Weddingbee boards

I was just curious if anyone else enjoys knitting or even crocheting?  I'm on Ravelry when I'm on Weddingbee, surfing those forums and patterns that I love but don't quite have the talent for yet.  I have to keep my replies neutral since my FMIL is a friend on Ravelry and can view my forum posts over there.

So any of you knit?  What's your favorite project?  I've knitted socks, scarves, slippers, mittnes, and hats.  I'm planning on knitting my wedding garter!

@hotwings:  That's cool.  I've been knitting for a couple of years.  I wouldn't say I'm great at it, there's so much to knit (coats, shirts, sweaters, dresses, etc).  My MOH has knit a really cute bathing suit!  I haven't really done much with crocheting other than make pot holders.  Ravelry is great!  It has a lot of free patterns and help if you get stuck with something.  I'm planning on making my sister a slouchy beret for Christmas, there are a lot of cute patterns!

@hotwings:  Do you mean within a row or counting the rows?  I don't have much trouble keeping the same amount of "stitches" per row.  With crotcheting it's a bit more difficult, especially when the longer I crochet the tighter my stitches become so I either have to add stitches or maintain the same tension.  It's the rows that get tricky for me when I knit.  I have a stitch counter, but most of the time I just have a pen and paper and tally the amount of rows I do.

@hotwings:  Yeah, I have to make sure that I put a tally down right when I hit the next row or else I forget.  I'll also write down how many stitches I'm at if I get up and leave before I'm finished with the row.  If I'm doing something tricky, like turning a heel or picking up stitches in the gusset (in socks), then I lock myself away from my Fiance and cats and any other distractions so I don't mess up!

@Lillindy:  I learned basic knitting via youtube.  I started my freshman year of college.  My MOH knits A LOT and I always wanted to do it.  If I ever need help, I just go into my local yarn store and ask (they're friendly) or ask my MOH.  So I went out and bought some fairly large needles and cheap bright acryllic yarn from wal-mart.  It took me a couple of hours to know how to do a knit stitch, then I progressed to the purl stitch.  When you switch back and forth between knitting and purling, you get ribbing.  I practiced casting on stitches on the needle and binding off after a few rows.  I say the best project to learn on is a scarf or washcloth.  I picked it up and put it back down every so often.  I had a lot of stress that year and it was a great relief for me.  I learned a bit of crocheting from Fiance's mother and paternal grandmother.  Both of them crochet A LOT.  They have beauitful blankets.  Fiance's mother is getting ready to hit 1,000,000 stitches both knitting and crocheting for this year.  It's her primary hobby and she travels a lot, so she has a lot of time to do it.  Once you've learned to do a scarf, then I'd try a hat on straight needles then on circular needles.  Once you feel more confident, try better yarn from your local yarn store.  There are a lot of basic sock patterns out there that teach you how to knit on double pointed needles.

ME ME ME! I have an Etsy business making baby hats and scarves and mittens, etc. I am planning on knitting my garter too!

@Tswife4ever:  So neat!  I love looking through etsy knitting stuff especially people's hand painted roving!!  There are a lot of cute baby things out there!  I have favorited on Ravely a lot of cut baby hats--like the lotus, pumpkin, strawberry.  A lot of my favorites are baby related--sweaters, jackets, dresses.

I buy the homespun and baby soft yarns for baby items because their skin is sensitive but they cost about $5.99-$7.49 each! I also use the acrylic for adult items which is $2.50 so it depends.

@beekiss2 I do pumpkin and apple hats! LOL. Maybe you have hearted my stuff! LOL

@hotwings: I have a mix of stuff in my stash.  I have purchased a lot of yarn through jo-ann's.  It depends on what I'm making and who it's for.  Nice stuff is for gifts and some of the stuff I donate is just using up my not-so-nice yarn.  The yarn from jo-ann's that I bought is very soft and usually acryllic.  Beginning sock knitting, I'd suggest stuff from Jo-ann's that's wool blend b/c it's VERY expensive to buy $20 for 100 grams of yarn (for only two socks).  I have some cotton stuff that I bought from jo-ann's that I don't really see the difference in buying Lily Sugar versus Peaches and Creme/Mission Falls.  Really nice gifts I buy more expensive yarn.

Price wise:  Acryllic homespun and caron simply soft is around $2.50-$3.50 each.  Look for sales!  Cotton Lily $4.00/each.  Sock yarn at jo-ann's that I cannot remember the name of is around $3.50/each (it'd be good to have two of).

BIG TIP:  When you purchase yarn, always make sure you purchase the same dye lot (# on the side right underneath where it tells you the stitches per inch and size of needles/hooks to use) and have enough!  I learned the hard way.

@Tswife4ever: Are you on Ravelry!?  Also, what is your etsy shop?  Feel free to PM me!

Also, I suggest knitpicks (in Europe and Australia, it's call KnitPro) if you're ever looking to purchase needles, ball winders, some yarn, etc.  It's a great resource and they have fabulous customer service.

Also Lionbrand's website has tons of free patterns!

@Tswife4ever:  Yeah, I agree!

I knit! I LOVE ravlery!!!

My fav thing to knit is sweaters, I dont really have the patience for socks but I do a lot of hats too.

If you want to branch out into something else I would suggest a top down sweater in the round. they are so easy! And the only sewing is little holes in the arm pits. I have designed a few and would be more than happy to give you a pattern for free.

@eeniebeans:  That's so awesome that your mother taught you to knit.  My grandmother knit and crocheted up until she went into the nursing home.  I still have the baby blanket and matching doll blanket she crocheted me when I was a small child!

@mishelleez:  If you don't mind, could you PM your ravelry name so that I can look through your patterns if they're on there?  OR I could send you my email address if you prefer?

@shmell7:  Oh I love these patterns!  Very cute!  There's even a little nativity set!  I think it's fantastic your mother taught you--it's something I hope I can pass on to my children (if they're interested).

@husky:  I've been looking at their circular needles.  I'd like to have a good interchangeable set and they seem like the place to get them.  I'm leaning towards the zephyrs since I'm concerned about potential peeling on the metal ones (which I read about) and I'm not too into the harmony colors (they look like I could get distracted by them needles as I'm knitting).  I'm thinking about buying a ball winder there since it seems about the most affordable.

@hotwings:  Ebay has a lot of great stuff, I was thinking about buying some cheap bamboo dpns on there since I don't have anything big than size 5 (u.s.).  I agree, there are a lot of estate needles.