Comments on: Knits for Barbie by Nicky Epstein – a review and some garments! http://susancrowe.co.uk/2007/01/16/knits-for-barbie-by-nicky-epstein-a-review-and-some-garments/ ...knit happens! Wed, 08 Sep 2010 08:58:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Anita http://susancrowe.co.uk/2007/01/16/knits-for-barbie-by-nicky-epstein-a-review-and-some-garments/comment-page-1/#comment-1111 Anita Sun, 22 Aug 2010 14:42:44 +0000 http://susancrowe.co.uk/2007/01/16/knits-for-barbie-by-nicky-epstein-a-review-and-some-garments/#comment-1111 I did the jacket on the front in 4ply Sirdars Wash and Wear (British) and it worked very well if that helps anyone, I havent tried any of the others yet . I certainly wont be chasing any specialist yarns, and if I had known that I would have had to I would not have purchased the book. I did this on the internet going off reviews and I was disappointed. For hundreds of Barbie patterns translated into various languages stickatill barbie is a good site, but watch out for translation qlitches, if you are an experienced knitter they are easy to spot and rectify I did the jacket on the front in 4ply Sirdars Wash and Wear (British) and it worked very well if that helps anyone, I havent tried any of the others yet . I certainly wont be chasing any specialist yarns, and if I had known that I would have had to I would not have purchased the book. I did this on the internet going off reviews and I was disappointed.

For hundreds of Barbie patterns translated into various languages stickatill barbie is a good site, but watch out for translation qlitches, if you are an experienced knitter they are easy to spot and rectify

]]> By: susan crowe http://susancrowe.co.uk/2007/01/16/knits-for-barbie-by-nicky-epstein-a-review-and-some-garments/comment-page-1/#comment-16 susan crowe Mon, 19 Feb 2007 21:38:27 +0000 http://susancrowe.co.uk/2007/01/16/knits-for-barbie-by-nicky-epstein-a-review-and-some-garments/#comment-16 Janet - Thanks! I'll check them out! Janet – Thanks! I’ll check them out!

]]> By: Janet http://susancrowe.co.uk/2007/01/16/knits-for-barbie-by-nicky-epstein-a-review-and-some-garments/comment-page-1/#comment-15 Janet Mon, 19 Feb 2007 21:32:28 +0000 http://susancrowe.co.uk/2007/01/16/knits-for-barbie-by-nicky-epstein-a-review-and-some-garments/#comment-15 Hi. Fell on your page by accident. Thought you may like to know. sewandso.co.uk have some of the Rainbow gallery threads (and they give some equivalents to our more common stuff. I hate knitting little swatches too, I have a bag full all tagged so I can go back to them and say ah-ha got it. With regard to neck sizes, I found it helped to cast on an off loosely in rib, this makes the edges extra stretchy. Hope this helps. Hi. Fell on your page by accident. Thought you may like to know. sewandso.co.uk have some of the Rainbow gallery threads (and they give some equivalents to our more common stuff. I hate knitting little swatches too, I have a bag full all tagged so I can go back to them and say ah-ha got it. With regard to neck sizes, I found it helped to cast on an off loosely in rib, this makes the edges extra stretchy. Hope this helps.

]]> By: susan crowe http://susancrowe.co.uk/2007/01/16/knits-for-barbie-by-nicky-epstein-a-review-and-some-garments/comment-page-1/#comment-14 susan crowe Sat, 17 Feb 2007 07:43:37 +0000 http://susancrowe.co.uk/2007/01/16/knits-for-barbie-by-nicky-epstein-a-review-and-some-garments/#comment-14 (also emailed) Anyoynette Yes - frustrating isn't it! I only got this book a few months ago so have had the same experience. The book was published in 2001 so yes you're quite right a lot are discontinued. I found ebay quite a useful place for some of the yarns? I ended up pulling all the fine stuff out of my stash and making one inch squares and measuring the tension to see what I could match. These sites might be useful for finding substitutes... http://www.yarndex.com/yarn_by_gauge.cfm?info_id=22 Yarndex - wonderful site but a lot of the yarns are not on there because they are embroidery yarns (Grr!) http://www.knitrowan.com/html/faq_technical.asp Rowan's FAQ page - has a complete list of substitutes. (The 4ply botany = 4ply soft) I think I said in the posting that Hobbycraft's "craft thread" (cheap embroidery thread - find it with the anchor and dmc embroidery stuff) works well for cotton perle (and probably a few others). Some of the clothes have to have the yarn to bet the effect. Like I said - old Sirdar and Patons patterns have worked out better in the long run for me. I've also found it frustrating that the clothes don't have generous openings to help you get them on the doll. I don't know if you're knitting for a child but you might want to think about leaving a seam open on the neck of polo necks. I spent half an hour fighting to change the clothes for these photos! I think the bottom line is it's for Barbie. Mine has never complained if it doesn't fit quite right or has a huge seam to help the sizing! Good luck with the yarn hunt. Send me a photo of the finished article?? I'd love to see. Susan (also emailed)
Anyoynette
Yes – frustrating isn’t it! I only got this book a few months ago so have had the same experience. The book was published in 2001 so yes you’re quite right a lot are discontinued. I found ebay quite a useful place for some of the yarns?

I ended up pulling all the fine stuff out of my stash and making one inch squares and measuring the tension to see what I could match.

These sites might be useful for finding substitutes…

http://www.yarndex.com/yarn_by_gauge.cfm?info_id=22

Yarndex – wonderful site but a lot of the yarns are not on there because they are embroidery yarns (Grr!)

http://www.knitrowan.com/html/faq_technical.asp

Rowan’s FAQ page – has a complete list of substitutes. (The 4ply botany = 4ply soft)

I think I said in the posting that Hobbycraft’s “craft thread” (cheap embroidery thread – find it with the anchor and dmc embroidery stuff) works well for cotton perle (and probably a few others). Some of the clothes have to have the yarn to bet the effect. Like I said – old Sirdar and Patons patterns have worked out better in the long run for me.

I’ve also found it frustrating that the clothes don’t have generous openings to help you get them on the doll. I don’t know if you’re knitting for a child but you might want to think about leaving a seam open on the neck of polo necks. I spent half an hour fighting to change the clothes for these photos!

I think the bottom line is it’s for Barbie. Mine has never complained if it doesn’t fit quite right or has a huge seam to help the sizing!

Good luck with the yarn hunt. Send me a photo of the finished article?? I’d love to see.

Susan

]]> By: Antoynette http://susancrowe.co.uk/2007/01/16/knits-for-barbie-by-nicky-epstein-a-review-and-some-garments/comment-page-1/#comment-13 Antoynette Sat, 17 Feb 2007 05:37:32 +0000 http://susancrowe.co.uk/2007/01/16/knits-for-barbie-by-nicky-epstein-a-review-and-some-garments/#comment-13 I have been trying to find the yarn's this book requested. Most of them are discontinued. Is the only way you can find them is by ordering them on line? I have been trying to find the yarn’s this book requested. Most of them are discontinued. Is the only way you can find them is by ordering them on line?

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