(by 11 people)
Love to knit, but don't have time to dawdle on the Internet looking for sites? This lens is for you!
I have always wanted to knit, but never took the time to learn. As a woman in recovery, I see a lot of other woman looking so serene at meetings with their knitting needles clicking away. I finally took my first knitting lesson from a dear neighbor on January 19, 2005 and fell instantly in love. It's difficult for me to articulate why I enjoy knitting so much, but if you knit, you probably know how I feel. Each aspect of knitting seems to fullfill some core need that I've felt for such a long time. The color and texture of the yarn, the meditative, zen quality of the motion of the sticks, the sheer pride and joy felt from completing a project and the pure magic of creating something lovely and warm out of string…it all adds up to something wonderful and therapeutic for me.
The Internet is a vast resource for all types of knitting information from social mailing lists and forums to libraries of stitches and patterns to pictorial and audio/video tutorials. As I come across these amazing sources of information I hope to share them with you.
Knitting Blogs
Where the cool knitters blog
- Yarn Harlot
- The witty and wonderful Stephanie Pearl-McPhee goes on (and on) about knitting.
- Wendy Knits!
- WendyKnits! -- Knitting and Spinning. The fun never stops.
- Crazy Aunt Purl
- The true-life diary of a thirty-something, soon-to-be-divorced, OCD-germaphobe knitter who has four cats. Because nothing is sexier than a divorced woman with four cats.
- knitgrrl
- Shannon Okey's knitting and crafts website. Shannon is the author of the Knitgrrl book series, as well as Spin To Knit, Felt Frenzy (co-authored with Heather Brack) and AlterNation (co-authored with Alexandra Underhill).
- Mason-Dixon Knitting
- The hilarious and awesome authors of "Mason-Dixon Knitting."
- Twisted Knitter
- Great blog of a very cool, crafty and talented knitter.
- Modeknit / Knitting Heretic
- Knitting Heretic, designer and author.
- Oslofia Stitching Away
- knitter, designer, blogger
- JenLa
- Funny, clever, snarky, creative blog.
- Project Rusty
- My crafting blog. :-)
- Homebodies Unite!
- The fabulous Miss Hawklet's blog.
Knitting for the Common Good
Knitting charities and ways to participate
- WarmUpAmerica!
- Warm Up America! (WUA!) is an organization made up of volunteers who create handmade afghan blankets, clothing and accessories to help those in need. These items provide warmth and comfort to people who have lost their homes, fled abusive relations, or are being cared for in hospices, shelters, hospitals, and nursing home.
- Knit for the Cure
- Knit for the Cure recruits knitters and crocheters from all over the United States to make handmade scarves, hats, purses, etc. incorporating the color pink. Proceeds from the sale of these items supports breast cancer research and treatment.
- Warm with Love
- Knitting charity clearinghouse.
- Project Linus
- Project Linus is a non-profit volunteer organization that provides love, security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized or otherwise in need through gifts of lovingly created handcrafted blankets and quilts.
KALs
Knit Alongs
- Briar Rose Fibers Knit-Along
- Briar Rose Fibers Knit-Along
- Stashalong
- Choose your own stash adventure in 2007 :)
- Miss Violet's Pink Ribbon
- A knit along with 'Miss Violet's Pink Ribbon' from Lisa Souza. I actually bought this gorgeous yarn and am considering joining the KAL.
- Mason Dixon KAL
- A place to share your progress, finished objects, helpful tips, corrections, ideas for variations, and suggestions for materials for patterns from the Mason Dixon Knitting book.
- Project Spectrum 2.0
- Project Spectrum 2.0:Starting this February we will embark on another exploration of the color wheel. This time, there will be more "wiggle room"; with each two month span there will be THREE colors or groups. This means that you can choose one of the colors and immerse yourself in it for two whole months, or you can use all three in your creative process.
- 2007 Knit-Alongs and Swaps
- A list of 2007 knit-alongs and swaps!
- Knitting Nature Knit-Along
- A Knit Along for all projects in Knitting Nature by Norah Gaughan.
- Shut Up & Knit Your Cabin Cove!
- KAL for Cabin Cove Mercantile yarn
- Sexy Knitters' Club
- Sexy knitters unite! Let's join together to eliminate the misconception that knitting is for old ladies in rocking chairs once and for all!
Knitting Podcasts and Videocasts
Knitting for your ears
- Lets Knit2gether
- Lets Knit2gether videocast
- Lime & Violet
- Lime & Violet: a podcast for the yarn obsessed
- Cast On
- Brenda Dayne's awesome knitting podcast
- The Knitting Cook
- Faith chats about knitting and cooking as well as crochet, spinning and other yarn related activity. New recipe each episode!
- Pixie Purls Podcast
- A great podcast about knitting and spinning.
- Knitting News Cast
- Knitting news and reviews by Rhonda Bell.
- CraftSanity Blog
- Not just knitting, but a blog and podcast for those who love all things handmade.
- Math4Knitters
- A seriously cool podcast...especially if math is NOT your thing.
Supplies for your Knitting Habit
shops I have personally bought from and recommend
- SPUNKY - HANDPAINTED ROVING and Yarn
- I love, love, love Amy's roving and yarn. Treat yourself and join her Spunky Club!
- KnitPicks.com : Knitting Yarn, Books, Patterns, Needles & Accessories
- Traveling the world to bring you natural fibers for hand knitting at very affordable prices!
- FearlessFibers'
- Fearless Fibers offers top quality yarns in a stunning array of handpainted and hand dyed colors. We carry a variety of fibers including merino wool, mohair and alpaca blends, 100% cashmere yarn, and more.
- Lisa Souza Knitwear and Dyeworks
- The best sock yarn ever! Hand-dyed handspun yarns, hand dyed yarns, hand dyed rovings for spinners and hand-dyed mill spun wool, sock yarns, mohair, silk, alpaca yarns and more for knitting and spinning.
- elann.com - Knitting Yarn at Irresistible Prices
- Great yarns at awesome prices!
- kpixie . specialty yarns and more
- Offering knitters and crocheters hard to find yarns and patterns. Great selection and excellent customer service!
- Sarah's Yarns: JaggerSpun, Artyarns, Silk and Cashmere Luxury Yarns
- Yarn wholesale and retail sales. Try her cashmere DK...fab-u-lous!
Quick Patterns and Cool Tools
There's a virtual plethora of free patterns and tools on the web
- Camille's Boot Socks : Knitaddicted.com
- Camille's Boot Socks
This is a very easy pattern for a beginner, fits a size 10 ladies, adjust length to suit your individual needs. - // knitPro web app
- This neat tool converts your images into patterns.
The long awaited knitPro 2.0 upgrade has arrived! Featuring wider portrait and landscape patterns and the 7:5 knit stitch ratio! knitPro is based on the tradition of pre-industrial craft circles who freely shared patterns and passed them down from generation to generation. The knitPro Needlecraft Art Show digitally mimics this tradition. - Sarah Peasley Handknitter - Free Patterns
- These free patterns are Sarah's gift to you!
- Knitting Pattern Central - Free, Online Knitting Pattern Directory
- Thousands of categorized links to free, online knitting patterns
- Knitting - Exclusive Free Knitting Patterns
- DailyKnitter.com is an on-line knitting resource offering free knitting patterns, knitting basics, articles, yarn shop directory, yarn company listing, message boards, book reviews, product reviews, local knitting clubs, knitting charities, and more.
- Faery Crafty
- Shawls and Wraps
- Free Knitting Pokemon Patterns
- Free knitting patterns for Pokemon characters.
- Knitty: Summer 2006
- Fun patterns, fabulous articles.
- Fuzzy Galore - Free patterns
- Free patterns for knitting, crochet, sewing and weaving.
- We Call Them Pirates
- Cute pirate hat and mittens. Hello Yarn offers unusual handspun yarns, knitting and spinning kits, hand knits, and free knitting patterns.
- MagKnits January 2007
- The patterns in the 01/07 edition of the online knitting magazine, MagKnits.
- Berroco's Free Pattern Library
- Berroco's free patterns and shade cards.
Knitting Books I Highly Recommend
My favorite knitting books
Mason-Dixon Knitting: The Curious Knitters' Guide: Stories, Patterns, Advice, Opinions, Questions, Answers, Jokes, and Pictures
Release Date: 03/28/2006
Amazon Price: $19.77 (as of 10/11/2008)
List Price: $29.95
Used Price: $18.94
Stitch 'N Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook
Amazon Price: $11.16 (as of 10/11/2008)
List Price: $13.95
Used Price: $2.16
Alterknits: Imaginative Projects and Creativity Exercises
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 10/11/2008)
List Price: $24.95
Used Price: $6.23
Big Girl Knits: 25 Big, Bold Projects Shaped for Real Women with Real Curves
Release Date: 04/18/2006
Amazon Price: $19.80 (as of 10/11/2008)
List Price: $30.00
Used Price: $11.48
The Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook: Dyeing, Painting, Spinning, Designing, Knitting
Amazon Price: $12.89 (as of 10/11/2008)
List Price: $18.95
Used Price: $9.28
Knitting and Craft Books I'm Reading Now or Need to Buy
I love books. I love knitting. I love books about knitting.
Knitting Rules!: The Yarn Harlot's Bag of Knitting Tricks
This has to be one of the best and entertaining knitting books of all time. Stephanie is intelligent, skilled and funny as hell.
Amazon Price: $10.36 (as of 10/11/2008)
The Knitting Way: A Guide to Spiritual Self Discovery
I'm one of those knitters who considers creativity and knitting my meditation and part of my spiritual journey. This book echos those feelings.
Amazon Price: $11.55 (as of 10/11/2008)
Amy Butler's In Stitches: More Than 25 Simple and Stylish Sewing Projects
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 10/11/2008)
Knitting for Peace: Make the World a Better Place One Stitch at a Time
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 10/11/2008)
Del.icio.us! Knitting Bookmarks
My favorite knitting sites
Mystical Creations Yarn
my favorite eBay/etsy yarn vendor
MCY has absolutely gorgeous colorways and super yummy yarn. They're still well priced and delivery quickly. I highly recommend their wool/silk yarns.
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
Great Knitting Stuff CafePress
Peace Love Knit Knitting Rectangle Magnet
Knitting apparel stationery home decor and more make cute knit gifts for the avid knitter who loves to purl the day away. A peace symbol heart and ball of yarn with a pair of needles in pink and brown
Sheep Sticker (Bumper)
They're cute and cuddly. Unless you've seen them on the ranch, then they're just dirty. The lambs love to play and romp around. Go ahead, give it hug.
What kind of knitter are you?
Are you the type of knitter with a million projects on the needles or do you actually complete projects on a regular basis?
Although I'm a pretty newly addicted knitter, I do notice already that I'm constantly starting new projects and work on them on a rotating basis. Therefore, I have very few actual Finshed Objects to show for my hours upon hours of toiling with needles and yarn. What about you? What kind of knitter do you tend to be?
Reader Feedback
Let me know what you think - what's missing, what's helpful, what's not?
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rusty
Thanks, Theresa! Let me know if there's anything you'd like to see here as far as link lists or product reviews and I'll be happy to add it! BTW,I added a third option to the poll for you. -Rusty Posted August 22, 2006 |
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aerie
I like your lens, added it to the lensroll of my knitter lens. I would have voted on your poll, but I fall somewhere in between. I'm always afraid of starting too many things and not getting them done, so I only work on 2 things at time. I've got a long mental list warring to be next on the needles! Posted August 10, 2006 |
Knitting Communities
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- Lime & Violet Message Boards
- Enter, if you dare!
