I need another hobby, but I don't know what.

[Aspidistra]

I used to knit. I liked it a lot. I was reminded of this recently when my daughter wanted a new beanie and the one in the shop was THIRTY FUCKING DOLLARS!!! so I said fuck that noise, I'm knitting you one. So that's going good. I have a tiny pathetic amount of wool left over from when I donated all my supplies to my crocheting friend, but that includes a nice basic black which should let her Goth it up in a way she'll probably approve of.

Problem is, however - I don't really like knitted stuff! Beanies, gloves - okay. Socks maybe. I tried knitting myself some socks once but they kind of sucked. I have too many scarves and I don't really wear them. Nobody in the house likes sweaters at all - polar fleece stuff is just so much better and snugglier!

So ... I need either a way of making knitting feel useful to me again, or something else to do. Preferably something that can be done tucked up in bed with a streaming device on, something that produces something worth producing, something where you can either just blindly follow a recipe and go okay, or step out and be creative if you're in the mood.

Anything?

[Sputnik]

Needlepoint? I've seen some pretty awesome creations.

[Solfy]

You appear to be a product knitter rather than a process knitter. I just finished a sweater that I don't particularly care for (but the girls like it, so it will get worn) because I had the yarn and I liked the pattern. I don't care so much whether my product is useful, but I do love me some hand-knit socks.

Have you tried knitting lace? In terms of bang for your knitting buck and time, it's great. Lace projects can take forever, typically sip rather than guzzle yarn, are beautiful, and I find them to be versatile enough. Mostly because it takes me so long to finish one that I don't end up with many of them.

Maybe you just live somewhere too warm. Have you considered moving north?

[Flying Saucerian]

Maybe you could find someplace to donate your knitting work. A charity or a service of some sort. I read about how ladies used to knit things for soldiers overseas. And I'd imagine nursing homes, children's hospitals, etc. would need blankets, sweaters, caps, etc.

[Aspidistra]

Originally Posted by Solfy

You appear to be a product knitter rather than a process knitter. I just finished a sweater that I don't particularly care for (but the girls like it, so it will get worn) because I had the yarn and I liked the pattern. I don't care so much whether my product is useful, but I do love me some hand-knit socks.

You are so right! Yes, I need the thing I do to be useful. It makes me sad if I spent a bunch of effort on a project only to think - well, yeah, a machine could have done that just as well, and quicker.

(Funnily enough, this principle doesn't seem to apply to cooking from scratch. Possibly because I have a general hate on for too much processing. Anyway, I can't cook in bed, sadly...)

Your lace idea intrigues me ... maybe what I want is a pattern for floppy sunhats. Sunhats are useful. I have cold-dwelling family members, but sadly they don't wear knits any more than I do!

How do you make socks that are actually good? I tend to buy bamboo socks, and they're so soft and snuggly that it's hard to beat the bought stuff (for me). My socks always felt stiff and unwieldy. Maybe I'm using the wrong yarn?


Needlepoint is not a bad idea either. I have some calico that might make a nice base. I used to do cross-stich, back in the day, but that's just a bit TOO mechanical...

[Dragonlady]

I crochet baby blankets. They don't take long, you can try all sorts of patterns, and then, if you are in an age bracket where you don't know a lot of new Moms, you can donate them to the womens shelter.

[Solfy]

There are definitely different qualities of sock yarn. If you like bamboo* socks, you might really like Berroco Comfort Sock. I ended up with a ball of it in desperation last summer (forgot my knitting at home on vacation, found a yarn shop in Williamsburg) and while I'd normally be anti-acrylic, it's dreamy soft and knit up nicely. They've washed well, too. (those ones went to the girls because they loved the colors) I've knit with bamboo yarn, but most of it seems to be DK or heavier. I wouldn't knit DK socks unless I wanted them for slippers. (That's actually on my list of projects I have yarn for - stranded colorwork DK slipper socks)

Another thing to consider if yours are stiff is that it might not be the yarn itself but your needles might be too small. That will give you a denser, less comfy fabric.

The other really important aspect is fit. Different heel structures fit people differently, there are modifications for high arches, you can have more or fewer stitches around the foot for wider/thinner feet, etc. It's very satisfying and comfortable when you hit on a pattern that fits your foot like a glove. It's also really frustrating when you spend a month knitting a pair and find out they're the sort where the heel sneaks down your sole with every step.


*I find the marketing of "bamboo" really interesting. Most of the things officially made from it are actually rayon. They just use the bamboo as the feedstock for the rayon process. Once it's been chemically dissolved and reformed, I don't think it really matters if your cellulose has come from an oak tree or a bamboo plant, but "rayon" sounds cheap and "bamboo" sounds eco friendly. I'm with you on the socks though - I love how they feel.

[Rebo]

Cross-stitch?

[Detroit Hoser]

Can you knit those teeny little animals? Shoot, I'd barter my homegrown/canned/bottled/baked stuff for some tiny knitted critters.

[Dragonlady]

I think those are crocheted, Hoser. My daughter can make them..is there something specific you long for?

[Detroit Hoser]

Let's talk.

[Solfy]

You can knit animals, but crochet is easier.

I've knit bunnies a few times. These two were gifts to expectant teachers of MD's.

[Dragonlady]

Have you seen diamond painting? The results are lovely.

[Diamonds2020]

Originally Posted by Dragonlady

Have you seen diamond painting? The results are lovely.

Why, thank you!

[3acres]

Originally Posted by Solfy

You can knit animals, but crochet is easier.

I've knit bunnies a few times. These two were gifts to expectant teachers of MD's.

Those are so cute! Oh no, my testosterone must be low - I better go out to the garage and grope a diesel engine!

[Solfy]

I love that you are secure enough in your masculinity to appreciate bunnies.

[SmartAleq]

And of course, if your testosterone gets too high from sniffing diesel fumes and you start raging out you can always go hug your stuffy bunnies to chill out!

[stormie]

Originally Posted by Flying Saucerian

Maybe you could find someplace to donate your knitting work. A charity or a service of some sort. I read about how ladies used to knit things for soldiers overseas. And I'd imagine nursing homes, children's hospitals, etc. would need blankets, sweaters, caps, etc.

Yep! I find handing out knitted stuff is NOT generally welcome, but you can:
Make knitted items for babies in hospital
Knit stuff for adults and give it to an adult assistance program for low income people: a support group at the public hospital, a shelter, clothing bank, whatever - get in touch first
Donate them to a rescue organization that has fundraising auctions
These places need SO MUCH STUFF that you could knit six ways from Sunday and not have overdone it.
Or sell them on someplace like Etsy or craft fairs - if you don't want the money donate it.

[Pencil]

Sadly, these guys don't seem to need them anymore:


(spoilered for cuteness)



The emergency was resolved.

[Pencil]

Originally Posted by Solfy

You can knit animals, but crochet is easier.

So, you're a crotchety scientist and a scientific crocheter.

[Aspidistra]

My mother-in-law knits Nativity sets. She's worked out how to change the pattern for one of the sheep into a goat (my FIL keeps goats) and when she did ours the wise men didn't have gold, frankincense and myrrh, they had gold frankincense and MacBook

[stormie]

Just in case you want to knit some toys, here's some good patterns. I checked them out from the library. I think some might be better worked in the round like eeny tiny socks.

knit your own toy animal

[JackieLikesVariety]

Solfy, those bunnies are adorable!

Originally Posted by Pencil

So, you're a crotchety scientist and a scientific crocheter.

[Oxirane]

Originally Posted by 3acres

Those are so cute! Oh no, my testosterone must be low - I better go out to the garage and grope a diesel engine!

Sir, we're gonna need to see your Man Card...OK, we're going to let you off with a warning...this time...

_{Actually, they are really cute}

[leafrog]

@Aspidistra;, you might want to check out Zulily's front page today (June 26). One of their storefronts is for craft supplies, and they have a ton of supplies and kits. (this store comes back regularly)
Yarn, fabric, diamond painting kits, cross-stitch, quilting, painting, drawing, scrapbook.
Could be a good/cheap way to explore something new to see if you like it.

They are cheap, but sometimes takes awhile to ship. I've found some great deals on things I use regularly, things I've been wanting, and things I didn't know existed but I could see how I could use.

I have a lot of hobbies, and am definitely most into the process of making, but I do need a reason (useful thing, project for school, commission, auction donation) to have the gumption to get it done.
I tend to horde collect both materials and tools, and rarely do things the way they're "supposed to be done", instead preferring to figure it out myself.

[Aspidistra]

I don't think zulily has the same front page for me as it does for you - I only see clothes. I think I've been regionalised out of the craft stuff!

However, when vaguely browsing needlepoint stuff I just came across Goldwork. Now that looks right up my alley.

[stormie]

Me too! Linky dammit @leafrog

[leafrog]

The store I mentioned isn't there any longer, but this one was there this morning:
"Restock with our Craft Favorites" . Not sure how long that URL will last as they do change things up regularly. The products don't change too much, but new things are added.

If you go to the "Shop By Category" section and click on DIY & Personalized, you will most likely see the farts and crafts stuff.

[Dragonlady]

I had a look. I don't know about the other stuff, but the yarn prices aren't that good. Joanns sale prices are better, and they have sales all the time.

I am disappoint.

[leafrog]

Bummer. I always see pretty yarn there and think "want!", but then I remember that I don't actually do any yarn craft and talk myself down.

Looking back on it, I've mostly bought some very odd and eclectic items there, so it may not be the best site for average* crafting. I've also done most of my shopping in the past 4 months, and realize it is because I'm jonesing to go to Joann's to cruise the clearance aisle.

My best Zulily purchases so far have been
-table top hot-wire foam cutter
-USB powered dremel type tool-I won't mind handing this to a 5th grader when they're building something
-Carton of hot glue sticks (DiWHYNot?!?)
-Folk-art color shift paint (this stuff is spendy)

Right now I'm waiting for shipment of a silicone pad for my workbench that has a holster in the side for my hot-glue gun. I'm kind of geeking out about that one.

*struggling to find a better word, no offense to any crafters of any ilk: I acknowledge that I make weird shit

[Solfy]

Originally Posted by leafrog

*struggling to find a better word, no offense to any crafters of any ilk: I acknowledge that I make weird shit

I've never forgotten your awesome deep sea fish, and not because of your avatar (I use lite, so I almost never see them).