Knitted garter ties

[Mikilt]

Has anyone tried knit garter ties? Just for the fun of it, I thought I'd try. I bought some knitting needles, took some yarn leftover from another project and learned to knit by watching youtube videos.

There is a learning curve, but for every time I've goofed up and had to start over, I have gotten better at it. Here is my progress so far...


Has anyone done this before? Any helpful hints about knitting garter ties or knitting in general would be appreciated.

[Psynister]

I was just thinking about doing that this morning. Looking forward to the replies.

/subscribe

[Friday]

There are a number of threads on knitted Garter ties. Arlen has one:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...er-ties-63562/

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...er-ties-67817/
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...es-help-71997/


I'm lazy, I use an embellishment tool I got from Joann's Fabrics. It makes the round lengths of yarn snakes. Quick to run off a length, add tassels to all ends and you have a nice set of garters in one evening.

Happy knitting.

[Mikilt]

Thanks Friday!

[vmac3205]

I just knit a set in black. Garter stitch until you reach the length you need and bind off. Add about an inch of fringe on each of the four ends. I then unraveled the fringe to make them fuzzier. They are more comfortable than the elastic ones and work really well. I marched in the Starlight Parade in Portland in them, about 5 miles out and back and they held up much better than I did.

[Friday]

I want to see the final results.

[Madpiper1130]

I just make them long enough for flashes, but if you want full length ties keep knitting untill they are longer. Simple cast on 8 stitches then turn slip the first stitch and knit 7. Turn and repeat to desirdt length. Add fringe and pull if you like the fuzzy ends.image.jpgimage.jpgimage.jpg

[sydnie7]

I'll have to try the suggestion of slipping first stitch each time! Sounds as if it will make for neater edges. I've knit up several sets plus some of the short "cheaters" that Bob just loops over elastic garters. Recently I've stopped frizzing out the fringed ends, makes them less bushy and a bit neater looking IMO.

The only problem is they are soooooo boooorrrrringgggggg. . . but I always have some along while traveling, lets me take a break from full hose knitting to do something mindless in the final hours of a long plane flight.

[ronin6290]

Perhaps a silly question Madpiper, may I ask how you add fringe at the end? Do you just go back and sew it on at the end? I hope that makes sense.

[sydnie7]

Here's how I do fringe:

I leave about a yard free when casting on (but no reason you couldn't come back and add it later) and after binding off. I thread that yarn into a blunt (tapestry) needle and stitch back through the end of the garter, so that there is a big loop of yarn through each of the cast-on/off stitches. A folded business card or other small piece of cardboard helps to keep each loop the same size. When the loops are done, I just leave the yarn end loose -- it will be secured in the next step.

Cut each loop in half (with the cardboard holding loops taut, you can slide scissors into the loops and cut all at once). Then tie the loose ends together in pairs -- you can either tie a square knot using two single ends, or hold the two together and loop them into a slip knot, using the needle to slide that knot all the way to the top before tightening. The square knot method makes the fringe "bush" a bit more, so I'm doing slip knots these days but use whatever is easier for you.

If you have an odd number of loose ends, just use three strands in one of your knots.

Once all the knots are tied and all ends are secure, trim the fringe even to the length you prefer. Tease the strands apart if you wish, or leave them as is.

I hope this makes sense! I've never photographed the process.