Category — Knitter on a Budget

A grass green scarf that I made for myself.

It’s great to have hobbies that make you feel happy.  If I didn’t have any hobbies, like my silly little blog, I would probably go insane thinking about deadlines at my job or housework I need to do.

But I have learned something about hobbies.  They almost all cost money.  I like knitting, but it is not a cheap hobby.  I have bought a variety of knitting needles, because different patterns call for different sizes, and of course yarns.  Yarn is not a cheap thing either.  I have pretty much figured out that it is cheaper to buy myself a sweater in a nice retail store than knitting one myself.  I can get the cheap stuff for about $4 a skein.  But something like a sweater takes 8 of them to make.  And that is the cheap stuff.  The stuff that you buy at Joann Fabrics and itches.

Craft stores always have coupons and sales but it’s hard to catch really good yarn (that runs $8 a skein) on sale.  The coupons in circulars are usually only good for one item.  Which is not much on one skein. It’s barely worth bothering.  The worst part is that the yarn shops in Orlando have the most beautiful yarn, that make the most beautiful projects, but they are so expensive.  I like to go and pet it on the shelf… OK, that is a little weird.

I like that knitting is an opportunity to help me be more social, a trait that I am lacking somewhat.  The knitting groups that I have held with coworkers have been pretty fun … the two times that I could get someone to show up.  Seems that knitting has a little bit of a stigma attached for younger women.

A friend of mine from work invited me to a knitting class that sounds really cool.  It is two two-hour classes where we would learn how to make a multi-colored hat.  It would teach me  new techniques that would be hard to learn from a book.  Unfortunately the class is $60.  Being that it is so close to Christmas and my vacation I don’t really have the extra money to spend right now.  I wish I could though.  The worst part is that the teacher of the class needs a certain number of people to sign up and there hasn’t been good response.  So if I don’t sign up my friend most likely won’t be able to take the class.

Sigh. Now I am stressing about the hobby that is supposed to keep me from stressing out.  How did that happen?  See what money does!

Amigurumi from Amigurumi Kingdom where they sell these little cutesy animals.
So in an attempt to find more knitters out there I came across this blog, angrychix.vox.com. She posted this little crochet doll of an Indian Girl and Her Papoose.

It was so adorable. She went on to explain that it was “Amigurumi. The Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small stuffed animal and anthropomorphic creatures” So I started looking around online and found a ton of these great cutesy little animals, dolls, and creatures. I am officially obsessed with them. I don’t know what you do with them (aside from giving them to kids as gifts) but I have to make one. Problem is that most of the patterns I find are for crochet (which I cant do). I am on the search for a pattern I can do. I cant wait.

Check out all these cool links I found on Amigurami.
Here are some cute things Ana made (below) and is selling at her Etsy shop. If you haven’t check out Etsy yet you really should. It is an ebay for hand-made items. They have everything from jewelry to stationery, to clothing. A lot of stuff makes a great unique gift.

Crochet and Knitting Diva had a really great explanation of what Amigurami is and some good links for patterns and info.

I am a beginning knitter, as you might have read, and I need a little assistance.  I am starting to get into projects that are a little more difficult (meaning I can do a knit stitch and a stocking stitch now) and I am finding that you blogging knitters use very special yarn.  I admit that I have noticed the quality of yarn at AC Moore, JoAnn Fabrics and so forth is pretty poor. It is mostly cheap acrylic blends (not something I would make a sweater out of).  Where do you guys get the good stuff?  What is the good stuff?  I don’t even know what to look for.  What is a good price for yarn?  Anyone that wants to spread there knowledge with me please do.  I have my first knitting circle in a week and I don’t know what to tell the other beginners.  OK now I feel like the dork.

For other Knitters I think these are a few websites that may interest you. I know that I will be checking them all out in time:

http://www.crazyauntpurl.com/ Recommended by a friend. I saw the magic scarf she was working on and it looked pretty easy. I may take that one up as a ne project.

http://www.bitterpurl.com I just really liked her socks. They looked cute.

http://www.streetsandyos.com This girl is just crazy talented.

http://nutmeg.gen.nz/fakesheep/ This is a blog by a “vegan knitter”. It is a pretty interesting idea. What I really liked were her links to charities you can knit for.

Here is another link to a blog that gives out tips on free craft supplies and patterns.

Like I said I have taken up knitting. I haven’t told many people because the general opinion is that I’m crazy for taking up a geriatric past-time. But I really needed a new hobby. I needed something new for me to do that didn’t involve charging my credit card or running (I hate to run). It makes me feel productive compared to when I used to sit in a vegetative state for a few hours at a time watching T.V. as a hobby (and I can do both at the same time too).
To make it more of a social hobby I decided to search out a knitting group. But I was really interested in meeting people more my age not all women over the age of 50 so I was having trouble finding one I liked. I decided to send out an email at my job calling all knitters to join a group. I was really terrified to risk ridicule (and leaving myself vulnerable to embarrassment is highly unlike me) but I did it anyway. Here is the email:

Is anyone part of a local knitting circle or group that I could join in this area? Or interested in joining or starting a group?

I recently took up knitting as a new hobby. I have taken one class and I know some basic stuff but I would like to learn more. It may be a fun way to socialize.

Before you ask - no, I do not sit in a rocking chair and knit with my 89 cats around me, I am only 26 (not 86) and yes, it is a great way to de-stress after a long day at work.

Please don’t be shy if you are just learning too.

Surprisingly, the response has been pretty good. A few people have laughed at me and made the old lady jokes but I actually got a few people who commended me on “coming out” with my special interest. I have a few people that are interested and I am very proud of myself now.