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.

www.amazon.co.uk/Knitting-Without-Tears-Easy-Follow/dp/0684135051/ref=sr_1_1?hvlocphy=1007333&hvnetw=g&keywords=elizabeth+zimmerman+knitting+books&hvadid=259062882624&qid=1576488241&gclid=Cj0KCQiA89zvBRDoARIsAOIePbDkJtYjO5eD-l7uLlxM1pJ-Rho-3xpsXfDNyIF0nmNQrsaSgs6egfEaAmQ7EALw_wcB&hydadcr=26641_1917489&hvpos=1t1&hvdev=m&hvqmt=b&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=kwd-302942233178&adgrpid=53478083739&hvrand=3641008063564129376&sr=8-1

Hello! I was taught to knit 3 years ago then learned to crochet from books and youtube. I also learned to sew 4 years ago (illness has forced me to find gentle ways of occupying myself).

I've made quite a random assortment of things. I love cosy handmade socks the most. Have knitted a few pairs and recently learned how to crochet them. I tend to make things mostly for myself, to wear. I love wearing as many handmade things as I can at once (max is roughly knitted/crocheted socks, sewn skirt, knitted jumper, knitted wrist warmers and crocheted hat). Little thing but it makes me smile

I currently only have 1 WIP!! It's not normal for me, though I do try to keep it down to 2 or 3 as I don't like feeling overwhelmed and like having something easy and something harder so I've choice depending on how I feel. I'm doing the Scheepjes rozeta cal though and wanted to be able to concentrate on it. I'm very behind- on week 6 and week 11 is released on wednesday - but I'm plodding along. I'm going to have to start something more portable soon for travelling over Christmas though. Crochet socks probably. Something fairly easy to do in the car and on the sofa when with family (it's a more sociable way of quietly tuning out when the company gets too much!).

@cattoddleruprising i love the octopuses (sp?!) What yarn do you use?? Thanks

@purpleframes someone posted this the other day, might be useful. www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVs0JMKELDhLRzYbMe-3DVFPyVjR80imJ

Just remember with crochet the stitches have different American and British names so pick one and stick with it for ease at first. I taught myself crochet using YouTube. At the start videos were best but now I like a good detailed tutorial like attic 24s. It takes perseverance, I never thought I would take to it but it just clicked one day.

I've finished this set of butterflies, now to gift them

There's some amazing work out there!

I'm a lifelong knitter although I have never learned to crochet. I have more WIP than I can even begin to count....

Here are a couple of my latest - finished - project

@Icypop - I mainly use Sirdar Cotton Print, King Cole Cottonsoft, Alize Bahar and Grundl. Come and join us on Facebook 😊

Hi all! Sorry for going MIA, this past weekend was absolute chaos in the Panda House.

Everyone's projects look lovely! I've just finished the fingerless gloves I was working on, and now I need to make a quick scarf for my BIL. I bought some squishy worsted yarn in three shades of gray...does anyone have any tried and true quick to make up scarf patterns? Not too fancy as BIL has a horror of looking feminine hmm]

Can I join?

I'm a crocheter after teaching myself using YouTube a few years ago. Would love to knit and have tried to learn but really struggled with it.
Have recently got to grips with basic cross stitch too.

Currently only have 2 WIPs - a doll for my niece (I have 2 legs and half a body) and a scarf.
Will he starting a new project soon - I want to make myself a hat.

I've attached pics of my last few finished projects - I've been on a mission to get things done for people for Christmas!

this is my go to for scarves:
Chain 20 sts (adult)
Row 1: work 1 sc in the 3rd chain from the hook, work 1 dc, 1 sc, repeat from to last stitch, 1 dc. (10, 12, 14, 16, 18 sts)
Row 2: chain 1, turn, 1 sc, 1 dc, repeat from all across.
Repeat row 2 until desired length.

@Belderan what a gorgeous little dolly!

@CatToddlerUprising thank you! I have a bulky yarn that I've been saving for myself, and I think I'll use your pattern for it.

I found a nice little pattern that I think I'll use for BIL. I decided on crochet because I think it'll go faster, and there's absolutely no question about taking a crochet hook on a plane. Although the rules in the US say you can take knitting needles, sometimes you get a TSA agent who has a stick (needle?) up their bum.

Men's Wavy Scarf. I'm going to put tassles on it though.

If anyone wants to be my friend on Ravelry (so we can snoop each other's projects) my username there is Woolpocalypse.

@mintyneb love the owls. How did you do the eyes? I usually glue glass ones on as i can't do eyes, I've tried and failed miserably. One poor teddy looked absolutely terrifying when after weeks of frustration i decided to make eyes using pom poms.... I really wouldn't recommend doing that

@owlypants- have you tried hodgepodge eyes? They’re quite easy to crochet

If anyone wants to be my friend on Ravelry (so we can snoop each other's projects)

Good idea (though I have never yet posted pics of any of my projects - might start now!). My Ravelry name is Numenor.

CatToddlerUprising I can't crochet, I do try and really want to! I'll have a look and see if they are simple enough. My crochet attempts always end up in knots. I can knit dolls, animals and clothes but can't crochet a granny square.

owlypants it was a bit of trial and error but these ones were knitted as per the following:
4ply wool, 3mm needles. Cast on 36 st, knit 1 row, purl 1 row. Next row - Knit 2 together to the end (18st). Purl 1 row, next row - knit 2 together to the end (9st). Purl 1 row, next row knit 1, knit together to end (5st). Cut wool and thread through remaining stitches then sew up. Finish off with half a dozen long stitches in black.

Basically just play around with the total number of stitches in the cast on row, the best number would be one that could be divided by 2 multiple times.

Hope that helps!

owlypants you're absolutely right about getting the eyes correct, they can really make cuddly toys very scary!

I'm a knitter, mainly circular needles or double pointed to knit socks, mittens etc. I have made 5 hats and a pair of socks for Christmas presents this year. I've just started a cardigan for myself on circular needles using some bright red yarn I bought in Aldi very cheaply.

I used to crochet but don't do it very often these days although I did crochet a cat for my daughter to use in school (she's a teacher).

Crochet is my favourite, I find more adaptable than knitting. I've made a few of these mice this year for Christmas trees. Pattern is from Pinterest.

I definitely don't use Ravelry enough. I mainly use to hold patterns.

Has anyone made Claire Garlands wild rabbit? It's next on my hit list. I'm a little nervous as I cannot see a YouTube video to watch and I am very much a visual learner!

I find it fascinating that people often put crochet and knitting together and yet as this thread shows loads of people can do one and struggle with the other.

I learned to knit as a child but just never got it. I learned to crochet about 4 years ago and haven’t stopped since!

Love the PhD concept...I have:

C2c blanket in a cross stitch pattern
Scarf based on the latest Doctor who scarf
Lovely fluffy blanket in some sort of Alpaca

And load of things I am never going to finish. What do you do with WIPs that you know you aren’t bothered with?

Mercedes519 I've never actually met anyone who can do both, except my MIL, who can also do Tunisian Crochet, embroidery, machine sewing, hand sewing, leather work, and pretty much anything else she tries. She hasn't tried needle felting yet so I've got her a starter kit for Christmas

WIPs I will never finish sit in a craft bag until I want the yarn and then I frog them.

and pretty much anything else she tries.

I'm like that.

Except for knitting 😂😂

That's not strictly true as I did teach myself last year but it felt SO awkward and I barely managed about 4" of a 6" square before I got bored. I might give it another go in 2020 though as I don't like to be defeated.

Love this thread already! I used to knit all the time, but took up sewing so I now seem to buy far less yarn than I used to, though I still always have something on the go. Currently it's a lace weight shawl, which may take some as it's not something I can do without making many mistakes when I'm tired, and a few socks. I made a bit of blunder starting some socks on some new dpns by knit pro - the karbonz ones. Super sharp and slick, but also dark, dark grey. Not great when your yarn is black. I need to swap over to different needles but oh the effort.

I can crochet, but I'm not as good as I find it hard to read the stitches, to know where I am, and how many stitches I've done.

@Glentherednosedbattleostrich where can I find that chunky hat pattern? I have a bit of chunky hand spun here which would be a nice break from the dental floss shawl

@hookiwooki I both knit and crochet! I crocheted for many years first, and then picked up knitting about three years ago. I enjoy them both, but for different things.

i knit and crochet too!

My mum taught me to knit when i was about 7 and I went on to teach myself to crochet from my mum's family circle magazine!

I really like new projects and promised that I would not start anything last year UNTIL I had finished my ongoing stuff, but I think we all know how that went

Major WIP is a Mystical Lanterns throw in many shades of blue for a King size bed, so you can see why I keep putting it down.

But I made dd a lovely tiop down jumper and really enjoyed it
I started another....but am bored with that now
I did a super blanket for DS1 &GF for their new place

And yesterday I ordered yarn for a ripple blanket for a chair, in the same colours as a random Moogly CAL I did years back (New Fashion DK in walnut, cloud, denim and chocolate
AND two lots of Sublime Eden from WoolWarehouse Sale to make shawls.