Knitting Kninja

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February 16, 2006

2/16/06

A thought occurred to me after I posted the bunny slippers pattern. Like most slippers, these are meant for lounging and walking on carpeted floors. Use caution when walking on hardwood, tile, and other slippery surfaces. Or sew a nonslip sole to the bottoms if you want to wear them while carrying piles of dishes from the table to the sink (NOT recommended otherwise... you wouldn't do it in socks, either).

I drove to my parents' house today since my aunt and uncle are visiting, and I had a box of presents waiting for me. Most were Christmas presents from Amazon that just took longer than usual to arrive, but I also got a few things from another aunt and uncle. Knitting stuff. Don't you just love enablers who add to your needles'n'stash? It's good that my family accepts that I'm a junkie, and so far nobody has even mentioned rehab or that someday I'll end up like my other other aunt, who has been spinning and knitting like a madwoman. Anyway, they sent me a book about knitting interesting socks (many fair isle), some needles (metal, which I'm not crazy about, but don't mind using occasionally), two skeins of black fun fur, and two of some white-ish yarn. Among the Amazon stuff were two books I had requested, one about knitting teddy bears and one for knitting other stuffed animals (and people, too!). My strong, stubborn, toy-loving inner child has taken over most of my knitting, as you can see. But I think I found Ben's graduation present in the pages of one of those books. I think I might make one for myself, too. Muhahahahahahahaaaaaaa.

I posted this to my regular blog today after a couple friends asked me about knitting things for them last night. It's about time I posted my guidelines for knitting/crocheting requests. I'll repost them here:

1. If it's your birthday or a major present-giving holiday, you are entitled to a free small to mid-size piece (something that would take 1-3 skeins of yarn, up to the size of something like a shawl). If it's for a bigger occasion, like a wedding, you can ask for something like an afghan, pillows, a 2-headed sweater, etc.
2. If you want something knit during the rest of the year, I'll gladly knit it if you either provide the yarn or reimburse me for it. Let me know before buying any yarn: unless you're a crafter yourself or have a specific pattern in mind, you'll probably underestimate the amount of yarn you'll need. I'll also help determine which yarn is the best to use for what you want and estimate the cost of materials. Unless you find some amazing yarn and want SOMETHING made from it, then talk to me and we'll discuss options.
3. If you want something really small that I can make in an hour with yarn scraps (like a finger puppet), those are free to good homes.
3. Hats, scarves, mittens, bunny slippers, stuffed animals, and other smallish items? Sure thing. If you want something big like a sweater or afghan, that's another story. I take forever to knit a sweater. I've been working on one on and off for over a year and a half now, and at the rate I'm going, it should be ready by next winter. Afghans also take a lot of time, unless HUGE needles are used (I ordered a pair of gigantic size 50 ones that should arrive soon). So if you want something big, you should either be very very patient or provide some sort of incentive if you want it in a reasonable time period.
4. I have severe knitting ADD. I get started on projects and temporarily abandon them in favor of whatever is on my mind at the moment. Unless you give me a deadline, items may go on hold for a while. Give me at least a week for hats and hat-sized items, two for scarves and similar-sized items, and a month or two for big items.
5. If it can be made out of cloth, I can probably find a way to make it. And I like patterns that bite back, so I don't mind complex items. If you have a pattern, great. If you want a generalized item, describe or draw it. If you want something crazy I'd have a hard time finding or inventing a pattern for, then you should learn to knit and make it yourself.
6. You should learn to knit anyway. Or at least crochet, which is much easier and provides quicker results.
7. If you want clothing that fits you, not just anybody, be prepared to be interrogated with personal questions and for me to molest you with a tape measure. If it doesn't matter that much, good. I try to do as little math as possible.
8. Serious inquiries only.

Posted by Ade at February 16, 2006 07:40 PM

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Posted by: Anne at February 24, 2006 08:40 AM

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