Knitters, I need you

[Carole]

Run awayyyyyyy!!! knitting is highly addictive and pretty soon that Red Heart worsted weight you got at walmart for a buck a ball isn't going to cut it and you're at specialty knitting stores buying $10 a ball(very small ball) hand-wash only cashmere for baby clothes. yes, i am a victim of the knitting addiction. fortunately it goes in waves and right now i'm safe but i watched the videos on the knitting website and i though, hmmm i still have that beautiful lavender cashmere. i should go get it from storage and knit something.

Whatever you do, do not flip through the Debbie Bliss baby pattern books at teh bookstore because you'll be knitting for imaginary babies, hinting to all your friends that they need to get preggers so you'll have someone to give those adorable baby lamb booties too. oh and you just have to knit that precious baby bear onesie. oh yes, my friend, knitting is a dangerous thing to get into.

All this is true. I am a knitting addict! When my brother's daughter was born, I already had something like twenty pairs of booties for her, a sweater, bottle cozies, No idea how many bonnets and caps and a beautiful afghan in "her colors" of chocolate, strawberry and cream. I have more yarn than I will probably ever use, and I still buy more! I have needles in every size, circular needles and all the accouterments like gauges, marker rings, darning needles and I even have a nice collection of crochet needles, too. Once you start buying the super-soft (expensive!) stuff, that Red Heart yarn will seem like barbed wire. Somehow, you will always be able to rationalize spending a ridiculous amount of money on a ball of yarn!

Then again, with a model like this, who could stop knitting?

 

[Jersey Chick]

I am knitting a baby blanket because I have this gorgeous pattern and enough pure white yarn. I don't know what I'm going to do with it when I'm done, though. I'm also eyeballing this alpaca yarn to use for socks...

it's addicting and eventually, you run out people to give stuff to

 

[MaryMumsy]

I am knitting a baby blanket because I have this gorgeous pattern and enough pure white yarn. I don't know what I'm going to do with it when I'm done, though. I'm also eyeballing this alpaca yarn to use for socks...

it's addicting and eventually, you run out people to give stuff to

I'm a crocheter rather than a knitter. I make baby afghans out of white cotton (can be bleached to get out the strained carrots). I usually end up giving away about 5-6 a year for silent auction fundraisers.

MM

 

[KikiteNeko]

Walmart has them in the craft section, where they keep the fabrics. Make sure you get the right size needles for the project. For baby blankets you want small stitches so their little fingers and toes don't get snagged.

 

[CaroGirl]

If you're in search of knitting projects, the neonatal unit of your local hospital is probably accepting volunteers to knit tiny caps and booties for term newborns and premies. If I could knit stuff like that (maybe someday ) I'd do that for sure.

My scarf is on hold because of a busy weekend. I expect to get back to it during the evenings this week!

 

[awatkins]

Next step, you need my book: http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37835

Yes, yes, yes, get this book! It's awesome. Reading it is just like having someone (Maggie, maybe? ) sit right beside you and explain how to do things. I love it!

Knitting is a comfort activity for me. And my friends and family enjoy the things I make for them.

 

[K1P1]

And then there are the really high end yarns: tilli tomas . My preference is for silk strung with beads and sequins. And then you start spinning your own, and you end up like me, in a house with walls covered with totes full of yarn and unspun fiber, four spinning wheels, shelves full of books on spinning, knitting and dying. And then, in self defense, you have to go professional so you can deduct it all as a business expense!

 

[K1P1]

If you're in search of knitting projects, the neonatal unit of your local hospital is probably accepting volunteers to knit tiny caps and booties for term newborns and premies. If I could knit stuff like that (maybe someday ) I'd do that for sure.

My scarf is on hold because of a busy weekend. I expect to get back to it during the evenings this week!

NICUs also want tiny blankets for premies. These are just 12" squares - easy to knit and less area than a scarf.

Another, sadder, need is for special outfits for babies that are still-born or who have died. Many families can't afford to purchase clothing for them and they are extremely grateful to have a handmade baby set for burial of the child they won't ever get to know.

Of course, there are also the families that can't afford clothing for their healthy children. Contributions of hats, mittens, sweaters, blankets are all gratefully accepted by charities around the world. So, even if what you make doesn't fit anyone you know, it's sure to fit someone who will be warmer for having received it.

There's also the Warm Up America Project, which accepts contributions of 5" x 7" crocheted or knitted rectangles and assembles them into afghans to distribute to the homeless and poor.

And there's Afghans for Afghans, "a humanitarian and educational people-to-people project that sends hand-knit and crocheted blankets and sweaters, vests, hats, mittens, and socks to the beleaguered people of Afghanistan."

And the Seaman's Church Institute Christmas at Sea project, providing handknit scarves to merchant mariners.

And the many Prayer Shawl Ministries around the country, where shawls are knit for people who are ill, home bound, or suffering from grief.

So, even if you don't have someone in particular to knit for, there are plenty of people you don't know who could benefit from your creative energy.

 

[nevada]

aargghh now i want to start knitting again. this is not good. i'm halfway through a cross stitch project i should finish. and i have a book to write. *sigh*

 

[K1P1]

I have a book to write too. Of course, it's about knitting...

 

[Jersey Chick]

I never thought about hospitals... that's not a bad idea - really.

I tried crocheting - my mom is a master crocheter who has tried many times to teach me. I always pull the stitches too tight and up with curls. I like my knitting

 

[WittyWordsmith]

Well, I started crocheting, and I felt I was getting too addicted and distracted from life's duties, so I put it down. But, after reading all of this, it makes me want to pick it up again. Especially seeing all the hospitals and charities that need them. My little heart broke reading that.

 

[Jersey Chick]

I love baby blankets - they have the best patterns. And that soft yarn...

I haven't tried a hat yet - hmmmm....

still eyeballin' the alpaca yarn, though

 

[Carole]

Hats are easy, even without using circular needles, but you have to get the knack for stitching up the back without making it lumpy. That took a little trial and error for me. The thing that surprised me the most was how easy booties and socks are! There are literally thousands of free patterns online, and many of them are for the novice (like me!) The groovy thing with those types of patterns is that they are usually simple and so they allow you to add nifty details of your own. I found a great baby bootie pattern that was so easy, and then I added several rows around the top with this feathery yarn and they turned out so cute! Mr. Vagabond always avoided my knitting frenzy until I made myself a pair of heavy booties to wear around the house. He said, "I want some!" and so I made him a pair. He loves them.