Knitting!

[Enriana]

So, I knit now*.

* In this case, "knit" means "bought yarn and needles and have mastered the ability to cast on".

I know other NCers do as well, which is why this thread exists.

Have any suggestions for a newbie? Favourite yarn sites or patterns? A favourite thing you've made, what project you're working on now?

My project is now, obviously, just learning. ;P I'll probably do a basic scarf soon, until I'm comfortable, then I have lots of patterns to try. Sadly, this is a warm weather climate, so my nifty hats/scarves/gloves/socks will not be used all that often. I need people to make stuff for!

Anyway, yes. Knitty knit knit knit. Discuss and stuff.

[Kari]

Hee, I used to knit when I was younger. I tried knitting a scarf a couple years ago, but you had to use two yarns and some rows used both and others only used one, and it was too complicated and the yarn kept breaking so I gave up.

Now I don't even remember how to knit. Good luck with whatever you decide to make!

[Chandi]

I'm also a new knitter. I made one scarf over the summer, I have yet to wash and block it. I'm working on another now, a chunky black scarf with a block pattern for my boyfriend. I'll be finishing it up next week (because exams will be done, yes!), so I can post a picture when it's finished.

I highly recommend this site for knitting help: http://www.knittinghelp.com/

It has videos showing you how to do things, which I find far, far more helpful than trying to interpret diagrams in a book. There's also a page with patterns ranking them from beginner to advanced, so it's easy to find something that would suit you. If knot, just slip some stitches on and knit away! My first and second scarves were just plain knit, though the second one looks funky because it's mostly off-white yarn with chunks of rainbow in it.

So yes, have fun knitting. It's a great thing to do while watching TV or someone else is driving on a long car trip.

[Jazzy]

Yay, knitting! I love knitting.

I'm not sure you want to hear me say this, but actually - I hate knitting scarves. Quite a lot of people do; they take ages and they're never quite done. Knit samples for a while, but try and make your first actual project a beret or something, because they're a lot faster to do. As for websites, Knitty is beloved by many people, though I'm not actually that big a fan - I've only made a Clapotis from there. I don't knit socks - I wear through them too quickly, and my gauge is far too tight - and Knitty's been big on socks and things lately. I second the recommendation for knittinghelp as a general guide - knitting diagrams are traditionally pretty difficult to read. Magknits is the next biggest online knitting magazine, but I personally think the patterns and design are a bit amateurish, and would suggest if you know what you want (eg, a hat with two colours, a scarf with a cable) you try Google or ask in the knitting community on LJ. (Be very, very specific if you go there asking for patterns, or you will get a snarky link back to google.)

The last big thing I made was this, a Catalina Shawl. It took me six days, or about twenty-five hours of solid knitting. Never again The last thing I actually finished was a pair of gloves, which I made without a pattern and were a lot faster to actually knit, though I think I spread the knitting for them over two months.

[AngharadTy]

That's so pretty, Jazzy! I love it.

I love knitting scarves, though. I wear them a lot, and I like giving them to people who will probably never wear them. My next personal project will be some armwarmers, but I want to get a scarf I owe someone else done, first. And a hat for a friend for Christmas. Hopefully it will fit; I need to take it with me to see him this weekend. =}

My favorite thing about knitting is my bamboo needles. <3

[Twofold Black]

I can't stand knitting, but I do crochet and weave, because they are the most tough and manly yet sensitive of the fiber arts. (Crochet makes your tension hand hurt like an absolute bastard and weaving involves operating and maintaining a fiddly machine. All bollocks of course, this has nothing to do with gender. I just like touching yarn. And giving my friends the willies by going into craft stores with them so I can touch the yarn.)

Have any suggestions for a newbie? Favourite yarn sites or patterns? A favourite thing you've made, what project you're working on now?

I love me some bargainyarns.com. A lot of it is discontinued yarns and screwed-up lots and that kind of thing so it's sort of random and rewards frequent checking-in and impulse purchases. I've got some beautiful Cherry Tree Hill yarn from there I still haven't worked out what to do with. Notable is Lazer, by Erdal, which they seem to have in stock all the time despite what its page says about it not lasting long; it's 75% acrylic, 25% wool, soft enough for neck contact, rips out easily, doesn't worm, comes in a broad variety of solid colors and costs a pittance. I've only made one piece with it so far but I expect it to be my default solid-color bulky worsted yarn from here on out.

[Enriana]

I just like touching yarn. And giving my friends the willies by going into craft stores with them so I can touch the yarn.

Hah, that's exactly how I feel! I was in the crafts store for, like, 30 solid minutes just fondling the skeins. I felt vaguely dirty and also thrilled. Now I feel great affection for the four skeins I bought to start. They are my babies and I love them.

Yay for links! I shall peek at them all. I'll see how a scarf goes; maybe make a miniature one for the creatures that live on my desktop, first.

My mother crochets, by the way. It's very enchanting, but I cannot be trusted with it. There's always that bit that you can tug on to make it fall apart! How can a person resist.

[Dollfie]

I have seriously been contemplating taking up knitting. I watch the DIY network all the time and it's either that channel or the other similar channel that has a show called Knitty Gritty. Oh how clever. Anyway the girl makes a variety of things which really expanded my thoughts of knitting which were; scarf, scarf, beanie hat thing, scarf. I have some very soft, pretty yarn I bought earlier in the year for my doll making which turned out to be useless as I ended up sewing mini wigs for them instead. Now I have yarn and it's so awesome it needs to be turned into something! Plus knitting got a few cool points for me when I found out that a former member of Vixen knits like a maniac. If only I'd get around to finding a starting point for such a craft... perhaps... obtaining needles.

[Aurinona]

I'll have to agree with the suggestion not to start with a scarf, really, unless you actually want one for yourself and not just for practice... I kind of did that after making a few swatches, and didn't know anything about gauge or proper needle size for my yarn- I now have a monstrously thick scarf that's about 90% done and probably never will be finished, but I don't have the heart to frog it (tear apart for the yarn- rip-it, rip-it) Also, right now I'm angry at scarves in general, having decided to make some for my parents for Christmas. This is my mom's - http://alicorn.critter.net/photos/shortrownoro3.jpg Dad's scarf is about 50% done and I'm going to be watching a lot of movies over the next few days while I attempt to get it finished in time. =P Shouldn't be cutting it so close!

I prefer to make hats because they get done much quicker. Also, I live in the frozen north and need something to cover my ears, but I don't like most hats; making them myself in my chosen colours and patterns means I have something I'll wear. Once I finish the current projects, though, I think I'm going to start trying socks.

Have to second (third?) the suggestion to use knittinghelp.com, it's been an invaluable resource for me. I started back in March and was going nowhere fast from the diagrams in the "learn to knit" booklet that came in a kit I bought, but the videos straightened out my confusion. Also, go to ravelry.com and put yourself on the waitlist- I got my invite just over a week ago and it's an awesome site- you can see what other people have done with patterns you may be interested in, browse to see what people have made with the yarn you have, and poke around through the user groups to meet people with similar interests to you. Lots of fun.

Most of all, don't get discouraged! If your first project turns into a giant mess, that's okay, because it does get better. This picture is a pretty accurate representation of what I felt like at first:

http://alicorn.critter.net/miscart/badyarn.jpg

and now I'm obsessed.

Oh- keep in mind that it can be an expensive hobby if you let it! There are so many pretty yarns out there and all of them want to come home with you. I won't spend $50 on a scarf, but darned if I won't end up walking out of the yarn store with $50 worth of baby alpaca yarn to make one for myself... Mmm, alpaca. If only I could convince my husband to let me start an alpaca farm...

[Enriana]

Oh- keep in mind that it can be an expensive hobby if you let it! There are so many pretty yarns out there and all of them want to come home with you. I won't spend $50 on a scarf, but darned if I won't end up walking out of the yarn store with $50 worth of baby alpaca yarn to make one for myself... Mmm, alpaca. If only I could convince my husband to let me start an alpaca farm...

Hee! Yes, when I was in the yarn aisle (it's just Michael's, so it wasn't too epic), I could sense my mind going into "pretty soft WANT" mode. Before knitting, I learned origami, which has the same factor with paper. Before THAT, I learned how to bead. It's ridiculously easy to spend hundreds on beads. "Well that type of bead is really neat, I'll get a couple colours, and maybe two of each colour just in case, and OH I have a perfect idea for those beads over there, might as well grab a bunch of colours, and the tubes are small so maybe three of each colour.."

That gryphon is totally how I feel right now. I've been really exhausted from Tae Kwon Do today and yesterday, but this weekend I shall attempt to learn more. I've been hunting around for patterns, and all the really neat stuff is too complicated! ;P But I do love hats, so I might try a simple hat pattern if scarves make me homicidal. I'll have to see if knittinghelp.com has a video on changing colours; perhaps stripes will liven it up.

[Wingsrising]

My first big project (after my learn-to-knit potholder) was a scarf. I've done two so far, the Immense Alpaca Scarf of DOOM! (my first scarf) and the obligatory Harry Potter scarf (Slytherin, because I'm contrary like that). They're not my favorite project -- I was really, really bored as I neared the end of the HP scarf. And a scarf is really only a leaning experience for the first 6 inches or so, after that it's just more of the same.

I personally have been on a sock kick, although I'm starting to get a little socked out. They're great portable projects and keep my feet toasty, though. I'm also working on a sweater (just about up to the armpits) which I'm sheepish about because I got the yarn as a present LAST Christmas. In my defense I made a baby blanket, my first lace stole (worsted weight) and 3.75 pairs of socks in the meantime....

I second, third, whatever the various website advice that's been given. I'm also a fan of the Yarn Harlot's knitting blog.

[KauKrazy]

I personally have been on a sock kick, although I'm starting to get a little socked out. They're great portable projects and keep my feet toasty, though.

Yeah! That's exactly how I feel. They're a good portable project (I have to take a 25-minute train or bus ride every day to work and back again) and they finish quickly, so I don't get tired - I'm finished before I get bored. I am usually too afraid to start on a sweater because I am not sure I will ever have the energy to complete it. And socks make good gifts

In Estonia, the knitting tradition is an important part of the culture, with patterns and techniques that are several hundred years old. There's even an English book about it, if anyone is interested. I have no idea if it's available in libraries.

[Twofold Black]

Arise, thread! Arise, and walk!

I'm bringing this thread back from the dead because I just found knitpicks.com and feel like I'm losing my damn mind. Their prices do not make sense to me. I'm looking for a catch and I can't find it. Baby alpaca/silk for $5.49/50 grams? Hahaha sure! How do they stay in business? Those of you in the market for well-reviewed (yarndex.com), cheap, natural fiber yarn may be interested, if you can handle the way your brain dribbles out of your ears when you think about it. If you'll excuse me, it's time for my sedative.

[Jazzy]

By refusing to ship outside of the US? *coughs* No, seriously, I suspect they simply buy cheaply and entice their users to buy in bulk - notice the free shipping at $40, when yarn for a single project might only cost $5, really. And whether "cheaply" means "unethically cheaply" is a bit of a question mark. No-one seems to have proved anything either way, as far as I remember.

[Wingsrising]

They sell the stuff cheaply because they have the yarn manufactured specifically for them. So, they're buying directly from the mill rather than buying from a distributer who buys from the mill. By cutting out the middleman they can sell for lower prices while keeping the same markup.

http://www.elann.com sells a number of nice yarns inexpensively under a similar model. They also sell closeout yarns and are another good online store to check out. The upside of elann is that they have much better colors than Knitpicks (in my opinion, although lately Knitpicks colors seem to be improving). The downside is that they're out of a lot of the colors a lot of the time. They get their house yarns from the mill in huge batches and when a color sells out, it's gone until they get the next huge batch. You can tell the site to email you when they get the next batch in.

Going back to Knitpicks: I really like Knitpicks Essential sock yarn (both the normal and dye-your-own versions) and I have some of their Shadow merino lace yarn and their new Risata wool/cotton blend sock yarn waiting for me to get around to them. I've also used Shine Sport for a baby blanket -- super-duper soft, but I felt the yarn had an unusually large number of knots per skein. Still, I crocheted a baby blanket -- a small baby blanket, but still a baby blanket -- from natural fiber yarn for $35, which you can't beat with a stick.

I think the yarn is in general decent yarn, and a good value for the money, and I think the sock yarn in particular is well-thought-of. But I don't feel that most of it is top-quality yarn. Their superwash merino, for example, is perfectly respectable as far as I know and I want to try it sometime, but based on the samples on colorcard... Aurora 8 it's not. (But of course, it's also well under half the price of Aurora 8, which adds up if you want to make a sweater.) I think some people have found the weight of the skeins is perhaps a bit more variable than one might like, and I mentioned the knot problem I had with with the Shine. (In the interests of full disclosure, I've dyed at least 6 skeins of the Essentials Bare dye-your-own yarn and not found a single knot.) I've never heard of people having vegetable matter problems, though.

So to the extent that there is a catch, that would be it: I don't think they have quite the quality control that some of the more expensive yarn manufacturers do (though of course, some of the more expensive yarn manufacturers don't have quite the quality control that some of the more expensive yarn manufacturers do -- I'm looking at you, Noro) and most of the yarns are good but not top-of-the-line. But I'll certainly be buying more of their yarn in the future.

One warning about Knitpicks -- the color representation on their website is notoriously bad. I mean, showing color over the Internet is always hard, but theirs is really unusually bad for almost everyone. The colors in the paper catalog are a lot closer. If you really want to be sure, though, you have to order a color card (in my cynical moments I suspect they make the online colors bad on purpose so people have to order color cards).

Of course, Knitpicks' star product at the moment isn't their yarn, it's their Options interchangeable needle set. I have it and if you like metal needles, this set kicks serious ass.