Oh, a new group. Cool!!! Any knitters out there?

[Eloriel]

That's my current passion, tho you'd never know it by the knitting I'm NOT getting done. ;-(

I've been especially enamored of knitting books and patterns, esp. VINTAGE (from ebay, primarily). What fun. More fun than the knitting itself, I think.

[NMDemDist2]

1. no. but I'm working on getting better at crochet

that sounds fun tho... esp the vintage patterns

[Eloriel]

2. I really want to learn to crochet too

I can do all the stitches (well, once upon a time I could -- I'd have to review everything except chain stitch), but I could never get the gauge right. Seems so simple -- don't know what my problem was. I never had any trouble with gauge when knitting. :shrug: Any tips?

I just ran across something I saved from the 1970s or so, a little pamphlet with the most beautiful crocheted collars and even cuffs. Simply beautiful stuff. There's one with roses on it, another filet crochet (which I've always loved), and several others. Very, very beautiful. I love knitting, but every now and then I see something in crochet that I really want to do -- and of course, crochet is a very popular finishing for knitted items anyway. A little more familiarity (and comfort level!) would be very nice for my KNITTING.

[NMDemDist2]

3. LOL just practice practice practice with a large hook getting

smaller and smaller as you get comfortable with keeping the tension consistant

[Lugnut]

4. That's what I've found

The more you crochet the more consistent your gauge gets.

I always preferred crocheting to knitting because I'm impatient. I can see results faster with crocheting. I have two afghans started but I haven't worked on them in years. One of these days I have to pull them out and see if I still remember how to proceed. :)

[Longhorn]

5. What I do

is control the tension with my left hand. Each time you make a stitch, you sort of grab it with your left hand so that you can adjust it -- tighten it slightly if it's too loose or hold the loose stitch while you make the next one to keep it in place. The more you do it, the more it just comes naturally.

I bought a set of tatting needles and some patterns and would love to get into tatting or crocheting lace but I still have several afghans to finish first.

[Eloriel]

18. One of my catalogs I was looking at today has

a little contraption that holds the yarn while you knit or crochet and controls the tension for you. I might try that -- it was only a few bucks. I do fine on tnesion for knitting. And who knows, maybe I'd do okay for crocheting too by this time? I should try it again.

[Longhorn]

20. I got one of those

if it's the same thing, and I couldn't really get it to work for me.

And in re-reading my description of what I do, I realize that I got it wrong. I actually grab the stitch with my right thumb and middle finger to keep it from being pulled too tight as I draw in more yarn through my left hand. I hope that makes sense!

[Warpy]

49. I'm not fond of crochet and the only time I do it

is when the pot holders catch on fire and I need new ones.

I'd rather spin, dye, knit, or weave.

I'm a Continental style knitter with a fondness for Aran knitting.

[mourningdove92]

6. I have never tried knitting, but I do crochet.

My favorite method is to use an extra large hook and use two strands of yarn. This not only makes the project go faster for those of us who are into instant gratification, but also makes the softest afghans.

[Longhorn]

7. I did one like that

and, you're right, it's fun and fast!

I'm doing one now where you have to make ten strips and attach them together. Each strip begins with 897 chains! But it goes faster after that. I have an afghan coming up that is quite intricate -- lots of colors and appliques. I'll let you know whether it drives me crazy! :D

[Bjornsdotter]

8. Yes, I knit

I've been knitting since I was ten...so that would be 34 years.

As for vintage patterns...lol....I have every pattern I've ever made or wanted to make for the last 34 years...that's a lot of patterns.

I also collect yarn...I see a great new yarn, have absolutely to pattern in mind, and buy a bunch. Then when I find a pattern I NEVER have enough yarn...so it goes.

Cheers,
Kim :toast:

[Longhorn]

9. I have drawers full of yarn that I have plans for!

Empty nest? Empty of children, yes, but not empty! :D

[Eloriel]

10. I'm getting a pretty good stash myself

and have yet to make it to a LYS (Local Yarn Store) -- other than WalMart or Michael's, that is. I've bought a few things online, incl ebay.

One of my earliet ebay yarn purchases is something I'm probably going to have to resell. The photos didn't do it justice. I got all excited about it, but I can't imagine what to do with it. It's vintage yarn, in great condition, from Pauline Denham, a yarn called "Sheer." It's very fine, not much thicker than crochet thread or string. So fine there's 350 yards of it in one skinny 1 oz. skein. I think I have 10 skeins (maybe more -- I forget exactly), and it's wool and rayon, off-white. Other than a scarf or perhaps small shawl, I just can't imagine what to do with it.

[Bjornsdotter]

13. Doily??

Could you possibly crochet a doily out of it? Or maybe you can use it as a finishing yarn.....I hate getting rid of things....I always seems to find a purpose for something after it has been given away.

Cheers,
Kim :toast:

[Eloriel]

22. I think you're right

I've subsequently seen reference to a category of yarn weight called "lace weight," FINER than fingering yarn. The only thing is, Pauline Denham designed wonderful knit clothing, so surely this was intended for some clothing item. Maybe a scarf or shawl. Also, remember wool with a touch of rayon. IOW: I can't imagine a doily, but maybe something lacy. Lingerie perhaps? Hmmmm.

[Bjornsdotter]

14. lol......a fellow pack rat

I have fabric, yarn and various unfinished projects that date back to 1973....I tease my sister that I have stuff older than she is....she just turned 30.

Cheers,
Kim

[bicentennial_baby]

11. Knitta here

Three projects currently running as I type...it just never ends...

[yardwork]

12. I just learned to knit and I'm thrilled to find this group!

I'm 44 and never knew how to knit but always wanted to learn. A little yarn store opened in my town and I took lessons just in time for Election Day. I started my first project (a little red scarf) on Election night. It helped keep me calm.

Then I did a fuzzy scarf in gorgeous hand-dyed wool, and now I'm working on a big lime green throw. I only know how to knit - haven't tried purling yet. LOL!

[Eloriel]

27. Are you ready to graduate?

As an aside, I've never understood why they now seem to be teaching knitting separate from purling.

In any case, if you're still around, check in on this thread, I think I can give you some tips. It's NOT that difficult, at all. If you can knit, you can damn well sure purl. I promise.

Let me know.

[yardwork]

28. Still working on the big green thing

I stuck a red stripe in it and then kept going with the green.

They did teach purling in the same class, but I had barely figured out how to do the cast-on, so I thought I'd knit a few projects. Now I'm sorry I didn't incorporate some purling into the big green thing, because it's getting dull.

Meanwhile, I started a stash! I trolled ebay and bought some hand-dyed hand-spun wool. Trouble is, I only bought one skein.

Any ideas about what to knit with candy-colored worsted weight wool - one skein? I was thinking maybe a little baby blanket - real little.

[Eloriel]

30. You can make a scarf

and other one-skein projects, or use it as one of several yarns in a multi-colored (striped?) sweater, or as trim, etc. I have some yarn -- cotton, mostly ecru with 2 skeins of turquoise and one of white -- that I've been trying to figure out how to work with myself. I think I'm about to settle on an ecru sweater trimmed in turqouise and possibly white -- thin stripes at bottom of body and sleeves and perhaps around neck. I THINK there's enough for a short-sleeved sweater. (That's the problem of buying yarn you're not sure what you're going to do with and therefore don't know exactly how much you'll need.)

For me, even adding purling, the knitting can get dull on occasion. I drag my knitting out and do only a few rows of knit and purl at a time, because it gets dull. But I drag it out several times a day, so actually get more done in a day than it might seem. I can understand why people have a number of different projects going at one time. I won't let myself do that -- if I did, I don't know if I'd ever finish anything. This way I let the lure of that wonderful OTHER project I'm dying to do spur me on to finishing THIS one. It works.

Well, let me know, the offer to explain it still stands.

Edited to add: Here's a list of ideas for using small amounts of yarn I copied from one of the knitting discussion forums:

Projects for Odd Balls
Not for odd people, but for small amounts of yarn ...

Hats
Mittens
Scarves
Ear warmers
Face cloths
Hot pads/oven mitts
Socks
Scrap-yarn afghans
Pillows
Placemats
Coasters
Tea cozies
Hair scrunchies
Tiny knitted bags
Small clutch bags with funky button closures
Anything striped
Teeny-tiny mittens, sweaters, scarves -- for gift decorations
Christmas tree ornaments
Sachets -- fill with potpourri
Doll/teddy bear clothes
Bookmarks
Intarsia projects
Toys
Knitting pins -- knit a tiny swatch and transfer stitches to two toothpicks in mid-row. Glue abead on each end of picks to make knitting "needles" and glue a pin back on the knitting.

[yardwork]

33. Thanks Eloriel! These are great ideas!

I decided to force myself to finish the big green thing before I start another project, for the same reasons that you do one project at a time.

I will be back to ask how to purl when I start my next project.

I knit the same way you do - a few rows at a time, a couple times a day. It is wonderfully relaxing. Sort of like doing yoga with my hands.

[Warpy]

50. Red Heart Yarn puts out a booklet called "Learn to Knit"

It's a little pamphlet, really, costs about a buck and a half at Wally World, but has very clear pictures of basic cast on, knit, and purl, plus a few very simple projects to get you started.

I learned how to knit out of that pamphlet 20 years ago.

[Left Brain]

15. Omigosh can this be?

A knit-and-crochet thread, right here on my favorite liberal webhabit?

I've been a crocheter for 30 years and have a library of patterns and stash of yarn that are both in never-ending growth spurts. My husband quivers in fear every time either (a) head for the needlecraft section of a bookstore, or (b) reach for, or even *look* at skein of yarn for sale.

I knit a bit but prefer crochet because its faster and I'm impatient.

So...
What are you working on now (or what project would you like to start?)

As for me, I've got several things in the works. I'm always this way. Can't have just one project, ever.

Thanks for starting this thread Eloriel!

[murphymom]

16. Just getting into it

I learned how to knit as a kid, but never did anything more complicated than mufflers. Took some classes at the local yarn store with a neighbor last year. I started a sweater for myself and have half of the back done, then got interested in socks. So far I've knitted one and a half socks - screwed up turning the heel on the second one and need to go back into the yarn store and have one of the ladies there help me un-knit back to where I made the mistake. Once I get them down I think I'm going to like making socks - they don't take that much yarn so they're not that expensive to make, they go quickly so you can actually get something finished, and if you screw them up, most of the sock is either in your shoes or under your pants where it doesn't show!

Made a cap for mister murphymom for Christmas, but I must have measured wrong or misread the instructions, because it came out looking like it had been made for a conehead. Oh, well... he says he's going to wear it in bed when it gets really cold.

[Kipepeo]

17. Yay! Knitting!

Cool thread idea. I just started knitting a few months ago. I knew the basics of crochet, but always thought knitting was too complicated. It took a friend showing me how...I couldn't understand anything from the books.

But now I can follow *easy* book patterns...I haven't tried anything complicated yet.

Some of my favorite links:

Yarn Market has a lot of Fun glittery and whisker-type yarns: http://www.yarnmarket.com/ Some of them run on the expensive side, but they are the fancy kinds.

For cheaper but still fun-looking yarns I like the Lion Brand yarns, specifically their chenille kinds that I've made scarves with: http://www.lionbrand.com/ You can get Lion Brand at Michaels usually. Their website has some free patterns

And Michaels has some cool patterns on their site also: http://www.michaels.com/art/online/static?page=needlework (you have to select crochet or knitting on the right side).

[Eloriel]

19. So, what IS everyone working on?

When I started knitting again last July (2004), I started a sweater from a 1980s pattern I'd clipped and saved. With DH's, um, help I made the sleeves 3" too long which meant I needed to either completely re-do the sleeves OR cut them (yikes!), rip out 3" off the bottom of the sleeve, and then reknit a cuff. I'd also purposely made the sweater purposely smaller than my current size because I was losing weight -- but the weight loss stalled, so after all this work, it wasn't going to fit me when it was finished. I also didn't like the directions for doing the bias facing for the lapels. AND, once I thought of all that, I realized that since it was intended as an outerwear jacket, it wasn't going to be that practical because it was too open with a deep V-neck where I want omething covering my chest if I'm going to wear a jacket at all.

Soooo, with all those flaws, I decided to completely frog ("rip it, rip it") the whole thing.

What I'm working on now is the same yarn, in an interesting ribbed sweater from an older Pinguoin pattern book. It's 1x2 rib with the knit 1 as the right side. The front and back are knitted just to the arms, and then the arms and yoke are one piece (or two joined at the back, probably), knit in the same ribbing. It's an interseting design.

the yarn is (sigh) a cheap acrylic -- Caron PErfect Match. I'd love to ba a yarn snob, but in Georgia, acrylic or acrylic or cotton blends are a much smarter choice than wool. Also, as my first project back at knitting after a couple of decades, I just didn't want to spend a lot.

My next project is going to have to be something for my stepson's new baby coming in May (I hope it's May -- better check on this). I spent my entire day yesterday going thru my whole collection of knitting pattern books (and I've accumulated a BUNCH from ebay), without coming up with very many possibilities. Of course, I haven't been interested in baby pattern books, blech. I had wanted to do a lush (beautiful) but thoroughly practical (washable!!!) baby blanket that step daughter-in-law could use with abandon and wear the hell out of, but I never found a pattern I liked. She's an architect and he's a Wall Street options trader, so their tastes are fairly sophisticated, which puts a little pressure on me. The last thing in the world I want to do is put ANY time into something they'll secretly go "ewwwww" over and pack carefully away.

[yardwork]

29. I saw a beautiful baby blanket in a recent knitting magazine

I can't get my hands on it now but if I find it I'll post the name and issue. It was on newstands in December.

Anyway, the pattern was something they called a seed stitch in the middle, with a smoother knit around the four borders.

When my kids were babies my favorite blankets were some very simple ones that friends had crocheted in acrylic. Babies are messy. I liked the ones I could throw in the washing machine and dryer. Someone knitted me a beautiful blanket in pure white but I put that away and never used it!

My favorite, believe it or not, was a two-tone orange sherbet colored thing someone crocheted in acrylic. No matter what we did to it it always looked nice.

[Eloriel]

31. Yes, please let me know what magazine if you find it

I have been studiously avoiding collecting baby patterns, but, sigh, now I may be hooked.

[yardwork]

32. Found it! Family Circle Easy Knitting, Holiday 2004

If it's not on newstands anymore, it's probably still in libraries.

The cover says "Gorgeous gift ideas." There's a complicated blanket on pg. 37 and a fun afghan on pg. 48.

Now I'm thinking that the seed stitch afghan I saw must have been in the book "Stitch and Bitch."

There's also an article on knitting with metal wire on pg. 18!

[Eloriel]

40. Oh, I actually have that issue -- thanks

I'll have to take another look. I DO remember the knitting with wire article -- probably not something I'll be trying anytime soon. LOL.

[yardwork]

47. I'm fascinated by that article - lol - especially the little beads

It looks like camp to me. I really want to try it.

[femmedem]

74. Currently working on the Christmas knitting turned Valentine's knitting:

a scarf for the hub out of light worsted weight handspun wool/silk/cotton. My first cabled project! Eight little cables on every right side row, ever so slightly adapted from this pattern:

http://grumperina.com/knitblog/shiftingsands.htm

Poor guy. I did lots of Christmas knitting for everyone else, but didn't get to his. It's zipping along now, though.

[bettyellen]

21. I updated the Uterus thingey guys... here it is:

Dearest knitters & other interested parties...

Some of you may have run across this yourselves in the past week or so, but there are some mischevious knitters planning a fiber-based assault on one of our current governments' most dangerous underpinnings -- any woman's right to rule her own body. The info on the Wombs on Washington web site is a little murky, so I'll encapsulate what I understand -- Inspired by a pattern for a knit uterus in the free online mag Knitty, a knitter thought it would be a great jumping board for an old school WAC-style action on the steps of the Supreme Court. Get as many folks from across the country as possible, have them fashion a uterus out of whatever method they feel most represented by, and pile them as high as possible in front of the doors of the Law of the Land. There's a little symbolic murkiness for me in GIVING my uterus over to anybody, but the imagery should be fabulous enough to get the right message across -- that the shift in ideology of the Supreme Court could amount to the end of our own individual control over our own bodies.

So pass this evolving URL around to knitters, crocheters, sewers & crafters of any persuasion. I have a whole bunch of pink acrylic yarn that I got at Far Hills last year -- I knew it had a higher purpose!!! -- and will be happy to deliver it to any needles that desire it.

http://www.wombsonwashington.org/

[Eloriel]

23. That is wild -- and wonderful

Thanks!

I'm with ya on the murky symbolism -- but hey, it should get some attn and that's what counts.

[July]

24. I'm a knitter, though I haven't been knitting lately.

I did just buy a new pattern book, though. Maybe I'll start something soon.

I like doing complicated patterns, but I really need to improve my skills with things like shaping feet on Christmas stockings. I made a couple of stockings a few years ago that looked great until you got up close -- kind of a bigfoot effect. Still not sure what I did wrong.

[Eloriel]

26. Well, you're doing better than I --

I've never tried socks, but I'm itching to.

[China_cat]

39. I do lots and lots and lots of socks

especially baby.
Gloves, too.

[Eloriel]

41. Oh, wow, those are GREAT!!

I love the baby socks. Is there a good, easy pattern for those online somewhere? (Again, I've never done any socks, so that turning the heel thing needs to be well-explained.) I'd LOVE to do some socks to match the sweater I'm going to knit for my stepson's new baby.

[China_cat]

45. I could send you mine if you want.

The baby sock heel turning is one of the easiest I've ever come across. You don't actually decrease any stitches, it's all done with short rows.

[murphymom]

46. I found this online -

It's an excellent tutorial on making socks with pictures and everything.

http://www.royea.net/sockdemo1.html

I'm finally finishing the second sock of my first pair and am starting to have "Aha!" moments where it is all starting to make sense to me and I can "read" my knitting instead of having my nose in the instructions every minute.

The person who is teaching me to do socks had me distribute my knitting on 4 needles, working onto the 5th, but I'm guessing that working with 4 or 5 needles is a matter of personal preference more than anything.

[Greybnk48]

48. Thanks murphymom

I bookmarked this site after looking at it. I just learned how to use dp needles on a website--knitting pattern central--and i feel like hot stuff. When I finally make a mitten that I deem perfect, well maybe really good, I'm going to try some socks.

[China_cat]

51. Actually, distributing on 4

needles rather than 3 takes the stress off the places where you move from needle to needle. With 3 needles you'll often see a demarcation on the finished product, much less so on 4.

[bleedingheart]

25. I have made two scarves (knitting)

I would like to learn more but I have a hard time understanding the knitting manuals...but I will continue to try...after I finish fiddling with my new toy...the sewing machine!!

[Greybnk48]

34. This is great!

I just started knitting again in Dec., but I'm still a beginner despite having knitted two sweaters for my kids 15 years ago with the help of a friend who could knit any thing. I'm so excited to find this group!

I just finished a hat and a scarf for my little niece last week. I got the pattern at the craft store--one of those free flyers. I used this fluffy yarn called Baby Clouds by Red Heart and some of that shiny Spike yarn. My daughter told me to just work the two yarns together as one. It turned out--so now I'm emboldened.

Just finished my first mitten yesterday. It looks like a mitten, but I screwed up on the increasing so the palm is narrower than the back. I started a new one today and if that turns out I'll knit a left one. I can only do two needle mittens. I don't know how to work with that three needle setup and haven't tried circular needles yet, but I have some here. I'm also working on a baby blanket for another niece due in March--another free pattern.

For beginners like me: I bought a book by Evie Rosen ( a leaflet actually--leaflet #623) The All New Teach Yourself to Knit. The copyright is 1992 put out by Leisure Arts and when I bought it, it was $7.00. It gives very clear instructions with pictures on how to do most of the basics. I couldn't have done anything I'm doing now without it.

[Longhorn]

35. Thanks for the tip on the "how-to" booklet.

I keep wanting to try knitting but I feel I must finish crocheting this afghan that I started last year! And I have three daughters who want afghans, too. I should spend less time on DU and get cracking! :D

[Greybnk48]

36. You're welcome

I just popped back in because I was telling a friend about this site.

[chookie]

37. I've been doing a lot recently

I learned by making small projects at first -- believe it or not, sweaters for dogs. I learned aran cabling, fair isle and intarsia this way -- and I have the best dressed dogs in the region :-)

Some time ago I told myself it was high time I took the plunge and tried something HUMAN. I didn't want to use expensive yarns, so I chose the nicest colors in the Lion Brand Woolease line

The first thing I made was this:

It was simple, but never having heard of one before, I find shrugs are just a little weird.

Second thing I made was this

Very similar to the shrug, but was my first attempt at a cabled sweater. The bad part was the pattern was meant for people who had basic understanding of how a pieced sweater goes together (I'd only done seamless sweaters previously), and there are no basic , so I ended up making all sorts of weird errors until I had my "Helen keller" moment and figured it out. I did mine in a subdued sage green and put 6 Irish-spiral buttons on it and mercifully it looks very lovely. And boy is it WARM! I layered it over another wool sweater and was able to go out in the 10 degree weather we had here during the recent blizzard and was totally toasty.

Here's my latest, and I am within a day of finishing it

This I did risk all by doing in a more expensive yarn -- Mission Falls 1812 superwash wool because I had gained confidence at this point. It turned out to be infinitely simple to do that the shrug or sweater.

I am now scouting around for my next project -- likely to be hats and felted bags, although i signed up for a workshop, so I want to have an elborate project underway so I can ask the Knitting Guru's guidance as i stumble through it.

[Longhorn]

38. I am impressed!

If those are your beginning projects, I can't wait to see what you do with some experience! :D

[Eloriel]

42. OMG, those are absolutely BREATHTAKING

I'm so impressed. I also have to ask about where you got these patterns -- to die for. I don't think shrugs would be particularly practical for me, but with a sumptuous pattern like that, I'd make an exception. Wow, these are knock-outs. I love Aran patterns, and those are among the loveliest I've seen.

[chookie]

43. The source book

It's called "East West" and it is put out by Mission Falls, which produces beautiful shimmery wool and cotton yarns in gem stones colors.
http://www.camillavalleyfarm.com/mission/eastandwest.htm

The patterns are NOT difficult to do, and you have that from a knitting idiot, and no, I am not being modest. The arans are knitted up quickly with double stranded yarn. The designer says that she herself hates to be tied to projects for months and months, and so creates things that work up fairly quickly -- and I concur -- they don't take long at all. As I am developing my skills, it is nice to actually complete lovely things in not a long time and feel that sense of accomplishment and progress.

As I said, I substituted Lion Brand Woolease for the first one I made, and it does look lovely, but after making the shawl in Mission Falls 1812, there is no comparison as to beautiful drape and flow of the garment, and the sheen, not to mention the exceptional palette of colors they offer. Very nice to work with -- well made, no easy yarn splitting (like Wool Ease) and beautifully elastic.

Eloriel -- if I am not mistaken, you live in the South, right? Mission Falls offers their gorgeous 1812 yarns in cotton as well. And they're not too pricey either, making for a modest investment as opposed to a significant investment.

[Eloriel]

44. Oh, thank you!

I've seen the print ads for Mission. The yarns really do look yummy. And I've fallen in love with a few more of their patterns from the link. I'll definitely have to look closer.

Yes, I'm in Georgia, and 100% wool is typically a bad idea here simply because there are so few occasions you can wear it unless perhaps you spend a lot of time outdoors OR your project is outerwear to start with. I'm not crazy about the non-resilience of cotton, tho it's probably okay for spring/summer. I'm looking for blends that aren't too warm, maybe acrylic/cotton, acrylic/wool, and others. I've purchased some acrylic that is very cotton-like, and I can't wait to knit some of that up and see how it works for me.

[lamp_shade]

52. Where can I find instructions

Can anyone point me in the right direction? My elderly Mother (who can't knit any more) bought a <knitted> afghan kit several years ago from Herrschners. It's called "Amish Shadows". I have the yarn now and promised her I'd make it, but she lost the instruction book. I've googled myself silly... even Herrschners can't help. I'm willing to buy a whole kit just for the instructions... if I could find one. Any ideas?

[China_cat]

55. Check eBay and Craigslist

[MountainLaurel]

53. Present and accounted for

I've been knitting a couple years now (including a brief hiatus while I finished graduate school) and am looking for something more than scarves now. I just did my first drop stitch shawl, which will look lovely as soon as I figure out how to do the fringe.

:hi:

[Nite Owl]

54. New knitter here!

Just learning, started a couple of months ago. Gotten a few scarves done, working on a throw and a shawl. Next up is a simple sweater.

For other newbies this is a great site with videos that I came across and learned a lot from:

www.knittinghelp.com

[tammywammy]

56. I don't knit, but I do crochet

This year, I've been concentrating on hats & scarfs. I've been selling them to people I work with & their relatives.

I make a simple double-crochet beanie type hat. It takes me almost 3 hours to do a hat (while watching tv in the evening). A scarf takes a few more days. I'm lucky that when I'm not busy at work, which is a lot of the time, I can work on them here.

I even ordered some cool little clothing labels from www.namemaker.com

I found a cool little yarn store that sells some really awesome stuff. http://simpaticoyarns.com/ They're a little pricy, so I've fallen back on Hobby Lobby for a few pieces.

[photogirl12]

57. I knit and crochet

I learned how to crochet about 20 years ago and I learned how to knit in March.

[stillcool]

58. big-time knitter here...

right now I'm hooked on lace...doileys.. I've made four so far, all different patterns, with all different types of yarn. Can't make my mind up on what it is I want. I'm a quilter as well...and am starting on my third braided rug. I'm not a garden girl, but I sure do love my needles. I almost always have some thing on needles...just because. It's like having a book to read at night...got to have it
this is my very favorite site of late...and it has lots of links to other sites.
http://www.yarnover.net/web/patterns/decor.html

[skyblue]

59. Some other sites:

Knitty.com wonderful site I'm totally addicted. Check out the archive of free patterns. I'm a new knitter, so I'm making mistakes all over the place, but fortunately I have a store that I love that has people with lots of experience that can help me. I've needed the basic scarf, and a wristwarmer. It takes a long time for me because I'm intimidated by needlework. Went to a sheep and wool festival and got to see some llamas, alpacas, goats, and of course sheep. I learned via DVD. There's a wonderful DVD out called the Art of Knitting. Check that out also! Hope you have fun! I'm knitting a scarf currently on Size 10 needles as a gift.

[Warpy]

60. It helps if we post whole links, so here are a few:

http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall06/index.html

Videos for new knitters: http://www.knittinghelp.com/

Very clear animations of knitting techniques: http://www.dnt-inc.com/barhtmls/knittech.html

Free patterns: http://www.knitting-and.com/knitting/allpatterns.htm

Great place to order, they have EVERYTHING: http://www.halcyonyarn.com/

This one is still up, although the authors have gotten burned out on it. It's to make beginners feel better because even professionals have bad ideas now and then: http://youknitwhat.blogspot.com/2006/07/if-vomit-was-yarnor-yarn-was-vomit.html
Keep hitting forward the next in line, it's pretty hilarious stuff.

[skyblue]

62. Thank You.

Right now I'm working on 2 scarves-gifts. I have this lace stole I'm working on as a gift and I think I went a little over my head because you make 1 mistake you're screwed unless you fix it right away. So I'm sort of avoiding that. Then I want to make some sort of fun fur mittens but need to find a pattern. Maybe just fun fur at the wrist and the rest k2p2 with normal yarn? Just for fashion sense I guess (as well as an inner child thing) because it would probably get snow in the hairs and that might be a pain in the neck. And then they have the giant enormous straight needles, I just want to work with them to make some blanket thing (because maybe the needles are comical).

[gizmonic]

61. Another chick w/stix here!

Wish I had a knitting smiley -- Skinner, if you're listening....???!!! ;) :)

[photogirl12]

63. There is this one

on this website http://www.cosgan.de/smilie.php?wahl=16&ziel=haushalt eleny told me about it yesterday.

[gizmonic]

64. Way kewl! Thanks! nt

[tammywammy]

65. I found a great website for clothing labels

www.namemaker.com

They have some pre-made "knitted by" ones.

I have the 100% woven labels, with a script writing on them. You can personalize the color of the label, color of writing and the message.

http://namemaker.com/productcart/pc/configurePrd.asp?idProduct=118

It took 5 1/2 weeks to get them, but they're great. So now all the hats & scarves that I'm selling have a label with my name on it. :)

[knitter4democracy]

66. How did I miss this thread?

Seriously--how did I miss this? I have no idea . . . Humph.

Well, count me in as a Knitter. I tend to hang out at Knitty.com's message boards (I'm Bina there), which are a great, non-political place to hang out.

Maybe we need a DU Knit and Crochet Retreat. Wouldn't that be fun?

[Nite Owl]

67. A DU Knit nd Crochet Retreat?

I think that would be my idea of heaven!

[knitter4democracy]

68. It does sound fun, doesn't it?

We could have it in Wash. DC, timed with a protest that some would be attending anyway, and then we could have a knit-in on the steps of the Capitol or something like that.

Or, we could get into a nice B&B or something like it and really relax and chat. :)

[Nite Owl]

69. I love the DC idea!

That would be such fun. We would be knitters4democracy!:)

Summer would be hot but then moms with kids could bring them too. I got a feeling that DC is ripe for some summer protesting!

[knitter4democracy]

70. Check out my charity auction on my blog--yarn and fiber.

I'm cleaning out my stash, and I'm donating it all for a charity auction on my blog. The two charities are Doctors Without Borders and Second Harvest (I'm splitting it between them). If you want your money to go to one or the other, just let me know.

http://riverwalkyarns.blogspot.com

[Nite Owl]

71. Got it bookmarked on the other computer

will check it out tomorrow knitter!

[knitter4democracy]

72. Yay!

I'm going to close the first set of bids and all on Sunday and then clean out what's sold from the slideshows. Just to let you know.

[Nite Owl]

73. I just bid

Mine is the one that says I hope I am doing this right. Well, hope I did, it appears to have posted.

[Grey]

75. Best knitting help web site ever......

go to Knitting help.com, they are just amazing.
videos of how to knit and they will answer any question.
they are just the most delightful ladies..

lots of free patterns and advice. Just ask....