Knitting Anything?
I know there are some knitters around here, and I’m curious what people are making, if anyone cares to share. I’ve been knitting a Nine Note Seed Stitch Wrap for the past couple months. Next I’d like to finally try making a Junko Okamoto sweater, or maybe a James Watts sweater. And I’d really love to make this sweet guernsey kids’ sweater by Susie Haumann, but so far the pattern is only in Danish. And if I’m being honest I’ll probably just make something mindless (but no less pleasing).
Discussion 82 comments
Hiya! I’m currently making this Double-Knit Blanket. It’s so, so beautiful and takes forever because everything has to be done twice (frontside and backside). I love a good, hearty project.
Oh that’s gorgeous. Hearty — perfect descriptor. Purl Soho has such good blanket patterns. I’m putting this on my list!
Oh, that is a nice-looking blanket!
Wow! I love that! What colors are you working with?
This gorgeous blanket made me search for courses to learn knitting in my area - thank you for the inspiration! And it's wonderful to have you here on a regular basis, Edith 😘
Louise! I’m working with a teal blue and an oatmeal grey. Thanks for asking.
Soothing, peaceful colors!
I'm still trying to get through some Shetland gloves from the Shetland Wool Week annual from two years ago. I put them on hold to do a baby blanket for a new cousin, which is done now.
That is a BEAUTIFUL blanket! And props to you for taking on gloves.
What a fantastic and generous baby gift! Did you make it in cotton?
I made it in Rowan Cashsoft Merino. I have to say I'm not a huge fan of cotton; maybe it's just that I'm a sloppy knitter but it's so unforgiving!
I'm knitting the Bamboo pullover by Yumiko Alexander. (Can't figure out how to hyperlink. It's on Ravelry.) Super easy, quick, and doesn't seem to be using much yarn. Next up is another summery top by her with some lime green mercerized cotton I've had for a couple of decades.
I have a bunch of stuff that's mostly or all knit, but needs to be sewed up or otherwise finished. I definitely have a fear of finishing. What happened to yarn stores offering finishing services?
Ok this pullover is so cool and strange, I love it https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bamboo-13
I'm amazed that you call that pattern quick and easy! As a non-knitter, it looks like magic to me. So cool!
Yeah, I need to do some projects to use up stash yarns I've had for a decade or so, too! And I agree on finishing -- definitely my least favourite part. I like the Bamboo pullover a lot!
I'm working on the Ripple bralette...but I've been working on it for a year. we're at the arm hole shaping part and I just CAN'T COUNT RIGHT NOW. or any other period of time in the last 4 months. I've made a couple hats and finished a sweater in the interim. :-)
lol
See, this is why you need multiple projects all going at once, right? So you can pick up one of the less brain-intensive ones when necessary...
Exactly - i rarely NEED a knitted thing. I just want to knit
I just made a sweater for my daughter's birthday this Saturday. She asked me for one Sunday, I bought some clearance cotton chenille on Monday and cast it on in the evening, knit like a fiend and had it blocking by Thursday night!
I don't usually buy patterns. I've been knitting for long enough that already have one for each type of sweater construction I like, and I can just adapt them to what I'm trying to make with a little simple multiplication for size and gauge. I dip into Hitomi Shida's book of Japanese knitting charts, if I want to get fancy.
This time I just eyeballed it all, kept it simple, and it turned out great pretty good. I've been crocheting some little flowers with the leftover yarn while it dries, and I might sew them on to make it a little more special.
That’s amazing. You have a lucky daughter :)
As a non-knitter, that seems like a lightning fast finish, yes? Your needles must blur as you work! It sounds super cute :)
I designed it for speed first, fit and fashion second. It helps that she is only seven; I doubt I could do an adult sweater in less than a couple weeks! I gave it to her today and saw her try it on. The end result is cutely oversized (I didn't really take the time to make a good gauge swatch so I figured I better overshoot my estimates. Worst case scenario, she would have to grow into it a bit.) I figured as long as the neckline and cuffs weren't too big and the sleeves weren't too long, it would look intentional, whatever else happened in between!
And yes I knit pretty fast, but I also didn't get a lot else done this week!
I recently finished this squid (my first attempt at knitting a stuffie), then got stuck in the middle of trying an octopus. Next on my list is a pair of sawtooth mittens from Favorite Mittens (which I got for christmas based on your rec!)
I signed up for Ravelry just to see your squid. So cute!!
Hey nice work! I've found that when I make knitted softies, something magical happens. I start out with some yarn, and I knit it, and then the minute I stitch some eyes and embroider a little face onto it, the pile of yarn becomes a being with a personality and a life of its own. It's delightful.
Oh I am so happy you’re going to make those mittens!! And that squid is great. I made an octopus once, and by the 5th leg I was like, “never again.” It did turn out cute though
Can I chime in as a quilter? I feel like knitters and quilters can hang in a flock like ducks and geese, yes? I've been working on pieces for a charity in Texas that gives comfort quilts to folks at end of life in hospitals. People donate their leftover "orphan" blocks to the charity, and I put them together into quilts. I never know what I'll end up with, so each one is new and different! Recent finishes here: https://katandcatquilts.blogspot.com/2023/11/more-orphan-blocks-and-their-friends.html
Oh, I love that! Beautiful quilts! I wish I were a better quilter, but I never finish because you can't really take it along and work on it while commuting / travelling. I started the Haptic Lab constellation quilt for my kid during COVID, and got the whole thing hand quilted, but have never gotten back to finish much of the embroidery. She'll have moved out to university by the time I get that done!
Thanks for your kind words! I've never seen the Haptic lab quilt before...so cool! It will bubble back up to get finished by you when the time is right :)
Louise, these are stunning. I’m so glad you shared them.
Aw, thanks, Edith! And thanks for writing about your knitting. People who make things with their hands are usually so supportive and kind.
Louise, thanks for showing us your recent creation. It’s truly lovely.
Thank you, Kelsey!
"Hang in a flock like ducks and geese"... I love that! And I think it's exactly right. We have enough knowledge of what goes into handcrafts to really appreciate each other's work, but little enough knowledge of the details that it still seems a bit like magic.
It's so wonderful of you to donate your quilts to hospitals. My daughter received a handmade blanket when she was in the NICU (she's home and healthy now!) and it was such a comfort.
Lauren, thank you so much for sharing that your daughter received a blanket and that you were comforted. Sometimes our donations go into a kind of void of no feedback, so its wonderful to hear this message of gratitude. My heart is happy that your daughter is doing so well now! And you're so right about the magic of other crafts. What a great way to put it!
Edith, that seed stitch scarf/wrap looks fantastic! Is that a difficult stitch? It looks super drapey and lux.
Thank you! And: It’s so easy! It’s actually why I learned to knit — I saw “seed stitch” somewhere and wanted to make it myself. There’s something so appealing about it. But it’s just “one knit, one purl,” and repeat infinitely!
I’m a big fan of Petite Knit patterns, plus her videos are so helpful for learning things like German Short Rows or the Italian Bind-off (why so nationalistic knitters?). I’m currently making the Stockholm sweater with leftover yarns, which makes me happy on so many levels.
What a great, classic sweater! And so great that you're using stash leftovers for it.
Nothing better than using leftover yarn!
I love Petite Knit patterns too. Working right now on the sweater of Ellen's Coming Home Set for a friend's baby, incorporating a bit of intarsia (my first time). I'm working up towards making a sweater for myself. I did the Holiday Slipover a year ago - it seemed easier to start with something without arms. Now I'm doing baby arms which also seems easier (& cuter and faster).
I also recently finished this Scarf No 3 to use some mystery yarn picked up at a yard sale and get used to using finer yarn (& now I'm realizing I'm not great at putting pictures of finished projects on Ravelry!)
That wee sweater!! So darling.
I'm currently knitting a Corella beret from Woolly Wormhead. I gotta say, her hat designs are unique, delightful, and excellently written. I also picked up her Ravine pattern, although I haven't gotten around to it yet. I like that the design covers the ears, but won't droop down over the eyes.
Stretch goals for the year:
I've got my eye on Shibuya. It looks both classy and comfy.
I really want to knit a Limerick throw blanket. When I was a kid, my dad had a heart attack (as it turns out, smoking is bad for you.) A family friend knit one of these for him. It fell apart over the years, but my sisters and I all loved snuggling under it. The blanket persisted in my memory for years. I recently learned that one of my sisters had kept the tattered remnants of that original blanket, and from that remnant, I was able to identify the pattern. It's not available in digital form, but I found an old pattern booklet on Ebay that contains the pattern.
I love that Shibuya design! And it's really special that you want to recreate your Dad's blanket. If you did, would it be a surprise for your sister?
That Limerick blanket! Also — what a story. I’m so curious how you were able to find the pattern. That’s incredibly cool.
Since you asked...
I knew the blanket had been made in the late 70's - early 80's, before use of the internet was widespread. The woman who made it lived in my hometown. I had a suspicion that her best source of knitting patterns at that time would have been the public library... and I was right. During a visit to my hometown, I spent some time at the public library, browsing through the craft section. I couldn't believe it, but they had the book with the pattern. According to the librarian, that pattern book still gets some use.
I love that, and your sleuthing makes it an even better story! Sometimes the older books are the best. I've got some now that are 25 years old, and they're still my go-tos, especially Debbie Bliss and Alice Starmore.
I love this story. Libraries and knitting are a beautiful combo. It must’ve felt like hitting gold to find it.
I’ve preordered the Wooly Wormhead book that’s coming out in the next couple of months. I can’t wait! I love the story of the blanket.
I love this thread.
Me too! 😊
Great thread!
This thread!
I've made many Cloudline hats for myself and various members of my family. My 15y.o. son wanted his own in blacks because the ones he borrowed from me had too much of a "mom smell." He assured me that this wasn't objectionable but that he needs his things to smell of him.
I want to try new things but watching YouTube to learn techniques makes me nauseated. We are a hyper-sensory family I guess.
I might make that seed stitch shawl. Gorgeous.
I love the seed stitch shawl, too! And can't stand watching YouTube videos to learn knitting techniques...or really any techniques. I'm a word person -- describe it and draw it, step by step. :)
“Mom smell” lol 😂
I don't mind learning via video, but it needs to be efficiently produced. Please don't fill me in on your cat's allergies and how you pruned your rosebushes before starting the tutorial. I will search separately for those topics if I want them.
I agree with every comment about learning from videos.
However, I took a Zoom class yesterday and I much preferred it to in-person. I make a lot of mistakes and I find that me being behind everyone else becomes the focus of in-person classes, which makes the problem worse.
So interesting! I love Youtube videos to learn techniques, especially when a pattern calls for a particular cast-on that I've never done before. Cast-ons are hard for me to remember how to do, because I only do them once at the start of a project.
I totally agree that I prefer it if the video gets right to the subject at hand.
I find I prefer charts to written instructions, for the most part. Which do you prefer, charts or written instructions?
I bit off more than I could chew a month ago when I decided I could this start and finish Wild Dunes to wear on my vacation in a week. Sadly I still have ~10 inches to go on the body, before I start on the applied i-cord edging. Ah well. It'll be here for to me to complete when I get home.
Oh, that's a gorgeous design! Something to look forward to when you return.
I love the drape of this. You’ll just have to take another vacation!
Love knitting content on kottke!
I'm between projects right now. My last project was the Holiday Slipover by PetiteKnit, just like Emily B! Anyone have a suggestion for a sweater (not cardigan) with a neckline that's not super close to your neck? I feel like a lot of sweaters I see have bulky-but-not-turtleneck necklines and it's hard to find ones that look a little wider.
Edith - speaking of PetiteKnit, she has a pattern that looks similar to the guernsey that you linked to and it's in English. Here's the Storm Sweater Baby. There's also a kid and kid slipover version.
Kenzie, YES! That is 100% what I am looking for! Thank you so much! Incredible!!
And as for wide-neck sweaters, I doubt this would be what you have in mind, but I've always thought it looks so cool (or maybe it just looks amazing on the model??): Piilo. In fact it might be exactly what you're NOT looking for...
I did a quick search for "boat neck" and "scoop neck" patterns on Ravelry, in case that's of any use, although you've probably already done that!
Thanks so much! That Piilo sweater looks intriguing! I like how the neck stands away from the body a bit but isn’t a full scoop. And would be a nice skill builder for me with the jogless stripes.
You’ll have to keep us all posted if you make a baby sweater! I don’t have kids but tiny sweaters are v cute.
I've been working, off and on, on a patchwork blanket for my daughter. I started it before she was born and I'll be lucky if I finish it before she's a year old!
I'm not normally much of a crocheter, but I am also working on a throw pillow cover with a leaf texture. It looks kind of complicated, but it's actually quite easy and fun.
Beautiful, beautiful blanket!
Oh, that's a super design! Feels very quilt-like. We use half square triangles a LOT.
Wow this thread. 📈
I love seeing how many knitter read Kottke! Right now I'm working on the Color Explosion Throw by Cecelia Campochiaro in shades of blue and green. I never managed to finish my kids' baby blankets, so this is my attempt to right that injustice. I'm making the kids "college blankets" and starting a blanket when the kid enters high school to give myself enough time.
Gorgeous. I think a "college blanket" is a better idea, anyway! More longevity, more appreciation (hopefully), plus knitted baby blankets aren't as useful as other kinds of baby blankets, in my opinion anyway (although they are extremely cute).
Fantastic pattern! And very smart to start early on such a big project. Edith is right, I think your kids will appreciate college blankets more than baby ones, especially if they go to a northern school! Dorms are ccccccccold.
I have some kind of mental hang-up about sweaters so I make small ones until I gain the confidence to do a me-sized one. My next recipient is my sister's dog. But I'd really rather be making this blanket because it's more fun. I do knit other stuff besides Purl Soho, but they're really good!
Dog sweaters!! So cute!
When Purl Soho pushed the Incredible Blanket in their newsletter the other day, I was like "LEAVE ME ALONE -- I need to stop buying your yarn!!" But they keep having such nice things ... which is to say, I want to make it, too.
I really want to do the Incredible Blanket too!
I've been stuck on a weirdly slow hand towel project for ages but when I'm done I'm planning to try the Pina Colada sweater from the sadly defunct Pom Pom magazine: https://pompommag.com/blogs/blog/issue-45-official-preview
Pom Pom was one of my favorite magazines, let alone knitting magazine. That sweater tastes like pineapple.
Love that sweater! What color are you thinking for it?
Oh man sometimes I want to knit stuff partially because of how perfectly named a thing is....
I've splurged on some 'rust' (orangey-brown) yarn from la bien aimée - I think I might end up looking like the tower of the de young museum in SF rather than a pineapple, but I can live with that!
Anyone else going to the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival next weekend (May 4 & 5)? If you’d like to meet up on Sunday, I’m planning to cheer on a team at the sheep-to-shawl competition from 10-1 at the Main Exhibition Annex. I’d love to meet other commenters!
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Note: If you are a member and tried to log in, it didn't work, and now you're stuck in a neverending login loop of death, try disabling any ad blockers or extensions that you have installed on your browser...sometimes they can interfere with the Memberful links. Still having trouble? Email me!