Tell your favorites

 Hello All,

Let's have some fun.  I know we all love knitting and crocheting.  I feel it is probably safe to say we would all rather sit and knit/crochet more than anything else.  So if our dreams came true and all our other responsibilities would be taken care of and we could knit/crochet all day.  What would you create.  I love to make kid clothes and knitting toys for my children.  I would love to make an adult sweater, but I think gauge is a bit scary.

I would love to hear about others favorites.  What is your favorite yarn to use, stitch, etc.  Looking forward to hearing from others

Kim

Lace. I'd design lace stuff to knit all day, all night. I'd design lace inserts in garments, I'd design lace shawls, lace socks. Lace curtains. Lace tops. Lace....all lace all the time.

Funny how I said "design" and not just "knit"...yes, I would also knit lace all day, but in my heart and in my head, I'm constantly thinking of lace designs, and right now, I don't have time to swatch, write instructions, and all that.

but I dream in lace...

 hi kim!

since i'm retired i don't go all out for expensive yarns...but do like to make baby sweaters,  i've found that Caron Simply Soft makes a soft, yet substantial feel to a sweater and doesn't limit me from knitting a lot of them!  i like patterns that are either top-down raglans or has a special pattern/design in them. i'm getting better at the mattress stitch!!  i find many free patterns on the web and like to try new ones all the time.  my 2nd favorite thing would be the fairisle Christmas stockings i made for my 6 g'kids last Christmas!  all picked their color scheme and picture theme(sports for the g'sons!) and pastels for the g'daughters. these can be viewed on my blog or ravelry (check my bio)...

Hello Kim,

I love What If? questions! 

I would need variety and probably would continue my current approach, which is No Rules. I look at magazines, books from the library, web sites, and my friend's stash (which comes with patterns for specific yarns), and simply pick what I like, rotating between making items for charities, for my friend, for others, etc., just whatever strikes my fancy. I also rotate between brainless things to do while at a coffee shop or watching a movie to more complex things that I need to be in the mood for. I hope I never lose this approach, as it is soooooo much fun.

So far, I've changed and adjusted patterns but not really designed anything from scratch. I could see myself getting there at some point in the future. Right now, my favorite yarn is Wool-ease, especially the heathery-type color pattern. It's cheap enough to use for charity items but feels nice and contains just enough wool to make it "real".

Yvonne

 

 Yvonne,

I can totally relate to your approach.  I love to and need to switch off projects.  I also switch off whether I am crocheting or knitting.  I like knitting more, because I do not have to watch as I knit.  I can read, watch TV, my kids sports, etc.  I enjoy working with Caron's Simply soft, and I just started a project using Red Heart's TLC cotton plus.  I would love to get into designing one day myself.

Kim

 Linda,

I also love working with Caron's Simply Soft yarn.  I also love the color choices.  I just applied for an invitation to join Ravelry.  I am new to these communities, and have been a fan of KD, but I would love to check out your stockings.  FairIsle knitting seems so cool, I would love to try it.  Any pointers?  I also love to knit sweaters that have more to them then st st and garter.  I am a big fan of the baby wrap sweaters, I like the fact that they do not use buttons.  Looking forward to hearing from you.

Kim

 hi kim!

thanks! my suggestion for fairisle Christmas stockings is to ask your yarn shop if they have a generic pattern to follow... you can design your pics on graff(sp?) paper...when you start top-down(from cuff) you have to read your pic pattern upside-down!!  the rest is following a basic sock pattern.  i used worsted which was a little hard on my wrists, but the end-product was so worth it!!  happy stitching! 

 I love all kinds of knitting.  I love working with Cotton so making summer tops and sweaters is my favorite.  I love to see how all the lace and stitch patterns magically appear as I knit and block my work

I would be knitting the most gorgeous wardrobe of socks and lace anyone has even seen!  And I'd be doing it curled up in a comfy rocker with a nice beverage beside me and a great beach/ocean view out the window. 

I love to work with cotton, too. I think it goes back to my love of crocheting doilies and using the cotton thread. But I love worsted weight cotton since it is great for year-round wear and comes in such great colors. What is your favorite cotton yarn? I am a big fan of Plymouth's Fantasy Naturale, but am equally fond of Lily's Sugar and Cream. I also like the cotton blends, too.

 Oh, I'm joining you in that setting. Maybe we can move out to the deck when it's not too hot or windy! We've just had my favorite weather here today, 60's with sun coming through the trees onto the deck with pond and lakeview, but I'll join you for that ocean view any time

 I LOVE cotton yarn! Right now I am knitting a shawl with Blue Sky Alpaca's Organic Color-Grown cotton, and I love working with it. It isn't as thin as some others, such as Peaches and Cream (which I also like a whole lot!) so it is nice for what I'm using it for! You can see pictures of the shawl I am working on now on my photo page off of our website. I kind of designed my pattern....I had seen a shawl that I liked, and thought "I could do that!" Now I realize that it probably would have been cheaper just to buy the one I saw in that touristy little shop! Oh, well...there's nothing I'd rather be working with!

 

 

 

www.custerfamilyfarm.com

 Hi Kim,

I love making afghans. Sometimes a mindless pattern that I can do in my sleep is a very relaxing thing while at other times I really enjoy those that are a bit more complex so I can watch it come 'alive' as I progress.

I use to love counted cross stitch but the last picture I created really did a number on my eyes so much so the eye doctor wouldn't do anything until I had a test for diabetes! He was so certain that was the reason for the drastic change. It wasn't....just too many shades of white (who knew) on a beige background. Now I am content with just crocheting and attempting to knit afghans.

I love color! I taught myself to knit with both hands so I could knit fair isle faster. And I fell in love with the technique.  I have a large collection of Cascade 220 just for when I am craving some fair isle. I buy whatever colors appeal to me at that moment. However, it's enough of a brain challenge that I can't do it with kids around. Between a 3 year old and an infant, my brain needs sleep more than anything. My Cascade collection sits in my bedroom in a basket so I can admire, rearrange, fondle, etc. 

So, I have to continue to indulge my unnatural love of variegated yarns and modular knitting. Someday I will knit a sweater for my husband. He feeds the yarn stash without flinching. Yet, he has only asked for a pair of socks. He has not seen a man's sweater that appeals to him. Maybe someday.

Annie

Hi Kim

I love to knit hats and scarves.  They are quick projects and easy to transport.  I also love to felt. My felting doesn't always come out they way it should, but it is always fun to see what will happen once it hits the water.

Heather