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lindsey_ca

Question for the folks who knit and/or crochet

18 years ago

How many projects do you normally have going at one time? The yarn shop where I buy most of my yarn has had a wonderful sale going on, and I've bought a ton of yarn lately.

Anyway, I'm thinking that I have developed a new "disorder" -- KADD (Knitting Attention Deficit Disorder). Since I really like all of this yarn that I've gotten, I find myself starting all sorts of knitting projects (I don't crochet at all - never could get the hang of it). I keep jumping back and forth between the projects, because I want to see how each piece is going to look with the yarn. Right now I have the following in various stages:

1 hat

3 scarves

2 baby blankets

1 afghan

1 shawl

And I have SO much more yarn that I haven't even touched yet!

I think I need to retire, so I can sit and knit...

Comments (24)

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    I crochet, but haven't learned to knit. It's on my list of things to do since my retirement. I like the look of knitted items better than crocheted ones. When I crocheted an afghan I would often have a baby sweater set going to to break the monotony of the afghan. Other than that I pretty much stuck to the project til it was done. I will say that when crocheting baby sets I did the sweater first, then the hat if it was separate from the sweater. By the time I got to the baby booties I was bored and had many sets that only had one aby bootie. Sometimes it would be months before getting that second one done. There were a few I never did finish.
    Show us some of your stuff.

    Linda

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    I knit and crochet...in fact years ago I knit so much I got "tennis elbow" from it all and had to give up for a time. I used to knit those icelandic sweaters in just a couple of days. I have recently picked it up again but hope to not make the same mistake of "always" doing it. I knit a sweater for our grandson for Christmas and 11 pairs of mitts for friends.
    The one thing I wish I could learn but so far have not been able to is "tatting". I have some antique pieces and have always wanted to learn it but just haven't gotten the knack of it.

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  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    I guess I'm different, I only do one project at a time.

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Please, don't ask. Someone in my family will complain that I have not finished their....... and then the next one will complain about... and so on, and so on.

    :)

    Moni

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    I crochet and am learning to knit. Knitted about a dozen scarfs for Christmas and crocheted another dozen hats and caps.

    Right now I'm knitting a washcloth and have several kitchen towels I'm crocheting the hanging tops on. I alternate between the two projects and am considering starting to embroider a pair of pillowcases, did a couple pair of them for Christmas too.

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    I usually have two or three things going at a time. Right now I am still working on a beaded shawl, and fingerless mitts for my brother. Plus I made a cowl that I don't like so will be remaking it differently.

    By working on different projects I can give myself a break. For example, if I am knitting one thing with chunky yarn I am apt to have another project going in sock or fingering weight. If one thing is very complex, I have something simple going on (maybe a variegated sock that is mostly straight stockinette).

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    I'm quite shocked at myself! I normally have at least three things going at once, but last night I finished a pair of socks that I was knitting two at once and a few days ago I finished a Baby Surprise Jacket. So all I have on the needles right now is a to be felted bag...I'm going to have to start another pair of socks though DH walked away with the new pair lol...he does that alot ;0)

    I haven't picked up a crochet hook since Christmas though -I made a doll purse for my niece and I didn't like the way it turned out so it's in the done but forgotten pile ;0)

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Hmmmmm..... looks like I'm out of control, eh? :-)

    Zipper, I just recently bought the pattern for the Baby Surprise Jacket. I'm so tempted to get one started... Was that the first one you've made?

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Im guilty of having more than one project going at a time.
    Right now,I have two afghans going,and two pairs of socks....none of which have been touched in the past few weeks.
    We've been getting our house ready for sale,and by the time my day is over,I simply don't have an ounce of creative energy left in my old bones.
    I have also had to come to terms with the boxes and bags of wool that has been hiding in my closets....none of which is inspiring me at the moment.

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Hey, I'm a Gemini, and I always have more than one project going at a time...LOL

    Here's a poncho that I crocheted up with some leftover yarn that my friend had. Sheesh with this colour I think they'll see me coming from a mile away.

    {{gwi:1612558}}

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Let's see....what have I got on the hooks and needles right now?

    pair of socks for DH
    pair of socks for myself
    log cabin baby blanket
    flower shaped baby blanket
    teddy bear for DGS#2
    fiery dragon scarf for DGS#1
    scarf for myself
    Moc-a-Socs for DGS#2
    Delft Delight afghan
    fingerless gloves for DSIL
    circle shrug for myself

    I'm right there with ya.

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Lindsey that was the 2nd BSJ I've done, the first one took a wrong turn somewhere on the last few rows and wound up wonky on one corner, so I didn't sew it up ;0) I'm pretty sure I am the cause of my own downfall though I wasn't paying as close attention as I should have been....sigh.

    Justlinda, I'm a Gemini too so I DO know what you're saying hahaha. I love the color of your poncho. ;0)

    Donna I'd put some of that down somewhere and never remember I had them on the needle, you're good lol!

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Try to have only a couple (but I have a couple of EACH hobby, sewing, quilting, crochet, needlepoint, etc..)

    I have been known to develop a knot on my wrist from crocheting too much at a time. Never could knit.

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    I'm a Gemini too, but I never have more than one going at a time. It's too hard to pick up a project and remember where I was if I don't stay with it until it's done.

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    when i lived in san diego they had this yarn outlet place and i took my mother every time she came to town, lol...

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Is there any possibility of getting the pattern for that poncho, justlinda.

    It is beautiful
    ivamae

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    I was working on a knitted washcloth, and I lost my project! Not sure what I did with it, it doesn't seem to be anywhere in my house. The worst part is, it had these wonderful bamboo needles I bought just for this purpose. The needles are the biggest loss!

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Hi Ivamae, sent you an email with pattern. Linda

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    I knit and crochet, and for the last 8 years have really had a strong interest in doing some every day. I learned to knit as a child and to crochet as a newlywed. I prefer knit for clothing. I guess I prefer crocheting for afghans. I have a baby surprise jacket I am just finishing, my 3rd. Also have a pair of baby booties I am working on. And then I am in the midst of preparing to finish a cotton crochet thread tablecloth for one of my son's law school classmates. His mother died this year and in cleaning out the house, he found a partially done tablecloth and wanted someone to finish it. I volunteered. Someone here found the pattern from the photos son took of the partial cloth. I am waiting for thread I ordered to see which kind of thread I can buy that looks like a match. This is going to be my challenge as she crocheted much, much tighter than I do.

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Wow -- thanks, everyone, for responding! It's fun reading about what you're working on.

    Mscsippy -- I don't have photos of any of the stuff I've made; and none of the stuff that's currently in progress is at a point where a photo would make much sense, because my camera just doesn't seem to take decent closeups (they always manage to end up out of focus or blurred in some way - I guess I need a tripod!). But, I'll try to get photos of all of these things as I finish them.

    Taigen -- my paternal grandmother tatted. I have many beautiful things that she tatted. I tried, but failed, to learn to crochet, so I don't think I'd be able to master tatting, either.

    Cherbo -- you're much more sane than I am!

    Moni -- your secrets are safe with me. ;-)

    Donna37 -- I haven't done any embroidery in sooo long! I'd like to start up again with embroidery and also counted cross stitch. I've got a counted cross stitch Christmas sampler that I started soooooo many years ago! The horrid thing, too, is that there's not that much more to do to finish it. I have completed many, many counted cross stitch projects, I just don't know why I've never gotten around to finishing this one. One of these days...

    Dances -- my sister wants some fingerless gloves/mitts, so that's a project that is on my "to do" list. I'm sure this Winter will be long gone by the time she gets them. LOL! But I, too, have vastly different yarns on each of my projects-in-progress, and I'm certain that must be why I have so many going at once.

    Eliza Ann -- knitting is supposed to be very good for relaxation and stress relief. Maybe you should spend 15 or 20 minutes knitting each evening to help relieve the stress of getting your house ready for sale. :-)

    Linda -- that is a really cute poncho, and I love the color! I also think it would make a cute skirt (not without a slip/petticoat of some sort, though!). But, as I've said, I can't crochet at all, not even one stitch or chain or whatever it's called... :-(

    Donna Loomis -- you're my hero! Keep adding to your list of projects so I won't feel so bad, ok? :-)

    Zipper -- I'll be sure to pay attention to what I'm doing when I finally get around to the Baby Surprise Jacket. My niece isn't due until mid-July, and since it's her first, it could easily be late July or early August by the time she delivers, so I'm counting on having enough time to finish the two baby blankets that I'm working on (I've already given her one, and all three are totally different from each other); and I also want to get some booties and caps done, too.

    Janie -- I haven't experienced the "knot on the wrist," but I HAVE suffered from cramps in my left thumb from gripping the left needle too tightly when it's a small size needle and lace weight yarn. Another reason why I like to have a bunch of projects going with different yarns -- so I can relieve that stress on my thumb.

    Socks -- I keep each project in a separate bag, and I always have paper and a pencil (mechanical pencil, so I can retract the lead) with each project so that I can make notes as to where I am when I stop. And I try to always stop after I've finished an odd-numbered row, which somehow helps (like a placebo, I'm sure!).

    Susanjf -- yarn outlet??? WHERE???

    Ivamae -- what color poncho are you going to make?

    Jannie -- your project will turn up when you least expect it! What size bamboo needles were you using? I use bamboo needles for everything that I knit that is knitted on straight needles. I also have the Bamboo Sister interchangeable circular needles set from Plymouth Yarn Company, and some fixed circular bamboo needles. One of the baby blankets is being done with the Plymouth interchangeable bamboo circulars, but for the other I'm using the Options Harmony Wood Interchangeable Needles from Knit Picks. I love those needles because the points are much "pointier" than on the bamboos, so it makes it easier to knit lace weight and fingering weight yarns. I've also got an afghan going on another size of the Harmony needles and the varigated-color yarn is nearly the exact same colors as the needles, so it's a challenge!

    Sheila Joyce -- what a great thing you're doing! I'm a tight knitter, so I certainly hope that no one ever has to attempt to finish anything I've started... Would using a smaller hook (than the one called for in the pattern) help at all? Have you tried taking the partial cloth into a yarn store to see what they can recommend to match the thread?

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    I cleaned out my craft room and gathered all my yarn,way too much so Im making 3 afagans,for my kids ,granny squares.crocheting.

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Sigh!!! you must have peeked into my box of UFO's. Thats unfinished objects. I finally learned to put the pattern away with the UFO, so when I take it up again, I'll know what the heck I was making.
    A local organization have asked for people to make hats mittens & scarfs, or donate partial skeins of yarn, so their knitters can make them, to send to a needing country. So I've been knitting hats, making up my own patterns.
    I have been thinking of going to the knittting, crochet forum to try to get a pattern for crochet flowers that can be used for nutcups. I thought they would brighted up the tables at our senior club this spring. Dottie

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    For a change, I only have two going. One is an afghan that I've had going for about 4 years, cause I don't like it! The other is a cowl for me. I will start a pair of socks this weekend, as we are taking the train from Cleveland to Rutland, VT and back. LOTS of great knitting time! If I knit something simple, I can enjoy the scenery at the same time. I just finished a pair of socks for my brother. My SIL gave me lots of sock yarn when she decided she couldn't make them, and the only thing it cost me was making DB a pair!

    Taigen, I can tat, but have to get the book back out to remember how. My grandmother tatted, but my hands were to small to hold the shuttle when she could teach me. I tried and tried to teach myself as an adult, but couldn't master it. I went to a Pioneer Day Festival and there was a lady there that had a display and was working on something. I was going to be back the next day, and she graciously told me that if I brought my shuttle & thread, she would help me. The only thing I was doing wrong was the way I held my hand holding the thread to work the shuttle thru. I don't have the patience to tat, tho. If we ever get to meet, I would be happy to get my book out and practice so I could help you.

    Sheila, try a smaller hook, if it isn't already a really small one.

    I almost always have three or four projects going, and have a large stash, mostly of sock yarn. When we travel, I buy sock yarn from the shops we pass. I then mark the label with where I bought it so when I make the socks with it, it becomes a souvineer of where we were!

    I have the yarn and pattern for the Baby Surprise Jacket, but haven't started it yet. Best get started, tho, as I have a baby shower for a cousin's daughter the end of March!

    Dottie, try a search over at the Knitting forum. I seem to remember not long ago someone requested a pattern for flowers. I'm sure someone posted a link.

    Tami

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    I haven't got that far yet. It hink it is so pretty
    ivamae

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