What are you knitting at the moment?

Hats - as others say hand knitted jumpers are not always the thing for ACs. I have discovered that hats are the item of choice as the shop ones are expensive. I get them to choose the design from one of my (far too many) books, choose the wool (send them a link) knit, line with fleece and hey presto a finished (as opposed to unfinished) item designed to the individual and NO sewing up. Requests from their friends. Still got a cardigan unfinished from before children though. OH has expanded over the years so goodness knows how long the project would take. Apologies OH!

Some lovely projects here ladies - well done!

Jalima, if you knit prem. baby hats for Preemies UK, and cannot manage the traffic light pom poms they will do the for you. The pom poms indicate the needs of the prem baby, red alert, orange doing ok, and green responding well.

Thanks Billybob, I have found the Preemie site and the patterns. As I have a stash of soft white wool I can start knitting tiny hats, and thanks for the tip about the colours being added later.

Ooh I shall knit preemie hats too.

Feelingmyage that's very clever to fleece line that beanies. I don't know if I could achieve that

MargaretX, your gilet sounds good, I think we need a pattern, picture or guide, so that we can follow your lead!
Such clever people we have here.

You are welcome AuntieFlo, oddly enough I used to have an Auntie Flo who taught me to knit, long time ago now, coincidence or what.

I've just finished two Aran hoodies for DGSs, two Aran jackets for great niece and nephew and have started a chunky cardigan for moi and am crocheting an Attic24 Woodland throw. I cannot sit and watch to without doing something with my hands!

Went into our little local knitting shop and was served by a young girl who knew exactly what she was talking about. Made a nice change from the older women who usually serve there.

Coolgran65.
Have you tried either knitting your sweaters in the round OR using the circular needle but knitting side to side so that the weight of garment is in your lap and not on your wrists. If you google knit pro point needles and cables you will see. Expensive to change equipment but would allow you to pursue your skill. Also if you use the bamboo tips they are kinder to arthritic fingers and wrists.

Granny knot
You can make a simple fleece beanie with fleece scraps, buy a 99pence bargain beanie or make a broad strip for inside the hat border. Warmer, less scratchy and any colour or pattern contrast will do. Pom-poms are IN and the bigger the better.

I do like knit pro needles, they are lovely to work with.

Pom-poms are IN
Some nearly as big as the hats!

billybob
Jalima, if you knit prem. baby hats for Preemies UK, and cannot manage the traffic light pom poms they will do the for you. The pom poms indicate the needs of the prem baby, red alert, orange doing ok, and green responding well.
Thanks - yes, we worked it out - the traffic light system for premmie babies!. In fact, this lady had knitted lots of hats for Bath hospital and was asking for coloured yarn for bobbles, which I was able to give her from my stash.
I seem to have everything except white!

FMA55 - thanks, I'll buy a fleece beanie I think

Re the pom-poms, don't tell me, my DIL wants pom-poms on every beanie I knit for my grandson - so much so that I bought a "pom-pom making machine" it has changed my life:

www.hobbycraft.co.uk/clover-pom-pom-maker-35mm-and-45mm/595911-1000

Ooh, didn't know there was such a thing, I use my fingers!

I have made twiddle muffs for dementia patients in the local hospital but someone has come up with a new idea for cannula sleeves so I am about to start making some. It is a good way of using up bits of wool. The idea is to distract someone with a cannula from taking it out by covering it up with something fancy. It can be decorated with small knitted or crocheted flowers etc. but everything has to be secure and safe.

I am knitting a Suffragette tea cosy for my daughter! Quite easy but you only use small amounts of wool, eg 25g of several colours. When my daughter asked how it was going I mentioned about the wool, to which she replied 'Don't worry Mum I'm sure you'll be getting several orders'!

Also on the go three Shaun the sheep, all knitted, just waiting to be sewn up and stuffed! ?

Sweet pea, I like the sound of both of these. I have lots of bonbons and scrap wool for a cosy. Where do I find the patterns please?

This is how the wrap is getting on ... (for Bubbe's benefit who is also knitting it).

Looking good Grannyknot. You're several thousand stitches ahead of me ~ but I CAN do it. This may take some time ...... (I might show a picture once the needle's out of view)

A couple of cable cushions and, intermittently bobble hats for a Seafarers charity, who finds many foreign sailors, coming into British ports are ill prepared for our cold weather.

Hello! I am new to gransnet and am a very keen knitter! I am not very good (my mother used to be an incredible knitter). But I can only knit in a straight line! Anyway, I am currently knitting squares to create a big blanket. Hoping to finish it this year.

Hello 2retirement and welcome to Gransnet and to this thread.

I could also only knit in a straight line for a good many years and then my knitting just took off - now my daughter says I am channelling the spirit of my mother (who was also a good knitter)!

I will never be as good a knitter as my mother, but I do my best!
In fact, I used to do much more intricate patterns but prefer to knit while 'watching' tv these days so mainly I knit plain stitches, sometimes some cabling, sometimes going wrong.

Re needles, I’ve changed all of mine gradually to Karbonz, make knitting with arthritic hands a bit easier. They are quite expensive but I’ve just bought the ones I mainly use.