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Tunisian Crochet
> Tunisian gauge
Re: Tunisian gauge
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Latest reply: May 24, 2014 at 12:00:20 AM
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Member since:
Jul 3, 2013
Posts: 575
BetwixtTheStitch
message #151
Re: Tunisian gauge
December 4, 2013 at 10:16:22 AM
Melanie,
Not only have I noticed the Simply Soft is lighter, I've noticed that it's very inconsistent.
For instance the purple one I'm working with is so light it should have been classified a sport weight.
Which is fine for the project that I'm working on, but I certainly wouldn't want to try combining it with a different brand to get color combos I want.
However, I also noticed that their One Pounder worsted is a bit thicker than say RH Super Saver.
These are important things to discuss, because this effects gauge and often just changing hook size will not be enough.
Yeah TKS does curl, using a larger hook helps some. I like the BPSC or BPDC to counteract the curl because blocking doesn't always do the trick.
For the dishcloths, I'm just going to wash them and lay them out flat to dry. The one's I made for myself didn't even get that, just right into use.
Sherry
Look at that smile! (Photo guaranteed unretouched)
Member since:
Jul 1, 2009
Posts: 4580
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!
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 #153
Re: Tunisian gauge
December 5, 2013 at 10:18:46 AM (in response to Stitchboard Admin message #2)
Melanie,
You're right, the One Pounder isn't bulky either. What a frustration!
Also, I remembered that the Sugar N Cream is made by Caron too, so there you go with the inconsistency again.
There are issues with RH as well, all of the manufacturers have pretty much the same issues, but I get truly disgusted when I pay more for a yarn and find the same quality issues.
Another way to overcome the curl is to do a couple of rows in TPS, or a combo of TPS and TKS.
As it turns out, I washed and dried mine yesterday with excellent results.
Even though the label says to dry flat, so maybe.
Also wanted to tell you that I finished that one from the afghan pattern, and I don't like it for a dishcloth. Too many holes, however the texture may work for a "scrubby" on teflon which I have no way to test.
We are supposed to be getting our first hard freeze coming in tonight with possibility of freezing rain.
So if I go MIA, it's a power outage.
Sherry
Look at that smile! (Photo guaranteed unretouched)
Member since:
Jul 1, 2009
Posts: 4580
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!
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 #155
Re: Tunisian gauge
December 6, 2013 at 9:53:55 AM (in response to Stitchboard Admin message #4)
Melanie,
I've always had good luck with RH "no dye lot", maybe that is blind luck.
What I do run into quite often is the inconsistency in weight or getting a skein that seems to be all mill ends tied together.
I hate knots. But since it's an inexpensive yarn, well ok.
But when I pay more for one (Simply Soft is $5 at our Jo Ann) and I run across the inconsistency, or even worse the mill ends, that really ticks me off.
Well I'm too lazy to dry them flat as well. Plus they are stiff if you air dry them, just like when we used to hang them on a line to dry. So I did throw them in the dryer, I mean the worst that could happen is they would shrink, and well, they are dishcloths.
They don't appear to have shrunk unless it's a tiny bit, and they came out soft.
Well as you can see, we still have electricity.
We did get the hard freeze and freezing rain, but it has let up in our area so keeping fingers crossed that we are in the clear.
The roads are all iced up, so I made hubby call in scared. Although he and his coworkers had already conspired to do so.
Thank you for the warm thoughts, got my heating pad and electric throw ready to go.
Sherry
Look at that smile! (Photo guaranteed unretouched)
Member since:
Jul 1, 2009
Posts: 4580
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!
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 #157
Re: Tunisian gauge
December 7, 2013 at 11:35:32 AM (in response to Stitchboard Admin message #6)
Melanie,
I should call and complain then, because I have a skein of mill ends from Simply Soft.
On top of the fact that it should have been classified as sport weight! Ugh
I also got a skein of Sugar N Cream cotton that had some really bad inconsistencies within the skein. So bad that I had to cut a couple of sections out and just work with it. Since it is for a gift, I'm on a time constraint here. Sometimes you just have to say "it is, what it is" and let go.
I'm working on the last set of dishcloths,
and decided to try one in bobble stitch. I'm doing the first one in a square, but if I like it I'm going to try a round one.
I'm using turquoise for this set, and I'm really tempted to use my eggplant to edge it.
I think the young lady I'm doing them for would really like that combo.
Thank you for your concern and all the warm thoughts. Now they are saying we are on track for the coldest Dec. in 15 years, so this is not normal for us. I guess we are in for another round of the freezing rain, but I'm saying it could go around us.
I stocked up on food in advance, and it's a good thing because a friend called saying he'd stopped at the store on Fri. and the shelves were practically empty.
I don't remember ever seeing anything like that when I lived up north, hahahaha.
Sherry
Look at that smile! (Photo guaranteed unretouched)
Member since:
Jul 1, 2009
Posts: 4580
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!
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 #159
Re: Tunisian gauge
December 8, 2013 at 10:06:52 AM (in response to Stitchboard Admin message #8)
Melanie,
Yes, Yule is a few days before Xmas. However, we do have to arrange our celebrations around corporate schedules. So I won't necessarily see everyone for Yule.
I do like this bobble stitch one, I"ll try to get pics, but no promises on this one since time is getting short. But I can always make more for myself later.
The only thing that would get me out of the house right now is having to buy food, or an emergency. Hubby will have to go back to work though.
I guess the road crews have been out and most of the main roads are clear for now
Yes, everything does pretty much shut down for a dusting. I won't complain though since I don't like going out in it either.
I don't ever remember a panic for snow or ice up there. Sure it sometimes got bad enough that they would advise against travel, etc. but schools rarely closed and I worked in the hospital which, of course, couldn't shut down.
Do the hot flashes help in the cold? I didn't have them, but would appreciate them for my cold, cold feet.
Sherry
Look at that smile! (Photo guaranteed unretouched)
Member since:
Jul 1, 2009
Posts: 4580
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.
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 #161
Re: Tunisian gauge
December 9, 2013 at 10:12:39 AM (in response to Stitchboard Admin message #10)
Melanie,
Yes we just do it all when it's the most convenient.
It's no biggie since I often had to work on the holidays, we just crammed it in where we could.
I worked out my own pattern for that bobble dishcloth, pretty simple.
Using a G hook I ch 23 and sc in ea ch across (turning ch counts as 1 sc)
Row 2- sc 1, work bobble in next, sc 2, repeat across
Row 3- sc across
Row 4- work bobble in first sc, sc 2, repeat across.
Continue working rows 2 and 3 for a total of 10 bobble rows, ending with sc row.
This gave me a 6" x 5 1/2" dishcloth that I'm still trying to work out an edging for.
I'm not as fast as I used to be, so this took a couple of hours. But part of that was taken up by working out the pattern (which I ripped out twice before I was happy).
My granddaughters hubby had to work in all of this, took him 2 hours to drive the 30 or so miles.
I really can't imagine they had that many customers out to eat.
My son got outside yesterday and cleared all the ice off our vehicles.
And our street is actually clear and dry this morning, yay. That's a good sign.
Sherry
Look at that smile! (Photo guaranteed unretouched)
Member since:
Jul 1, 2009
Posts: 4580
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.
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 #163
Re: Tunisian gauge
December 10, 2013 at 9:34:59 AM (in response to Stitchboard Admin message #12)
Melanie,
That's why I wrote it down, in case you wanted to give it a try.
I should have added that I was using a dc bobble rather than the hdc.
Although I might try one with the hdc later, just to compare.
I have to tear out a lot when writing my own patterns too, but I have a bit of a different way of looking at it.
If I know that the energy of whatever I'm thinking on goes into the stitching, I'm careful to only focus on positive things while I work.
Then it follows that when I have negative thoughts, it's a good time for "tearing it out".
It's slowly warming up here, supposed to be up in the 50's by the weekend.
Slow for us anyway, but after this cold spell it will feel like a heat wave, hahaha.
Sherry
Look at that smile! (Photo guaranteed unretouched)
Member since:
Jul 1, 2009
Posts: 4580
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!
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 #165
Re: Tunisian gauge
December 11, 2013 at 9:22:41 AM (in response to Stitchboard Admin message #14)
Melanie,
Yes the dc bobble is very pronounced. A word about that, it does tend to curl from corner to corner, so I'm hoping that will come out in the wash.
Well cursing while ripping out is a good way to work off and neutralize negative energy, IMO.
I agree that 5 1/2" to 6" is a good size for a dishcloth, I certainly have never seen dishcloths any bigger for sale anywhere.
That would really be a complete waste.
I don't know about others, but I use my dishcloths once before they go into the laundry so a 10" or 11" seems like a total waste of yarn when I can get almost 2 dishcloths out of that.
I'm really looking forward to the warmer weather, hoping to get to Jo Ann, I'm making a TKS scarf for granddaughters hubby in his team colors (navy and highlighter yellow
), but it's looking like I might need more yarn. I've never been able to figure out how to calculate how much yarn I'm going to need beforehand.
Sherry
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