We all have different coping mechanisms. I have found that sometimes they fail and we don’t even realize it. The other day I picked up a knitting project that lay abandoned for several weeks and Gordon said, “I’m so glad you’re knitting again. That’s a thing you do, and you suddenly stopped.”
The last time I received yarn was in January, for my birthday. The last time I bought yarn… I don’t remember. I bought some ribbon yarn for a purse, but it doesn’t really count. I just didn’t feel like buying yarn or looking at it or knitting.
I woke up yesterday with a burning need to buy some yarn.
What does this mean? Does this mean I am getting more stressed and things are getting worse or does this mean I am returning back to normal and things are getting better?
What yarn should I buy? I haven’t checked any of yarn newsletters in months. I haven’t logged into Ravelry in months. I don’t even know what to do anymore. What is everyone knitting?
Better. Things are getting better!
I literally just bought yarn the other day after not having done any kind of knitting or crochet for over 15 months. I dont know why I suddenly felt the urge to buy. My shipment will take a few weeks to get here, though. Looking forward to knitting socks for the first time. I’m sure there will be much gnashing of teeth but it should be fun.
Using HHF Tweedy, knitting Winter’s Beach Cardi. Found a mistake in one of the cables so have to frog about 15 rows.
Before you frog all those rows, try dropping down just the stitches for that one cable, fixing it, and knitting the cable column back up again. (With separate needles, obvs.)
If it doesn’t work as planned… well, you were going to frog back anyway, right?
I think its a good sign! At least it would be in my world…
I lost my knitting mojo for several months during lockdown. A good chunk of my knitting time was done during my daily commute and when that went away… so did a good chunk of my motivation. Now that things are starting to get back to normal, my mojo is slowly returning. And while I do NOT need more yarn, I definitely want to buy it and cast on all the things.
I personally LOVE hand dyed speckled yarns, so my recommendations may not work for you, but some yarns I’d recommend….
Spun Right Round (https://www.spunrightround.com/)
Hue Loco (https://hueloco.com/)
Yarn Ink (https://www.yarnink.com/)
Machete Shoppe (https://www.macheteshoppe.com/)
Sweet Georgia Yarn (https://sweetgeorgiayarns.com/)
Blankets! I’m one skein in on a birthday blanket, with 2 more lined up behind it. This current one is crochet because it’s fast and the birthday was last week????.
However the next one is going to be knitted.
I am working on a baby afghan now in the middle of researching to update my previous book on the history of Chinese Silk Embroidery. The two don’t sound like they go together, but they do. If I am stuck with phrasing the writing, I crochet for a few hours. All of a sudden the light bulb goes off in my head and I can write what I mean to say. I need both of these areas! In the evening, crocheting closes the door on the writing work I have done that day. Then sleep.
What do you like most about your knitting? The knitting itself? Wearing — or seeing people wear — your creations? Or just buying the yarn?
You need a Local Yarn Store in your life. Ironically, with the pandemic, it doesn’t need to be local to you.
I work at an LYS in San Francisco, Firebird Yarns. My top three recommendations:
Sincere Sheep: All domestic wool, custom milled, natural dyes. Really remarkable.
https://sinceresheep.com/
The Dye Project: lush bases, sophisticated color palettes.
https://thedyeproject.com/
The Royal Bee: both a Local Yarn Shop AND makes her own yarn, again, domestic fiber, custom milled and naturally dyed.
https://www.theroyalbeeyarncompany.com/
…actually, my number one recommendation is Seismic, but she kinda went viral last week, and I don’t think she can accept any new orders. But – check out her Cosplay collections.
I love Madelinetosh and they are in Texas. Their quality is good and have great colors. Love their yarn w some silk and / or cashmere mix.
You should come to NYC’s Vogue Knitting in January. You would love the craziness.
https://florilegium.com/ It located in Westin, MO, outside of Kansas City. Very nice people. Great customer service. It’s like a wonderland for fiber artists of all stripes and levels. The website has goodies too. Check it out! I’m not affiliated in anyway, I just love it there and they are a lovely small business.
Up until now, I have only bought yarn for specific projects. But yesterday, I finally caved and pre-ordered a yarn advent from an indie yarn dyer I’ve been watching for a while (Dragon Hoard Yarn). It’s 31 mini skeins. That I have no idea what I’m going to do with. It was expensive. But… I am so excited because I know the yarn is going to be so pretty, and I’m going to have so many different colorways, and October is going to be amazing because I get to open one new mini every day.
I recently finished knitting my first shawl! I bought fancy yarn (Fiberstory One Silky in Coastal) that’s faintly shiny b/c it’s 30% silk, and I bought a pattern (Summery Sky) from a shawl designer (Woolenberry) that has lots of pretty and (relatively) easy/repetitive patterns. It turned out great! Now I’m hooked on shawls. That shawl was a wedding gift, which means now I’m knitting another shawl from the same designer (Rose Petals) for another wedding gift! (lots of weddings this year)
So much love for pretty yarns and knitting pretty things <3
I don’t knit, to slow for me but somewhere down the line I want to learn how to crochet with thread to finish the edges of a couple pillow case sets that will be Christmas gifts eventually.
I did try Kumihimo because it looked interesting. I bought a $30 kit from WhatABraid.com. FYI the fittings aren’t included in the kit. I enjoyed it and lots of variations with different yarn, ribbons and beads that can be made. I made three different bracelet variations out of the kit. I have some beads I’d like to use to make a necklace, when I find them, and have time to research a pattern and get it all set up.
I finished my Sashiko cranes and now to find the dragonflies I previously finished. I’m thinking a totebag as I don’t need any pillows. Next is to finish the linen dresser scarf that’s nearly done. I need something that can be picked up and put down at work. Once the calling starts and my tidying is done it gives me something useful to do. So many projects!
I have fallen in love with Hobbii Cotton Twirls yarns. Tcolor changes are amazing. I have been crocheting and knitting lace.
I go through knitting phases as well. Right now it’s just too hot to knit. I’m going to try my hand at embroidery-small simple not wool : )
Freia yarns on etsy has some cool colors.
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/color-craze-cowl-2
fun and happily mindless with color changes to keep it fresh ???? I’ve about to join mine and start the last 6 bands in the round.
My go to site for yarn is Little Knits in Seattle. Gorgeous yarn, huge selection, and the absolute best sales.
Right now I’m working on a new hat design with a really cute crown decrease. You can see a pic on my instagram @helensilvadesigns
There is a yarn store just about 30 yards from my front door here in the French Quarter, where my street T’s off with Chartres. I used to crochet and do cross stitch and embroidery and wanted to knit and I go and stand and love the pretty pretty colors, and then I go home, because I have no stamina left for projects. They have a whole wall of yarn that almost feels like an art installation, it’s so pretty, and I’ve tried to talk my husband into building me a display like that in the living room and he just laughs and thinks I’m joking.
I went there when I visited NOLA! somebody from a wedding was in there looking for string. it was great!
Lion was having a sale recently of their Jeans acrylic worsted-weight yarn. I bought enough yarn to knit 2 sweaters, as it makes a soft, light sweater and hubby doesn’t like wool sweaters (too scratchy).
I used to do knitting and crochet projects every week with a friend; we called it craft time. When the pandemic happened we stopped, of course, and I didn’t have the heart to do it alone. We are getting back together this week! I’ll work on the blue shawl I left off with last year.
Go for it! Maybe try some from recycled Sari silk? They have some amazing colors for that.
Nope…can’t knit except hats with a loom…..never could figure out the needles thing 🙁
Working on 3 quilts for grand-daughters heading off to college this fall.
I’m currently making a shawl with some lovely yarn dyed by Laura of Native Twist in Mt. Sterling, KY. Also I have a pair of Fidget Socks in the works with some Spun Right around Classic Sock in Belly Flop.
Oh man, I don’t know how to buy yarn online. I am still learning as I’ve only been at this a year now and I get all my yarn from Michaels. But I still have so much yarn! I need good website or yarn recommendations. No one I know knits!
Last Saturday was knit in public day. I bought some yarn at my LYS. She has a fantastic store ! Sue2knits.com. We just started our first stage of opening up. First time in the yarn store for a long time.
There is ssooo much squishy goodness in there ! ????
I bought some rowan felted tweed to make a colourwork pullover.
I started a lightweight cardi (soubrette) made with laceweight.
Check out Julie Williams Little Cotton Rabbits. I am making a girl sheep with a red dress. There is a group on Facebook. They are really cute and addictive to make. You cannot make just one ! Lmao
If you are looking to do something different, checkout Sarafina felting fanfare on Facebook.
I’m knitting the Thorne blanket from Faerie knits, a little cable, a little brioche, just routine enough to watch Netflix and hang with.
I went on a stitching hiatus from about October to April. It was, to my way of thinking, a combination of a very close friend’s death and the cumulative effects of quarantining, etc. And then we learned that youngest brother is coming to live with us (hopefully only temporary) next week which meant cleaning out the black hole of a guest room. Now 90% of my yarn collection is carefully stored in sealed containers in the basement. The rest, including all those kits I had purchased, is in my den closet. The half dozen WIPs are lined up next to my chair. Presently working on a modified log cabin style baby blanket, a squishy throw, a gingham baby blanket (crochet), and have one quarter of a scarf-let to finish knitting. The half-done Nightshift shawl will be frogged and started over on larger needles.
I can provide yarn if you need/want any; I have more than I will ever use.
I have just finished (crochet) a baby blanket and am working on a lacy shawl in a cotton yarn. I have a blanket (knitted) started, but Houston has gotten too hot to work on it.
My daughter has called dibs on that, so I don’t have to figure out what to do with it unless she gets a new couch before I manage to get it finished.
I have never been fast, but a fun pattern always helps. (The baby blanket is a spiral of 3 colors, worked 1/3 of a round in each color until the size is right. No time to get bored before a change happens.) I might make another one in a different color.
I suspect that a certain amount of your knitting desire returning is a release of tension as the pandemic eases. (You probably do, too.)
If you are unsure about what to make or at least start on, I suggest something small and/or not too complicated – a hat, maybe a scarf. If something else takes your fancy after you start, there’s not much invested in the project and nobody will use it for months even if you do finish it…
I love pictures of your yarn. I can’t use wool, so all that gorgeous hand dyeing is not for me. But I can look!
Enjoy, Sweetie, you’re entitled to some fun!
Check out Grace Mcewen patterns book on Amazon and patterns on Ravelry
You might be able to shop at home for yarn to fit the pattern – very challenging and delicate
I have too many things in progress. I finished a baby afghan for my nephew a couple weeks ago, and currently in progress on another for my BFF’s baby girl. I also want to make one or two crocheted shrug/tank patterns I bought and picked up some truboo I can’t wait to use. I also started a dishcloth that I think I’m going to frog, and I have a half-done sampler blanket to get back to whenever I catch up. I’ve been spending too much time outside maybe?
I have some hats I am knitting. Whenever any local non-profit has an auction to raise money, I donate a hand knit hat with your choice of yarn and pattern, which I buy and knit for them. For whatever reason I really like knitting hats and my friends and family have been inundated. I scratch my knitting itch, money is raised, and warm heads ensue. Win-win all around.
Baby kimono booties. Quick gratification and extras go to my local women’s shelter
I’m finishing up a lap rug that I’m knitting for my mom who is nearing the end of her battle with dementia. She was a knitter herself and taught me to knit many years ago. She has good days and not-so-good days and, on her good days, I can tell that she notices and responds to my sitting and knitting beside her. It’s a sad/happy project but so, so worth it to see flashes of my mom now and then.
If you are anything like me, this means stress is easing a little. I paint my nails all kinds of wild colours as a form of stress relief – I find the process itself soothing, I am always cheered up during the day by a glance at my sparkly space-Blue or autumn orange nails, and I enjoy reading reviews about and buying new polishes. But when I am super stressed, suddenly it stops being stress relief, and just becomes one more thing I have to do. When my nails are suddenly plain, friends and family ask if I’m OK, and when I show up with colours on, they sigh with relief and say ‘I’m glad you’re feeling more yourself’. If I ever showed up with ratty, chipped polish, they would probably make me have a nice lie-down with a cool cloth on my forehead while they called everyone I know in order to stage an intervention.
Buy some yarn. Go wild. Be nice to yourself. It’s Good that you have the mental bandwidth to feel joy again.
The local craft resale/donation store near me has “fill your own” paper grocery bags of yarn on sale for $25, but I resisted mainly because it was too hot this weekend to want to walk the 3 miles there, then to spring for the Uber home once I had my stash.
I’m not a knitter or crocheter because my mom has been crocheting my whole life and everyone we’ve ever met is set for yarn goods, but I did just take up punch needle embroidery and really appreciate how instantly gratifying it is compared to my usual cross stitch. I can fill a hoop in an afternoon.
I am working on several projects. I also have yarn for several more. My husband is supposed to be getting a stem cell transplant at a hospital 1.5 hours away so we will have to stay in that city during some of the procedures so I am preparing to be sitting around doing a great deal of waiting. I started a Tunisian stitch lap blanket, the Spring Day crochet cardigan and Endless Eyelets crochet cardigan. The two cardigans are light weight perfect for cold air conditioned hospitals. Waiting in the wings are two different pillows and blankets. I get bored working on one project so I always have at least two WIPs. BTW, I found you on Ravelry.
I’m a cyclical crafter, too! Sometimes I’ll wake up and crave my cross stitch and I’ll work on that exclusively for months and then… not interested for a while. Then I’ll pick up crocheting (usually my winter weather craft) or baking or I’ll just read a book a day. As long as you enjoy it, do it!
I want to break into your house and ravage your yarn stash. I crochet, not knit, and do only simple stitches because it is a relaxing thing to keep my hands busy when my mind is doing something else. So what is important to me is the feel and color of the yarns. The photos you post always look gorgeous.
Unraveled and reknitting the bottom part of a handspun cotton top I decided was too short. Thankfully I have enough yarn left over to make it 2-3 inches longer. Other than that I’ve been knitting my brain dead projects like cotton kitchen dishcloths & socks. Life has been too chaotic to tackle something that requires a lot of planning. 😀
I do not need more yarn. I don’t even knit in the summer when it’s stinking hot and sweaty here in Atlanta. I knit in the fall and winter, or anytime there is an emergency need for a baby hat. My last one was for the son of my daughter’s best friend, who hails from Savannah.
That said, Alpaca Direct, knowing me for a sucker, just sent out an email – $5 off with the code Summer5. Of course, I have to spend $40 minimum to save five bucks, but they know I’m not rational when it comes to fiber.
My gateway drug/yarn is baby alpaca, which feels like you’re holding true love in your hands. Light and warm and luscious. Generous and forgiving.
I encourage you to buy all the yarn you want. To paraphrase Mary Karr’s quote on reading, “It’s better than heroin. More effective and cheaper and legal.”
Darling!’n
I was knitting a hat for my daughter when I got distracted by a Mandala Madness crochet afghan by Helen Shrimpton. Now I may have to tear the hat out again and start over — counting stitches can be a challenge. I am pretty proud of the progress I’ve made on the Afghan, though, although it will take years to complete it (I stop during the summer months).
I’ve got four ends to work in on a trapezoid tank in Bamboo Pop (my absolute favorite yarn) in Clover and Jungle Life for the young lady that cleans for me each week. I’m going to cast on for a tank top for my sister. Hers will be a combination of pima cotton and cotton/bamboo.
I’m currently knitting a baby blanket in acrylic (baby things need to be washable). Third one in this pattern, it’s going to a couple from church who miscarried last year. (I think she’s pregnant again!:)
I knitted a bunch of socks, but nobody wore them, so I stopped. I made a bunch of scarves and hats for my local shelter. My son got married last fall and I knitted shawls for the bride and me. With only 5 weeks notice, only the bride’s got finished. Mine’s done except for the blocking.
Have started knitting again after many (too many) years – as lockdown relief…
The bamboo-cotton mix O have chosen is slippery, splits easily, is saggy and baggy… But it should make a nice summer jumper for my eldest daughter.
(And the colour will be perfect!)
*I!!
I just finished a summer top over the weekend in “Ocean Blue” 50% cotton and 50% bamboo. First time using the bamboo but it gave the top a really soft feel for summer. Dreaming of visiting the ocean again!
All the crafty folks on this community, and especially Ilona, need to see this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpzwVRahJ6I
😉
???????????? Yep!
Loved that! Hilarious parody.
I’m currently working on an enormous basket-weave crocheted blanket. It’s a mindless project and I honestly love it. Now the rows are horribly uneven in length because I just sit there and use it as a vent. But I’m determined to accept the imperfections as perfect for this project!
But honestly I haven’t touched it for months either. I’ve been so down it’s hard to get up much less do a mindless activity. That takes energy I haven’t had to spare before this last few weeks.
A few months ago you showed us 4 shawls and asked which we liked. I picked the Ambah Xanthe wrap and started that. I did the garter stitch portion but am stuck on 1 part of the lace instructions. So a trip to the knit store is planned.
I’m not knitting but I was learning to weave, and now I’m in the very early process of learning to sew. I’ll be happy if I can sew a reasonably straight line. That will be more difficult for me than you might think. I had to take sewing I 7th grade and it was horrible. All the boys in the class (everyone had to take it)sewed much better than me.
It takes practice with scrap fabric. I would recommend using contrasting thread to see why the stitches aren’t straight. Plus, doing that will also help with the top tension. Also, use a longer stitch length.
I started sewing when I was 10. I did the same things when I started sewing, and it helped.
That is what I plan to do. I’ll get some decent, but not expensive cotton fabric and one color thread for the bobbin, and a different color for the top, and practice using the machine. When I did that sewing class, I transferred there from another school and had to do all of the projects for the whole class in just 3 weeks where the rest of the class had a whole semester. It was horrible and turned me completely off the process. I ended up taking it all home and sitting there crying over it. Mom ended up having me start a process then she’d finish it for me while I did the rest of my homework.
Straight lines are easy, once you understand that the machine actually has a straight line to place the edge of the fabric on and slow down so you don’t let the material slide around as you sew. Home sewing machines can go at 200 stitches per minute, while the industrial ones move along at 2,000 per minute. Take your time and don’t push so harder on that speed. Because my machine is actually older than I am, I had to put a piece of scotch tape on the line, and because I did that, my line is longer than the original line on the machine. The key at the beginning of learning to do straight lines is to slow down. When you have to move your hands to hold the material, stop the machine entirely with the needle down in the material, move your hands, and start sewing again. I cannot stress enough to stop with the needle down, to hold the material still as you move your hands. Always roll the wheel to put the needle down in the same direction it moves as you sew, if it doesn’t stop with the needle in the fabric by itself.
Pin, pin, pin. Keep that material still and steady. Practice on the pieces left over from cutting out what you want to make. Get some tailors’s chalk and a ruler and draw straight lines and practice on that. Someone once suggested using lined paper, but if you do that, you need to change your needle because paper is just wood and the needle will be as dull as dishwater when you’re done.
I have to make my own clothes because I am not built correctly for anything sold in stores, so I’ve had half a century, at least, to practice sewing. Also, if you haven’t done so, get a vision exam. You can’t sew what you can’t see clearly. I have taught a few people to sew, and I wish you the best with your attempts to learn how to do it. It’s very fulfilling to make something to wear and know it fits and looks good.
Buying wool any knitting is always a pleasure and relaxing! I am just finishing a summer shirt made out of stash and a few balls tencel yarn I had to buy. And I am already planing the next shirt. This will be done out of a cotton yarn which has been lying here for at least 20 years. It was a project I never finished but I still like the yarn.
Now I hope that the summer will not be too warm to wear them ….
I love to knit and read. I am also a “Yarnaholic”. Currently, I could knit the rest of the year and part of next year and never come close to clearing my stash. But I still buy yarn…One of my favorites is Blue Moon Fiber Arts. The owner, Tina, is an amazing color genius. She will customize her colors for you and I cannot say enough about how awesome she is. I have also just ordered several skeins of Lascaux from Ancient Arts Fiber to get my hands on Manx Loughton wool. I consider my order as part of my contribution to keeping Manx Loughton from extinction. That’s my excuse, anyway. Happy knitting!