Stitchboard Community - Tunisian gauge

community home > Crochet > Tunisian Crochet > Tunisian gauge

Re: Tunisian gauge

149697 views 470 replies Latest reply: May 24, 2014 at 12:00:20 AM

Go to Page:

Member since:
Jul 3, 2013
Posts: 575

BetwixtTheStitch message #316
Re: Tunisian gauge
February 25, 2014 at 8:43:36 AM

Melanie,

Hahahaha, I was actually visualizing bead scarves, hats, and blankets.

What a mess, and costly too.

Yay! Back to work. I got a few more rows done on the Tardis blanket last night, it would be finished by now if the weather had stayed colder.

Sherry

Look at that smile! (Photo guaranteed unretouched)

Member since:
Jul 1, 2009
Posts: 4584

Stitchboard Admin message #317
Re: Tunisian gauge
February 25, 2014 at 6:09:08 PM (in response to BetwixtTheStitch message #1)

Sherry,

LOL, can you imagine something as big and expensive as a bead-strung blanket?!

Glad you got a little more done on the Tardis blanket, but really, I can't say I'm upset that your weather hasn't been colder! We're down in the deep freeze tonight.

They say there's no end in sight to this.

I'm running ideas through my mind now for the various projects, since I get to start on something tonight.

So happy to get to play again!

Melanie (cat slave and Official Feline Can Opener) =^.^=
~~~~~
I'm a beading, knitting and crochet addict. If that means I'm admitting I have a problem, then I admit to nothing. Please refrain from helping me.

Member since:
Jul 3, 2013
Posts: 575

BetwixtTheStitch message #318
Re: Tunisian gauge
February 26, 2014 at 8:45:36 AM (in response to Stitchboard Admin message #2)

Melanie,

Can't say I'm upset about the weather either,

the blanket will get done when it gets done.
But I am sorry that you still have to deal with it, except we don't want you flooding either.

Woo hoo! Playtime.

Sherry

Look at that smile! (Photo guaranteed unretouched)

Member since:
Jul 1, 2009
Posts: 4584

Stitchboard Admin message #319
Re: Tunisian gauge
February 26, 2014 at 8:23:46 PM (in response to BetwixtTheStitch message #3)

Sherry,

Exactly...I'm so glad your weather isn't horribly cold!

I'm sure you'll find ways to get the blanket finished.

Thank you...sigh...snow in the forecast, too, so worries about both cold and melting, of course.

Oh, yeah...I did a swatch of my chosen yarn and needles, but cheated because the iron is on the fritz, so no blocking.

Really, it probably would have been faster to knit the bloody thing and then rip it out if it was too large or small, because it's such a smallish item, it really took more time to swatch than to make the stupid thing a couple of times!

Anyway, at least it's a start. Now just have to figure out dimensions and stitches.

Member since:
Jul 3, 2013
Posts: 575

BetwixtTheStitch message #320
Re: Tunisian gauge
February 27, 2014 at 9:02:56 AM (in response to Stitchboard Admin message #4)

Melanie,

So last night was cold enough to work on the blanket again, I've gotten to the trickiest part now.
I'm using 2 afghan hooks and 2 different stitches, so it's work a few with the P, then switch to the K, then back to the P and so on.
With the difference in gauge between the TKS and TSS though, it's necessary to switch hooks like that.

I do believe you're right that it probably would have been faster.

Sometimes swatching is more trouble than it's worth.

Sherry

Look at that smile! (Photo guaranteed unretouched)

Member since:
Jul 1, 2009
Posts: 4584

Stitchboard Admin message #321
Re: Tunisian gauge
February 27, 2014 at 7:05:55 PM (in response to BetwixtTheStitch message #5)

Sherry,

I'm sorry it was cold again, though glad you were able to get more done on the blanket. That really does sound tricky, to switch back and forth with the hooks...how in the world do you remember what to do where? Because it sounds like you have to do that in the middle of rows? With regular crochet, it's easy, of course, but with Tunisian, is it that you have to split off the stitches to the other hook as you go?

Yeah, I'm really annoyed that I started with a swatch...should have just started knitting the bloody thing! And now my needle is broken.

So unless I can figure something out - and it has to be a circular neede - I can't substitute a pair of straight needles for that size, even if I have them, and I'm not sure I do.

Member since:
Jul 3, 2013
Posts: 575

BetwixtTheStitch message #322
Re: Tunisian gauge
February 28, 2014 at 9:20:02 AM (in response to Stitchboard Admin message #6)

Melanie,

Well cold enough isn't even close to as cold as you are.

Now we get another 2 day spring, then another cold front.

Yes I'm doing it in the middle of the rows, but for this one it's not as tricky as it sounds except on the first row of it. I used stitch markers to count off the first row and know where to do it.

I'm doing TKS in blue with a P hook, then TSS in white with a K hook. The white is for the windows so it's really simple, but there are 2 sets of windows with a blue strip in between.

Once I got it going, it's fairly easy to switch back and forth even if it does slow me down a bit.

I'm so sorry about your needles.

Hoping you can resolve that issue soon.

Sherry

Look at that smile! (Photo guaranteed unretouched)

Member since:
Jul 1, 2009
Posts: 4584

Stitchboard Admin message #323
Re: Tunisian gauge
February 28, 2014 at 8:10:16 PM (in response to BetwixtTheStitch message #7)

Sherry,

Argh, yeah, this is just too cold and the only reason I'm glad you're not here is that I don't want you to suffer with it, too!

Oh, wow, I can picture how you're doing that!

So how cumbersome is it? It does sound a bit awkward, at least the going around that strip, but otherwise, it doesn't sound too bad.

Maybe a little like stranded knitting, if you've ever done that?

Do you have a way of tucking in your ends between white panels, do you leave them "floating" or do you use separate bobbins of white yarn?

Thanks...well, I haven't replaced that stupid needle yet, but this time I won't buy cheap. It was just a cheap plastic needle, and I guess you get what you pay for.

Member since:
Jul 3, 2013
Posts: 575

BetwixtTheStitch message #324
Re: Tunisian gauge
March 1, 2014 at 8:33:47 AM (in response to Stitchboard Admin message #8)

Melanie,

I just have seperate balls for each color change and left the ends floating on the first row, I'll weave those in as part of the finishing.

It was a bit awkward at first, but not near as awkward as standard crochet or knit where you have to turn it around every row.

I've never used bobbins, I always wonder if they would hold enough yarn for what I need.

Cheap plastic is probably fine for someone who doesn't know if they'll keep it up.

Sherry

Look at that smile! (Photo guaranteed unretouched)

Member since:
Jul 1, 2009
Posts: 4584

Stitchboard Admin message #325
Re: Tunisian gauge
March 1, 2014 at 11:40:27 PM (in response to BetwixtTheStitch message #9)

Sherry,

That's a great idea, then, to have separate balls or bobbins for each color.

I personally would rather weave in later than strand as I go, because it's always worrying that one color may show through another one if stranded in together.

Oh, true...isn't that a great advantage of Tunisian...no need to turn to work the next row!

Oh, sorry...I wasn't thinking official bobbins or anything, just a separate length of yarn to work a smaller area.

Like you're doing!

True, they probably make those cheap plastic needles for exactly that purpose, the questionable maybe-knitter, not for any serious work!

Well, we did finally get out, and so I now have a metal needle, but ugh, the price!

Member since:
Jul 3, 2013
Posts: 575

BetwixtTheStitch message #326
Re: Tunisian gauge
March 2, 2014 at 9:05:29 AM (in response to Stitchboard Admin message #10)

Melanie,

I agree, I'd rather weave them in. I think it looks neater because you can hide it better, plus, no added bulk where the color is changed.

I've done lots of blankets and afghans, but this not having to turn it over is a major plus in my mind.

This one now covers me from under my bust to over my feet, it really gets to be a pain to have to turn it over at this point.

I know, the prices are going up on everything. But over all, knitting and crochet are still relatively inexpensive hobbies compared to so many out there.

Sherry

Look at that smile! (Photo guaranteed unretouched)

Member since:
Jul 1, 2009
Posts: 4584

Stitchboard Admin message #327
Re: Tunisian gauge
March 2, 2014 at 10:58:57 PM (in response to BetwixtTheStitch message #11)

Sherry,

Oh, yeah, good point about not having the extra bulk of a color change!

Wow, as an afghan gets bigger, you're so right...it is a plus not to have to turn it over! It's not so bad for a scarf or something, but for an afghan, argh, so bulky!

I agree 100%...you're so right...knitting and crochet really are relatively inexpensive! You don't have half the cost of some other hobbies, where all kinds of tools and gadgets are needed!

The nice thing is that rarely is someone reinventing the knitting/crochet wheel...so once you have the necessary hooks and needles, that's usually it for the rest of the time you'll be crocheting or knitting.

I've seen other areas where bigger and better tools are invented, and that can be sooooo expensive!

Member since:
Jul 3, 2013
Posts: 575

BetwixtTheStitch message #328
Re: Tunisian gauge
March 3, 2014 at 9:05:09 AM (in response to Stitchboard Admin message #12)

Melanie,

That reminds me, I came across something called Cro-knit in my internet travels. Now I didn't take a look at it (probably should) because my mind went "someone's trying to reinvent TKS". So now I'm curious about it.

Sherry

Look at that smile! (Photo guaranteed unretouched)

Member since:
Jul 1, 2009
Posts: 4584

Stitchboard Admin message #329
Re: Tunisian gauge
March 3, 2014 at 7:14:13 PM (in response to BetwixtTheStitch message #13)

Sherry,

I remember something from years ago called cro-knit...though I don't recall what it entailed. So now I'm curious, too!

I'm getting the feeling it wasn't Tunisian...but that could be wrong, as it was too long ago to remember.

There are some books called Camel Crochet, which is a technique that is supposed to look like knitting. And I guess it does...but it's definitely not Tunisian, from what I can tell. It's done an entirely different way, and I think the stitches are made one at a time, not in two passes of pulling up a loop and then working it off on the return.

Tomorrow night I'm back to inventing.

TV - so much more fun while crafting!

Even if I have to take my glasses off to see what I'm doing.

Member since:
Jul 3, 2013
Posts: 575

BetwixtTheStitch message #330
Re: Tunisian gauge
March 4, 2014 at 8:55:33 AM (in response to Stitchboard Admin message #14)

Melanie,

Well I did a quick search on that cro-knit, and from what I can gather it looks like they are doing tunisian with a double ended hook. Really looks to me like they are just making it harder.

Where can I learn about this Camel crochet? Sounds interesting.

Yay! And yes t.v. is more fun when crafting.

Sherry

Go to Page:

freePatternWizard
Premier Features

300 Stitches Across
500 Stitches Across
Filet Crochet NEW!
Illusion Knitting
Private Label Pdfs

FAQs • Terms of Service • Info on Selling Your Own Patterns • Privacy Policy • Contact Us