Any knitters here?

[PasadenaTrudy]

I'm new to knitting, know the knit and purl stitches, drop stitches too. I'm too impatient and easily distracted to do K and P over and over, so I just stick to the knit stitch. I've made several scarves and have just started on a blanket on circular needles. I like using bulky yarns and larger needles (10mm and 15mm). Thing is, I live in SoCal where it's too hot for sweaters, scarves, socks, etc I think I'll be giving out scarves to the homeless I see around my town.

So, any other ideas on what I could knit? What do you like to knit?

[MontanaMama]

1. I'm a newer knitter too.

I like to make kitchen washcloths. They're simple to do...knitted on the bias and are just a knit/purl design. This is the pattern I like:

It uses smaller needles but I didn't find it very difficult to do...I use cotton yarn. I live in MT...maybe I should make scarves instead! It's COLD here right now.

[PasadenaTrudy]

6. Thanks for the idea!

I wish it was cold here. About 80 today

[mopinko]

22. i.love.these.

i bought some in a second hand store that the owner's mother knitted.
they really are great.

[fierywoman]

2. I've knit for a while ...

there's an easier way to do a purl stitch (I learned it from a Hungarian woman -- ) You might check that out because the American way to purl is kinda lugubrious. As an older woman, I find that knitting EVERYTHING on circular needles is way less tiring.

Are people still making pussy hats? There are free patterns on the internet.

[PasadenaTrudy]

10. I'm 55 with gimpy hands

so, circular do seem nice so far. I'll go on youtube to find other ways to purl. Thanks for the suggestion.

[wryter2000]

3. I've been knitting and crocheting for over 50 years

After a while, you'll get bored with plain old knitting stitches and will want to try something more exotic. Here's one of my very favorite patterns, and it's so easy.

You cast on stitches in multiples of 18. Then do the following:

Row 1 - knit across
Row 2 - purl across
Row 3 - (knit two stitches together) x 3, (yarn over, knit one stitch) x 6, (knit two stitches together) x 3. Repeat until you've completed the row
Row 4 - knit

This makes a gorgeous ripple pattern.

Also, check out [link:http://www.ravelry.com|. They have all sorts of patterns, most free.

[PasadenaTrudy]

7. Thanks!

I'll give this a try. My mind wanders so much while I'm knitting, I forget what I just did or what comes next. Need to learn to read my stitches.

[Squinch]

4. I'm kind of the opposite. The smaller the needles, the lacier the pattern, the closer I am to going

blind as I work it, the happier I am.

Check out the site for Drops Design. They have great -and free- patterns for EVERYTHING. Christmas decorations, baby items, scarves and shawls, sweaters, bags, even rugs.

[PasadenaTrudy]

9. I have gimpy hands

and even worsted weight yarns are too fiddly for me

[jpak]

5. Every tme I see trump on the TeeVee....

I knit my brow.

[PasadenaTrudy]

8. I've avoided him since he got elected!

Haven't seen him or heard his voice since the debates with Hillary. I just read my news, helps keep me sane and less depressed

[applegrove]

11. I knit favourite team hockey sweaters for my nephews when they were

kids. They had the logo on them and everything. But we are in canada so they got some use.

[PasadenaTrudy]

14. I have no one really to knit for

It's just my boyfriend and my brother left. My brother lives in Hawaii and we live in SoCal I do enjoy knitting though.

[applegrove]

15. This is the best yarn company in canada. Their pigments are so great.

https://briggsandlittle.com It is very wooly with fantastic pigments.

I did knit a sun dress for my sister with cotton yarn. I took measurements from blind guessing and knitted it like two sides of a tank dress. I cast on a certain number of stiches and knitted two inches before i realized that was the wrong size so i did my math and redid the casting on and it was perfect. The yarn was cotton ivory and it had some silver thread running through it. I did squares out of pearl and beside that squares out of knit. Each square was about 1.5 inches square. So it was a chequerboard pattern. I assumed she could use it as a cover up for a swimsuit in the summer. Don't know that she ever did. If i had been thinner then i would have kept it for myself. So there is cotton yarn out there you could knit with.

[PasadenaTrudy]

17. I can't knit with such small needles

smallest that works for me are 10mm. No way with 5mm or smaller!

[applegrove]

19. Okay. Have fun.

[seaglass]

12. Market bags - it was the first thing I knitted after a scarf. I am a new knitter also.

DU has a craft group:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1032

[PasadenaTrudy]

13. I'll have a look into market bags..

but, sounds like another thing I'll have no use for, lol! I need to move to a colder climate some day, I think.

[sakabatou]

16. I'm not, but my mom is

Her last project was making mittens.

[zanana1]

24. That's the best and warmest kind! nt

[Grey]

18. I second the wash cloth pattern.

someone, somewhere needs to do dishes... You can also buy a fancy bar of soap and use the cloth as wrapping, tie it all up with a piece of ribbon and you have stocking stuffers for all your friends.
It can be used for far more than a wash cloth, I also knit kids toys....
On Ravelry you can find lots and lots of stuffy patterns. Love the Pussy Hats....
If you can knit a scarf you can knit a hat.

The easier way to purl is part of the Combination knitters on Ravelry. It's not a very lively group but there will always be someone to answer your questions.

[PasadenaTrudy]

20. Thanks!

I have a Ravelry account but haven't done much perusing yet.

[BlueSpot]

21. Can you knit toys?

I don't know if you're looking for family gifts or what or if you have any family members that use toys but you could always donate them to a children's hospital or something if you are just looking for projects. Also, what about pet sweaters? Again, maybe not for local use but I bet some fur baby somewhere would love it.

[mopinko]

23. hey, if you want to send warm stuff to chicago for the homeless

i have a friend who does that every winter. collects coats, and makes survival kits, and goes out whenever it's below zero.