[BEKREUNSEPBERw]

I've seen plenty of hemp hats, but that was California sooooo. Y'know.

[appleiphoneees]

I've got a question for you all: what should I make with a ball of red hemp yarn? I got it at a fair-trade store, and the only patterns I've found that call for hemp yarn are fucking washcloths!

Do you crochet or knit? What kind of weight is the yarn? (Bedspread, sport, rope, etc?)

There are lots of patterns for animals out there knitting and crochet. You could make a cuddlefish.

[Depolit]

I love the way the sleeves on that sweater are constructed. Where do you find your vintage patterns?

There are a whole bunch here: Vintage Purls. I kind of love the bow tie at the end, it's just so random!

I used to have trousers made from hemp! I'd say you can use it to make whatever you like, but if you only have one ball, then maybe a smaller project?

Trousers?! AWESOME.

I've seen plenty of hemp hats, but that was California sooooo. Y'know.

A hat could work...like a meshy sort of cloche could do it.

Do you crochet or knit? What kind of weight is the yarn? (Bedspread, sport, rope, etc?)

There are lots of patterns for animals out there knitting and crochet. You could make a cuddlefish.

I'm a knitter and the yarn is about bulky weight (so like a thin rope). I think a small animal might do the trick. I did find a pattern for a cuttlefish, but I want something more cuddly than hemp to knit it with:



If all else fails, I'm making hippy hand restraints.

[appleiphoneees]

lol I can't believe I spelled it with a D instead of a T. That pattern is ADORABLE. you could always try it and unravel it if it sucks. I've used yarn that I thought would be awesome and it wasn't and vice versa.

[Rwujnezq]

That's awesome that you can still use stuff from your grandma and g-grandma. Is that an entrelac beret in the upper left? I haven't gotten into any kind of colorwork yet.

It is an entrelac beret! Unfortunately, the problem that I'm having is that I need to felt it even more to get the brim where I want it but in doing so I'll have to stretch the top out a ton to compensate. I'm also upset about it because, despite my best efforts, the colors pooled (which is why there's that green blotch). But otherwise it was lots of fun. Entrelac is actually really easy to do and has a great effect. And it was my chance to finally work with noro kureyon.

[chujwduperjadzi]

Boost, because I'd never heard of Ravelry until it won Community Site of the Year at the .net awards over Facebook and Twitter! It's a social networking site aimed at knitters and crocheters! Random and awesome all at once.

Also, hi thread boost!

[RadcliffXX]

ordered the book! do you recommend a type of needles and yarn for beginners or is it all basically the same?

This might be late, but I would recommend NOT getting wooden needles - try to find metal. Wooden can be really hard to get into the groove with knitting, since once you learn you kind of just sit there and do it without thinking too much, and I've found that eventually the wood rubs too much and splinters a little, which grabs at the yarn. Metal needles (I've not tried plastic, they may be just as good) are smooth and never catch.

As far as the yarn, I'm someone who really loves being able to feel the texture of things, and I often go for the "homespun" type of yarn that tends to be softer and a bit more irregular in thickness. I think it all depends on what you like the best. Good luck with knitting!

[SigNeewfoew]

oh, wow. everyone i have spoken to recommends wooden needles for beginners. what to do?

[N9u9ie4p]

I absolutely prefer my nickel plated needles to wood, and I flat out loathe bamboo. As far as yarn, I would pick a wool worsted weight that's spun evenly. When I was first learning, I found the evenness invaluable because with a uniform stitch definition, it's so much easier to see what you're doing. I got some Wool of the Andes from this awesome site. It's not the softest in the world, but it's cheap and there're so many colors to pick from.

[Dyslermergerb]

My crafting problem is having too many projects on the go at once. I've just come out of a stressful homemade Christmas so I'm kind of looking at everything and thinking "nooo, no moar crafts!!!111".

I also don't have any particular craft style. I'll try everything. Perhaps this is why none of my crafts are to a particularly good standard. Perhaps I should concentrate on one and become better at it. I've been trying to teach myself crocheting from a book but I suck just as much as I did at knitting.

I'm also an idiot for not photographing even half the things I made this Christmas. I did cake stands from vintage plates and glass, decorative jars, sewing onto tote bags and a billion and one strings of bunting amongst other things.

Here's a link to some of my crafts on Facebook. It's the public link so I don't think you need to be on my friend's page.

Crafty

[nerkvcbtre]

Totally agree, I love your eyes o_o

[homerdienru]

That is gorgeous. Makes me want to try knitting again.

I've been working on a skirt - only have to hem it but gave fabric flowers a try instead. I need to get my UFO pile in check.

[Dyslermergerb]

I make fabric flowers, too! I'm obsessed with them! That's such pretty fabric you're using.

Andrea - pretty scarf on a very pretty lady!!

[homerdienru]

Thanks! I have become obsessed also. I have so many different kinds bookmarked. It all started with felt dahlias. :P

[N9u9ie4p]

My most recent finished object. I'm officially in love with cowls now. It was super-quick to knit and I love how it turned out.

ZP Cowl by toadpea, on Flickr

ETA: please forgive the crappy bathroom pic.

[mylittlejewelaa]

Holy moly, you're gorgeous (and so's the scarf)!

[SigNeewfoew]

knitters, what is is the best way to learn? by book, by web? can you recommend sites or book titles. i know nothing.

[N9u9ie4p]

I was a total flunky with a book. It had all these arrows that wrapped around themselves and looped all over the place that I couldn't follow it. I loved knittinghelp.com when I was learning. As far as books, the one I have found invaluable ever since I started is The Knitting Answer Book. Literally anything I could think to ask has a section in there. I carry it around in my project bag, so that if I'm getting stuck on something it's right there. And I'd also recommend getting started on some actual wool yarn. I had a hard time with the craft store acrylic. It finally clicked with the wool. Something about the stretch and stitch definition really helped me figure out what I was doing. And I'd also recommend a Ravelry membership. Ebby linked to it in the post above yours. There are thousands of members who are extremely patient and helpful, not to mention about a million free patterns. Good luck and let us know how it goes. I've only been knitting for about 9 months, but I'm so glad I got into it.

[SigNeewfoew]

ordered the book! do you recommend a type of needles and yarn for beginners or is it all basically the same?

[Rwujnezq]

Boost, because I'd never heard of Ravelry until it won Community Site of the Year at the .net awards over Facebook and Twitter! It's a social networking site aimed at knitters and crocheters! Random and awesome all at once.

Also, hi thread boost!

Ravelry is great!

If other knitters have ravelry, we can be buddiez. I am http://www.ravelry.com/people/mumbletypeg

And as to learning, I still suggest the stitch n bitch books for starters in addition to just watching plenty of youtube videos.