Date: 11/17/09 2:01 PM

I can't find the right kind of rib knit for a wool blouson jacket I plan to sew, so I was thinking maybe I should just knit my own. I have a little knitting experience and this should be easy. I'm just wondering a) what type of yarn should I use?, and b) how should I go about measuring it?

Next page>>

Reply to peaudane
Date: 11/17/09 2:49 PM

peau, honey, you're not thinking about knitting a length of yardage and then cutting it up, are you?

Blouson sweaters come in all weights. Since you already have some knitting experience, I'd suggest that you ask your local yarn shop for knitting patterns for blouson jackets, choose the one that's the weight you like (there are patterns pretty much for all weights of yarn), and knit away!

As you probably know, hand-knitting yarn and then treating it as cut yardage is a very iffy proposition, due to the ravel factor.

Next page>>

Date: 11/17/09 3:09 PM

Sorry, I guess I wasn't clear. I'm not planning to knit a jacket! I just want to knit the rib knit for the waistband, cuffs and collar for a woven wool jacket. I wouldn't be cutting it up since I plan to knit each single piece the right size to begin with.
-- Edited on 11/17/09 3:11 PM --

Next page>>

Date: 11/17/09 3:33 PM

Rib knits for cuffs and waistband is often made of polyester. But I've had a bad experience with a polyester store bought rib knit. I'm wondering what the best yarns would be to knit my own. If I make it out of wool, I'm worried it might shrink or stretch out.
As far as measuring, the pattern calls for certain lengths and widths of rib knit for the cuffs waistband and collar (all rectangular) but I wonder if handknitted rib would act the same way. Would it have less stretch than the store-bought kind? Also when you sew in store-bought rib-knit you sew it in doubled. Should I do the same or should I knit a single thickness, as is usually done in knitted sweaters.
It's not always easy to be clear in a foreign language, but I'm doing my best!

Next page>>

Reply to peaudane
Date: 11/17/09 4:17 PM

why don't you go buy some yarn: try a ball of each you think might match

knit up these swatches:

6 by 6 inches of k1p1 rib
6 by 6 inches of k2p2 rib
6 by 6 inches of k1p2 rib

out of each yarn you are considering

make different swatches with different needle sizes

Then go ahead and wash them (or else treat them as you will your finished jacket, i.e. dry clean)

measure them
feel them
test for their capacity to recover from stretching

and then decide which you like best

then you can go ahead buy the yarn quantity you need and knit all those strips for waists and cuffs and neckband to measurements

-- honestly, no-one is going to give you a different, easy answer. You just have to try it out, and see what you like.

------
http://strickeritis.blogspot.com/

Next page>>

Reply to lara900
Date: 11/17/09 4:25 PM

Thank you. That's very helpful!

Next page>>

Reply to peaudane
Date: 11/17/09 4:46 PM

Whew!

You certainly can knit your own rib trim for woven garments. I've done that for several things. In my experience, the best-looking waist ribbing is slightly lighter in weight or bulk than the fashion fabric. You can get an awfully 'fluffy' look right where you don't need it if the waistband is bulky.

Collar and cuffs, depending on the style, can look quite nice in a thicker yarn. As Lara says, experimenting is the key.

Next page>>

Reply to Elona
Date: 11/17/09 9:07 PM

Quote: Elona

peau, honey, you're not thinking about knitting a length of yardage and then cutting it up, are you?

You can actually do that, lol
Machine knitters do that...it's called 'cut and sew'
Knit yardage is made on a knitting machine and a sewing pattern is used to cut out pieces that are sewn up on a sewing machine.

------
My grandmother taught me to sew when I was 10, and I've been sewing ever since.

Next page>>

Date: 11/17/09 10:59 PM

I would go for the sock yarns. You need small needles (sizes 0-3) but I would prefer that look, myself, if I made my own collar and cuffs.

Next page>>

Date: 11/18/09 1:13 AM

I'll look for thin yarns then! Wow, it's interesting that you can actually knit up fabric to cut up on a knitting machine. Must be a fun toy!

Next page>>