Keep Your Knitting Simple (plus a Free Pattern)

re: Keep Your Knitting Simple (plus a Free Pattern)

KimW — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:16:27 GMT

Books on tape while I knit "simpler" projects makes me feel efficient, and "the reader" is good company. He doesn't expect me to give long drawn out answers. It is good to have an easy and a complicated going at the same time. I sometimes do squares for Warm Up America, and I use those as stitch samplers--trying out better and different stitch patterns.

re: Keep Your Knitting Simple (plus a Free Pattern)

sassygirlknits — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 21:33:07 GMT

I like to get out some of my books and patterns and look them over to get some inspiration and get a diversion from what I am currently doing. This gives me a fresh perspective on my work. Sometimes I opt to finish a garment instead of knitting. Usually when I go back to the knitting and feel refreshed. If I really do not like something I am doing I will frog, if it doesn't seem to be worth my time. If it becomes too tedious or there's no joy in it I let it go. I can't see the point. It's supposed to be enjoyable!

re: Keep Your Knitting Simple (plus a Free Pattern)

NancyH — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 00:38:09 GMT

I have several projects because I have to knit every day to keep my gauge consistant. Well, that is what I tell myself. I am tempted to make the twisted rib sweater but I used to twist all my stitches and I have had to break myself of the habit. I too like to listen to music while knitting. The cable channel in my area has many music chanels and listening to the blues and knitting with Noro is my favorite thing.

re: Keep Your Knitting Simple (plus a Free Pattern)

RobinH — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:13:36 GMT

I agree with everyone who says trying new things and having both simple and complex things going at once. But also, I don't hesitate to take break and do something else. I can get very goal-oriented about finishing, but if I'm tired of knitting, I'll go read or play music or exercise or sew or do one of a dozen other hobbies. (Housework I save for really desperate times.) JD- one of my favorite dead-simple stitch patterns for socks is garter rib (intro'd to me by Charlene Schurch in her lovely book Sensational Knitted Socks): Row 1 K2,P2 Row 2 K around. It produces smooth verticals with texture between, very simple and yet visually interesting. It's especially nice with heathered or lightly shaded yarns.

re: Keep Your Knitting Simple (plus a Free Pattern)

Kashi — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:59:33 GMT

To help keep my knitting fresh and fun, I try knitting in new places. Usually a loner at school, I'm not one for gossip or trivialities. Sometimes I'll knit in the library, or at the park under a tree. Sometimes I ride a scooter downtown (it's about .75 miles away from where I live), pick a bench, and knit my troubles away. I also like listening to music while I knit. As a diehard musician myself, I appreciate a wide range of music, but I especially enjoy oldies, "classical," and jazz. I get most of my listening done while knitting, and though it slows me down just a bit, I get more pleasure out of knitting than I would otherwise.

re: Keep Your Knitting Simple (plus a Free Pattern)

CaitJ — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:45:55 GMT

I am a new, two-year old knitter. When I made a mistake, I have never groaned at the idea of frogging. I just figured that it enabled me to extend my knitting time and to be able to continue knitting and ending the project. The trouble I have, as with my other passion of counted cross stitch, is alway and has been the starting of a new project. That is why I probably have many projects going at once. My goal is to learn to knit socks. Talk about a totally portable, soothing thing to do. I think that the thing that keeps it new and fresh and fun for me is the idea of possibly giving the project to someone that will appreciate the hours of knitting and praying that I have done for them as I knit.

re: Keep Your Knitting Simple (plus a Free Pattern)

Mary@12 — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:16:03 GMT

Anytime I'm really in a pickle and feel like I'm just the tired out knitter I find a class. Learning something new and being surrounded by folks who are creative really gets me going again. Sometimes I just take a class where I know the subject but it still helps to be surrounded by a group who are totally jazzed about knitting.

re: Keep Your Knitting Simple (plus a Free Pattern)

LynnF — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 19:13:17 GMT

I love to felt bags. I like to have a bag started on my needles. After I get it done I'll do a different project. Right now I'm doing a baby blanket for my new nephew. There are three of us who get together once a week to knit and talk. That keeps it fun for me.

re: Keep Your Knitting Simple (plus a Free Pattern)

Susknit — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 18:32:12 GMT

I always have 4 or 5 projects on the go, of varying complexity. That way, if I have a problem with one project, or get bored if the knitting is plain, I can switch to another one and return to the problem after a break. I am currently knitting an Aran weight shawl, a 1ply lace shawl, a jacket in Noro Silk Garden, wrist warmers and a baby blanket in shadow knitting, plus the inevitable socks. I am constantly on the lookout for new projects to start, but have a stash that's threatening to take over the house.Oh well, I shall never be without something to knit.

re: Keep Your Knitting Simple (plus a Free Pattern)

jldotson39 — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 17:08:23 GMT

So--is there a pattern available for this "One easy-to-memorize-but-lovely stitch pattern, worked ‘round and ‘round till the knitting is done. " ? I need to stop what I'm knitting at the moment (tea cozies) and an easy sock sounds nice. Thanks for any help.

re: Keep Your Knitting Simple (plus a Free Pattern)

HannahB — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:36:05 GMT

I usually pick some program on the radio I really want to listen to. Most of the time it's either crime or classical music. Then I sit in my favourit chair and _do not knit_. But I keep a nice piece of knitting nearby... usually it takes about half an hour and I'm at it... Since I did not intent to knit, I do not need to be productive. But I might as well take a closer look to find out where the pattern went wrong. Or I might take another pair of needles and some ugly yarn I always wanted to get rid of and start doing the konstruktion in miniature. Even if what I do is quite crappy and full of mistakes, I usually get some kind of notion where the problem is. And since I keep my mind on the radio program, I'm always pleasantly surprised if a solution occurs or something gets done, but am not disappointed if not.

re: Keep Your Knitting Simple (plus a Free Pattern)

Ginny — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:22:59 GMT

I love, love, LOVE Gabrielle's response. This is my favorite solution for the "lost my knitting mojo" blues. An added twist is that I knit and FELT my dog toys. All our doggy & kitty friends got a felted toy for Xmas ^..^ I have so many projects on the needle that I am never bored. Socks are my constant companion - a pair is always in the works. Right now I have a lace shawl, two different (1 knit, 1 crochet) socks, a simple jacket, The Hemlock Ring, a scarf, a dog sweater and a huge bag that will be felted and lined - to become a knitting bag for a friend. There are days I work on only one project. Others days I switch up. Then there's my wheel and my loom . . .

re: Keep Your Knitting Simple (plus a Free Pattern)

Gabrielle — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:01:00 GMT

When I get bored or frustrated with my knitting, I switch to a dog toy. My German Shepherd doesn't care if my knitting is perfect, he doesn't care if it's shaped like a bone, the mailman, or just a tube....LOL...and he's ALWAYS very appreciative to receive one! You can use up that ugly, hairy neon green and purple yarn that your DH found at the dollar store, and he takes it from your hand as if it is the finest Quviut or Vicuna...LOL....Oh yeah, and then there is having multiple projects.... (But always a dog toy in there somewhere...because if YOU don't have a dog, someone you know DOES...and the recipient acts the same! It's the only knitting you can do that you love to see slobbered on!)

re: Keep Your Knitting Simple (plus a Free Pattern)

Nancy LB — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:57:44 GMT

I am in the process of knitting a sweater for my little grandson. If I start having problems I lay it aside for a couple of days and work on dishor wash clothes, breaks up the monotany of the knitting. Yes the sweater will be finished soon..

re: Keep Your Knitting Simple (plus a Free Pattern)

WendyS@2 — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:38:03 GMT

I knit almost exclusively for charity so my patterns are always simple and quick and easy. When the same sweater I've made a half dozen times gets really boring I will add stripes, some simple pattern using knit and purl stitches etc. Remembering who will benefit helps keep me going. But most of all I am not afraid to frog if I don't like how something is turning out. I can't imagine working on something that I am dissapointed with or can't stand how it looks. it is suppose to be fun - not a chore. When knitting and my fingers crimp worse than frogged yarn I switch to embroidery, sewing, spinning, or quilting.