Kickass knitting!

[knitter4democracy]

http://www.stealthissweater.com/pics/index.html

I so want to make many of them . . . *drool*

Check out the ponchos towards the bottom. :D

[Lorax]

1. Never one to pass up a peek at a knitting pattern,

I have to say those are pretty great.

[knitter4democracy]

4. I like the mittens.

I'm thinking of knitting those up.

[politicat]

2. Now if only I could learn to knit!!

Those are great!

As soon as my hands recover from last week's Home Improvement Marathon, I'll work on embroidery and cross stitch patterns of that type. But this leftie-lefty can't knit to save her life, so that's out.

Thanks for the link!

[knitter4democracy]

3. She uses knitting machines.

Ooh, wouldn't some of those be gorgeous needlepoint pieces, too? That'd be something.

Remember, the Daughters of Liberty did a whole lot more work to actually further the American Revolution, and they did it with their wheels, their looms, and their needles. :D

[politicat]

7. I guess you could say I'm doing my part.

I've made a great deal of our clothes and furniture coverings in the past few months, with fabric from a mill in South Carolina that uses American cotton. I started making Mr. P's pants when he increased a bit in the belly, and finding pants that were both long and round enough became impossible. He's too tall for standard pants (needs a 34 or 36 inch inseam) and apparently when you get to be his girth, you shrink. (He's pretty proportional at 6'3" and 250, but not according to clothing manufacturers.)

And since mass produced clothing no longer really suits my style, I make my own.

[knitter4democracy]

9. You rock!!!

I wish I could sew. For some reason, I can handsew, but sewing machines and I don't get along.

You're awesome for using American stuff. I've been trying to find more and more American yarns, myself.

[Warpy]

10. I used to make my ex's shirts

because nothing off the rack fit a short guy with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. I imagine he's lived in t shirts and sweat shirts since I left, poor guy.

I learned how to do tailored shirts the way I learned how to weave, spin and knit, out of a book and off the pattern.

Books really are wonderful things.

[politicat]

12. I love books.

There are some great ones from the 70s and early 80s that are thrift store finds now, but have great basic advice (though the colors are scary.)

But with his pants, I actually took apart an eroded pair of his dockers and worked from there.

I learned to sew making formals for my sisters (Rainbow). After *cough* years of satin, twill is a treat.

[Warpy]

5. I learned out of a pamphlet from Woolworths

that I've since seen at big box stores that have yarn departments, Red Heart's "Learn to Knit." The diagrams are very clear and complete. Just get some worsted weight yarn, #8 needles, and that book, and go. My only quibble is that they show the right handed yarn method, something that always seemed a little clumsy to me. I taught myself how to knit Continental style about a year later when I tried a multicolor pattern.

Warning: knitting is addictive. I know people who have quit smoking once they started to knit because it was annoying to have to stop in the middle of a row to take a drag. Knitting can be done nearly everywhere, and is especially enjoyable when TV gets even duller than usual. You are never bored when you're knitting, and after a week or so, you'll end up with a finished item that is both useful and beautiful.

The thing that intimidates most new knitters is learning how to read complicated patterns. Seriously, all you need to know is stockinette stitch: knit one way and purl back. Every other stitch is a variation of that.

My last project was a Faroese lace shawl knit in one piece with handspun lamb's wool yarn (yes, I spun it). My current project is a plain heavy woolen sweater from commercial yarn, no pattern, just going by guess and by gosh.

[politicat]

6. I may try it again.

I really wanted knitting needles with little hooks on them. I can crochet like the wind, but I have been trying to learn to knit since I was 8. I did a hell of a lot of needlework when I was quitting smoking -- cross stitch can be the same way.

Not a TV person, to be honest. We sent the Dish back when we realized we were paying $60 a month to watch The Daily Show.

[knitter4democracy]

8. You can get those.

Use the longer afghan hooks, or buy Russian needles, which have hooks on the end.

I have had students switch over (I teach knitting) and learn knitting after crocheting for years. It works well if you relax and take your time. The nice thing is that we only have one stitch--pulling a loop through another loop. The purl stitch is the backwards version of the knit stitch, which makes sense when you look at it.

If you decide to try again, I highly recommend knitty.com's message boards--very nice knitters there and tons of help for beginners.

[China_cat]

11. You might like

The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns by Ann Budd. Basic designs for mittens, gloves, socks, hats, scarves, sweaters (pullover and cardigan with several different neck and sleeve styles), vests and hats in multiple sizes and about 10 different gauges for each article. It really helps with laying out something you want but can't find a specific pattern for or just in designing your own.