Knitters and Crocheters: Post-Apocolyptic Life Skills Group Meets Here!

[DoubleNegativePanda]

I've though Mumsnet needed a "yarn group" rolling thread, and now I'm tired of thinking it so I'm doing it. Share your projects, ask for help, show us amazing new stitches you just learned or post your disasters for commiseration before frogging the whole thing!

First things first, do you knit, crochet or both? And because we all need to share the dirty laundry in our yarn bags...how many WIPs do you have going?

I've knitted for three years but crocheted for about 30. I've got:

-A knitted scarf for myself Scarf Pattern
-One knitted sock done for myself (but I hated the pattern so much I doubt I'll do the second one) I heavily modified a pattern and it didn't work out well.
-One knitted sock for DD (but I will finish those, they're just on the back burner) DD's Socks Pattern
-A half done crocheted scarf for my BIL (I'm going to finish that one on a plane next week) Not using a pattern...he wants super simple so that's what he's getting.
-And 1.5 of fingerless mitts that a friend asked me to make Fingerless Mitts Pattern

That's kind of sick and insane when I put it out there. I jump from piece to piece a lot. I'm at work (I know, I know) but I'll post a pic of the mitts when I get home. I'm feverishly trying to finish those.

This is my effort

Oh lovely idea! I’ve not done much for ages but have a big granny square blanket that’s about 1/4 started. In attempt to use yarn mountain. Mostly crochet but happy to knit tiny things

I have a huge amount of WIPS. I mostly crochet, but do simple knitting as well as patchwork and cross stitch. Currently I am trying to finish a cardigan for myself that my friends gave me the wool for. I just need to knit the last 1/2 a front. I am also doing the Shjeepes Rozetta CAL, I am just about keeping up with that.

I also want to crochet a Miffy rabbit toy for my DN for Christmas to go with a quilt I am making for him.

Next year my resolution is to finish all my WIPS before starting anything new!

Oh I am in awe of people who can crochet dolls and amigurumi! I just can never seem to figure it out.

I think I'll take that new year resolution as well, and try to finish my WIPs before starting new ones. I forgot I have one shawl I've never finished. I started it in fingering when it really should have been worsted, and it takes so long to see any progress that I get frustrated and put it down again.

This is one of the mitts I'm working on. It's going very fast, which I'm grateful for as I've got to post it before christmas.

Has anyone tried arm knitting? My DD started this last year and made me a big scarf with pockets.

See knitting with more than 2 needles absolutely terrifies me. I am so impressed by people that can do it.

I love that varigated yarn DoubleNegativePanda.

I've been trying to be disciplined and only start a new project when I finish the one I'm working on. So far (mostly) so good. It would be a lot easier if my nieces and nephews weren't all having babies at the same time.

I'm both a knitter and a crocheter (40+ years). I learned to crochet first.

My plan for the rest of the year is to finish making the baby cardigans I've been asked for - I'm on the last bit of this one Norwegian Fir Top Down Cardigan and I'd like to make a hat to go with it and then I need to make another set for a different baby.

My New Year's resolution is to use up the yarn that I have before I buy anything new. I've got two packets of yarn that my sister offloaded on to me that have been sitting in my drawers for ages. I could make twiddle muffs with the chunky and then something with the DK. I also have 2 bags of stylecraft that were bought for blankets (one will be used for Woolly Hugs Chernobyl 2020) and then various sized balls of many different colours that I have been dipping into this year to make various small things. Two nativities and half a dozen tea cosies later and I still have lots. I might have to bend the rules on this if there are more babies

Then I have three balls of a silk merino mix to make a scarf with and two balls of sock wool. They are for me, not started yet and just keep getting pushed down the list.

Oh can I join?

Keen knitter, cross-stitcher and embroiderer.

Have slowly restarted this year and currently have 2 knitting WIPs on the go and one embroidery, though the embroidery one is very old as I was doing it for a dear friends first born child......she's know had another 3!! It's quite a big piece but I hope to have it finished at some point. I might even add names and birth dates of her children onto the corners.

Knitted pieces I've finished recently:

I would love to join! I have been knitting since I was very young, but always wanted to crochet and finally managed it a couple of years ago after several failed attempts. I'm not great at crochet but love it.

I have 3 WIPs on the go at the moment.

A small knitted giraffe (a gift)
A knitted aran sweater for my 11 year old son (he's a bit retro and loves a cosy jumper, whereas younger son is not impressed!)
A crocheted blanket of big granny squares to use up remnants

The blanket is winning right now as I've been ill with some horrible virus thing for nearly three weeks now and find the blanket less fiddly and more therapeutic than the other items.

I will post pictures when I'm feeling a bit more normal. Loving all the items others have posted.

Hello, can I join?

I'm a knitter and a crocheter although I generally prefer crochet.

I'm currently working on a mermaid blanket for my daughter for Christmas, a jumper for me, 4 hats and some fingerless gloves.

I'm a flitter, I like to have lots of projects on the go so I don't get bored of patterns.

Oh can I join? Knitting and crocheting since primary school and mostly manage a bit every day. Have way too many WIPs and far too much yarn so thinking for new year I will try and finish two wips for every new project I start- I have tried not starting any but then I find some new yarn or a gorgeous pattern and can’t resist.
Currently mainly working on a crochet caravan for my niece sized for sylvanian families, socks for myself (or possibly my Dd) and a chunky sweater for my eldest DS.
Will try and get photos later.

Love this idea. I knit (not confident) and crochet.

I've just finished a crochet elf hat for my DD for her school play. It's red * white candy cane stripes. It turned out lovely. I tried to start off an evening scarf with a thin, metallic yarn and I found the yarn so difficult to use I ripped it back & put it away.

I'm planning to start some knitted cowls as gifts this evening.

I find I've no one to bounce things off irl as none of my friends are crafty so I can get stuck in a rut with it sometimes.

@FLOrenze, I never have tried arm knitting. It looks like I'd get terribly tangled in it!

@MoreRainbowsPlease I was very concerned about using double-pointed needles as well, but in reality you really are only using two needles at a time, and the others simply hang from the back and are ignored until it's their turn. I really love using them now! I've tried using the magic loop or a tiny circular for socks, but I always go back to my dpns.

@TheWoollybacksWife I was a crocheter first as well. When you knit, do you hold the working yarn in your left hand? I wanted to knit for a long time and couldn't get the hang of it until I tried the "continental" method. Btw, I couldn't ever finish all the yarn in my stash before buying more. I wouldn't even try!

@beldaran I am in awe of knitters who can do animals. I don't understand how it works at all.

@ClinkyMonkey I too find granny squares to be a very soothing and non-stressful thing to work on. Perfect for when you're poorly.

@Glentherednosedbattleostrich of course you can join! Do you have a pattern for the mermaid blanket? I'd love to see.

@MoreRainbowsPlease the yarn is one of my very favorite dyers, Madeline Tosh. This color is called "Spectrum" MadTosh Spectrum

@aplo that's a very good idea. Finish two for every one started. I think I'll follow your lead on that one! But you all will have to keep me honest on it.

@MildDrPepperAddiction have you looked to see if there's a local yarn shop in your area that has a knitting/crochet group? I started going to one as a crocheter and soon got hooked on knitting as well once someone showed me how to knit continental. Continental is much easier to learn if you already crochet.

Can somebody help out this poor MNer who is struggling with a pattern? More eyes is always better.

Crochet Help Request

My DD did not knit, sew or crochet before she took up arm knitting. She saw a demonstration at a craft fare. It is great because I always know what to buy her now. I love buying wool.

I’m a hooker.
Just finished a hooded scarf for DD.
Been making baby toys for various people- mainly using the knitted critters pattern.
Just finished a massive thick blanket for DD, working on a mermaid blanket. My ongoing projects are making for Octopus for a Preemie

@CatToddlerUprising I love those octopuses (octopi sounds weird) for preemies. I've never made one yet. I've done the knitted knockers project, but that's it.

It’s great fun but really fiddly and hard on the hands- I mainly use 1.75mm hooks. The criteria is really strict about the cotton yarn, no holes and the pattern etc. But the ones that don’t pass the preemie tests (they’re pulled, stretched, measured etc) go in pairs for babies who have passed away.

Some recent octos and a monkey for a baby gift

I would love to crochet. I can knit but crochet is a nightmare! So far i have managed to crochet several knots

Can I join in too? I knit, crochet and stitch. For a while I couldn't break into crochet but once you get a good first row it gets easier and starts looking like actual stitches! Now I can make amigurumi quite quickly, and have designed a few things for my DC.

@aplo the Sylvanian Families caravan sounds brilliant! Tell me more, can they go inside it? I sewed some play food for our Sylvanians but haven't tried anything grander yet.

@MildDrPepperAddiction the candy cane stripe elf hat sounds cool! Do you have pictures?

I'm currently trying to finish off a few Christmas pressies, clearly a bit behind schedule as haven't even started two of them yet!!

I'm in, too. I'm mostly a knitter, but do sew a bit (I have 3 sewing machines but I'm still finding my way, rather, & have only really used 1 of them so far). I try not to have more than 1 sewing project & not more than 2 or 3 knitting projects on the go at once.

I found this tutorial on YT a while ago, which I thought could be rather helpful for anyone who likes knitting anything in the round.