Any knitters here - can you relate?

[GreatLakesGramma]

From Page-A-Day Calendar, "Never Not Knitting", Monday, January 5, 2009:

Quote:

Knitting has been called "the new yoga" by a lot of people (most of them nonknitters), who think that we all knit because of the tranquil, meditative quality of it. They imagine us peacefully stitching, lulled by the perfect stitches slipping repeatedly and flawlessly off the needles. Sure, knitting has its Zen-like moments, but these people obviously aren't aware of what follows those moments, when you look down and realize that while you have finally reached that calm and gentle place... you've screwed the whole thing up. Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (The Yarn Harlot), c 2008

I can certainly relate to this, especially with my current project!

[Ellen]

I don't know if you are looking for knitting stories. I have lots. But I have found so many things are made commercially better that I haven't found the need to knit lately. I used to knit while I was nursing my 5 babies (one at a time). The last toque I made my son said is too warm and doesn't like it. hhmmm

[Ellen]

So Catherine, tell us your latest project!!!

[GreatLakesGramma]

Socks. A pair of burgundy merino wool/silk socks for church. I can't tolerate synthetic fabrics, or ordinary wool next to my skin at all. But it's hard to impossible to find 100% natural fiber socks any more. I had to really hunt to find white cotton socks with a low enough synthetic content that I could stand to wear them, but these are no good with dressy shoes and dark pants. I have never been able to stand wearing any colored socks that I've bought, either due to the fiber content or to the fit. So I decided to make my own. Custom-made to fit MY feet.

The difficulty is in the spiral rib I've chosen for the legs. Seems simple enough - knit 2, purl 2, shifted one stitch every other row. But knit in the round on double-point needles, it's not so simple after all. Especially on #1 needles with fingering yarn in a dark color. It's way too easy to lose track of exactly where I am between the needle changes, and the stitches are too small and hard to see to make it obvious. Or else I'll accidentally knit 1 then go back to purl 2, and go on for quite a while without realizing it. Or think I'm on the repeat row when I'm really on the shifted row. Etc. I have had to do an awful lot of un-knitting. My daughter commented when visiting at New Years' and watching me un-knit the same rows again and again (when I was first starting the project), "Those had better be some REALLY comfortable socks!"

But, believe it or not, I'm enjoying it anyway. I love to knit. And I've found a pretty good way to prevent mistakes, or to catch them before I've gone very far. So it's going more smoothly now.

[GreatLakesGramma]

Our local paper had a feature one week about the increase in knitting and other needlework due to the recession. This was more about finding something inexpensive to do for enjoyment right at home, instead of going out somewhere, spending money for gas and entertainment. The yarn and craft shops are doing more business than in the past.

But saving money? Not if you use good quality yarn. This pair of socks is costing me 11.50 for the yarn, and an additional 1.50 for the reinforcement thread for the heels and toes. So this is not a money-saving project. Although, if I were to actually find similar socks that I could stand to wear, maybe they'd cost even more.

However, I also knit some baby sacques for baskets for the crisis pregnancy center our church is putting together. Using acrylic sports yarn from Wal Mart, these cost only 3.19 each for the yarn, with enough leftover yarn to make 2 striped ones from the leftovers of 3 solid-color ones.

[fccool]

I LOVED knitting as a teen. Unfortunatly there's little time to do so. But my wife does both knitting and sewing.

That's when female ability to multi task really shows. I still don't understand how one can knit, talk on the phone and watch Internet Video all at the same time ????

[phkrause]

My wife and I one year had this worship book that was written for quilters. On one of the days there was a story about this mother that made her 2 sons help with the quilting. She mentioned that any kind of sewing be it quilting, knitting, etc. gives people patience as they grow older. I thought that was very interesting. I can see that.

pk

[Nan]

I think one of the benefits of knitting, sewing, quilting, is that at the end, there is a finished project

in which (hopefully) the knitter can take pride.

These days we do lots of running around, we keep very busy, but the majority of people do not produce something with which they can identify and take pride. Even meal production is frequently outsourcec these days.

I used to knit and sew a lot - I even made my own swimmers - but in recent years, have not. I enjoyed knitting, but it is not very practical for children's clothing when throwing something into the washing machine is the way to go.

The only craft I have done in recent years is longstitch, but then what do you do with all the pictures when the walls are already full ? :)

[Amelia]

I never learned to knit but I can crochet up a storm when I have a mind to. And it always seamed second nature to crochet and watch TV at the same time. Needlework too.

My former mother in law had a misson that was her passion before she passed on.

She would buy yarn where ever she found it. Lots if the time at thrift stores. Then she knit slippers, scarfs, mittens and hats in all different sizes. She supplied them to an orphanage in Bosnia. They loved her and always looked forward to her boxes. Another gal I know knits blankets for the neonate unit of a local hospital.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

I can knit, like sweaters and things, but crochet confuses me...

[GreatLakesGramma]

I can do both, but I don't enjoy crocheting nearly as much as knitting. My grandmother only knew how to crochet, though she did a lot of other types of needlework, but never knit. My mother knows how to both, and she is the one who taught me. She never has time for it anymore though.

Amelia, I used to watch TV and knit all the time when I was younger. I don't watch TV any more, but I do watch videos, and I was watching a lot of them while I was knitting hats and mittens for my granddaughters. But when I tried with these socks, I would mess up every time. I'm on the foot of the first sock now, so it's easy going now. I could watch videos again. I'm going to reverse the spiral for the second sock, but I have a break from that pattern for a while.

[GreatLakesGramma]

Nan, you might find this interesting:

From "Never Not Knitting", Wednesday, January 7, 2009:

Quote:

You don't have to feel bad if you are the sort of knitter who doesn't finish a lot of stuff. Many of us are in it for the process rather than the product, and this has only to do with personality differences, rather than moral superiority. Sure, it's hard to remember that when other knitters sit smirking in their new sweaters and you are starting on your 57th first sock of a pair, but keep this in mind: It's called "knitting," not "sweater-making."

I do finish what I start, but I really do it for the process more than the product.

In fact, I hadn't knitted in years, had given away all my yarn, and even some unfinished crochet projects. But I wanted to do something for others. Health issues prevent me from going out and actively participating in any regular service or personal ministries programs, but I can knit while sitting in my recliner and resting. So I bought some yarn and started knitting sweaters for Guideposts' Knit for Kids project.

[Nan]

Thanks Catherine, that is interesting. I used to finish stuff, made all sorts of Aran and

Fair Isle sweaters for various members of the family, but nothing recently.

[Dottie]

I like to crochet and knit and cross-stitch,but right now I'm just using up leftover yarn making hats for the church's thrift shop.

I liked the quote about "knitting," not "making sweaters." I will knit or crochet an item that needs to be sewn together to be finished, or needs butons, etc. It may sit for years before I get down to really finishing it!

Catherine, do you use a marker to note where your rounds begin(end)? I like to use a contrasting color thread tied in a loop. It's easier to move from one row to another than a plastic marker.

Dottie

[GreatLakesGramma]

Dottie, I do use markers. The stitches of my socks are so small, the right needle usually goes into the marker as I'm pulling the stitch off the left needle, so now I move the marker right along with the stitch.

Are you making multi-colored hats? Do you knit them in the round on circular needles, or make a seam? I made hats and mittens for my 2 granddaughters for Christmas. I made one striped and one solid color. I found that it was impossible, when knitting in the round, to change colors without leaving a hole. So I started over on that one and made it seamed instead. I knitted the plain colored one in the round on a 16" circular needle. I've been doing a lot of knitting in the round lately!

[GreatLakesGramma]

I had to chuckle over yesterday's calendar page.

"Never Not Knitting", Tuesday January 13:

Quote:

Some of the confusion in knitting comes from variations in the lingo, which can change from place to place. Take on of the basic knitting fabrics: all purls on one side, all knits on another.... Depending on where you are, it may be stockinette, stockinet, or stocking stitch.... Confusing, especially to new knitters.

If you're frustrated, look up the term, remember there are variations, and keep in mind that even the most experienced knitter sometimes gets thrown by them. So what do really experienced knitters call this stitch? Boring, usually.

LOL! Right now I'm enjoying having a "boring" segment of sock to knit. It won't be long before I'll be ready to start the second sock, then reversing the spiral will have me in confusion again, until I get used the changed pattern.

[Gail]

I can relate to all this...

I haven't knitted in years, but coincidentally got wind of a project that will be started at the Conference for the 2010 Olympics.

It will be scarfs- now, how simple is that? I think the plan is to get a patch that will be sewn on afterwards. Scarves will be black, not the easiest colour to knit. I don't think Brian knows that...

Anyway, I think that is something I can do!

[Dottie]

GLG--

I am crocheting the hats. Most of them are of one color. If I have scraps of color, I just do rounds of single crochet, changing color when I run out of one, using the smallest amount of color first and starting at the top, increasing as I go.

I haven't done much knitting lately. I'm just getting back into crocheting, as the past several years have been very stressful. Life has calmed down, and I'm able to concentrate more.

[GreatLakesGramma]

Ah, OK. Crochet makes it a little easier to deal with color changes.

One of the books I have shows how to do wet splicing of yarns, making leftovers into a multi-colored ball of yarn. I might try it sometime.

[GreatLakesGramma]

For anyone who is interested in more discussion of knitting, go on down to the hobbies forum.