Do any of you still do knitting as a hobby ?

Primrose 53, due to our hobbies being portable the public can see us when we craft in other spaces. It’s nice to help trigger a nice childhood experience. I find a good pattern can help channel concentration as a dropped stitch isn’t wanted. I have arthritis in both hands and the exercise helps. I don’t overdo it as well want to carry on .

Hadn't knitted for years. When GS due I did knit a few items for him, that was 13 years ago. Then GD arrived 18 months later and I knitted for her arrival have continued knitting a lot until only last year. Last items I knitted for her were beanie hats only this winter. I also crocheted a bed cover for her. I am not an expert in either. Been attending a knit and natter group for 10 years. Some who attend, are to me, knitting and crochet artists.

Knitted dolls clothes are brilliant Alibee, as they are very forgiving to being pulled on and off by clumsy impatient little fingers. Sewn clothes are not so flexible.

I might have to go back to knitting.
About four years ago I abandoned knitting in favour of crochet but seem to be developing a painful index finger (perhaps I'm not holding the yarn and hook correctly?).

Knitting squares for charity recently seemed less hard on the fingers than crochet.

AliBeeee

I am left handed and learned to knit from my left handed aunt when I was about 6, the class teacher had failed. I knitted until I was about 30 when life be a too busy, but I took it up again when I retired. I’m hampeby arthritic hands and terrible eyesight, so I mostly do clothes for the dolls we get donated to the charity shop where I volunteer. They sell really well.
A few examples.

All of my dolls when I was a child were dressed exactly like that, courtesy of my nan. 🙂

I found demo's on Youtube great for showing me to crochet again during covid. I had only done one shawl 50 yrs ago. I did Granny squares and made up into rugs. I seemed to have a stash of yarn acquired down the years from Aldi etc in the hope of teaching daughter to knit. Yes I knitted baby items for sister's kids but never had time to do for my own. My mother in law did lovely aran jumpers but sadly they were too warm and scratchy so not much worn.

That's beautifully knitted, Oldnproud.

Thank you mrsgreenfingers56 I can’t knit with 4 needles, I do the magic loop method with a circular needle, it’s much easier!

Thank you Grannynannywanny, I have an embarrassingly large stash of sock yarn 😊

My photos didn’t seem to load….

I am left handed and learned to knit from my left handed aunt when I was about 6, the class teacher had failed. I knitted until I was about 30 when life be a too busy, but I took it up again when I retired. I’m hampeby arthritic hands and terrible eyesight, so I mostly do clothes for the dolls we get donated to the charity shop where I volunteer. They sell really well.
A few examples.

Facebook Marketplace is a good site to look for yarn on and sometimes offered free.

My daughter tried to show me crochet but i cant seem to get the hang of it.She says same about knitting😁

I can knit but nothing too fancy but i took it up again in lockdown and ever since ive been doing thick single bed size blankets with super chunky wool& chunky needles in various colours for the grandkids(&my 2 youngest adult sons) ive moved onto trying a pattern with a dog coat as i cant manage to knit as much with arthritis.

I knit for my youngest dgc aged 6 and 11 months. I like to use aran weight or chunky self patterning yarn. I am currently knitting a poncho for my dgd using Hayfield Spirit chunky. She loves bright colours and previously had a cardigan in the same colour. My daughter is often stopped and asked about their hand knitted garments. She really appreciates all their knits. The cardigan shown was knitted in aran weight to fit 6-9 months

I also knit all the time, mostly small projects, such as socks for myself. I refuse to knit for my partner's giant feet! 😄

The biggest item I've knitted is a baby blanket. One of the best things I knitted was a baby cardi knitted in garter stitch across, starting at one sleeve and ending at the other with increases etc for making the back and front. It was really stretchy and was worn for many months. Sadly, I've since lost the pattern.

There are loads of free patterns online on various sites... I'm always bookmarking a pattern. I crochet too but only basic things, I did make a sleeveless vest for myself with two granny squares joined at the shoulders and side seams.

I like to knit while I watch television. I am an average knitter. I have done loads for my three grandchildren when they were small. I am not so good at stuff for me!

However after a break I am now back on track. I am using pattern that I have had for sometime which is easy. It has taken me a long time to find the Yarn I want.

It is Maddy Laine ML 143 and uses chunky yarn. Yarn has significantly gone up in price, and I do like a wool content for warmth. My DDiL, who does a lot of crochet, put me on to Woolwarehouse. Through them I am using Sirdar Jewelspun. It is 20% wool and 80% acrylic and is knitting up beautifully, the tension is spot on. Not cheap but not over expensive. I am so pleased with it.

I would suggest that using cheap yarn you will not be happy with the result. Do a tension square. Enjoy.

RosesandLilac your socks are beautiful. My favourite is the first of the 3 photos. The colours and patterns are lovely 👏

Oh RosesandLilac you can give away your socks to me anytime! They look lovely. I did try knitting on 4 needles but got so mad threw the knitting at the door and husband never let me forget it!

I still knit and crochet (& I too have saved lots of old patterns from mum’s Woman’s Weekly magazines - they’re so easy to follow). My daughters can both knit but both prefer to crochet, one has a shop on Etsy and I make a few bits for her to sell on there. I find knitting relaxing and I enjoy having something to do rather than just the TV in the dark evenings. Ravelry is a good place to find free patterns (& you can choose how easy/difficult). Yarn can be expensive but not all are - I shop online a lot at Black Sheep Wools & Wool Warehouse and follow Facebook pages for several knit & natter groups.
Hope you take it up again, good luck xx

Helenlouise3

I've knitted constantly since the age of 14 when my gran taught me. I still remember the first thing I made, it was a striped tank top which I loved. Over the years I've knitted for my children/grandchildren/friends and myself. I've now started to crochet. If I didn't have knitting needles in them, when I sit down I wouldn't know what to do with my hands.lol

My first ever garment was also a striped tank top. 😁

It must have been around 1973/74, I think, as I remember Suzy Quatro being on the radio a lot while I was making it!

But I also still remember what a pain it was to sew in all those different coloured threads up the sides after I had finished the knitting.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202402/medium-592897-img-0121.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202402/medium-344656-img-0967.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202402/medium-810774-img-0088.jpeg

A few more!

I can’t sit and do nothing so I knit (mainly socks) or crochet.
I must have knitted at least 60 pairs of socks that I give away. My current pair here!

I have just started again after a gap of about 18 months - helps relax the brain!

We may not appreciate hand knitted garments in Britain. In fact you can't give them away here. I knit a great deal but all of it goes to charity now, if you can find one who will accept it. Most of what I knit goes to Eastern Europe now if you can find a charity who will accept it. Sorry I can't be more helpful.

I've knitted constantly since the age of 14 when my gran taught me. I still remember the first thing I made, it was a striped tank top which I loved. Over the years I've knitted for my children/grandchildren/friends and myself. I've now started to crochet. If I didn't have knitting needles in them, when I sit down I wouldn't know what to do with my hands.lol