't have a larger afghan hook...remember, there was only one to be found here in all of the big box craft stores combined, and we lost our yarn store ages ago (thanks crappy economy)!    So maybe I'm better off with a different stitch...kind of disappointed, because I wanted to make something that looked knitted, but was not, in fact, knit!  Oh, well.  This thing is way too curly, and I'm almost halfway done with the first one.  Lesson learned, so it wasn't a waste! 

I may just throw whatever I make into a wash, then, or give them as is.  Whatever I make is unlikely to need blocking, and if it does, like you said, into the wash, and then I'll probably dry them in the dryer...sheesh, they're just dishcloths...if they don't stand up to regular washing and drying, I must be doing something wrong!    Because I doubt the people who get them as gifts are going to wash them and then lay them out flat to dry.  Of course, I'll check the instructions first, see if they say they can be machine dried.  Hoping they can! 

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Stitchboard Admin message #154
Re: Tunisian gauge
December 5, 2013 at 6:13:56 PM  (in response to BetwixtTheStitch message #3)
 
Sherry,

That is frustrating!    At least they could be consistent across the board and try to stick to a comparable thickness...wouldn't you think they'd want people substituting their brand for patterns using other brand yarns?!

ARGH, I had forgotten the Sugarn 'n Cream was made by Caron...that explains something...I had noticed that the self-striping cottons were lighter than the regular cottons.    I tried making something and was totally frustrated because the yarn was too light...noticeably so.  

I agree...they should be consistent, and especially if you're paying more, you should get better quality.

I found an issue with the "no dye lot" stuff.    I called the company, and they said they get it from different places, so even if it's the same color, it may be way off, which that was.  I can't really complain about it, though, as they did send me new...but I was so ticked off that it wasn't accurate and I knew then that I couldn't depend on it...ever. 

I'm probably going to tear out what I started and start again...with what, I don't know yet.  Probably either will crochet something more lacy or decorative, or will knit something.  Not really sure...am going to have a look around.    Thank goodness there's no lack of free patterns available! 

Oooh, thanks...I'm so glad to know the TPS counteracts the curl! 

Argh, I'm sure you're right about that pattern being better for a scrubby than a dishcloth.  Sigh.  It's so pretty, I was hoping it would work for a dishcloth!

The label says to dry flat?    I can't imagine the people I know drying the dishcloths flat...I'm guessing they'll just throw it in the washer/dryer.  Hmm, should try it myself and see how well it works!  Because I decided I'm also eventually (when done with holiday gifts) going to make some hand towels for the bathroom, something that snaps or buttons onto the towel bar.  And for sure I don't want to be messing around with drying them...washer, dryer, done!    (Because I'm just too lazy to lay them flat and then wait X hours, as well!  )

Oh, no!    I hope you don't get the hard freeze or the freezing rain!  I hope you don't lose electricity, as well.  Sending warm thoughts and good vibes your way! 

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Stitchboard Admin message #156
Re: Tunisian gauge
December 6, 2013 at 11:48:51 PM  (in response to BetwixtTheStitch message #5)
 
Sherry,

I've had mixed results with RH "no dye lot."  Sometimes the matches are close...otherwise, they're very different - noticeably so. 

I despise those mill ends!    As you say, though, it's an inexpensive yarn, so it doesn't matter quite as much...though still is vexing.    On an expensive yarn - and yes, the Simply Soft has risen in price exponentially here, too - then I would tend to complain. 

I haven't experienced the inconsistency within the yarn skeins themselves, as much as I've experienced the inconsistency between different colors and/or brands.    I once had some kind of grease spot that looked like it might have come from malfunctioning machinery, but luckily the company sent me new skeins. 

Eeew, hate the idea that the dishcloths are stiff when air dried!    Yuck...I can't imagine hubby's clients liking that, either...I don't like it...why should they?!  I'm going to machine dry them.  Thank you for the info so I know what to do! 

I doubt they'd shrink...more the opposite.  I base that on a cotton sweater that got flooded, so I tried to resurrect it.  It stretched...terribly.    That was with washing by machine, some air dry and some dryer.  It was just too freaking wet to leave it to air dry completely...it would have taken weeks unless placed outside in a stiff breeze, so into the dryer it went (low heat, which is what we use for everything unless we have some very filthy towels!).  I couldn't figure out how to get the smell out, though...kind of like wet dog, but not that pleasant. 

I'm so glad you still have electricity!    We've been watching your weather.  I called my bestie and she said the storms weren't near her, but I was still so worried about you!    I also hope you're in the clear and am happy it did let up. 

That's wonderful how your hubby and his co-workers all "called in scared" - hee hee, love that!    It's nice they were all on the same page. 

So happy to hear you're prepared with heating pad and electric throw!    Will continue to send warm thoughts your way! 

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Stitchboard Admin message #158
Re: Tunisian gauge
December 7, 2013 at 4:45:03 PM  (in response to BetwixtTheStitch message #7)
 
Sherry,

Oh, yes, definitely!  I consider yarn no different than any other product, such as food, where one would hope the company would want to know about the trouble (and perhaps will replace the product, as well).  I also sometimes call to compliment a product, but when it comes to yarn, of course, I don't expect "extra."  Usually I'll get a coupon or two for a free food product if I call to compliment it, though. 

Argh, I hate being on a time constraint and having to go with something that has problems!  But yeah, you don't have time to wait for them to send replacements, especially if you're crocheting for Yule, which gives you, what, 3 or 4 days less? 

Oooh, the bobble stitch sounds lovely!  Do post pics if you can...I'd love to see how that turns out!

Turquoise and eggplant make a gorgeous combo, IMO. 

ARGH!  The coldest December in 15 years?!    Not liking the sound of that!  Ugh, please be very careful and don't venture out unless you're bundled up to your eyeballs!    LOL, or something like that.  Seriously, please, please, please stay warm!  And I hope the freezing rain misses you this time.  Ugh, what miserable weather!  

Sounds like people are panicking.    Does everything pretty much shut down there if you guys get a dusting of snow?

People didn't panic as much in the north, then?  Well, the cold weather is very unusual for you guys, so I can understand.  I'm glad you stocked up early, though!  That's what we did the one year...I think we'd had something like 2 feet of snow...ugh, got our water and other food-related necessities together a few days before, and the following morning after the snow, went outside and shoveled and shoveled. 

My friend in NJ a couple of years ago said the snow was so deep, it was up to his shoulders...and he's not a short guy!  I asked him what he did, and IIRC, he said he had to work in "levels."  Just go forward and push, then back and push another level, and pile it up sky-high!    Ugh!

Sending more warm thoughts your way!  If I could somehow send my hot flashes to you for use as a warmer, I would! 

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Stitchboard Admin message #160
Re: Tunisian gauge
December 8, 2013 at 11:24:33 PM  (in response to BetwixtTheStitch message #9)
 
Sherry,

So do you pretty much just work Yule in at Christmastime?  That's the way we've traditionally worked our Hanukkah-Christmas deal...mainly because there were many years when hubby had only the one day off.    So we'd have only an option of that one day, and if we didn't rush it all into one day, we'd get stuck doing nothing at all.  We had to plan everything in advance.  Luckily, we always managed to get everything accomplished. 

Though for us, it's not a terrible burden to be stuck with a certain day.  We're not religious, so we're not tied to anything.  We do that about other things, too.  Birthdays are whenever we can celebrate them; Valentine's Day may be way off, if we do anything at all.  It mostly depends on what else is on the schedule.

I found a pretty neat bobble pattern a few days ago, and almost printed it, but then decided I didn't want to go through the trouble.  I'm just going to keep it simple.    Mainly, my criteria has been something that's maybe between 5-7", to keep it from getting way too big (damn, there are some that are 10" - for a dishcloth?!), and something not terribly complex, so I can realistically finish four for each set in time!

Glad you don't have to leave, but sorry your hubby does!    I don't blame you...I wouldn't want to go out in ultra cold weather, either.  (We did have to shovel today, sigh.  It was not fun.  )

I guess that's the bright side, that everything shuts down when you don't want to be out, either! 

Oh, yeah, the hospital definitely has to stay open!  Sometimes I can't understand companies that insist they have to stay open.  I remember one company I worked for, where they insisted we were all to be there, regardless of weather.  And lucky us...if we did have a weather issue while we were there, they had cots they could set up for us!    No freaking thank you.  It wasn't like a hospital, either.  It was just computer tech support...big hairy deal...like someone was going to have a medical emergency because they couldn't get online or something! 

LOL, sigh, no, hot flashes are pretty freaking useless.    One minute I'm sweating, the next I'm freezing.  If I get them at night, I may be too tired to do anything, or I may have enough energy to throw off the covers, in which case when I fall asleep with the covers off, I wake up sweaty and cold.  There's no happy medium with those awful things. 

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Stitchboard Admin message #162
Re: Tunisian gauge
December 9, 2013 at 6:51:37 PM  (in response to BetwixtTheStitch message #11)
 
Sherry,

I understand completely not being stuck to a certain day...geeze, it's one day...so what?  Nothing so unique that it can't be celebrated early or late.  Pfft.

Would you mind if I tried the bobble dishcloth?    The pattern looks so cool! 

Ugh, doesn't that suck having to rip out?  I do that all the time when I write my own patterns.  

6 x 5 1/2 sounds like a good size.    The ones that I keep seeing that are 10 x 10 sound way too big.    The 5 1/2 or 6" dishcloth that we're using now is a great size...almost too big!

I'm so sorry that your granddaughter's husband had to work...that's so unfair.    I don't see how any food service organization would need people there when the roads are bad...nobody's traveling! 

I'm so glad the streets are clear and dry!    YAY...no having to drive and slide all over the place!  And that was sweet of your son to clear off your vehicles. 

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Stitchboard Admin message #164
Re: Tunisian gauge
December 10, 2013 at 8:15:26 PM  (in response to BetwixtTheStitch message #13)
 
Sherry,

I sure do want to try it...thank you!    I'm printing it out and sending it to my phone, too, so I have it! 

I would think the dc bobble would be a lot more pronounced, as the hdc lays a bit lower.

Ha ha, I often have too much negative energy when working...I'm cursing while ripping out.    I don't know, something about a stitch that "catches" and splits the yarn or just isn't comfortable while working. 

We went to get an oil change for the car, and I thought it would be the perfect time to work on gifts.  Nope!    They had only a few chairs, no room to move around, nowhere to put my bag.    I got about halfway in on a dishcloth and had to give up.

On the bright side, while hubby was out working this morning, I did get a dishcloth done...yay...one down...argh, 15 to go.  Groan.  I used a pattern from online, but used a smaller hook and skipped the last two rows.  It's more round than "flowery" looking like it was supposed to be, but I think it looks nice.    Instead of the edging the pattern called for, I did a simple sc all around.  It's a hair under 6".  I figure that's plenty for a dishcloth...I may have mentioned that the "mistake" one I repurposed as a dishcloth is somewhere in the neighborhood of 5 1/2 - 6".

I have a feeling I'm going to like your bobble pattern much more...I was working on what's supposed to be a snowflake, and ugh, it's so annoying.    I'm fighting with it.    Probably will frog it and be done with that snowflake.

I bet that 50-ish degrees will feel soooooooo good!    Jealous...we've been in the deep freeze for days.    I had to put on two sweatshirts to go out today, or I knew I would freeze.  Anyway, I'm glad you're going to be warming up, even if it is a bit slower than normal...50 degrees beats the alternative!

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