Knitty knit knit

[My Good Babushka]

I designed and knitted this all myself. Snails are a lot like babies in that they both leave slimy trails.

[foxfeet]

1. Cool! I'm knitting a blanket for my new grand-nephew.

And yes, I'm a man who knits!

[My Good Babushka]

4. Nothing wrong with a man who knits.

Knitting was traditionally men's work, and women spun the yarn.

[foxfeet]

11. There was a whole cottage industry built on men and women both knitting.

I'm a bit hampered by "trigger finger" in both my index fingers these days. Gonna have to see the hand doctor in the near future.

[Arkansas Granny]

5. I've known a couple of guys who crochet. And I really like the Crochet Dude.

http://www.drewemborsky.com/

[GoddessOfGuinness]

7. Some great sweaters there!

I want to make this one; but my skills need to be a little more advanced:

[foxfeet]

12. Thanks for the link!

I don't (yet) crochet but am considering taking it up.

[emilyg]

18. Had an uncle in the Navy

who passed the time knitting. Nothing wrong with it.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

2. Awww! That's precious!

How do you go about designing sweet things like that? Do you embellish a basic pattern, or write something out from scratch? Or do you just eyeball it?

I just started knitting a couple of years ago, and I'd love to know how to do this! :yourock:

[My Good Babushka]

3. I started following a pattern for the bottoms

but they seemed too big. I made it up and wrote down what I was doing as I went along. I've made sooo many sweaters that I didn't need to start with a pattern. I just tried to make it match the bottoms for size. I drew the picture on graph paper and colored in the squares with colored pencils so I'd know what color stitch goes where. Now I am trying to teach myself lace knitting and knitting in the round. I am dropping soooo many stitches.
I hope you do try to design something. It's fun to personalize it, and once you see how many different ways you can combine things, you won't spend money on pattern books.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

6. I've been getting all my patterns from free sites...

So far I've only seen one pattern for purchase that I really felt compelled to buy; but I don't want to purchase it until I know how to adjust the pattern to fit my fuller figure.

Graph paper makes sense...like cross stitch!

[surrealAmerican]

8. Once you get the hang of ...

... working in the round, you'll want to do it all the time. When you're just starting you might try using those rubber end caps on your needles to keep from dropping stitches, and always use needles that are longer than required. Socks are one of the best things to start with.

[foxfeet]

10. I love socks and I can turn a mean heel!

For those so inclined, there is software available that will help modify sweater patterns to your specific measurements. (I have trouble finding patterns large enough for my parter-- he's a big guy!) "Sweater Wizard" is one good example.

[netania99]

16. I love doing socks, too.

And turning the heel is very exciting. (Did I just say that? ;-) )

[surrealAmerican]

9. Aww. very cute.

[Sequoia]

13. You're cool. Very cute outfit.

[applegrove]

14. That is so cute.

[netania99]

15. Wow!

That's really adorable! I'm a knitter, too. Right now, I'm working on a scarf with a hood from the winter 2008 Knitters magazine.

[JenaLaw]

17. adorable!

I LOVE it! so cute...that is one lucky baby.

I am an advanced crocheter...and a somewhat beginning knitter. Almost finished with my first sock. And they are right...turning the heel was a blast!