Soaker Pattern

[M O P]

*Now I must point out I've never actually knitted this pattern myself. I've got my Mum on to it as we speak though- thanks Mum :thumbsup:

Anyway I've sussed it with the mods and it's ok for me to post a link to this pattern:
http://www.dunmani.plus.com/knitting/patterns/soaker.html

[shed]

Here is another, just for your reference.

I have knitted this one and it works great. My baby is only 12 weeks and this pattern fitted him, although I think that's says more about my knitting than anything.

http://www.tinybirdsorganics.com/soakers/pattern/

Happy knitting, grannies.

Keep this up and we will have to have that knit-off after all.

[M O P]

Keep this up and we will have to have that knit-off after all.

As our main line of production here is wool- go for your life!!:laughing:

How cute are the soakers and the little girl in them!

[~Chick79~]

:yelclap: thanks Kazza

[drewid]

I've made 3 using the tinybirds pattern that Shed posted :) Highly recommend it, VERY easy...

I'm trying to find other patternss that knit flat, cos I'm not yet adept at knitting in the round (give me a few weeks tho ;)).

Knitting soakers is addictive IMO. And my bub wears sposies! Shock horror. But I just love it.

[kymmy]

Knitting soakers is addictive.

I SO agree!!!
I knitted a few soakers before my bub even wore cloth.
I like the dunmani soaker - very roomy. The tinybirds is best for thinner babies. My fave pattern is Alice's free pattern. It is roomy and is super easy. http://grapevine.net.au/~bluegum/freesoaker.html
I have now developed my own pattern.
There are a few soakers you can knit in the round but I don't like em much! I only knit in the round when I am knitting shorties and longies.

[drewid]

Just a quick question from...when it asks for 'double-knit' wool, what does that mean? I've been using 8ply pure wool, and made one with 12ply. But WTH is double-knit?

Kymmy...any chance I could get a look-see of your pattern? I'm still experimenting trying to find a pattern I'm happy with...would love you forever!! :D

[kymmy]

Double knit means 8ply to me. Also known as worsted or 2ply in US. Very confusing if you ask me.
I don't write my patterns down. To be honest if I knit something new I will follow the pattern the first time then I just wing it. I had to make up my own longies/shorties pattern cos the free patterns were too basic or too confusing! I am still developing it as I perfect short rows, gussets and edges. But I do like the idea of varying each pair of woolies. I would get bored or become disinterested very quicky.

[drewid]

THat first pattern is confusing me. I've never done anything with gussets before. I can follow the pattern right up until the end of the gussest shaping. After that is says 'back shaping'. And I have no idea how it comes to that, cos the amount of stitches don't add up? And do you have to knit the front and back as totally separate pieces and sew them together?

That pattern is confusing my poor little head. But I love the look of it, so I'd really like to attempt it, if someone could help me decipher it!! :D


Oh, and another question for Kymmy, the queen of knitting :D....what does Aran wool equal in Australia? I have a great pattern that uses Aran, but can't find anything called Aran at Spotlight?

Gosh I hate all this every country having their own language of knitting! SO confusing!

[M O P]

That pattern is confusing my poor little head. But I love the look of it, so I'd really like to attempt it, if someone could help me decipher it!! :D



Well I'll pass on to my Mum any tips you ladies come up with too.

[drewid]

Kymmy, do you have any online pics of your knitted soakers?

[MilkOnTap]

I have knitted this one and it works great. My baby is only 12 weeks and this pattern fitted him, although I think that's says more about my knitting than anything.

http://www.tinybirdsorganics.com/soakers/pattern/

Oh - knitting! That'll help fill in some time before bub is born... Do you use these patterns with terry towelling or what?

[pookiesossige]

Oh - knitting! That'll help fill in some time before bub is born... Do you use these patterns with terry towelling or what?

I havn't got any wool soakers yet PL (working on that thanks to this thread!) but they are great for going over the top of fitted nappies (baby beehinds, etc) that don't have a waterproof PUL outer (like pockets -green kids etc- do).

I don't 'get' how the wool actually works- but all the girls here insist it makes a great breathable nappy cover that absorbs moisture and helps a fitted nappy last all night.. am I right guys? It needs laninolising (sp) to help maintain its effectiveness and only needs washing every few weeks.

Has anyone got a link to a good site that explains all this stuff a little further? :detective:

[kymmy]

THat first pattern is confusing me. I've never done anything with gussets before. I can follow the pattern right up until the end of the gussest shaping. After that is says 'back shaping'. And I have no idea how it comes to that, cos the amount of stitches don't add up? And do you have to knit the front and back as totally separate pieces and sew them together?

That pattern is confusing my poor little head. But I love the look of it, so I'd really like to attempt it, if someone could help me decipher it!!


Oh, and another question for Kymmy, the queen of knitting ....what does Aran wool equal in Australia? I have a great pattern that uses Aran, but can't find anything called Aran at Spotlight?

Gosh I hate all this every country having their own language of knitting! SO confusing!

Aran is the equivalent of 10ply. Aran sweaters are the thick cable ones ppl like to go fishing in ...lol.
I have only knitted the dunami pattern once - so i could work out how to do a gusset. The back shaping isn't really necessary I found as its got quite a high rise. I don't think it made much difference.
Just sew the completed piece at the front - seam at the front. Does that make sense? I don't want to confuse anyone. Oh and thanks for calling me a Queen! :laughing:


Kymmy, do you have any online pics of your knitted soakers?

I do! On minti which I am not supposed to link up. But I always put my pics on my blog of my completed woolies. I have a few on the picassa web album http://picasaweb.google.com/home but its not kind to me...:( minti is the only one that likes me :o


Oh - knitting! That'll help fill in some time before bub is born... Do you use these patterns with terry towelling or what?

I love knitting when I am preg. I learnt to knit very well when I was preg with my girl. A grat way of spending those days resting at home!
A soaker is generally used as a cover over terry/flannelette flat nappies and fitteds.



I don't 'get' how the wool actually works- but all the girls here insist it makes a great breathable nappy cover that absorbs moisture and helps a fitted nappy last all night.. am I right guys? It needs laninolising (sp) to help maintain its effectiveness and only needs washing every few weeks.

Has anyone got a link to a good site that explains all this stuff a little further?

I may have, I must have...:detective:

[kymmy]

How to Wash or Lanolize Wool Diaper Covers

Lanolin is the natural waterproofing on sheep's wool. This natural lanolin is what makes the wool "waterproof". Wool absorbs about 30% of it's weight without feeling wet, which means "overspill" gets absorbed by the wool and, ta da! No leaks. Just let the wool air dry between uses, and you can go for weeks between washings. Wool doesn't get smelly like synthetics do. The lanolin on the wool cover gets used up by the urine as the cover air dries, so after a while you will need to restore lanolin to the cover to maintain the cover's effectiveness. Getting lanolin back onto the wool is call Lanolizing. Some people do a short water-only soak or rinse prior to lanolizing to rinse out any residue first. Some like to lanolize their covers inside out, butI do not notice any difference in the results either way

from the site http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/lanolize.htm

[gremily]

How hard is it to learn to knit? I'd love to knit my own soakers but the only 'handy' thing I do is sew buttons or teeny tiny holes:o
Is there a good place to start, or any net sites I could check out that would be easy to understand?

[kymmy]

I learnt to knit as a child and I believe its much easier to learn anything young. I am now tryin to teach my girl how to knit.
But yes you can learn how to knit if you really want to.
knittinghelp is the one site most ppl rave about as it has videos.

[pookiesossige]

Thanks for the info Kymmy! I think I 'get' how it works now! :D :yes:

[gremily]

Thanks Kymmy. I'll let you all know when I finally learn to knit!!

My grandma taught me when I was young, but only a couple of things which pretty quickly left my head! Can't ask grandma now as she has dementia:rolleyes: and it's more than likely she'd show me the same thing over and over again:D (don't worry, I love my ma:hugs: )

[kymmy]

Get practicing! Its like riding a bike - it will come back.
I would love to see you in the knit off!
We are going to have a knit off soon aren't we?

[drewid]

knittinghelp.com is faaabbbuulllooouuussss

I learnt to knit as a child, but then didn't do any for about 15 years...so I relearnt how to do it as a 27 yr old. I've been gung-ho since I relearnt it...and loving it. Once you get the knack of the basics, the harder stuff suddenly seems much easier...:D

A knit-off sounds great! Who's organising?

[KarniF00l]

Thanks for the link kymmy :thumbsup: I'm actually going to have a go, wish me luck! :D


Oh wait i need to buy needles and wool first ;)

[gremily]

Is there certain you should avoid? Does cheap wool necessarily mean extremely inferior? And are there certain needles that are better than others?

[kymmy]

Okay I will organise a knit off. Looks like fun.

Wools differ but I try to stay away from the cheap stuff. 75% - 100% wool is best as nappy covers. I recommend Jet which is fairly easy to get. Or Cleckheaton Country using 4mm for the body. Jet is like 10ply so knits up quicker - use 4.5mm needles.

I use addi turbos and some ppl love them. I don't mind the cheaper brands myself. Though I am weary of circulars as I had a pair of cheap ones break on me.

Should I start a thread for the knit off then you can ask any qs

[shed]

I just posted in the knit off thread.

I prefer aluminium needles over the plastic ones. I also use Cleckheaton wool - you get it at Spotlight. 8 ply and 4mm needles is what I use.

Gremlily, are you coming to the meet? I can teach ya to knit if you want. Have a go and if you get stuck just let me know. I'm not expert but I can knit a bit.

As long as you're not lefthanded coz those lefthanded knitters do my head in.

[gremily]

What meet? Have I missed something?:sleeping:

[kymmy]

Yes aluminium is much better than plastic needles - they just break too easily.

[drewid]

Cleckheaton Country and aluminium here too :) Obviously we all have great taste :D

Now, off to find this knit-off thread.....