Do you knit?

Nope, I have zero desire to knit! (Please tell me you’ll not be introducing knitting posts and diluting the wonderful sewing content here, right?) Yarn doesn’t absolutely nothing for me, and the length of time it takes to even check the fit just doesn’t appeal to me at all. And I’ve hardly got enough time for one crafty hobby in my life, let alone another!

I do knit as I can pick up and put down the projects and complete them over time. I would love to generate more momentum with my sewing, but I don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to it at the moment, and I have found that I made incredibly silly mistakes when I attempt to pick up and put down sewing projects. I need to do them from start to finish over a couple of days in order to be successful. I also find knitting to be incredibly calming to the mind, something I really value in these wacko times.

I’ve started knitting a few years ago, simply because it was a skill I wanted to master, and I found out I rather like it! So far the biggest project I’ve ever tackled is a fourth Doctor scarf (around five meters long). I prefer simple things I can easily memorize and knit on the train or in front of a tv. Next up: socks!

Oh yes–been knitting since I was 6 years old. I especially like to knit smaller projects that I can carry with my on the subway.

I knit and sew! I’ve tried to pick up crochet multiple times, but failed every one of them. I also draw and embroider (another good combination, because then I can draw my own embroidery patterns then post them on my blog because I never get around to embroidering everything I want to, and maybe someone else will).

I’m Corvus on Ravelry.

yep I’m a knitter, I taught myself a few years ago and soon became addicted. I learned to sew because I soon wanted to make a nice skirt or dress to go with something I’d knitted so I could complete the vision in my head and now over the last year or so I’ve been teaching myself to crochet (although I haven’t gotten to the garment creating stage yet) and I look forward to the day I combine all 3 into a single project.
I’m petitchoufleurs on Ravelry which has been an invaluable resource when learning to knit and crochet

My brother learned to knit in a class when he was in middle school and I was in high school and came home and taught me. I practiced it for a few weeks and then it fell by the wayside. Twelve years ago when my first marriage was falling apart and I needed something soothing that could provide some focus and distraction so I picked up the needles again and never looked back. Knitting was my first love and sewing grew out of that. Since having children I get far less knitting accomplished but I still always have something (or 3) on the needles.

Lovely stitchwork! I have been knitting for about 35 years, that is to the extent where I always need something on the needles! Sewing since 2009. I think they really complement each other.
I love designers like Kim Hargreaves – I think it is the slightly vintagey feel that Colette patterns also captures so well. Lately I have been doing some ‘tams’ by Kate Davies, and have just started on a cardi with a fairisle yoke for one of my daughters. I couldn’t resist one tam called ‘Neepheid’ – Scottish for ‘Turnip Head’. Another called ‘Caller Herrin’ based on herring scales has gone to my daughter in Toronto, a little reminder of home.
One of my daughters knits fairisle etc, two knit a little – and the fourth never mastered knitting but does fantastic crochet including fine lacework.
I haven’t posted on Ravelry in ages but I am ‘Soupdragon’ on Ravelry and Sewing Pattern Review.
I must admit I relax with knitting and watch TV at the same time. With sewing I can just listen to the radio.

Knitting is my favorite child. You will never catch me without a knitting project in my purse- who knows when you might get stuck in a long line, caught in a waiting room or delayed on the train. I agree with all your points on the appeal of knitting; further, I think knitting allows a lot more creative freedom than sewing does. Once a knitter learns the fundamentals, she can very easily make modifications and customize existing patterns or apply those skills to developing new designs. Plus, it’s really forgiving; if you don’t get gauge, you can always rip back and try again.

That is a beautiful sweater. I, too, find knitting and sewing a natural pairing. Both lovely yarns and fabrics make me very happy. I have started out with knitting and have only taken up sewing properly in the last few years. I’ve found that each complement the others for me. Knitting has helped me to have the patience to take care with the details of sewing (as well as being inspired by your blog), whereas sewing helps me to take more care with finishing my knitted garments.

I studied costume design in college but was not very good on the machine, I was never patient enough or a perfectionist. I ended up being the researcher and head ironing mistress. Years later I was introduced to knitting and then taught myself. I even bought two sheep that live in my backyard. A year ago I began sewing again and find I have developed more patience from knitting. Knitting is such a great project to toss into a bag and work periodically on. 15 minutes can get you 5 new rows. I’m on ravelry and the screen name is foggygardens.

I learned knitting, crochet and sewing at (about) the same time, starting in 3rd grade.

Sewing an knitting serve a different purpose. I tend to sew to close gaps in my wardrobe or because I just need a new dress for event x. Knitting (and crochet) though is process oriented. It keeps my hands busy. It calms me down when I’m upset. But I don’t ever sit down ‘just’ to knit. If a cardigan takes me a month or sometimes two or three.. oh well!

Oh yes, Knitting and sewing do go hand in hand! I’ve been a knitter with few sewing skills for years. Only recently i’ve resolved to be a more active sewer and have a nice marriage between the two! The sweater you made your mom is beautiful!!

I knit and sew too! I love them both and wish I had more free time because I feel like my knitting has taken a back seat to sewing lately. I’m knittedup on Ravelry.

Knitting is my main hobby. Although, I first learned about the same time (age nine) as I picked up sewing. But, I learned knitting more informally at first and couldn’t do much where as with relatively little experience sewing I was able to churn out large projects quickly. When I returned to knitting at 16, it became my number one hobby. I’d consider myself an advanced knitter, while I’m more of an intermediate sewist.

Guess you got your answer…sewing and knitting do seem to tick similar boxes for those with a love of fiber. When the hurricane caused a power outage on Monday, which at my house occured just as I was about to thread my sewing machine, it meant I had to change over to a different kind of needle-@ddis-and start knitting a hat. No electricty required.

Hoping the power comes back on soon for others impacted by the storm.

I knit! I first learned how when I was about 6, but just this year I have begun to expand my stitch knowledge. I just finished a cabled shrug yesterday, my first actual garment! Knitting is such a relaxing hobby. I carry mine to classes with me, and always find myself working on a project after a long day.

Yes! Everything you said is so true:) yarn stash & fabric stash side by side.
Both are meditative and deeply centering and satisfying to my soul.
I’m bontemps on ravelry:) oh, and my daughter’s name is Colette;)

The sweater you made is gorgeous! I love knitting, and more recently it’s taken hold of me more than sewing, as you said for its portability (so nice when the baby sleeps in the car or stroller, to take out the needles for a few rows). Knowing how to sew has helped me so much in my knitting, in that sometimes it feels like I’m making the pattern pieces to which I’m already familiar (raglan vs. set-in sleeve, etc). I also sometimes finish my knitting on the sewing machine, a trick I learned from an (expert) Scandanavian!

Love this sweater! Just wondering what the pattern is. I love to knit, I sew during the day and knit to relax in the evenings. Beautiful job, your Mom is very lucky!

I’m emilyrose on ravelry! I am pretty sure I added you to a rav friends a while ago. hooray knitting!

I knit/crochet and sew! Knitting and crocheting is a bit easier for me, but it is time consuming. I like the relative instant gratification of sewing, but I get slowed down by the different steps – cutting, sewing, fitting, whatnot. I usually end up going back and forth between the two and have one or two longer term projects for each. http://www.ravelry.com/people/soybean589

I love to knit, too! I taught myself a few years ago when it seemed like everyone I knew was having a baby– I wanted to be able to make special, but affordable, baby gifts! So many people with knitting blogs are also sewists, so it wasn’t long before I decided I needed to learn how to sew, too!

yes I am a knitter also! i’ve been a knitter much longer than I have been sewing, and consider myself a novice at the latter. I learn so much from you, Sarai!
you may find me here on ravelry:

http://www.ravelry.com/people/seashoreknits

and I am heading there now to friend you! it will be great to see you there.
My time on ravelry has really decreased since I have been spending more time practising sewing!

I do knit, too. I usually bite off way more than I can chew!! Then I drop it in frustration, only to pick it up 2 years later when I find someone to help me. Right now I’m finally completing a little v-neck pullover vest that is covered with tiny cables and a difficult decrease to keep the cables going around the v-neck. It took me 1 year to complete a pair of socks! But I’m going to keep at it now I”ve found A Verb for Keeping Warm in Oakland. Hand made knits are the very thing to wear with the clothes we make.

I taught myself to knit when I was 15 and it was my first really successful craft. I absolutely love the juxtaposition of knitting and sewing. I knit to keep my hands busy while I watch a movie or chat with friends and I sew when I have concentrated free time to myself. Knitting and sewing are very yin and yang for my creative self and I like that when I want to make a point of wearing me-made items I have both knit and sewn garments to choose from.

I’ve been knitting for longer than I’ve been sewing. I love it but it does become an obsession with me. I also find that I don’t often wear what I knit – whereas I actually do wear some of what I sew.

What a gorgeous sweater, Sarai!
xo
kittee

I disagree with only one thing – the speed of sewing versus knitting. For me they are about the same speed. A sweater you only have to sew a seam once – 0 times if it’s in the round. A sewn seam has to be sewn, pressed four times, and then if you are covering your seams with bias tape, sewn up to four more times. Also the portability of knitting also helps make knitted projects progress faster. I do find that knitting is more expensive. I don’t hate sewing with and wearing polyester and cheaper fabrics, but I just can’t stand knitting with acrylic, etc. Also I can usually find good fabric at thrift stores, but never yarn. With sewing it’s easy to see if you have enough fabric for a project, just lay your pattern pieces over your fabric – it’s harder to guestimate with yarn. It’s also harder to use vintage knitting patterns than sewing patterns, because yarns have been discontinued and knitting terms have changed.